The iPINIONS Journal

I support this prosecution of Kwame Kilpatrick for the same reason I supported the prosecution of Bill Clinton, and it has nothing to do with them cheating on their enabling wives. Rather, it’s because these two pusillanimous dickheads not only lied under oath about their extramarital affairs but also used government resources to conduct and conceal them.

Meanwhile, Kilpatrick is in for a rude awakening if he thinks a jury will vindicate his sex, lies, and text messages. Because nothing demonstrates terminal disaffection and disillusionment with his “hip-hop” leadership quite like the fact that his erstwhile supporters are already mounting a recall petition to vote him out of office.

[The indictment of Detroit's "hip-hop" mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick, The iPINIONS Journal, March 25, 2008]

That was my take on the sensational 12-count indictment (for perjury, obstruction of justice and misconduct in office) that prosecutor Kym Worthy filed against Kilpatrick last March. 

Therefore, it came as no surprise to me yesterday when he copped a plea instead of resting his fate in the hands of a jury.  Of course, the timing of his plea probably had everything to do with the fact that Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm began historic proceedings on Wednesday to remove Kilpatrick from office.

I lied under oath in the case of Gary Brown and Harold Nelthrope versus the city of Detroit … I did so with the intent to mislead the court and jury, to impede and obstruct the disposition of justice.

[From the plea allocution of Kwame Kilpatrick]

Under the plea bargain, Kilpatrick agreed to plead guilty to two felony counts of obstruction of justice, serve four months in jail, pay $1 million in restitution, and serve five years’ probation.  He also agreed to forego his pension.

Thus ends the career of this politician who had the kind of potential that Barack Obama is realizing right now. But Kilpatrick always struck me as more of a wannabe gangsta rapper than a trend-setting politician.  Therefore, it seems fitting that he will now have some jail time to enhance his street cred….

Good riddance Kwame!

Oh right, McCain accepted the Republican nomination for president

Last night, John McCain gave his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination to become the next president of the United States.  But, after the stellar performance his VP running mate, Sarah Palin, gave on Wednesday, his was, perhaps unavoidably, anticlimactic…and boring.

More to the point, I suspect McCain will find himself throughout the remainder of this campaign, and during his presidency (if pigs fly), playing second fiddle to Palin the way Prince Charles was forced to do with Princess Diana.  

I just hope McCain has more self-confidence to deal with being upstaged by his protege than Prince Charles evidently did.

Related Articles:
The indictment of Detroit’s “hip-hop” mayor
Palin delivers Obamaesque speech…

It seems a curious thing that John McCain chose a VP running mate who is turning out to be a female version of the caricature he has made of Barack Obama; i.e., a candidate utterly lacking in the experience necessary to be president of the United States, and one who represents a triumph of political rhetoric over political action.

And nothing demonstrated just how much this caricature suits Sarah Palin quite like the way she read her convention speech off the teleprompter last night - complete with cadence, inflections and facial expressions that would make an experienced broadcast news anchor green with envy.

Except that instead of Obama’s unifying and hopeful prose, her speech was replete with divisive and partisan sarcasm - more of what one might expect from a stand-up comedienne than from a VP candidate.

But I thought all of the purported apprehension amongst Republicans about “the speech of her life” reflected more media hype than genuine concern about Palin’s ability to rise to the occasion. In fact, such is my confidence in her rhetorical skills that I predicted the following about her forthcoming performance in the far more critical VP presidential debate:

[S]he is a remarkably articulate and compelling politician who I suspect will prove a surprisingly worthy adversary in debates with Barack Obama’s purportedly  more-qualified VP running mate, Joe Biden.  And this will be especially evident in debates on one of the most pressing issues in this year’s presidential campaign, namely, energy independence - on which she is extraordinarily well-versed.

[John McCain's VP running mate: Sarah Palin, The iPINIONS Journal, August 30, 2008]

That said, I find all of the media focus on Palin’s family drama unfair and unseemly.  On the other hand, I find the Republican spin to make Palin’s inexperience seem presidential patently disingenuous. After all, the people who are now insisting that inexperience is not a problem for Palin are the very ones who were insisting last week that it was for Obama.

At any rate, this brings me to the only genuine political issue McCain’s selection of her as his VP running mate raises, which I noted in the above-referenced article as follows:

McCain has made foreign policy experience the defining principle of his candidacy, but has now made a mockery of that principle by choosing a VP candidate who would probably be hard pressed to find Afghanistan on a map. [The woman had never traveled out of the country until last year for Christ's sake....]

I criticized this selection as “a political Hail Mary” because it calls into question McCain’s judgment - given that he took less care in selecting this would-be president of the United States than most people take to select their housekeeper. (He had only two meeting with her, and chose her under duress because the Evangelicals in his party threatened mutiny at the convention if went with his first choice, Sen. Joseph Lieberman.)  Not to mention that it makes his criticisms of Obama’s lack of experience seem fatally hypocritical.

Moreover, I hope I’m not the only one who finds it ironic that Republicans who once ridiculed the significance of Obama’s ability to deliver a great speech are now the ones heralding Palin as the next coming of Joan of Arc based soley on one speech.…

For the record, however, I think all of the emphasis on “experience” in this presidential campaign is a canard. After all, if experience mattered, Bill Clinton would never have defeated (Daddy) George H. W. Bush in 1992, and the way the experienced (Baby) Bush Administration has governed the country is hardly anything to brag about….

Meanwhile, say it ain’t so Joe!

Many Democrats have hurled indignation at Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman for appearing at this Republican convention to endorse McCain for president.  But I think their indignation is every bit as disingenuous as Lieberman’s claim that he endorsed McCain based on political principle. 

After all, Lieberman is a Democrat scorned and his endorsement of McCain is vintage payback.  And here’s why:

Lieberman’s staunch support for the war in Iraq so enraged left-wing bloggers that they rallied behind a political dilettante named Ted Lamont to oppose his re-election to the Senate in 2006.  What made this “netroots” movement against him so formidable and unnerving, however, is that almost all of Lieberman’s Democratic colleagues in the US Senate heeded the bloggers’ clarion call to support Lamont. 

In the end, Lieberman defeated Lamont by running as an Independent.  But he seemed hell-bent on serving revenge against Democrats with a cold smile for what he perceived as a political betrayal. And this is why Lieberman - who was Al Gore’s Democratic VP running mate only eight years ago - is supporting McCain not on principle but out of spite.

I feel obliged to note, however, that I condemned Democrats for throwing Lieberman under the bus based solely on his good-faith support for the war in Iraq.  After all, he voted the party line on every other major political issue. And I found it unconscionable that erstwhile respectable Democrats were associating with bloggers who thought it fair game to caricature him in racist black face.

