tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-147048652009-11-14T04:05:59.898ZAn Irish perspective on international relations, politics, the War on Terror and life in generalFiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.comBlogger583125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1157725513160207462006-09-08T15:23:00.000+01:002006-09-08T15:25:13.200+01:00

A fabulous idea, announced here, and proposed by some super smart Irish bloggers

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1157261301493726772006-09-03T06:24:00.000+01:002006-09-03T06:29:32.646+01:00

The Government of Pakistan has been negotiating truces with militant groups in Waziristan. Why? Well, apart from the obvious unrest caused by ongoing hostilities, the US government appears to be encouraging such actions. Of course, some aren't happy. Diplomats claim that these fighters are now joining Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. One bad war creates another.

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1157260731821617022006-09-03T06:16:00.000+01:002006-09-03T06:19:39.356+01:00

Human Rights Watch is being heavily criticised by some for its approach to the Israel/Lebanon conduct. In particular, Avi Bell criticises (1, 2, 3) Ken Roth for being anti-Semitic and Kevin Heller (1, 2, 3) and Rosa Brooks (LA Times) protest. This wouldn’t be the first time a human rights organisation is accused of being anti-Semitic, or at least anti-Israel, but at some stage supporters of

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1154427138439577802006-08-01T11:02:00.000+01:002006-08-01T11:12:18.503+01:00

As widely reported Digital Rights Ireland appear to be preparing legal proceedings against the State in relation to the directive issued by Mary O'Rourke in 2002 to telecommunications providers to keep a record of commuications by individuals for three years, which can then be accessed by Gardai without a warrant if they believe it will help in investigation of criminality. DRI explain the legal

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1153901609763952602006-07-26T09:07:00.000+01:002006-07-26T09:21:56.150+01:00

If this was on purpose Israel must surely loose all international support in the current conflict; if it was not on purpose then the incompetence of the Israeli military targetting should be cause for worry, especially given all these 'precision strikes' they carry out.There's been a lot of talk about proportionality in international law over the last few days - the best discussion is on Opinio

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1153900366703018132006-07-26T08:50:00.000+01:002006-07-26T08:52:46.793+01:00

In 2001 Gay Mitchell recommended that alcohol advertisement be banned from television. In 2003 the government declared its intention to ban alcohol advertisements during the broadcasting of sports events and the restricting of sports sponsorship in 2003, but dropped their Alcohol Products (Control of Advertising, Sponsorship and Marketing Practices/Sales Promotions) Bill (A&L Goodbody briefing),

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1150444755488173762006-06-16T08:58:00.000+01:002006-06-16T08:59:15.536+01:00

Originally posted hereI’ve spent the last half hour staring at a blank page and thinking about what I should write. There are so many things playing on my mind at the moment – world cup politics, Charles Haughey, Big Brother, an historic parades agreement in Northern Ireland but still the page remained blank because what I really want to talk about is this: why have we decided that rules are made

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1150441518685077672006-06-16T08:03:00.000+01:002006-06-16T08:06:04.050+01:00

The US promises there will be no classified interrogation sections in the Army Field Manual - it's progress. More imporant is a grow recognition of this crystal clear fact:''By perpetrating human rights abuses in the name of the Global War on Terror we are in fact fueling a worldwide wave of hatred and violence against the United States,'' said Meehan. ''To regain credibility in the world we need

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1146065494599560702006-04-26T16:29:00.000+01:002006-04-26T16:31:34.706+01:00

An interesting case is developing in New York where a number of young artists are challenging the constitutionality of a strict anti-graffiti law:Seven young artists Tuesday sued New York City over its strict anti-graffiti law, saying it violated their constitutional right to free speech.The group argued in federal court that the city went too far by banning people under 21 from possessing spray

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145977586956043952006-04-25T16:03:00.000+01:002006-04-25T16:06:27.266+01:00

A pre-operative male to female transsexual is starting a 10 month jail sentence in Wisconsin, but what section should she be in - male or female? She thinks female - what do you think?Story: Wisconsin State Journal; Hat tip: Ann Althouse

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145613250716478692006-04-21T10:51:00.000+01:002006-04-21T10:54:10.776+01:00

In what I hope will become a regular feature here, there follows some interesting though sometimes under-reported law news from the blogs.* Conor Foley on free legal aid in post-conflict situations (Comment is Free)* Alabama is asking the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision in Roper; the decision that deemed the execution of juvenile offenders unconstitutional (SCOTUSblog); also interesting

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145610671677767752006-04-21T10:08:00.000+01:002006-04-21T10:11:11.680+01:00

There. I've said it. I hate them. They never read on either of the computers here. Sometimes they read on the computer in work, but rarely. I hate them with passion, especially since I'd love to read the comments on this post by Twenty. Please stop using them.Sigh

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145539017049200682006-04-20T14:13:00.000+01:002006-04-20T14:16:57.120+01:00

