LIMBO — As I watch the U.S. coverage of South Carolina governor Mark Sanford’s fall from grace, I wonder at the role that religion plays in American politics. And, what role religious homogeneity plays in that nation’s ascendancy as a super power.
Without doubt, the U.S. is a superpower. Somewhat less clear, is whether this superpowerdom […]
CAIRO – Just a very quick post to comment on a brief moment, well in fact about five minutes, of unusual oddness. Not to be confused with run-of-the-mill oddness, mind you, which abounds in my circles these days.
As I returned to my hotel room, the message light was flashing on the telephone. This, on its […]
ISLAMABAD – On arrival in Islamabad I had to declare if I’d visited Africa or Europe in the past six days — just to make sure I was free of bird or swine flu, presumably. Naturally, I forgot that Egypt was in Africa… is it?
Now, if they’d asked me that question on arrival in Dubai […]
CAIRO — Like most organizations, the one I’m working for (with?) now is consumed by bureaucracy. Now, bureaucracy itself is not necessarily evil. Nor does this organization have more than its share. However, people (meaning me, and others) can become consumed by bureaucracy and lose sight of the point of things.
So far, I’m not saying […]
CAIRO — Egypt is gripped by swine flu. Well, as gripped as a country can be where there is not a single solitary case of the H1N1 virus. Yet.
On arrival at Cairo International Airport, which is slightly larger than the airport in Kelowna B.C., I was greeted after being disgorged like undercooked fish from the […]
ISLAMABAD There is a certain Zen-like quality to living in a suitcase. As I packed, in late January, for my departure to Egypt, Pakistan and Afghanistan, I selected from an array of “stuff” accumulated over some 44 years of adventures and misadventures, only the most essential items for my travels. I would be living in […]
CAIRO — Having spent the past year and a bit working with the UN Development Program to design and implement a training program for Afghanistan’s Border Police service on the northern frontier with Tajikistan, I well understand the challenges faced by the public security sector in this impoverished and embattled land. There are innumerable threats […]
CAIRO – So, I did finally make it to Cairo. Here’s how.
After waking up late on Wednesday, I sauntered down to the lobby of the NH Hotel near Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam just in time to miss the end of (ahem…) lunch (I did say it was late). However, i peaked into the abandoned restaurant […]