Blog about politics (mideast and pro-Israel, Canadian and local Montreal), world events, and random thoughts.

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The World I Know is updated on a semi-regular basis by segacs.

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5:28 PM
Justin Trudeau will run

He's been denying it with lessening intensity each year, and now, as most people assumed he eventually would, Justin Trudeau will run for the Liberals in the next federal election:

Trudeau will run in the Montreal constituency of Papineau, currently held by the separatist Bloc Quebecois. Trudeau, like his father, opposes those who want independence for the French-speaking province of Quebec.

Liberal leader Stephane Dion welcomed Trudeau's announcement, telling reporters in Montreal that "I'm very impressed by the courage of this young man."

His public appearances with Dion during the leadership campaign make the timing of this announcement logical. Trudeau and Dion share the same pet issue - the environment - and Trudeau's public profile will be a welcome boost for Dion in the next election.

Pierre Trudeau was one of the most loved - and hated - Canadian Prime Mininsters in history. He was divisive, but he was a larger-than-life legend. Regardless of your opinion of Pierre Trudeau's place in Canadian history, it will be very difficult for Justin to carve out his own persona away from his father's shadow. At least Justin has his own credentials and issues on which to run. And he has good taste in music, too - at least, judging by his guest appearances on CHOM when Terry DiMonte lets him plug in his ipod.

As former Prime Ministers' kids go, Justin Trudeau is probably the most qualified for this job. Certainly more so than Ben Mulroney. So before we bemoan the fact that we're apparently adopting familial political dynasties in Canada now, à la Bushes, let's just consider that it could have been much worse.

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10:45 AM
The "Friendship Train"

By now, most everyone knows about the terrorist bombing on the Samjhauta Express train between India and Pakistan, which killed at least 66 people:

Two bombs exploded aboard a train bound from India to Pakistan, sparking a fire that killed at least 66 passengers on Monday, an apparent attempt to sabotage a peace process between the nuclear-armed rivals.

One person was detained in connection with the midnight blasts on the train about 80 km north of New Delhi, Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav was quoted as saying.

The Samjhauta Express runs between Dehli and Attari in India and Wagah and Lahore in Pakistan twice a week, and is nicknamed the "Friendship Train" or the "Peace Train", due to its route between the two rival countries. The symbolism of literally trying to derail peace must have been too tempting for the terorrists to resist.

Meanwhile, neither India nor Pakistan appears prepared to take the bait:

There was no finger-pointing by India and Pakistan, as there has been so often in the past after violent attacks.

The prime ministers of the two countries called each other and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said the attack would not be allowed to undermine the two countries' peace efforts.

Progress? Or numbness to terrorism in a part of the world that has seen far too much of it already? It's hard to say. But more people are dead for no reason today. That's all anyone can state for certain. The rest? Who knows?

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