Free yourself

Free yourself
Originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Tony Blair is visiting South Africa at the moment, discussing trade and development with some so-called left-of-centre leaders. The BBC last night made a point of showing and commenting on the very negative body language between Tony Blair and Meles Zanawi. Very different, the BBC noted, from the Gleneagles G8 meeting when Zenawi was a guest... but that was before he started locking up all his political opponents.

Afterwards, Tony Blair met Nelson Mandela, who said that he liked Tony! Let us hope that 2006 turns out to be a better year than 2005 for making progress on world trade reform.

Further, in the strange world of politics, we hear about Silvio Berlusconi comparing himself to Jesus Christ, a patient victim, putting up with everything, sacrificing myself for everyone. Amazingly enough, this man and his party are still in with a shout of winning the forthcoming Parliamentary elections (in early April). Whether this is more a comment on the stupidity/gullibility of the Italian people or the weakness of the opposition, who knows? It is a sad state of affairs.

But what will happen if Mr Fini, from the fascist National Alliance, becomes the next Prime Minister?