When President Obama didn’t go hawkish on Libya and Muamar Ghaddafi, I was hopeful and realize that he was being smart to stay away from this conflict. Then he opened his mouth and started saying that Ghaddafi should go. Well, right here in the south there are people saying the same thing about him. Should he pack it up and leave? Of course not. Why? There is a world out there that loves, respects and requires him to be president. Like it our not, if the same thing happens in which those opposing President Obama take up arms, we would have Civil War II. The President would have the powers to crush any rebellion in the name of treason.

Regardless of what’s being said, Muamar Ghaddafi is still the ruler of Libya and should be given the same respect that we’ve given others that came to power by coup. It wasn’t too long ago that Ghaddafi’s son, Libya’s foreign minister was in Washington, meeting with Hillary Clinton. What’s up with this about face? Certainly Ghaddafi should’ve asked the people what they wanted but the rebels took up arms almost immediately and started their “protest” violently. Unlike other countries like Egypt, the reaction was swift.

In Egypt, as in almost all over the Arab world, everyone was asking for change. For some it was change from the corruption that was pervasive in the society. For others it was the notion that the rulers felt they were in power for life and regardless of what happened they would remain in power for generations. The interesting thing is however, each country has its own reason to rise up and this wave provides them with the notion that they can have their voices heard. Libya was obviously no different. Its’ been 42 years since Muamar Ghaddafi came to power and it seems like he’ll be there until he dies.

The unfortunate thing is that these regimes have no succession plan. Right now we have something so similar to Iraq its not funny. Saadam had his sons as his successor but they were all killed. Ghaddafi has the same plan and if this becomes a victory for the rebels either they’ll have to escape from Libya or meet the same fate. Certainly, Ghaddafi would be hanged if captured. With this the question comes, who or for the most part, what will succeed him? Since there is not a clear situation where the majority of the population supports the rebels, there is no doubt that to the victors will go the spoils and the spoils would be all that supported Ghaddafi. Expect to see the tables changing hands where those who come to power would be oppressors to those who lose. What would this lead to? More sectarian violence, the establishment of a permanent rebel movement and all the things that would do nothing good for the nation of Libya. One need only look at Iraq and Afghanistan to see how this plays out.

For some reason, it appears that this is what the West wants as it sends its troops. Why did Obama send in bombers to establish air superiority is beyond reason and gives a tinge of pandering to Republicans. It is good that he’s saying that the role of the US is diminishing at this time but who knows. It wouldn’t take much for Libya to strike back as it did with the Lockerbie bombing after the US bombed Libya, resulting in the death of one of Ghaddafi’s daughters. Would something like this mean that America would be drawn into the conflict more than expected?

If there is a clear voice of the people for the ouster of Ghaddafi, this would’ve been a simple thing but it is not. Ghaddafi knows that he cannot properly rule if he doesn’t give the impression among his people that he is for them. There are certainly many benefactors in Libya. Interestingly enough, Libyans enjoy a relatively stable life, one that is the envy of even some Western countries. There are not starving, they are provided with basic necessities quite well thanks to their oil wealth. Now here is where I have a problem and will always question the West’s motives. The question has to be asked “is it about the oil?” Right now the West doesn’t control any of Libya’s oil and must deal with Ghaddafi who hasn’t been bought. Is it the West wishes they would have someone they can control so that access to oil would be easier? Who can deny that providing support to the rebels would in effect be installing a regime that would be more compliant and would provide them with the accesses they want. Remember, its the West that’s talking about how terrible a person Ghaddafi is. Could it be he’s terrible because he’s not their pet? To many, once you’re not a pet, you’re wild, savage, a beast.

