USA: Angola and Rawanda

Whenever I see that people have checked out the blog I get really anxious, because I'm aware that among my posts there's most likely a fair bit of crap conclusions I've drawn, particularly when I first began the blog ... with the zeal of a thousand manic bloggers. Seriously, I knew next to nothing about politics and I was forever confusing Libya and Syria.  The knowledge I have remains limited.  I know trivia from all over, but I don't have a good, solid understanding of any one country.  Feel a bit guilty about my not so pleasant posts about political figures (kind of like I do whenever I'm not nice on twitter), but I'm going to let things stand as they are rather than edit, even though I'll sound like a dick. Seem to be going nowhere with the posting.  Get some draft form thing happening, but I like to 'work' in one hit (it's never the same going back).  But as I leave the drafting until I'm just about ready to drop, there's not much drive left in me and it all sort of gets set aside for editing that somehow doesn't eventuate. Also, some things that I feel really strongly about at the time aren't that big a deal down the track.  Which is just as well. Spent the night fiddling with something , even though I was mean to get some zzz's.  Why is there never enough time in the day?  It is such a horrible feeling to feel time racing and slipping away like it seems to, while you remain at a sort of standstill feeling like you're striving for something -- but never getting anywhere. What's even worse than that?  Knowing it's a crazy-lady pursuit. Addiction to news information is a weird addition to have. What news did I find interesting? ANGOLA | RAWANDA #Angola Foreign Minister saw John Kerry to discuss Syria, Israel, Palestine, #Ukraine& 'challenges'  Angola to face as new member #UNSC. #Angola appears to have some role in peacemaking re 'Great Lakes crisis'/ Kerry brings up #Congo violence against women. Shared obligations. #Angola #Congo Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - No. 1 threat to stability in region [Kerry] - http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/464957.html #Rawanda US supports ending threat of the FDLR, incl "demobilization & robust military efforts" [John Kerry] - http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/464957.html Demobilisation =  process of standing down nation's armed forces from combat-ready status by (1) peaceful resolution OR  (2) victory in war. Democratic Forces for the Liberation of #Rwanda = has 6 months to surrender gracefully - expires January 2nd, 2015 #Rawanda If FDLR do not surrender 2/1/15: DRC military (ie Congo) & #UN 'peacekeeping' mission must act to end FDLR threat once & for all. #Angola - #USA "On issue after issue, our interests are aligning like never before" [John Kerry] - http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/464957.html #Angola & #USA collaboration: >maritime security >combating piracy >combating illegal fishing >discussion: human trafficking [newsroomamerica] #Angola To join Chemical Weapons Convention, a 'treaty of conscience'; duration 100 years. [John Kerry] Kerry brings up #Syria & removal of 'chemical weapons' from Syria. Mentions Daesh. Removal ' providential choice'. MIRACLE! #Angola US investments improving business climate & integration AND "leveraging Angola’s leadership" [John Kerry] http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/464957.html Port of Luanda energy companies are presumably responsible for this 'leveraging' LOL ... Kerry mentions visit to execs. #USA African Growth & Opportunity Act /AGOA = trade preferences 4 quota & duty-free entry to US Criticism: dominated by oil & raw materials #Angola US sphere via AGOA (raw materials to US, primarily OIL) & TIFA (pre Free Trade Agreement) - http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/464957.html 2013 #Angola produced 1.8 million barrels per day Total, Chevron, ExxonMobil & BP - deepwater fields http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ao #Angola - economy dependent on oil production. Oil revenue accounted for almost 80% of total govt revenue 2011. [IMF] #Angola High dependence oil revenue (2011 @ 80%, IMF) = vulnerable to oil price volatility. Oil export revenues = $68 billion (2012) #Angola #Lucapa Interest = Chevron Chevron (& oil industry generally ) 'leveraging' Angola regional leadership. -- http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=ao What I see here is a state that is very much dependent on oil companies and appears close to USA, who seems to be (along with oil companies, most likely), promoting Angola as a regional leader. What has Angola got to do with Ukraine?  Nothing, aside from Angola being a member of the UNSC.  Hey, that's in favour of the US.  Angola can vote how the US votes and everybody's happy.  Well, US energy is. Chemical weapons and Syria got a mention, just to reinforce the US narrative.  Otherwise, it would have been enough to merely state that Angola's coming the Chemical Weapons Convention party. Sounds like there's a declaration of war against Rawanda.  Democratic Forces for the Liberation has until 2 January to disarm, or else.  Kerry says: 'peacekeeping' mission must act to end FDLR threat once & for all. So that sounds like an or 'else threat' to me and the 'once and for all' sounds ominous. This is the laziest blogging ever.  Really, should check to see who the group is that's being targeted.  It may not necessarily be a war on the country; it could just be a group of insurgents. No sleep and ready to drop, so I'm over look-ups.  It was just something I thought I'd quickly share.  Big day ahead of me, with no sleep.  Uh-oh.  This could turn out badly. ----------------------------------------------- ADDENDUM Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda Rwandan Hutu rebel group in east of Congo. aka FDLR after its original French name: Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda. [Source:  Wikipedia]