Therefore, imagine my dismay to see Lieberman now not only supporting McCain based solely on his support for the war in Iraq, but also demeaning Obama as “this young man” on Tuesday during his keynote speech at this Republican convention, which is only a degree away from calling him this uppity Negro.

Talk about politics making strange bedfellows….

NOTE: Sarah Palin is clearly making nice with Hillary Clinton, hoping to capture some of Hillary’s 18 million female voters for the Republican ticket.  But Palin is in for a rude awakening. Because the last thing Hillary wants on the national political scene is any woman who can compete with her for the historic mantle of becoming the first female president of the United States. 

Frankly, Obama should be thanking his lucky stars today because nothing will inspire Hillary’s aggressive support for his candidacy quite like the rise of Palin as a political folk hero.

Related Articles:
Sen. Lieberman tarred and feathered by narrow-minded lib-Dems
John McCain’s VP running mate: Sarah Palin

My family and friends in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) can be forgiven for thinking that God has decided to punish them for the sins of our leader, the (dis)Honourable Dr. Michael Misick.  Because Tropical Storm Hanna has remained centered over the TCI for far longer than forecasters predicted and has been lashing them with a torrent of rain and winds the likes of which they’ve never seen before.

And, as if that wasn’t punishment enough, God has sent Tropical Storm Ike on a bee-line for the TCI to give them a second lashing this weekend. 

All this, after they had already sustained glancing blows from the outer bands of Hurricane Gustav. (Incidentally, Gustav left a trail of death and destruction in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.  Alas, the worst hit was Haiti, the poorest country in the region, where 20-30 people were killed, thousands displaced and millions of dollars were lost in property damage.)

But as Hanna finally makes her way up through The Bahamas today, we should be thankful that all property damage in the TCI will probably be offset by minimal loss of life.   

All the same, my thoughts and prayers go out to all TCIslanders whose stormy days and nights were compounded by the fact that the Misick Administration proved even less prepared to deal with Tropical Storm Hanna this week than the Bush Administration was to deal with Hurricane Katrina three years ago.

Specifically, it is mind-boggling that it did not occur to government officials to ensure that there were enough shingles, sand bags, plywood and other supplies necessary for TCIanders to prepare their homes for the hurricane season. Not to mention their failure to issue adequate warnings before Hanna made landfall or public service announcements during it. Frankly, even with Ike looming, it seems they haven’t a clue what emergency management is all about.

Now is not the time, however, to bemoan this government’s incompetence and salutary neglect.  Instead, I pray that God will have mercy on all of the longsuffering people of the TCI.

But, just to be safe, I urge everyone to take every possible step to prepare to weather Ike, which is threatening to be the mother of all hurricanes and is on track to make landfall early Sunday morning. 

Click here for latest pictures courtesy of Caribbean Net News.

NOTE:  The British Red Cross has launched an appeal for funds to assist hurricane victims.  Therefore, I beg you to contact them at the address below, and please request that your donation be ear-marked for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Thank you.

www.redcross.org.uk

TV stations cover natural disasters purportedly as a public service. But there’s no denying that such coverage is a ratings boon for their bottom line - catering as it does to the perverse thrill of suspense that keeps us fixated on the hype of impending doom….

[...Katrina's coming, Katrina's coming, The iPINIONS Journal, August 29, 2005]

Now politicians are acting as if every hurricane heading for the United States is the next Katrina, and they are making every phony gesture possible to appear more concerned about potential hurricane victims than President George W. Bush did in the wake of Katrina.

Why else would John McCain and the Republicans cancel the opening of their political convention in St. Paul, Minnesota - as if that would help New Orleans prepare for Hurricane Gustav or provide emergency relief in its wake?  Indeed, nothing demonstrates the phoniness of this gesture quite like the fact that delegates still went out and partied all over the city last night like it was New Year’s Eve. And, frankly, I don’t blame them.

Meanwhile, imagine how foolish the Republicans must feel today - given that the only disaster to hit New Orleans was the pack of big-city reporters, like Geraldo Rivera, scavenging for wind or rain damage to report as news.

But I shall spare you my indignant commentary on the absurdity of reporters “braving” the elements to report on what is plain to see; i.e., that Gustav’s landfall brought Category 2 winds of 115 mph, torrential rain and floods. 

Frankly, only when flying debris decapitates one of these misguided storm chasers will everybody exclaim ‘what the hell were they standing outside in the midst of a hurricane for anyway!’

Let’s hope Katrina’s winds are strong enough to finally blow away one of those wannabe Dan Rathers who seem to think that it’s necessary (and heroic) to go out in the hurricane to report the obvious whilst holding on to a pole for dear life….

[...Katrina's coming, Katrina's coming, The iPINIONS Journal, August 29, 2005]

Ditto Gustav and every other hurricane that comes along….

Related Articles:
Katrina’s coming, Katrina’s coming

Hon. Dr. Michael Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), might be guilty of many crimes, but, according to a credible witness statement, rape is not one of them.

No doubt you recall the sensational allegation of rape an American woman filed against Premier Misick last March.  And, no doubt, few people believed him when he issued the following denial:

I strongly and categorically deny these false and outrageous allegations…  I am confident that I will be completely and fully exonerated.

However, the signed statement of another woman - whom I shall refer to only by her first name, Vanessa - tends to corroborate the Premier’s denial.  Not least because she claims to have not only witnessed but also participated in the sexual acts that gave rise to the allegations.

Specifically, Vanessa states that she and the Premier began a sexual relationship in Paris sometime in February.   Further, that she was a houseguest at his residence in TCI on March 28 when the alleged rape occurred.  She confirms that the Premier’s wife, First Lady LisaRaye, was traveling at the time. 

Vanessa states that the Premier threw a party at which “everyone was having a good time drinking and singing and going into the pool.”  And that at some point, just she and the Premier’s accuser - whom I shall refer to only by her first name, Cynthia - ended up in the pool together.

Vanessa states that after a little girl talk, Cynthia suggested they get naked.   She notes here that fellow partiers “Mike Pernod and Andrew Ashcroft walked by the pool at one point and saw them but left after saying hello.” 

Vanessa states that Cynthia then “surprised” her with a kiss on the lips. And that they then proceeded to engage in lesbian sex acts that “went on for a long time.”

Vanessa states that at some point the Premier arrived and saw them in flagrante delicto.  Further, that she invited him to join in the fun and that he took off his clothes and jumped right in. At this point, she claims that their ménage-a-trois involved her having “sexual contact even while Cynthia was having sexual intercourse with the Premier.” 

Vanessa states, more to the point, that:

…at no time during their sexual encounter did she hear any complaints from Cynthia….

