Newsnight 23/6/10

In-depth investigation and analysis of

the stories behind the day's headlines

with Jeremy Paxman.

Broadcast on:
BBC Two, 10:30pm Wednesday 23rd

June 2010
Duration:
50 minutes
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Obama sacks Afghan Commander. Why?

Sierra Leone.


Loose talk costs careers.
Obama sacks Stanley McKhrystle for

undermining civilian control of the war

effort.

Mark Urban reporting.

Grim faced and silent, after leaving

meeting with Obama. Dismissed over a

principle.

A pentagon spokesman during the war in

Iraq.

Sebastian Gorko speaking.
Petraeus has a closer knit group of

workers.

A strong political message, personnel

change.

General: Public lobbying of personal

strategy. Also of the fact that Obama's

indecision reviewing the military

strategy in Iraq was costly.

Bruce Reidel.

Rolling Stone says that it was those

closest to McKhrystle who made

disparaging remarks about

administration. Particularly on the

Ambassador. His lack of presence

accompanying Obama was noticed by

enemies rather than the media. Sent a

strong signal to enemies.

Two main views:

1. Punishment doesn't fit the crime.

It's deeper than this.

2. It is.

1862/3 to look back at Generals being

fired.

Guests on show:
Elise Jordan
Peter Galbraith

General felt that he wasn't supported

in the way he wanted and needed.

Particularly with his rapport with

President Karzai.

Obama: 'a change in personnel, not in

policy'

General Petreaus.

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£11 billion planned cuts out of

welfare, though if more possible they

said they would.

Stockton on Tees

North East jobs lost with decline in

Steel industries.

Richard Watson reporting...

A family entirely dependent on

benefits.

£680 benefits a week they're entitled

to...

Government targeting people on

Disability Living Allowance.

Ed Balls on show.
No one from government available to

come on show, despite invitation.

Ed Balls: rpi to cpi being changed can

result in £500 worth of benefits being

taken away... Sleight of hand.

Paxman asking whether government plan

(exports to compensate) is

unobtainable.

Paul Mason: can be summarised in a

sentance - a huge chunk out of the

economy replaced by exports.

export-led growth

A huge task...
Following the past 10 years, a lot of

expenditure has gone into consumption,

government spending. The budget today

has announced that they propose to

replace that with significantly

increased expenditure in the private

sector, and government spending

replaced by exports. Following the

model of Canada, which bounced back,

though it was already a relatively big

exporter. Britain is not. Therefore,

strategy is questionable, and a high

risk to achieve in 3 years.

Richard Koo, from Tokyo Japan
Says budget is poor timing.
Following experience of Japan in 1997.
Given the claim that this was

unavoidable, what is his reaction/take?

Waffling on a bit...

Private Sector deleveraging
Paxman suggesting that fiscal policy

failed...

Using a lot of narrative from the

context of Tokyo...
Don't think Paxman was following, less

engaged.

______________

Looking at Sierra Leone.
British intervention.

Post-Imperialism...

10 years haven't done much to change

the entrenched poverty.

Allan Little - reporting again from

years ago.

No discerning economic development.

People are hungry for what they thought

the benefits of peace would bring.
British intervention
stopped civil war.
People speaking of bonds between

Britain and Sierra Leone. Want British

to help out again.

1961 - embraced independence from

British Colonialism.


Fourah Bay University.
A solitary university....
Academic excellence and intellectual

endeavour.

British aid comes with strings

attached.
Shaping it to be more Europeanized.

Valnora Jones
Campaign for Good Governance

British still running the country.

Suggesting a neo-colonialism.

Founded by enlightened British

progressives, for freed slaves.

The idea that Europe could and should

save Africa from itself. Tony Blair a

folk hero there - a bringer of peace.

Their veneration is undiminished.

Blame of Imperialism gone. Seeking a

new progressive.

Paxman: the amazing fact that England

managed to score a single goal against

Slovenia, managed to scrape through.

Last piece referred to the Isner vs

Mahut Wimbledon match on Court 18,

resuming tomorrow!