MH17 - RUSSIAN CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL BLOCKED BY U.S., AUSTRALIA & TAG-ALONG LITHUANIA

West blocks Moscow’s UN plea to reinstate ceasefire at MH17 crash site Published time: August 08, 2014 11:07 The UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on reinstating the ceasefire at the site of the Malaysian Airlines plane crash in eastern Ukraine after Russia’s draft was blocked by Western states. “Unfortunately, some UNSC members have reacted in their usual way as they oppose any criticism of the Ukrainian leadership,” Churkin said, adding that Lithuania, the US, and Australia began proposing inappropriate amendments to the text. In July, The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an international investigation into the MH17 incident and demanded safe access to the site for investigators. In the wake of the decision, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a unilateral ceasefire in a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) area around the site of the crash. However, shelling and fighting in the area has continued, hampering the experts' work several times in the past weeks. But on Thursday Kiev suspended the truce with self-defense forces at the crash site. "The ceasefire in the plane crash zone, announced by the President of Ukraine at the request of international experts, which has been thoroughly observed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, will not be in place at the beginning of the second phase of the investigation," the Ukrainian government said. The government claims that the international mission has been halted because of “terrorists’ provocations” who “posed threats to the lives” of the recovery mission members. The suspension of the ceasefire in the MH17 crash area is a direct violation of the UN resolution, Vitaly Churkin stressed: “The truce was approved by UN Security Council resolution 2166, thus it is a clear violation of the resolution and will have very serious consequences for international inspectors' abilities to conduct the investigation when they decide to return to the area.” Before the ceasefire was cancelled, the Netherlands, who lead the international probe, announced it was halting the mission to recover victims and debris of the July 17 MH17 crash because of fighting between Ukrainian forces and rebels in the area. The international investigating team arrived at the site days after the tragic incident, delayed for security reasons. Experts are expected to resume their efforts once the situation allows. Currently, at least three areas containing the Boeing-777’s debris remain unexamined by the international mission, according to the Ukrainian government. The majority of experts will leave Ukraine until a decision on resuming the operation is made, it said in a statement.  SOURCE - RT NEWS - HERE.

What's the bet that the US aligned mob think there's some advantage in not pursuing a ceasefire.

Love how Lithuania is brown-nosing the US.  Maybe Lithuania should worry about their human trafficking problem instead of worrying about the drafting of Russia's ceasefire proposal.  

As for Australia, when you're bound up in protection/defence agreements, you're owned.  And someone like Rupert Murdoch's boy, Tony Abbott, would just love the US boot-licking that's part and parcel of that.  I'm sure he'd even think he was rather 'special'.  LOL.