Vanessa then states that after a while, they “all agreed to continue inside the guesthouse,” but soon they all fell asleep.

Vanessa states that she heard the Premier get up and leave the next morning.  And that when Cynthia finally got up Vanessa “asked how she was feeling and started to talk about all the sex with her and the Premier.” 

Vanessa states that she was “very hurt” when Cynthia became “uptight and agitated“; especially when Cynthia insisted that:

…she didn’t remember anything about that and she has a boyfriend and…she doesn’t do that kind of shit.

Vanessa ends her statement by noting that “the Premier along with Ashcroft came to the guesthouse” later that morning. And that after pleasantries, during which “Cynthia didn’t say anything” to the Premier about being raped, Ashcroft drove her to her hotel at Nikki Beach.

And that’s the material thrust of her statement!  (Incidentally, I have omitted the more pornographic parts of her statement in the interest of public decency.)

Of course, acquaintance rape (or date rape) is notoriously difficult to prosecute - as the prosecutor in the William Kennedy Smith case can readily attest.  But this is because such “she said, he said” cases rarely have eyewitness testimony that can corroborate either the allegation of the accuser or the denial of the accused.

In this case, I can’t imagine any prosecutor filing charges, let alone winning a conviction, against the Premier given Vanessa’s statement.  Moreover, it renders waiting for FBI forensic evidence a complete waste of time since any finding would be entirely consistent with consensual sex.

Which brings me to TCI Attorney General Kurt Defreitas; because TCIanders have been waiting anxiously for over five months for AG Defreitas to either charge the Premier or announce that there is insufficient evidence to do so.  Moreover, I believe there is not only compelling public interest in putting this matter to rest, but also a categorical imperative to remove the cloud of suspicion from our Premier if prosecuting him has virtually no prospect of success.

That said, I am acutely mindful of widespread suspicion that the Premier paid off Cynthia (with either millions of US dollars or acres of Crown land) to recant her allegations. And I appreciate that many will immediately suspect that he paid Vanessa to provide this exculpatory statement as well.

However, the problem with these suspicions is that, even if true, the alleged payoffs would expose the Premier only to charges for witness tampering and obstruction of justice. Because they would also fatally compromise any indictment against him for rape since Cynthia’s credibility as a victim, having accepted the payoff, would be irremediably impeached.

Accordingly, I urge AG Defeitas to quell the fury of speculation over this rape case by issuing an immediate statement either assuring the public that there is just cause to continue the investigation, or conceding that there is not.  In addition, it behooves him to indicate if Vanessa’s statement has already been factored into the investigation, or if it constitutes newly discovered evidence which might finally compel him to drop the allegations against the Premier - as I believe justice now demands. 

That said, I also feel obliged to urge AG Defreitas to re-examine his decision not to prosecute the Premier on assault and obstruction of justice charges stemming from his alleged assault of Mr. Arthur Robinson MP last year. Because I believe there is (was?) sufficient (direct and circumstantial) evidence in that case to convict him. 

Not to mention that, arguably, there is more compelling public interest in holding the Premier to account for his alleged assault of Robinson than for his alleged rape of Cynthia.

NOTE:  I am reliably informed that members of the Commission of Inquiry into government corruption in the TCI are currently conducting extensive forensic investigations into the business and banking activities of government officials and other suspect individuals. Furthermore, that this phase of the Inquiry will continue for several more weeks - at which time select individuals will be invited to give oral testimony.

But bear in mind that this Commission will have access to all of the evidence TCIslanders submitted to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee a few months ago.

Related Articles
TCI Premier accused of rape:
No public interest in prosecuting TCI Premier for assault…?

It is now more important than ever for the Republican nominee, John McCain of Arizona, to pick a minority running mate, like Condoleezza Rice, if he wants to have any chance of defeating Obama in November.

[Barack Obama clinches historic Democratic presidential nomination, The iPINIONS Journal, June 4, 2008]

Sarah Palin is a minority, but she is clearly not the one who I thought would be John McCain’s best choice to serve as his VP running mate. 

Instead, McCain threw a political Hail Mary yesterday by choosing this relatively unknown and inexperienced governor from Alaska to assume the challenge of serving a heartbeat away from the president of the United States. As long shots go, however, this was a very shrewd gamble.

After all, Palin, a 44-year-old mother of five, gives the 18 million (predominantly white) women in Hillary Clinton’s “sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits” a new candidate in whom they can vest their political aspirations.  And, the far-right conservative values she espouses will help McCain reconcile his differences with the religious zealots who have commandeered the base of the Republican Party.

Not to mention that she is a remarkably articulate and compelling politician who I suspect will prove a surprisingly worthy adversary in debates with Barack Obama’s purportedly  more-qualified VP running mate, Joe Biden.  And this will be especially evident in debates on one of the most pressing issues in this year’s presidential campaign, namely, energy independence - on which she is extraordinarily well-versed.

As shrewd a choice as she is, however, I do not think Palin will help McCain get elected president of the United States.  Not least because McCain has made foreign policy experience the defining principle of his candidacy, but has now made a mockery of that principle by choosing a VP candidate who would probably be hard pressed to find Afghanistan on a map.

Then of course I doubt all those disgruntled Hillary supporters will jump quite so easily from Hillary’s feminist bandwagon onto Palin’s more conservative skirt tails:

No matter the defiance and rage that has Hillary’s supporters (especially middle-aged white women) now vowing to vote for McCain instead of Obama, I have no doubt that they will come to their senses on election day and vote for Obama.  Moreover, I believe they will do so at the behest of their standard bearer, Hillary Clinton.

Besides, why would any of these abortion-rights feminists vote for anti-abortion candidates like Palin - who opposes abortions even in cases of rape and incest, and McCain - who has vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices with a mission to overturn Roe v Wade, which granted women abortion rights…?

[Hillary threatens to fight on for months, but I predict she'll cry uncle within days, The iPINIONS Journal, June 2, 2008 ]

Nevertheless, here’s to McCain for doing his part to make this the most interesting, dynamic and historic presidential election in American history.

Meanwhile, just as McCain’s announcement of Palin as his VP stole Obama’s thunder (by knocking coverage of his nomination speech off the air), Hurricane Gustav’s landfall on the Gulf Coast will likely steal McCain’s thunder (by knocking coverage of the entire Republican National Convention off the air).

Related Articles:
Obama’s VP running mate: Joe Biden

With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States.

With those simple words, Barack Obama continued the historic march on Washington to fulfill the dream Martin Luther King, Jr. voiced 45 years ago. That dream of course was for an America where people “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”

I say Obama is only continuing that march because, unlike others who see his nomination as the fulfillment of MLK’s dream, I see it as just another pioneering leap over one of the many barriers blacks have encountered on their path towards realizing their American dream.   And, in this sense, Obama has more in common with Jackie Robinson than he does with Moses (as some pundits have ordained). 