Tomorrow there's a little get together in Stephen's Green around noon for anyone who wants to come. Richard and I should be identifiable at the gates opposite the shopping centre from our respective pictures or the fact that we're already shouting at one another. If anyone is going to be late or any some such thing then pop me an email and I'll send my mobile number which I promise to remember to

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145524945294517432006-04-20T10:21:00.000+01:002006-04-21T11:18:28.756+01:00

According to Overheard in Law SchoolOkay, so the first part is multiple choice. This second part. Do we just do our normal law school bullshit analysis?Writing Prof: It's like that joke, you know, two men are camping in the woods and a bear comes to the campsite... One guy puts on his shoes, the other guy asks "Why are you putting on your shoes? We have to run from the bear!" The guy with shoes

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145519993621955462006-04-20T08:58:00.000+01:002006-04-20T09:01:53.510+01:00

Tom is going to try. I don't understand his skill-set, which suggests it must be very good from a techie perspective, but from the Blog awards I can say he dresses very well, is handsome and can hold an audience.I bet he has an offer within a fortnight

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145457717307236752006-04-19T15:38:00.000+01:002006-04-19T15:41:57.313+01:00

Census trouble ahead? Yahoo reportsAn exodus of rugby fans from Limerick in Ireland threatens its status as a city, and the European funding that goes with it, when a population census is taken Sunday. Diarmuid Scully, mayor of Limerick in western Ireland, told Reuters as many as 20,000 fans could follow the regional team Munster to Dublin Sunday for the Heineken Cup semi-final against

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145457309781868502006-04-19T15:32:00.000+01:002006-04-19T15:35:09.930+01:00

But should they be? What do you think? AP reportsThe Alabama Legislature gave final approval to a bill that sets up a process to pardon civil rights icon Rosa Parks and hundreds of others arrested for violating segregation-era laws. The sponsor of the bill, Democratic Rep. Thad McClammy, said the legislation could lead to pardons for Parks, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and hundreds of

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1145352368458286362006-04-18T10:14:00.000+01:002006-04-18T10:26:08.556+01:00

Niall of Plain of Pillars has an excellent post here on the difficult relationship between the Green Party and the countryside; Twenty gets all artistic; Sinead is back; Maman Poulet voices what we all really think about Luigi Malone's, and Red Mum has an Easter Egg crisis

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144915448154577192006-04-13T09:00:00.000+01:002006-04-13T09:22:49.376+01:00

Watching the Masters golf Sunday night I was amazed to hear Tiger Woods say that he played fantastically well from tee to green but as soon as he got on the green he was "a spaz". I flinched when I heard it and was suprised that nobody had picked up on it, except they have. The BBC in particular are looking (here) at whether it's ever acceptable to use that term and considering the most

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144914411198465212006-04-13T08:44:00.000+01:002006-04-13T08:46:51.270+01:00

Looks like the UK government just can't get that counter-terrorism stuff right. They'll appeal, of course, but even if it's deemed a violation of the Human Rights Act again it should be brought back into line relatively simply - just put in a facility for a meaningful, independent judicial review of the legality of control orders

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144837514498232822006-04-12T11:19:00.000+01:002006-04-12T12:47:51.996+01:00

Via Raw Story comes this confirmation from the Pentagon that it spied on queer groups opposed to the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy of the military, which essentially provides that gays may join the military provided they don't tell anyone about the fact that they don't like boys/girls (delete as appropriate).Now I've heard all the arguments about morale and discipline and so on that are forwarded

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144836809918960862006-04-12T11:05:00.000+01:002006-04-13T13:47:08.563+01:00

Thanks to Roger Alford I came across the details of the case of Junvenal Pineda (a.k.a Simon Trinidad), accussed of conspiracy to commit hostage taking, hostage taking, aiding and abetting and causing an act to be done, and material support of terrorists, i.e. FARC. Pineda claimed that he was entitled to the protections of the Geneva Conventions and the Federal District Court in Washington DC

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144831843135718082006-04-12T09:46:00.000+01:002006-04-12T09:50:43.193+01:00

For the first time in my life I am seriously considering voting for the Green party. I find it both strangely disconcerting (I don't know why - perhaps I was brought up with a stereotype of greens as crazy ecowarriors with no sense of reality) but also very comforting. The more I read about their policies the more I feel they best fit my political outlook.My traditional party of choice, the

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144830139243019792006-04-12T09:16:00.000+01:002006-04-13T08:25:39.393+01:00

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture has stated that torture continues in Uzbekistan, particularly against those who try to oppose the government there (Jurist report). You may recall that Craig Murray last year spoke of the UK's quasi-complicity in torture in Uzbekistan.Something pretty momentous is starting to happen around the world in this respect - whereas previously torture was condemned as

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14704865.post-1144670670724208482006-04-10T13:03:00.000+01:002006-04-10T13:04:30.810+01:00

In law school I was a complete Lucy.Not sure much has changed actually...

Fiona de Londrasnoreply@blogger.com3