US - Syria - Caution from Russia

A Plea for Caution From Russia What Putin Has to Say to Americans About Syria By VLADIMIR V. PUTIN Published: September 11, 2013 MOSCOW — RECENT events surrounding Syria have prompted me to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders. It is important to do so at a time of insufficient communication between our societies. Relations between us have passed through different stages. We stood against each other during the cold war. But we were also allies once, and defeated the Nazis together. The universal international organization — the United Nations — was then established to prevent such devastation from ever happening again. The United Nations’ founders understood that decisions affecting war and peace should happen only by consensus, and with America’s consent the veto by Security Council permanent members was enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The profound wisdom of this has underpinned the stability of international relations for decades. No one wants the United Nations to suffer the fate of the League of Nations, which collapsed because it lacked real leverage. This is possible if influential countries bypass the United Nations and take military action without Security Council authorization. The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria’s borders. A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism. It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance. Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. But there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all stripes battling the government. The United States State Department has designated Al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, fighting with the opposition, as terrorist organizations. This internal conflict, fueled by foreign weapons supplied to the opposition, is one of the bloodiest in the world. Mercenaries from Arab countries fighting there, and hundreds of militants from Western countries and even Russia, are an issue of our deep concern. Might they not return to our countries with experience acquired in Syria? After all, after fighting in Libya, extremists moved on to Mali. This threatens us all. From the outset, Russia has advocated peaceful dialogue enabling Syrians to develop a compromise plan for their own future. We are not protecting the Syrian government, but international law. We need to use the United Nations Security Council and believe that preserving law and order in today’s complex and turbulent world is one of the few ways to keep international relations from sliding into chaos. The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not. Under current international law, force is permitted only in self-defense or by the decision of the Security Council. Anything else is unacceptable under the United Nations Charter and would constitute an act of aggression. No one doubts that poison gas was used in Syria. But there is every reason to believe it was used not by the Syrian Army, but by opposition forces, to provoke intervention by their powerful foreign patrons, who would be siding with the fundamentalists. Reports that militants are preparing another attack — this time against Israel — cannot be ignored. It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.” But force has proved ineffective and pointless. Afghanistan is reeling, and no one can say what will happen after international forces withdraw. Libya is divided into tribes and clans. In Iraq the civil war continues, with dozens killed each day. In the United States, many draw an analogy between Iraq and Syria, and ask why their government would want to repeat recent mistakes. No matter how targeted the strikes or how sophisticated the weapons, civilian casualties are inevitable, including the elderly and children, whom the strikes are meant to protect. The world reacts by asking: if you cannot count on international law, then you must find other ways to ensure your security. Thus a growing number of countries seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. This is logical: if you have the bomb, no one will touch you. We are left with talk of the need to strengthen nonproliferation, when in reality this is being eroded. We must stop using the language of force and return to the path of civilized diplomatic and political settlement. A new opportunity to avoid military action has emerged in the past few days. The United States, Russia and all members of the international community must take advantage of the Syrian government’s willingness to place its chemical arsenal under international control for subsequent destruction. Judging by the statements of President Obama, the United States sees this as an alternative to military action. I welcome the president’s interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria. We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations. If we can avoid force against Syria, this will improve the atmosphere in international affairs and strengthen mutual trust. It will be our shared success and open the door to cooperation on other critical issues. My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation. There are big countries and small countries, rich and poor, those with long democratic traditions and those still finding their way to democracy. Their policies differ, too. We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord’s blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/12/opinion/putin-plea-for-caution-from-russia-on-syria.html?_r=0 Discovered an old NYT article via twitter. I'm not up-to-date. Just started watching this stuff, so it's some good info for me. Not big on the religious references. I see the UN as just another way for the US to exert influence and dominate, because their various defence and trade allies will always vote with the US. US has always interfered with internal conflicts in other countries, so it should hardly be a surprise if they want to interfere in Syria. So Syria fighting is about multiple extremist religious factions having a go at the government in a quest for religious (?) supremacy and, pretty much, that's all it is? US has designated al-Nusra Front and al-Qaeda 'terrorist'. These religious groups (along with Arab mercenaries), aim to spread conflict to other regions, currently battle it out in Syria. Yet opposition groups in Syria have been supplied with foreign weapons. Who by?  I think the US were wanting to arm the opposition, but I'd need to look that up. Looks like these religious fighters also have an eye on Israel. So basically, if the US is going to make an 'exception' of itself and if the UN veto counts for nothing, the UN may meet the same fate as the League of Nations. Meanwhile, where there is a lack of confidence in the UN, arms proliferation takes place. So it looks like the US were planning on attacking Syria? Funny how they're now planning on attacking Russia.  .......................................................................... Well, there's already a precedent for ignoring the UN and for being the 'exception', so they may as well disband the UN because the UN is a farce. The NATO bombing of Yugoslavia was NATO's military operation against the ... Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War. The operation was not authorised by the United Nations and was the first time that NATO used military force without the approval of the UN Security Council and against a sovereign nation that did not pose a threat to members of the alliance.   The strikes lasted from March 24, 1999 to June 10, 1999. The official NATO operation code name was Operation Allied Force; the United States called it Operation Noble Anvil, while in Yugoslavia the operation was named "Merciful Angel"... [wikipedia] Dig those code names. Not only did Clinton and NATO disregard the UN, Clinton disregarded the US congress as well: Clinton needed a new mission for NATO. The Soviet Union had collapsed and if you recall, the NATO Treaty was a collective security agreement between member nations that if one NATO nation were attacked by the Soviet Union (CCCP), other NATO members would go to its defense.  In violation of International law, the NATO Treaty, the UN Charter and without the approval of Congress, Clinton and his administration, along with Serb-hating Madeline Albright, Wesley Clark, Richard Holbrooke and the rest of the Clinton gang, bombed tiny Yugoslavia that did not attack us or any NATO nation, was never a threat to us, nor did it have weapons of mass destruction. [here] The precedent is set: International law, NATO, the UN, the UN Charter and the US Congress are meaningless shams.