After all, even if Obama is elected president of the United States, his historic achievement alone will do little to eradicate racism in America.  Ironically, it might reinforce the status quo - with many whites thinking that if Obama can be elected president then blacks have nothing more to complain about….

As for his speech, it was vintage Obama.  In fact, watching an Obama speech during this presidential campaign has become rather like watching a Michael Phelps race during the Beijing Olympics: always a winner - thrilling and inspiring.

But I do not think his speech last night before 84,000 people in Denver will have any greater impact on the outcome of this election (or on the lives of black folks) than his speech last month before 200,000 in Berlin.  Indeed, I doubt we’ll be quoting anything Obama said last night, in Berlin or earlier this summer in his seminal speech on race 45 years from now - the way we’re still quoting passages from MLK’s “I have a dream” speech.  Can you even remember anything he said in Berlin?

Therefore, instead of ascribing historic significance to every speech Obama makes, let us keep our eyes on the prize, which MLK proclaimed is an America that:

…will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

That said, no one appreciates the historic significance of Obama’s nomination more than I do.  But I’m convinced that if he fulfills the promises he delineated for his presidency, the benefits that will accrue to white Americans (and people all over the world) will far outweigh any symbolism his election will have for black Americans.

Before any dream can be realized or promise fulfilled, however, we must transform all of the hope he inspires into votes for Obama on Election Day!

Related Articles:
Michelle Obama speaks but Clinton drama dominates…

There’s no guarantee the PPP [headed by the widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zadari] and PML-N [headed by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif] will be able to put aside long-standing hostilities long enough to mount a joint political coup d’état….

Nothing reinforces Musharraf’s dictatorship quite like the chaos among the country’s opposition parties…. Sharif and Bhutto have discovered that the only politician they hate more than Musharraf is each other…. Instead of leading a joint boycott of parliamentary elections in January - as both vowed to do, they have decided to lead their respective parties to the polls.

[Musharraf suffers humiliating defeat at the polls, The iPINIONS Journal, February 21, 2008]

Less than a week after joining forces to compel president Pervez Musharraf to resign, the leaders of Pakistan’s ruling coalition, Asif Ali Zadari (left) and Nawaz Sharif (right), fulfilled my prophecy that they would soon find that they hate each other more than they hate Musharraf. 

Citing a “string of broken promises” by Zadari, Sharif announced on Monday that he is withdrawing his support from the government.   Whatever the case, it did not take them long to disabuse Pakistanis of any hope that they would be able to work together to cure the country’s crippling economic woes and combat al-Qaeda’s increasingly violent insurgency.

Therefore, having rid the country of their boogeyman (who at least enforced some degree of stability), Zadari and Sharif now seem determined to plunge Pakistan into sectarian political warfare that will make the conflict between Sunni and Shia in Iraq seem like a schoolyard row.

And this political warfare will not only raise questions about Pakistan as a responsible nuclear power but also compromise its ability to fight insurgent terrorists on the real front in the war on terror; i.e., on the border regions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

I think at the moment they [the Taliban] definitely have the upper hand.

[Asif Ali Zadari]

God help them…and us!

Related Articles:
Musharraf suffers humiliating defeat…
Musharraf forced to resign

Yesterday, as most people in America (and around the world) were fixated on the political drama surrounding Hillary Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention,  Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was delivering a speech that portends far more dire consequences.

Because Medvedev launched the most devastating salvos to date in the new Cold War brewing between Russia and the United States (and Europe) by unilaterally declaring the disputed Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independent. 

Perhaps you recall that French President Nicolas Sarkozy brokered an agreement with Medvedev a couple weeks ago, which purportedly guaranteed the territorial integrity of Georgia.  Clearly, this declaration makes a mockery of that agreement.

This decision…is inconsistent with the French-brokered six-point ceasefire agreement which President Medvedev signed on August 12, 2008. The territorial integrity and borders of Georgia must be respected…. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia, and they must remain so.

[US President George W. Bush]

But nobody with an informed understanding of the conflict in Georgia could have been surprised by Medvedev’s declaration.  After all, here’s what I wrote about the geopolitical chess game being played between erstwhile superpowers (Russia and the US) where these disputed territories are concerned:

To be fair to Putin, however, he has just as much moral authority (and military power) to do what he’s doing in Georgia as President Bush had to do what he did in Kosovo; i.e., to use force to facilitate independence for a province of an independent state.

[Tensions simmering between Mother Russia and her former dependent territory, Georgia, The iPINIONS Journal, June 6, 2008]

Moreover, just as I admonished the Serbs to reconcile their national identity with the loss of Kosovo (because Russia was not going to lift a finger to prevent the US and EU from recognizing Kosovo as an independent state), I now admonish the Georgians to do the same where Abkhazia and South Ossetia are concerned (because the US and EU are not going to lift a finger to prevent Russia from declaring them independent territories).

As indicated above, however, this is just the latest skirmish in the new Cold War that has been escalating for some time now:

If the putinization of Russia were not sufficient to convince Bush that Putin’s hell-bent on reclaiming Russia’s superpower status, then Putin’s efforts to re-establish Cold-War ties with African leaders should be dispositive in this respect.

[Cold War II: from the African front, The iPINIONS Journal, July 17, 2007]

And if the West had any illusions about Putin’s intentions, here’s how Medvedev preempted any criticism of Russia’s reclamation of a sphere of influence over these Georgian territories:

We’re not afraid of anything (including) the prospect of a Cold War. Of course we don’t need that … Everything depends on the stance of our partners and the world community and our partners in the West.

Your move US (and EU); i.e., put up or shut up!

Related Articles:
Tensions simmering between Russia…and Georgia
Recognizing (or lamenting) Kosovo independence
Cold War II…
Georgia: the Russians are coming, the Russians are coming

No matter the defiance and rage that has Hillary’s supporters (especially middle-aged white women) now vowing to vote for McCain instead of Obama, I have no doubt that they will come to their senses on election day and vote for Obama.  Moreover, I believe they will do so at the behest of their standard bearer, Hillary Clinton.

Besides, why would any of these abortion-rights feminists vote for an anti-abortion candidate (like McCain) who has vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices with a mission to overturn Roe v Wade, which granted women abortion rights….?

[Hillary threatens to fight on for months, but I predict she'll cry uncle within days, The iPINIONS Journal, June 2, 2008 ]

The Democrats convened their national convention in Denver last night to nominate Barack Obama for president of the United States.  But listening to media reports on this historic event, one can be forgiven the impression that Democrats were convening to figure out how to sooth the bruised egos of Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Bill is reportedly upset because convention organizers have slated him to talk about the foreign-policy mess President Bush has created; whereas, he just wants to gloat, again, about the domestic-policy miracles he performed during his presidency.

