Friday linkage
by Sam Roggeveen
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9 January 2009 11:34AM
- Looks like Rory may get his wish: the Government is considering sending a frigate to Somalia on anti-piracy operations.
- Last August Stephen Grenville said that, in regard to the trial of a senior intelligence official accused of the murder of a human rights campaigner, the Indonesian justice system faced an important test. In today's Australian, Tim Lindsey argues Indonesia is failing that test.
- The Shanghai real estate market is tanking.
- Highly recommended: an absolutely fascintating presentation on the design of the modern airport. Asked at the end for his best airport, the presenter nominates Singapore. 'The cutting edge of so many things is where money is young.' (H/t Nudge.)
- Observing Japan gives its assessment of Obama's Asia team. (UPDATE: According to Observing Japan, Joseph Nye will be the next US Ambassador to Japan, so Malcolm Cook suggested it would be a good idea to link to this Nye-Armitage paper on the US-Japan alliance. Thanks Malcolm.)
- Melbourne academic Richard Tanter describes Australia's Afghanistan commitment as 'a diffuse paternalistic enthusiasm not too far distant from a nineteenth century imperialist ideal of civilising the natives.'
- Near the end of this clip comes Jon Stewart's prediction that John Howard will 'trash' Blair House.