UN Security Council on MH17

21 July 2014 Security Council 7221st Meeting (PM) Security Council Coalesces around Resolution 2166 (2014) on Malaysian Jet Crash Demanding Accountability, Full Access to Site, Halt to Military Activities Deploring the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in eastern Ukraine on 17 July and voicing concern that armed groups had impeded access to the crash site, the Security Council this afternoon called for an independent international investigation and an immediate halt to military activities in the area. FULL details @ - SOURCE - UN Press Release - here.

Above is the UN particulars of the UN Security Council meeting in relation to MH17.

A New York Times article gives an anti-Russian slant [here].

Julie Bishop's quoted by NYT:

“It is despicable this access is not being provided,” the Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, told the Council. Australia drafted the resolution. [here]

The other point of view is that those who have spilled their blood defending east Ukraine have done their best to deal with what has happened -- in the midst of a war reignited by Ukraine's Poroshenko, by way of his US endorsed refusal to extend a ceasefire.

NYT does say that the UN resolution is toothless:

It remains to be seen if the separatists who control the area around the crash site will cooperate with international investigators. The resolution is not under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and, as a result, not enforceable. [here]

Dutch foreign minister Frans Timmermans:

“This is the political game that is being played with human remains and it’s despicable,” he said.  [here]

But who is doing the political game-playing, Mr Timmermans?

So the great Tony Abbott political war of words, the grandstanding, the media circuit, the demands draft-writing, and foreign reps gathering on this urgent UN Council mission is just ... a PR exercise?

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OTHER

Here's some detail about flight Siberia Airlines Flight 1812  (raised by the Russians at UN Security Council):

Siberia Airlines Flight 1812  Commercial flight shot down by the Ukrainian military over the Black Sea - 2001 Tel Aviv, Israel to Novosibirsk, Russia.  Soviet-made Tupolev Tu-154 Estimated 66 passengers and 12 crew members Most Israelis visiting relatives in Russia No survivors. Ukraine eventually admitted: probable errant missile fired by its armed forces. Ukraine ended up paying $15 million to surviving family members of 78 victims. Ukraine is yet to compensate the Russians for their loss of aircraft. [Source - Wikipedia - here]

GAZA - TURKEY ON ISRAEL'S IMPUNITY

İhsanoğlu: Israel to continue attacks on Gaza unless confronted July 18, 2014, Friday/ 17:39:52/ TODAYSZAMAN.COM / ISTANBUL Turkey's joint opposition presidential candidate Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, speaking about the recent massive ground operation launched in the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening by the Israeli military, has said this isn't the first time Israel has made such a move and it will continue to do so unless it is confronted by a strong force. ... İhsanoğlu said that Israel also attacked Gaza in 2008, 2009 and 2012 and will make similar moves in the future unless stopped. Saying that Israel acts in a spoiled, unlawful and presumptuous manner, İhsanoğlu stressed: “Israel has been doing the same thing for 60 years and it has met with no major consequences. The UN Security Council's [authority] was deactivated by a veto. You cannot do anything until this veto block is opened.” He was referring to the US vetoing any acts being taken against Israel during an earlier UN Security Council meeting. ... In a written statement he released on Friday, İhsanoğlu also said that he vehemently condemns the ground operation by Israel in Gaza. He said, “I am condemning Israel's excessive, irresponsible and vicious attack. ...extracts only ...full @... SOURCE - Today's Zaman - here.

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COMMENT

That's an interesting insight and a powerful statement.

GAZA - Palestinian death toll 438

Bloody Sunday as 100 Gazans, 13 Israeli soldiers killed Agence France-Presse 5:23 am | Monday, July 21st, 2014 GAZA CITY–At least 100 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed on Sunday with Hamas claiming it had captured another, as Israel ramped up a major military offensive in Gaza. The Palestinian president, meanwhile, called for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council as regional leaders met in Doha for urgent talks on a ceasefire. As the Palestinian death toll soared to 438 in the bloodiest single day in Gaza in five years, a spokesman for the enclave’s emergency services said more than a third of the victims were women and children. The Israeli army said 13 soldiers had been killed inside Gaza on the third day of a major ground operation. “Over the course of the day, 13 soldiers from the IDF’s Golani Brigade were killed in combat in the Gaza Strip,” a statement said. Their deaths raised to 18 the number of soldiers killed since the ground operation began late Thursday. It was the largest number of soldiers killed in combat since the 2006 Lebanon war. ... Entire buildings were collapsed on themselves or strewn into the streets, while others were ablaze, sending pillars of dark smoke skywards. There were also bodies, blackened and charred almost beyond recognition, some with whole limbs missing. Ban in peace push As the violence raged, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas arrived in Qatar to discuss a ceasefire with Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, and UN chief Ban Ki-moon arrived later to push truce efforts. “I am calling for an urgent session tonight of the UN Security Council,” Abbas said in a speech broadcast on Palestinian TV. “What the occupation forces did today in Shejaiya is a crime against humanity,” he said. “Those who committed it will not go unpunished.” Ban also condemned the “atrocious action” in Shejaiya and urged Israel to “exercise maximum restraint.” ...extract only...full @... SOURCE - Inquirer Philippines - here.