And Hillary is reportedly upset not only because she lost the nomination to the uppity Obama, but also because his supporters have yet to pay off her $25 million campaign debt, which she evidently believes is a small price to pay for her 18 million voters.

With all due respect to the Clintons, however, these reports about their lingering resentments are utterly irrelevant.  After all, as I indicate in the quote above, Bill and Hillary will do everything politically possible to help Barack Obama get elected.  And they will do so because they have no choice.

Indeed, nothing demonstrates this quite like the way Hillary denounced John McCain’s latest ad - featuring one of her supporters declaring that for the first time she’s going to vote for a Republican - by stating emphatically that “I’m Hillary Clinton…and I do not approve this message!”

More to the point, despite all of the media-fueled suspense about what they will say at this convention, I am dead certain that, except for Joe Biden, no two people will give more substantive and galvanizing speeches in support of Obama’s nomination than Bill and Hillary.

That said, I am also dead certain that no two people resent Obama’s nomination more than Bill and Hillary.  And I’m mindful that they would like nothing more than to see him lose by a landslide in November to resurrect their 2 for 1 presidential master plan. Only now their irrepressible sense of entitlement would be suffused with an indignant attitude which says “we told you so!”

Unlike some of Hillary’s petulant and hopelessly misguided supporters, however, the Clintons are sensible enough to know that they cannot be seen to be plotting or even encouraging Obama’s defeat in any way whatsoever.  Because that would not only destroy what little remains of Bill’s presidential legacy but also ruin any chance Hillary has of becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee in 2012 if Obama loses, or in 2016 if he wins.

Meanwhile, the opening night of Democratic National Convention went pretty much as any reasonable political analyst expected.  This means that complaints by talking heads like James Carville about speakers not attacking Bush and McCain enough are just shortsighted and boneheaded.  

In fact, the theme of the night, which seems to have escaped Carville, was the humanizing of the Obamas.  And partisan political attacks would only have undermined that theme.

As it turned out, the pathos cancer-stricken Senator Ted Kennedy generated with his heroic speech set the right tone for Michelle Obama’s headline speech to tell America who the Obamas are and where they came from.

Unfortunately, it’s a testament to how surreal politics in America have become that Michelle and Barack Obama have to reassure people that they are not unpatriotic Muslim elites who are scheming to turn the White House into a shrine to Osama bin Laden.

At any rate, nobody can deny that the portrait Michelle painted of her family last night belies all of the negative Republican spin about her and Barack. Because, with eloquence and conviction never before seen in a presumptive first lady, she made it clear that their rags to riches story is as American as apple pie. 

Moreover, she demonstrated - by citing deeds instead of spouting words - how she and Barack have done all they can to ensure that others can live the American dream they have lived and for which they are so very grateful. 

She was brilliant, and she would make an incredibly impressive First Lady of the United States of America.

Related Articles:
A prayer for Sen. Ted Kennedy…
Magazine depicts Obamas as Muslim terrorists
Hillary  threatens for fight on…

Day 13 (August 21)

Softball

The US losing in softball at these Olympic Games was almost as shocking as the US losing in basketball at the Athens Games in 2004.  After all, since winning gold at the Sydney Games in 2000, the US (women’s) softball team had won 22 straight international tournaments - “most of them by outrageously lopsided scores.”

And as it dominated other teams with that familiar ease in Beijing, the US team seemed poised to win its fourth straight gold medal in Olympic competition.  Except that, in the final match, Japan fielded a team with a David versus Goliath zeal.  And, in keeping with that proverbial match up, Japan slayed the US 3 to 1.

Alas, this loss will linger in perpetuity.    Because, ironically, reports are that the Americans’ utter domination in Athens - outscoring all teams 51 to 1 - led the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to drop the sport as not conducive to the Olympic spirit of robust competition.  This means that there’ll be no chance for the US to send a “redeem team” in softball to the London Olympics in 2012.

Track and Field

Americans began making up for stunning loses to Jamaicans when they swept the Men’s 400m. Truth be told, however, this race was billed as a showdown between two Americans,  namely, first-time Olympian LaShawn Merrit  and defending Olympic Champion Jeremy Wariner.   But the upstart Merrit not only won, he actually handed Wariner the biggest and most humiliating loss of his career.

Apropos showdowns, the Men’s 100m Hurdles was billed as a showdown between defending Olympic Champion Liu Xiang of China and Dayron Robles of Cuba. 

Unfortunately, as I noted in an earlier post, Xiang withdrew from the Games with an injury before running his first preliminary race.  Therefore, it was hardly surprising when  Robles hurdled to victory with Bolt-like ease.

Day 14 (August 22)

Track and Field

It seemed a cruel irony that the Jamaicans - who had been flawless in all sprint events to date - aped the bungling Americans by botching the baton handoff in the Women’s 4×100m Relay and losing what was certain gold in this event.  On the other hand, the Russians could not believe their dumb luck when the gold medal was practically handed to them.

However, in the Men’s 4×100m Relay, the Jamaicans continued their winning ways, not only by capturing gold, but also by shattering the 16-year-old world record.

This win gave Usain Bolt (far right), his third gold medal of these games and made him the undisputed star of track and field at these games.

Day 15 (August 23)

Baseball

Unfortunately, the timing of the summer Olympics always conflicts with Major League Baseball, which means that the best American players can never participate.  Therefore, it’s not surprising that the Cubans have been quadrennial champs in baseball.

But that all changed this summer when South Korea defeated defending Olympic champion Cuba 3-2 to capture gold in baseball.  The wannabe major leaguers from the US defeated Japan 8-4 to win bronze.

Basketball

The US women did in basketball what the US women were supposed to do in softball; i.e., they ran through the competition with enviable ease to win the gold medal that was effectively ceded to them before the Games began.  They defeated Australia 92-65.

Diving

So much for the Chinese accomplishing the Phelpsian feat of going eight for eight in diving competition at these Olympic Games. But their quest could not have ended in more dramatic fashion. 

Because, after the Chinese went 7 for 7 in previous events, their diver in the eighth event, the Men’s 10m Platform, was leading going into the final round of dives and seemed poised to seal national glory for China.  Unfortunately, where he may have had Phelps-like abilities, he evidently did not have Phelps-like nerves: because - with over one billion people watching and waiting with baited breath - he flopped his final dive.

This gave the thoroughly unexpected opportunity for a relatively unknown diver to slay the dragon for the glory of his country, Australia: and he nailed it!