So here’s where I have a problem with President Obama who should not have pandered to the Republicans and participated in bombing Libya in establishing a no-fly zone. Let the Libyans fight it out for themselves. We certainly don’t want another Iraq or worse another Afghanistan. He shouldn’t have bowed to the pressure put on him to act. Its good that he’s handing over to the Europeans but this has played out before. Whether the Libyan people are seeing this as their only way to oust Ghaddafi, we shouldn’t be quick to rush in. And don’t bring in that “democracy” stuff. Democracy in pleural societies is great but in others its where the majority become tyrants to the minorities. If the Libyans want to fight it out, let them fight it out.

One has to hand it to Apple, the world’s greatest marketing company. What Steve Jobs and company have done since the beginning of the world of personal computing is to provide the world with some of it s most innovative technologies. They seem to have this incredible knack for providing us with something we know we want but don’t know we do. When they came out with the MacIntosh computer in 1984, they realized that people wanted to use computers but for most people, it wasn’t about being computer scientists. So they came up with simple things that had already been invented  and repackaged it for public consumption. They made computing fun and useful.

What does the iPad bring to the public today? Some say its a tablet computer. Well, tablets have been around for a long time. This device enabled folks to work directly on the screen. You had a stylus that enabled you to write on the screen and that could be saved. Using your stylus, you could do all the things you would with a mouse. Unfortunately, tablets didn’t sell well. Most of the folks that use them are field service engineers, technicians, nurses, doctors, pharmacy sales people (They’re always interrupting my visits to my doctor armed with these things) people who need to work with a screen instead of a keyboard. Most of us who use computers do so sitting down with a screen and a keyboard so we opted to buy desktops or laptops. We didn’t need tablets. Continue Reading

Just learned that Guyanese boxers in transit back to Guyana have absconded. Seel the following: http://bit.ly/aTEwzo . How selfish and unpatriotic can you get? Now I can understand someone back tracking after being in dire situations. But as a sports person representing your country, this takes you to another level. How are they ever going to represent Guyana again? Didn’t someone tell them how hard it is nowadays to abscond like that? Finding work would be next to impossible and whatever they find would be very menial and degrading, much worse than their previous status as representatives. I don’t care how the treatment was at home, they had the eyes of the world on them and didn’t think about anything else but themselves. Did they stop to think of all the youngsters who looked up to them? Now those kids are thinking that given the same opportunity they would do the same thing. Did they stop to think of the US would now view Guyanese athletes who happen to pass through their borders? Patriotism has nothing to do with the party in power. Its all about the pride you have for your country. Maybe that is the problem. This is just another hustle, winner takes all.  They have none.

This brings back memories of the soccer players who did the same years ago. None gained prominence. Some even went home dead. All brought shame to the country and Guyanese football never got to the greatness it had the potential to achieve.  I hope these guys are swiftly caught, deported back to Guyana and pay back the millions of Guyanese dollars used to finance their trip.

One thing this illustrates is the willingness of the people of Guyana to sell their birthright for a quick meal like in the bible. As young men, who were their teachers? The people of Guyana, fast emerging as among the world’s most ill disciplined.

So the US advances and will face Ghana. Those of you following me know that I’m rooting for Ghana. Something to do with it being so similar to Guyana. The US post office sent some important documents to that country and I haven’t seen them since. Mixed feelings abound. I live in the US and when they drew with England, I celebrated the tying goal. My problem is what happens if the US wins. Looking at the ESPN page now one sees the problem.

Soccer means nothing to Americans and would fall with a thud if they happen to win the World Cup. On the day of their win, ESPN’s website featured the marathon tennis match that was suspended. Yes there’s mention of Landon Donovan and Germany topping their group but there is no excitement to what’s happening in the Sport. Soccer is what people in other countries live, eat, breath, sleep and yes die for. For Americans its just another sport, one that many despise. When the same excitement is evident in the US and when MLS becomes a true contender like the European leagues and when we start seeing crowds showing up for the games in the US, maybe then I’ll be inclined to root for the team of the country I’ve come to love and currently live in. Until then, I’ll be looking with mixed emotions when soccer mad Ghana faces the US.