JAMAICA

JAMAICA

Jamaica Observer, Kingston, Jan. 31: The sacking of Mr. Rod Blagojevich as governor of the American state of Illinois offers valuable lessons for the way we conduct our politics here in Jamaica.

For the point that has been forcefully made by the unanimous 59-0 vote of the Illinois Senate to convict Mr. Blagojevich of abuse of power is that corruption, or even the very hint of corruption, should not be tolerated by those entrusted with authority to make laws.

No decency

During the weeks leading up to his impeachment, Mr. Blagojevich reminded us of some of the people who have infiltrated our politics here — people who, in the face of irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing refuse to do the decent thing and step aside.

We are not here advocating that public officials, once accused, should step down without having the accusation tested. That would be foolhardy and a recipe for chaos.

However, when, as in the case of Mr. Blagojevich, the evidence is overwhelming and, as we saw it, incontrovertible, any bid to cling to office is really pathetic and, quite frankly embarrassing.

Politicians the world over often gripe that there is very little financial reward in public service. If that were really true, we wonder what — outside of the few who really have a desire to serve — drives their fervour to seek office.

SWEDEN

Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, Feb. 2: No one should dream that Russia has changed its view of the (world) role it wants to play. Nor should anyone expect the Russian sphere of influence to decline in importance or that its attitude toward Ukraine’s and Georgia’s potential NATO membership has changed.

Cooperation

But a different tone has become noticeable after Barack Obama took over the U.S. presidency: Russia and NATO have resumed cooperation; Russia stopped plans to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad; Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not seek confrontation in Davos and President Dmitry Medvedev is saying that the U.S. and Russia shouldn’t drift apart.

The western world must never silence in its criticism of Russian assaults, whether domestic or international.

But to push Russia away is counterproductive. It risks strengthening Russians’ feeling that the West does not take (them) as seriously as they deserve. And a free-floating Russia is a dangerous Russia.