Track and Field

Then the US made up for the surreal performance of the men’s and women’s 4×100m relays (in which they were both disqualified for dropping the baton) by winning the men’s and women’s 4×400m relays in convincing fashion.

Of special note was the personal redemption of Sanya Richards.  Because, after losing the Women’s 400m that she was so hyped to win, she not only anchored the women’s relay team to an impressive win over their upstart Jamaican bettors at these Games, but did so in a come-from-behind fashion (by chasing down a Russian runner) that showed why she was so hyped as the world’s premier women’s 400m runner.

Day 16 (August 24) 

Basketball

Perhaps the most anti-climactic triumphs of these games were the gold-medal performances of the US women’s and men’s basketball teams.  In particular, watching other countries play the US men’s team was rather like watching the bit players who are drafted to help the Harlem Globetrotters, not only put on a good show, but also seem invincible.

That said, it was a little shocking, even thrilling, to watch Spain almost upstage the US’s redeem team.  Because instead of accepting the fated blowout like all other teams, the Spaniards answered every American basket with one of their own until the very last minutes of the game - when the Americans managed to eek out a win - with the wholly misleading score of 118 to 108.

Track and Field

Kamau Samuel Wansiru of Kenya won the titular closing event of the Beijing Games, the Men’s Marathon, in a new Olympic-record time of 2:06:32.  But what makes Wansiru’s victory especially noteworthy is that his medal ceremony was featured during the Closing Ceremony in the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium. 

Ironically, this meant that his medal ceremony was seen by hundreds of millions more people worldwide than those who saw Michael Phelps receive his historic eight gold medal at these Games.

Closing Ceremony and closing comments

It was hard to imagine the Chinese doing anything to top the Opening Ceremony.  And they didn’t. 

After all, the novelty of the 2,008 robotic drummer boys and the (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) high-wire acts was gone.  Frankly, the whole thing smacked of an unwieldy cross between a Barnum and Bailey circus and a Chinese Opera….

Unfortunately, the Games ended with host China receiving condemnation for allegedly cheating to win gold medals in women’s gymnastics.  Moreover, this condemnation was almost in direct proportion to the praise it received for an Opening Ceremony that was nothing short of awe-inspiring (despite the fake fireworks and lip-synching little girl).

Specifically, the IOC announced that it would be launching an investigation to determine whether China fielded underage girls to compete in gymnastics. 

Be mindful, however, that the IOC is still investigating allegations of cheating from the 2000 Sydney Olympics.  So don’t hold your breath for a resolution of this one anytime soon, if ever. 

Never mind that the rule the Chinese are alleged to have broken is a stupid one.  Because I don’t see why it’s okay for the British to have a 14-year-old boy competing in diving, but not okay for the Chinese to have a 14-year-old girl competing in gymnastics.  

Then, of course, there’s the undeniable fact that the IOC will be loath to render any ruling that would cause China, now a bona fide world superpower, to “lose face.”  After all, the Chinese defend their national pride with as much zeal as the Americans defend their religious faith.  And rendering an adverse verdict would be tantamount to inciting the wrath of a dragon.

Therefore, when all is said and done, I fully expect the Chinese to hold on to every one of the 51 gold medals they hauled at these Games, dominating the quadrennial champion Americans who were a distant second with only 36.  And this is especially impressive given that, until the Los Angeles Games in 1984, China had never won a single gold medal in Olympic competition.

Meanwhile, I derived some consolation from the fact that The Bahamas won a silver medal in the Men’s 4×400m Relay.  And, with the bronze medal Bahamian Leevan Sands won in the Men’s Triple Jump, that brought my native country’s haul to a grand total of 2 medals won at these Olympic Games. 

Not bad for a tiny Caribbean country; especially considering that Serbia, a much larger European country, won only 3 medals (1 silver and 2 bronze).  Although, admittedly, it’s a rather humbling result when compared to the 11 medals (6 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze) our Caribbean nemesis, Jamaica, won….

Congratulations China…well done all-around!

See you at the 2012 London Olympic Games….

Related Articles:
Commentaries on Beijing Olympics Day 1-12

Washington has been abuzz this week with speculation about who presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Barack Obama, will choose as his vice presidential running mate.  And the consensus seems to be that Obama will choose Delaware senator, Joe Biden.  I agree. 

Frankly, thanks to Russia’s invasion of Georgia 10 days ago, Obama had little choice.

But instead of parroting all of the obvious reasons why Biden’s foreign policy credentials and pit-bull political style make him such an ideal running mate for Obama, I will suffice to note that he’s got some ’splainin to do to black voters.

After all, recall the charges of racism blacks hurled at Biden after he attempted to pay Obama a perfectly innocent compliment as follow:

I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy…. I mean, that’s a storybook, man.

Of course, since there was every expectation that blacks would forgive the Clintons their race-baiting tactics if Hillary became the nominee, I have no doubt that they’ll welcome Biden with open arms if he becomes Obama’s running mate.

NOTE:  As incomprehensible as the prospect is, there’s still speculation that Obama might choose Hillary. But I’m on record declaring that I would withdraw my support for him if he does. And if you’re a regular reader, you know why….

UPDATE

Saturday, August 23, 6:20 am

Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden as our VP nominee.

[Obama '08 presidential campaign]

Joe’s bio here….

Of course, there’ll be so much news coverage of him over the next 48 hours that you’ll know far more about him, and about why Obama chose him, than you care to.  But, trust me, this is a brilliant choiceI

Moreover, the only way John McCain can top it is by choosing Condoleezza Rice as his VP.

Related Articles:
I pity the fool who thinks being called articulate is an insult

Day 11 (August 19)

Gymnastics

The Chinese returned to their dominant form by winning both the Men’s Parallel Bars and Men’s Horizontal Bar.  In fact, the only thing noteworthy about these last two events in men’s gymnastics is that Jonathan Horton of the US ended his team’s shutout in the individual event finals by winning a silver medal on the Horizontal Bar.

By contrast, the Chinese women proved incapable of emulating the performance of their male teammates.  For on the Women’s Beam, the final event in women’s gymnastics, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin of the US won gold and silver, respectively.

Of course, given the way she was hyped as the next Mary Lou Retton going into these Olympic Games, Johnson’s first gold in this last event must have provided glory and relief in equal measure.

Diving

The Chinese continued their Phelpsian quest to go eight for eight in diving by winning the Men’s 3m Springboard competition: 6 down, 2 to go.

Track and Field

Easily the highlight of the day was the drama that unfolded in the Women’s 110 Hurdles.  Because with just two hurdles to go, it seemed that Lolo Jones of the US, the prohibitive favorite, was living out her dream of winning gold.  But then she clipped that second-to-last hurdle and the race became a living nightmare, in which she stumbled from the lead into seventh place in the blink of an eye.