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COMMENT

Cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to be a sitting duck amid the conflict.

MH17 - Bishop's on Abbott's US mission | Shorten's swinging by | Joe Biden's hovering

JULIE BISHOP AND TONY ABBOTT

Yahoo News July 20, 2014, 1:43 pm Julie Bishop heads to US Australia is taking a lead role in pushing for an international investigation in the crash, with Ms Bishop on her way to the US. Ms Bishop is expected to touch down in Washington for meetings before launching a lobbying offensive at the United Nations in New York. "[Ms Bishop] is there to lead our work at the UN. She's there to give focus to our work at the UN and so that the world knows just how seriously Australia is taking this and there are 36 people who call Australia home who have been snuffed out," Mr Abbott said. Australia wants tougher action from the Security Council, believing a press statement calling for an independent international investigation is not enough. It wants a binding resolution from members and is drafting the text to put to the Security Council for a vote. It would need Russia's support. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten will also travel to the US this week for high-level talks on a range of issues, including the Malaysia Airlines tragedy. Mr Shorten is attending the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue, and will meet US vice-president Joe Biden and deputy state secretary William Burns. While he is there, Mr Shorten will be briefed by Australia's representatives at the UN about efforts to secure an investigation into the MH17 crash. ...extract...full @... SOURCE - Yahoo News - here.

Australian-American Leadership Dialogue (AALD) AALD is a not-for-profit NGO, founded as a 'private diplomatic initiative',  drawing together Australian and US achievers from government, the community and the corporate sector, in pursuit of promoting closer Australian-US understanding and ties. Official site AALD - here

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COMMENT

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop's headed to the US on Abbott's mission:   gaining top mileage for US-Australian political advantage.

Bill Shorten, Labor opposition leader, is also headed over for talks; which is strange to a new political watcher.

One would think the opposition would take information directly from the government of the day, rather than have independent discussions.

Shifty Joe Biden is waiting and hovering, and there's even an Aussie-US hybrid NGO in the package.

Shorten's attending AALD, which was formed by Phil Scanlan and his US wife, Julie Singer Scanlan, back in 1992; with the support of Republican President George H W Bush.  

GHW Bush came after Reagan; Clinton followed this Bush and GHW Bush's son, George W Bush, followed Clinton. 

AALD's Scanlan, described as an exceptional networker on his NGO's site, is a former managing director of Coca-Cola Amatil and has now joined the 'strategic advisory board' of Bridge Growth Partners, a New York private equity fund, specialising in technology and financial services.  

Scanlan also happens to be a former Australian Consul-General in New York, before the short-lived Gillard government appointment of Steve Bracks in the role.

Steve Bracks was soon dismissed by Tony Abbott's newly elected Liberal government, in favour of appointing 'Liberal powerbroker Nick Minchin' in Abbott's stead.

Here's some Michin background and what Bill Shorten had to say about on matter of Minchin's appointment:

Mr Minchin ... held several posts in the [Liberal] Howard government, including finance minister. He was instrumental in the then Coalition opposition changing its stance on supporting an emissions trading scheme proposed by the then Rudd government." Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the appointment of Mr Minchin showed the Coalition government’s jobs priorities were wrong. ''The Abbott government will fight for Liberal politicians - they just won’t fight for ordinary people,'' he told reporters in Perth. The government had ''ripped up the rule book'' with the appointment of Mr Minchin. SOURCE - SMH - here.

Don't know much about Bill Shorten, but I'm impressed he stood up for Bracks.

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OTHER SOURCES

http://www.afr.com/p/business/companies/us_pe_fund_bridge_growth_seeks_tech_zSRp3stk0aFpIIz7AJxNxM

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/former-victoria-premier-steve-bracks-gets-new-york-diplomatic-role/story-fn59nm2j-1226645536753

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/liberal-powerbroker-nick-minchin-appointed-consulgeneral-to-new-york-20140214-32ns5.html