Comments on issues raised by BBC WHYS

Belgium has many times been in the news for the record of crimes in which children were the victims. Some public figures were scandalised because of their paedophilia. Children were kidnapped by apparently psychologically unstable paedophiles, raped and killed. There were cases of paedophilia within some churches. Some child criminals remain out the reach of justice until found after committing horrendous crimes.

Concerning paedophilia, it remains difficult to protect children as some are victimised by their family members and even their parents. In some conservative societies, paedophilia happens but remains covered-up. Parents can’t report the abusers of their children for fear of scandal in their surrounding. The child doesn’t receive any psychological counselling This distorts their psychological make-up.
Children should be taught to know how to protect themselves and not to be easygoing, especially; with strangers however good they look.

19/06/2006 16:19

Apologising for slavery should be in deeds not in words. The best compensation slave descendants can get is that they should no longer be portrayed in a racist way. Many blacks around the world suffer disfavour. Blacks were either the victims of slavery or colonisation. Now they are the victims to a large extent from mismanagement by their government after independence and racism in Europe, particularly. Making such adjustments can an effective apology, in that human brotherhood transcends colour, culture and political borders.

But we mustn’t forget neo-slavery. Women are exploited in brothels after being lured in sex trade. Illegal immigrants are forced to do jobs in abject conditions for a low pay, without having their rights guaranteed.

As we look back to draw lessons from enslaving blacks in the past with its inhuman consequences, we should not let modern types of slavery thrive and wait for a century to apologise for it.
22/06/2006 17:19

US troops’ withdrawal from Iraq must be linked to the level of full political stability, the weakening of insurgence and the geopolitical situation in the region. The US can link its withdrawal with its relations with Iran concerning the nuclear issue. If the US leaves Iraq without settling this issue, Iran will try to weaken the Iraqi government by interfering in its policy by supporting the insurgents, thus creating an atmosphere of war worse than the current security situation in Iraq now.

Even US and British troops’ withdrawal from Iraq will be replaced by continuous supervision of the Iraqi army through US & UK military advisers who will continue to train the Iraqi army and to offer military strategic assistance to deal with internal and external security threats. The US in particular will keep a close eye on the functioning of the Iraqi government so it won’t ally with hostile regimes in the region like Iran. It will need to keep a check on Iraq armament so it won’t deviate from the international standards.

So the only benefit from the withdrawal will be for the soldiers in constant risk of kidnapping, injuries and death. Public outcry at home will diminish and the Iraq card won’t be loosely used in political debates and elections. The focus will be on internal matters. For the Pentagon and the American Administration in general, the work will continue to secure stability in Iraq and to have pro-American government in place.
22/06/2006 15:50

North Korea is a military power through its presumably possession of sophisticated nuclear missiles . Ironically, its military “might” is contradicted by its huge economic backwardness. It should take the example of its neighbour South Korea which has become an economic giant in a relatively short time through its openness and being a liberal country. North Korea is isolated because of its isolationist policy. It can also take the example from former Soviet Union, which despite its huge arsenal of military nuclear weapons crumbled.

North Korea will become a real threat if the communist leaders become desperate because of their international isolation and launch a nuclear attack. They have nothing to lose as they took the experience of sacrificing people through their police state system and the complacency to see North Koreans to a large extent suffering from economic hardship due to their policies.

If there is any comparison to be made by Iran( which is set to develop its nuclear program) and NK( which pretends that it has far-reaching nuclear missiles is that Iran at least has oil resources which contribute to world economy. NK hasn’t any. All that it has are threats especially, to those exceeding it economically and politically. South Korea will remain a thorn in the side of NK leaders as it shows North Koreans the alternative life they can have if they get rid of their communist regime.
21/06/2006 14:47