No deal yet

No deal yet, the Ministry of Defence in Romania denies it. The president has expressed his wish and he is close to Bush and the US and he would rather please the americans who have supported him. But the government (liberal) and the potential future coallition government has clearly said that they want new planes and do not want to repeat the disastrous example of buying used stuff from the West (like the british frigates overpriced and underarmed). Th main contenders from a technical point are the Grypen and the Typhoon, buying European would also support Romania’s friends in the EU (Romania member state since 2007). The decision has to be made in the National Defence council, where the army, the President and the government have a voice ( and a veto) and therefore will be probably postponed until the new elections (2009). If a government favorable to the current president wins expect the F16 deal to go through … if not, I would bet on the Typhoon

Pretty hard to judge. I lived in Paris for 5 years, and frankly, the most friendly people, the most dynamic, the most opened minded, those who would invite you for a drink or show you the bars aroung were these Beurs, Arab origine, French born minorities. On the other hand if you are working and see your car burned by these hooligans, if you get caught in a fight because they want to rackett a bus or a party – this happened to me -, you really start to hate them. Truth is in France, there are two societies, living isolated one from each other. The main stream French are richer, hypocrite when they talk about integration , very egotical, close minded, and are guarding their privileges. The outsiders hate the system and now is pay back time.

Depressing Canada

I lived in Canada for 15 years and although it is clean and rich and polite, it is really depressing. Terrible weather, boring people, very political correct. Of course Turkmenistan is much worse and I’m not talking about war torn countries or famine struck countries. But for a decent westerner, Canada is pretty boring. I rather live in Eastern Europe, or in Portugal, Greece (where I am now) or Spain
BElarus is gray but wow, so many beautyfull girls. It is ideal if you are not married.