Teammate Dawn Harper, who barely made the team in this event, led the others hurdling by to win gold.  Not surprisingly, she was as shocked and thrilled by her victory as Jones was shocked and agonized by her defeat.

I felt the gold around me…. I usually hit a hurdle twice a year. It just sucks that it was on the most important race of my life. 

[Lolo Jones]

However, Jones’ disappointment must pale in comparison to that which American Sanya Richards had to have felt after fading down the stretch to finish third in the Women’s 400m final. 

After all, the television build up to her seemingly inevitable win included a segment featuring the comparison of the size of Richards’ engagement ring to the Super Bowl ring of her fiancée, New York Giants cornerback Aaron Ross.

Frankly, the whole pre-race hype made it seem like the Olympic gold medal would just be the icing on the cake of her charmed life; ah well….

Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britain spoiled her coronation by winning the gold, and Shericka Williams of Jamaica relegated her to second-string bridesmaids by winning silver.

In another final of note, Moroccan-born Rashid Ramzi won the first ever Olympic medal for Bahrain by winning gold in the Men’s 1500m.  A Kenyan took silver; whereas, America’s naturalized hope in this event, Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat, did not even make the final.

Day 12

Track and Field

Usain Bolt struck gold again in the Men’s 200m.  Of course, given the way he dominated and teased the field on the way to a new world record in the Men’s 100m, his victory was never in doubt. The only question was whether, instead of his now trademark showboating, he would stay focused long enough to break American Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old world record of 19.32 seconds.  

Indeed, perhaps it was just wishful thinking but Johnson, in his capacity as an analyst for the BBC, previewed the race by observing that, although he had the natural ability. Bolt lacked the mental focus to break this record.

Well, so much for Johnson’s expert analysis; because Bolt crossed the finish line in 19.30 seconds - with the largest margin of victory in Olympic history.

You’re back there giving it everything you’ve got — it’s brutal.  He’s doing it and making it look so simple. Michael Johnson did it, and it didn’t look that easy.

[Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis who finished sixth]

Now that he has become the first sprinter since Carl Lewis in 1984 to complete the elusive double of winning gold in the 100 and 200 at one Olympics, Bolt comes as close as any athlete will to challenging American Michael Phelps as the star of the Beijing Games. 

No doubt, for many of my fellow Caribbean natives, Bolt has already soared way beyond Phelps.  But this swimming phenom gets my vote for becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time by winning eight gold medals (seven of them in world-record time).

Nevertheless, the surprisingly dominant Jamaican team had even more to celebrate.  Because less than an hour after Bolt’s amazing feat, his teammate Melaine Walker won the Women’s 400m Hurdles. 

Indeed, who would’ve thought this tiny island nation would outperform the mighty United States in the premier events of these Olympic Games?

Yet Jamaica has done just that by winning gold now in the Men’s 100m, gold, silver and bronze in the Women’s 100m, gold in the Men’s 200m and is poised to win at least silver in the Women’s 200m, which features its defending Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown….

Congratulations Jamaica … You’ve made all Caribbean nations exceedingly proud!

Medal Count Day 12: USA 82, China 80, Russia 45

NOTE:  Many sports commentators immediately proclaimed Bolt’s performance the “best in Olympic history”.  But I disagree.  Instead, I believe that honor goes to Florence Griffith-Joyner who set world records in the Women’s 100m and 200m at the Seoul Games that have yet to be broken. And, in both cases, she won by even greater margins than Bolt did in his races.

Related Articles:
2008 Beijing Olympic Games Day 1 to 10

Nothing troubles my conscience and geopolitical consciousness more … than the prevailing ignorance I find amongst so many American colleagues and friends about the origins and implications of this conflict [in Georgia].

Of course, this is hardly the forum for such rudimentary political education - although nothing demonstrates the need quite like the American who wondered why her family in Atlanta had no idea that Georgia was under attack.

[The iPINIONS Journal, August 14, 2008]

Meanwhile, you’ve probably heard the US and NATO talking tough about helping Georgia reclaim its sovereign integrity.  Yet it is abundantly clear that, despite Russia’s promise to withdraw its troops from the disputed provinces, the Georgians are no more likely to reclaim control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia than the Serbians are to reclaim control over Kosovo.

It is not surprising therefore that, instead of relying on hollow words to deter Russian aggression, Polish leaders hastened today to sign an agreement with the US to base ballistic missiles on their soil. 

Moreover, perhaps to reinforce the point that Poland (a member of the NATO alliance) is no Georgia (which is not), US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared that this missile deployment will “help the alliance … respond to the coming threats.” 

For its part, Russia responded by warning that this deployment “has opened Poland up to a [nuclear] attack.”  But nobody believes that Russia would dare to trigger NATO’s governing principle which provides that:

…an attack against one NATO country shall be considered an armed attack against them all.

Game over!

UPDATE (8:00 pm GMT) 

Game over!?  Well, evidently not: because the London Times is reporting that Russia moved today to base “defensive” missiles in Syria to counter the US’s move in Poland.  Moreover, Russia seems to have found in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an even more willing pawn than the US has in Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

In fact, here’s how Assad framed his new Cold-War alliance with Russia:

Our position is that we are ready to co-operate with Russia in any project that can strengthen its security. I think Russia really has to think of the response it will make when it finds itself closed in a circle.

Except that, given the way Israel dealt with Syria’s military alliance with North Korea earlier this year, it seems Assad is just begging for another preemptive strike from his Jewish minders….

So, play on boys….

Related Articles:
Russia consolidates control over Georgian territories
Recognizing (or lamenting) Kosovo independence
Israel prepares for Iran…by bombing Syria

Day 9 (August 17)

Gymnastics

Not surprisingly, the Chinese men continued their dominance with different teammates winning the event finals in Pommel Horse and Floor Exercise.  The more interesting results, however, came in the women’s event finals. 

Alas, Alicia Sacrimone- who nearly torpedoed the US’s chance of winning any medal in the team competition - was denied personal redemption.  Because patently unfair (or just incomprehensible) scoring in the Women’s Vault event final led to a Chinese gymnast - who landed on her knees for Christ sake - winning the bronze medal, just ahead of Sacrimone - who landed perfectly for a change. 

But it had to have been a shock to all when a North Korean and German won gold and silver respectively in this event.

On the other hand, just as it was in the team competition, Sacrimone’s teammates made up for her shortcomings.  Because Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin won silver and bronze respectively in the Women’s Floor final.  In fact, the results in this event were distinguished by the fact that a Romanian competitor won, thus shutting out the Chinese completely.

