International

Last Monday saw what may turn out to be yet another major scandal come to light, when a local assistant of a Romanian MEP of the extreme right stated that he had never received a single cent in wages, despite the fact that the man had presented him as one of his employees. This would mean that the MEP had pocketed some €40.000. Commenting on the affair, SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong says, ´Just a few days ago the working group of which I was a member reached agreement on a new Code of Conduct for Euro-MPs. This incident demonstrates that this Code of Conduct should be introduced without delay, and also that its enforcement must be very closely monitored. The European Parliament does some important work, but this sort of incident gives people the idea, and not without foundation, that the place is full of people who are only out for their own gain.’

Slowly but surely it’s getting through to the US and NATO that this war cannot be won, and that talking with the Taliban would be preferable. The Taliban cannot be combated militarily. That the war has not delivered what was anticipated in 2001 is now acknowledged.