Sophie's Choice

The question of whether blood is thicker than water Has risen its head In the Czech Republic. Two babies born on the same day look to have been mistakenly given to the wrong parents. And now after ten months of parenthood the parents are preparing to give up their children in return for their genetic offspring.

This rises several interesting questions:
1) Is a biological connection to people more important than social and cultural ties?
2) If the mistake had be realized after say five years would they still swap?
3) When does bonding and identity building occur in a baby and will the swap have serious ramifications for the growing ego?

The idea that for ten months you could care, love, protect and generally adore a baby and then be happy to give it up is I must admit slightly horrifying for me. However, I also see that the idea that your flesh and blood is being brought up by someone is equally disturbing.

In this situation I honestly don’t know what I would do. – Try and have both babies?? Obviously this would be unfair on the other couple. However, what else could the human heart desire?

WaterGate????

Why is there a persistent re-use of the term water within US scandals. Nixon had Watergate, Clinton had Whitewater and now Bush junior has BlackWater . However, oddities aside, the Blackwater afair could singify a dramatic change of the rules in Iraq for Private Military Companies (PMCs). From 2003 until now they have been immune from Iraqi prosecution for any actions carried out in Iraq. This has basicily given them a carte blanche licence to kill. However, the US administration are being pressured to (and are seemingly thinking about) allowing the Iraqi legal system to deal with cases of excesive force.

This could spell the end for PMC's in the way we know them. As few people (even mercs) would want to end up in the hands of Iraqi police and the legal system. As the coallition relies heavily on PMCs this could have dramatic effects for the whole operation.

Return of the wonderer

I have had an extended summer break, but now i am back on-line and thinking of things to say to you. I am like many people in Poland and awaiting the elections, uncertain if they will change anything. To be honest i am not so bothered who wins as how they win. That is i hope for a majority government and an end to all this coallition bollocks. The sooner Poland gets rid of the Giertichs of this world the better for all of us.