Swimming

With his team’s relatively easy win today in the Men’s 4×100 Medley Relay, US swimmer Michael Phelps completed his Phelpsian quest to win 8 gold medals in one Olympic Games. He has now surpassed the formidable standard set by Mark Spitz at the Munich Games in 1972 of winning 7 gold medals.

Final count for Phelps: 8 for 8 in ‘08;  Congratulations Michael!

Meanwhile, in other events of note, 41-year-old Dara Torres missed gold in the Women’s 50m Freestyle. Ironically, she lost by the same margin Phelps, her 23-year-old “son”, won the Men’s 100m Butterfly to keep his dream alive, namely, by the blink of an eye or .01 seconds.  Britta Steffen of Germany foiled Dara’s Olympic dream.

In the biggest surprise of the day, Oussama Mellouli of Tunisia upset 2-time Olympic champion Grant Hacket of Australia in the Men’s 1500m Freestyle.  In doing so, Mellouli won his country’s first Olympic swimming gold medal. Settling for silver, Hacket had to have been doubly disappointed by the fact that both he and Mellouli finished well off his world-record time.

Track and Field

I wonder if it’s a testament to their national training methods or the herbs they use to flavor their sports drinks that make these Jamaicans so incredibly fast….

[The iPINIONS Journal, August 16, 2008]

The Jamaicans are becoming to Track and Field what the Chinese are to Ping Pong.    Because not only are they dominating the sprints for Jamaica at these Olympic Games, but, like the Chinese, they are also providing the best results for other countries by competing under many non-Jamaican flags, including the American flag.  (Incidentally, quadrennial Olympic bridesmaid Merlene Ottey pioneered this trend for Jamaicans when she began competing for Slovenia in 2002.)  

Of course, nobody could have predicted that Jamaicans would sweep the Women’s 100m.  Because, where sprinter Walter Dix won bronze to save face for the once-dominant Americans in the Men’s 100m, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart won gold, silver and bronze respectively, shutting out the Americans for the first time in modern Olympic history.

Remarkably enough, this was the first time a Jamaican had won gold in either the men’s or women’s 100m. And given that none of these Jamaican women or Bolt is over 21, chances are very good that they will dominate the sprint events for years to come.

Lauren Williams of the US finished fourth, and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas finished seventh.

(NOTE:  The quizzical quote at the beginning of this section belies my true admiration for these Jamaican athletes.  In fact, I sympathize with the fact that some of them complained about being tested for performance-enhancing drugs so much that the loss of blood might affect their performance at these Games. So just imagine how much better they might have performed if their veins were not so sapped….)

The Ethiopians continued their dominance of the Men’s 10,000 as two-time defending champion Halle Gebrselassie ceded the crown to teammate Kenenisa Bekele. Another Ethiopian, Sileshi Sihine, won runner up.  A perennial foe from Kenya finished third; 35-year-old Gebreselassie in sixth place.

Easily the most dramatic moment of the day came when Liu Xiang, China’s only hope for a gold medal in Track and Field, pulled up lame in his first qualifying race of the Men’s 110 Hurdles. He then hobbled out of the stadium without saying a word. 

In fact, television commentators observed that - when this happened - you could hear a pin drop in the Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium, which (as you can well imagine) was filled to capacity for the first time since that spectacular Opening Day Ceremony. After all, Xiang’s gold medal in this race was to have been the crowning achievement of these Olympic Games for over 1.3 billion Chinese. 

But, where Xiang’s Olympic coach, Sun Haiping, was utterly inconsolable, here’s how his high school coach, Gu Baogang, explained this national tragedy:

I have experienced in the past the great pressure that government officials exert on the athletes as well as the coach, and that they demand a gold medal, otherwise it is meaningless. Liu Xiang is still a young boy and he has been put under a bit too much expectation.

Indeed, call me cynical but I believe Xiang decided it was better to claim injury, which might inspire sympathy, than to lose this race, which would incite national shame.  Frankly, the fact that Dayron Robles of Cuba recently broke Xiang’s world record might have inspired his dramatic passion play on this world stage….

To be fair, however, reports are that Xiang suffered a torn Achilles tendon several months ago.  Yet, given the national interest vested in his performance, one wonders why China’s best doctors - renowned for practicing traditional Chinese medicine like acupuncture - did not ensure that he was fully rehabilitated for this big occasion.

At any rate, leave it to Xiang’s American sponsor, Nike, to help the Chinese people put his failure into perspective and preserve his marketability:

Love sport even when it breaks your heart.

 

Day 10 (August 18)

Gymnastics

I was getting really tired of watching the Chinese dominate the event finals - as they did again by winning gold and silver in the Men’s Rings. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when a Pole, a Frenchman and a Russian won gold, silver and bronze in the Men’s Vault, shutting out the Chinese. (In fact, none of the Chinese even qualified for this event final.)

Unfortunately, the scoring in this sport has evolved to a point where one needs to be a Euclidean mathematician to understand it. 

[The iPINIONS Journal, August 12, 2008]

Unfortunately, the frustration I expressed in this quote became a living nightmare for American gymnast Nastia Liukin.

Because, after performing a routine on the Women’s Uneven Bars that was just as difficult but far more aesthetically pleasing, she ended up with the exact same score as Chinese gymnast He Kexin.  Since the rules now prohibit awarding them both gold medals, however, the judges added insult to this unfairness by handing Kexin gold and Liukin silver - according to some convoluted tie-breaking system.  Liukin was robbed! (Not to mention that Kexin is clearly closer to 13 than the required 16 years of age that is required to compete.)

Track and Field

Women’s Pole Vault is my favorite field event. And, that the women vaulters are just as scantily clad as the women who compete in Beach Volleyball might have something to do with it.

Accordingly, I was pleased to watch reigning world champion Elena Isinbaeva of Russia vault to a world-record of 5.05m (or approximately 16′ 6″).  Jennifer  Stuczyinski of the US was second and Svetlana Feofanova was third.

In another field event of note, American Stepanie Brown Trafton won the Women’s Discus with her first of six throws, upsetting heavily favored Yarelis Barrios of Cuba.  And hers was the first Olympic medal the US has won in women’s discus since the 1932 Los Angeles Games.

Maria Mutola is generally regarded as the greatest female 800m runner of all time. But her results in Olympic competition have been decidedly mixed.  Because even though Beijing is her sixth Olympic Games, she has only won bronze in 1996 and gold in 2000 in this event. 

Therefore, it is probably fair to assume that her fifth place finish was really her Olympic swan song.  Teammates from Kenya won gold and silver.

The Americans continued their dominance in the Men’s 400m Hurdles when Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson swept gold, silver and bronze respectively.

Day 10 Medal Count: USA 72, China 67, Russia 36

Related Articles:
UPDATE: 2008 Beijng Olympic Games - Day 1 to 8