A Bird’s Eye View: Off with their... !
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Advena Avis
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 09, 2009 00:00
A small message to President Obama, just as a reminder of how certain stupid policies of his predecessor are still being implemented to the detriment of U.S. credibility. Maybe he should do something about it.
On April 18, Air France Flight 438 from Paris was to land in Mexico City after flying over U.S. territory. Five hours before landing, the captain announced that U.S. authorities had prohibited the plane from flying over U.S. territory because there was a passenger aboard who was unwanted in the United States for reasons of national security. The plane was diverted to Martinique for refuelling, before continuing to Mexico City. The passenger who was a threat to the United States was Mr. Calvo Ospina, a journalist for the "Monde Diplomatique," who had written many anti-U.S. articles as had so many other humans. Mr. Ospina was politely interrogated by the authorities of Martinique and the next day was allowed to board a flight for Managua, his original destination.
Air France paid for the hotel costs of the passengers in Managua and kept silent about the whole story. So did France. But we birds find it absolutely paranoid not to allow a plane to fly over U.S. territory for the only reason that a passenger had written anti-U.S. articles in the press. This of course is a result of the agreement that the European Union signed with the United States, according to which the EU would give beforehand the passenger list of any flights coming to the States or passing U.S. territory. Consequently we think that Air France should sue either the U.S. government or the EU Commission for the extra costs incurred by the diversion. We also think that the EU should strongly protest to the United States about this incident if it wants to maintain its credibility among its citizens. But most likely nothing will happen. We shall see.
By the way, in the Middle Ages humanity had very efficient and practical ways of dealing with the financial crisis of the time. In 1125 A.D. Henry V issued the following edict as quoted from the Laud Chronicle, one of the last of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and translated from Middle English: "In this year before Christmas, King Henry sent from Normandy to England and gave instructions that all moneyers be deprived of their members. Bishop Roger of Salisbury commanded them all to assemble at Winchester by Christmas. When they came they were taken one by one, and each deprived of the right hand and testicles below. All this was done in 12 days before Christmas and Epiphany, and was entirely justified because they had ruined the whole country by the magnitude of their fraud, which they paid for in full." No bonuses then. But maybe today’s bankers should appreciate how lucky they are.
Ponder our thoughts dear humans for your benefit.
Air France paid for the hotel costs of the passengers in Managua and kept silent about the whole story. So did France. But we birds find it absolutely paranoid not to allow a plane to fly over U.S. territory for the only reason that a passenger had written anti-U.S. articles in the press. This of course is a result of the agreement that the European Union signed with the United States, according to which the EU would give beforehand the passenger list of any flights coming to the States or passing U.S. territory. Consequently we think that Air France should sue either the U.S. government or the EU Commission for the extra costs incurred by the diversion. We also think that the EU should strongly protest to the United States about this incident if it wants to maintain its credibility among its citizens. But most likely nothing will happen. We shall see.
By the way, in the Middle Ages humanity had very efficient and practical ways of dealing with the financial crisis of the time. In 1125 A.D. Henry V issued the following edict as quoted from the Laud Chronicle, one of the last of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles and translated from Middle English: "In this year before Christmas, King Henry sent from Normandy to England and gave instructions that all moneyers be deprived of their members. Bishop Roger of Salisbury commanded them all to assemble at Winchester by Christmas. When they came they were taken one by one, and each deprived of the right hand and testicles below. All this was done in 12 days before Christmas and Epiphany, and was entirely justified because they had ruined the whole country by the magnitude of their fraud, which they paid for in full." No bonuses then. But maybe today’s bankers should appreciate how lucky they are.
Ponder our thoughts dear humans for your benefit.