As is customary on occasions such as these, Malta’s night-life operators benefited greatly from the brief visit, as many of the ship’s 4,000+ crew availed themselves of shore-leave to enjoy the sights and sounds of Paceville by night.
Meanwhile, also as is customary, the visit was greeted with conflicting reactions, with movements such as Graffiti and Front Maltin Inqumu once more raising the issue that the use of our harbours by American navy vessels is in direct conflict with the principle of non-alignment, as enshrined in the Constitution.
The USS John F. Kennedy was one of several warships to visit Malta over the past year – a year in which USA-led Coalition forces invaded and occupied Iraq, overthrowing the Saddam Hussein regime in the process. Many of the ships to visit Malta played an active part in this invasion, which has divided public opinion in Europe and incurred an escalation of enmity directed against Westerners in general, and Americans in particular, among Arab nations.
Last month, a recording of what many experts believe to be Osama bin Laden’s voice was broadcast throughout Europe. Ostensibly, the founder of the al Qaeda terrorist organisation was offering peace terms with European nations, provided that they withdraw all military presence from Muslim countries. The same source now claims that Bin Laden has established July 15 – next Thursday – as the deadline for European countries to either accept his terms, or face attacks similar in scope to the Madrid bombing from al Qaeda cells operative on the European mainland.
Question
Irrespective of whether these visits are un-Constitutional or not... is it a good idea, from a national security perspective, for Malta to continue welcoming warships in our waters, at a time when all of Europe is bracing itself for renewed terrorist attacks?
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Fact
According to a study published by Dr Richard Wrangham, Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University, combat among animals of the same species is very rare. In comparison to humans, whose history is dominated by warfare, animals first dispassionately assess the chances of success and, if the likelihood of injury or defeat is judged to be high, most will invariably opt to withdraw from combat.
The widespread use of rituals in anticipation of combat usually determines who is the superior party, thus eliminating numerous actual fights.
According to the same comparative study, human behaviour is almost the exact opposite, frequently engaging in combat when any rational assessment should have indicated low probability of success.
“Inaccurate prior assessment of one’s enemy results in more damage and lower chances of future survival, than if a more judicious withdrawal had been selected,” Dr Wrangham observed.
Question
Which are more intelligent, humans or animals?
Another 30 migrants rescued at sea
In the early hours of yesterday morning, the Operations Centre of the Armed Forces of Malta was informed that a drifting boat with migrants on board had been sighted approximately 28 nautical miles south-east of Delimara. A search mission involving AFM sea and air craft was co-ordinated The search yielded positive results and 26 males and four females, all from Somalia, were taken on board on AFM vessels PC 24 and the Melita II and conveyed to the Maritime Squadron base of the Armed Forces of Malta. The Maltese Immigration Police are carrying out the investigative procedures.