Across the pond

This week’s news from around the world has been full of stories which show just how our times are changing.

Cuba. The resignation of Fidel Castro, who has dominated his own country and been a strong influence on Latin American politics for over forty years. The Cuban people are unlikely to see much immediate change under the new regime led by his brother. But America is now free of a very vocal opponent in its own backyard. However much Obama wants to model himself on JFK, he is not going to mount an assault in the Bay of Pigs. Neither will McCain. And even the most fervent of the supporters of the former Batista government now living in Miami are not going to mount a dad’s army in rowing boats to restore their version of democracy in their home country unless they get backing from Washington. The normalisation of America’s relations with Cuba may well start even before George W. Bush leaves the White House. Bush is desparately looking for things he can do to distract the historians from delivering their verdict on his regime based on the war against Iraq. He has already tried a visit to the Middle East in the vain hope that he could bring peace there.  By comparison turning Havanna into a tourist destination rather than enemy territory is a doddle.

Pakistan. Musharraq, America’s main ally in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war against terror, has received a bloody nose, with victories in the elections to the parties led by Benzahir Bhottos widower and Sharif. The elections have revealed the depth of the opposition to the military dictatorship. The stage is set for another attempt at democracy in Pakistan. Which is bound to have the support of both the governments of Britain and America, who have had enough of the embarrassment of justifying their fight for democracy while depending on a dictator. Musharraq is no longer reliable for wiping out the terrorist training camps, let alone responding to the needs of his own people.

Britain. Foreign Secretary has been forced to admit to the House of Commons, that despite what the Government had told them, two American flights of rendition landed on British territory. The flights of rendition were a device to enable tortures, which we would be illegal in Britain and America, to be employed on terrorist suspects. Also this week in London lawers acting for Iraqi citizens have been calling for a public enquiry in what they say was executions by the British army in Iraq. This story, to be dealt with by BBC Panorama, has met with emphatic denials so far. Whether the story stands up remains to be seen. But it is clear from what we already know that both American and British troops have been over-stepping their usual rules under the stress of fighting a nasty war in which they cannot be sure whether the civilians they are there to protect are in fact potential bombers.

Also in London, the Brown government has done a complete turnaround and rushed a bill through the House of Commons to nationalise Northern Rock, the building society which is now supported by £100 billion of government money. Later on the same day the House of Lords held the bill up, insisting that whatever is done must be open to public scrutiny and subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Another blow for Gordon Brown and a reminder that control freaks have to mend their ways if they want to be Prime Minister. It all happened on his birthday and he has never looked so glum, while the Liberal Democrats again made fun of him once again. What he least wanted on his birthday was a replay of the Mr Bean joke.