DSK Everywhere
Here are some English-language links to articles about DSK.
From The American Spectator - There is much to disagree with in this article by Ben Stein, although he is right to feel that we mustn't rush to judgment.
From VFR - A detailed account from the Mail.
From the New York Times - A two-page article on how France is taking this.
H/T: Lawrence Auster - Browse his home page for more.
I will try to have some material up tomorrow (Wednesday). There is a certain amount of commentary from bloggers who are delighted he is in American custody, and an article describing DSK's Trotskyist past. There is also an article at an Algerian website describing at length the personality of the chamber maid. She is presented as being so sweet, so honest, so kind, that she could not possibly be lying. And she is a devout Muslim. Strauss-Kahn is Jewish and has frequently expressed his loyalty to and his concern for Israel. How likely is it that he would attack a Muslim woman wearing a head scarf? Most of the websites, except the Socialists, believe he is guilty.
Update: The website of François Desouche which was inaccessible yesterday is back. Their original article on DSK had to be shortened and the more than 6000 comments were removed to prevent another breakdown. Below, one image from the article, shows the cover of France-Soir with the headline:
"Everyone Knew".
Under that, a quote from someone close to him:
"They should have put body guards around him to prevent him from behaving so foolishly."
Labels: DSK, Ethics/Morals
posted by tiberge @ 2:36 AM
11 comments
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11 Comments:
There were reports that a male hotel worker told the maid the room was clear. Who was he? Why did a male hotel worker go in the room before the guest checked out? Where did he tell her this? Did she go back to him after the alleged incident?
If there was no male worker telling her to go to the room, why did she go to the room before the guest checked out?
Did this unknown male arrange something for DSK? Then double cross him by sending in a maid who knew nothing? Or some other cross? Who is this man and what is his history? Did DSK verbally abuse him at a prior stay? Did the staff dislike DSK for verbal abuse from prior stays? Hercule Poirot is needed to unravel this one.
The basic fact that someone, the maid or another hotel worker went into the room before checkout is what to hold onto.
Also, since when does an employee go into a room and not find anyone there and decide the guest has checked out and tell the maid to clean it? Since when does a hotel employee go into a room just before check out to check if the guest is still there? What if the guest is going to try to stay late or another night? Did someone else want the room?
Even so, they wouldn't just check out the head of the IMF without his knowing it or being informed that the room was now taken for someone else.
My French ladyfriend certainly knew. Several months ago when we were discussing the Presidential election she said, "I hope that he can keep his trousers zipped-up for five years". i.e. during the run-up to the election and if he were to become the next President.
If DSK is not a candidate, the election in 2012 will be very interesting. It will be even more interesting if he is a candidate!
NEWS FLASH!! - Exclusive video of DSK at Riker's Island:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jZiKFLL6MI
"How likely is it that he would attack a Muslim woman wearing a head scarf?"
Was she wearing one at the time?
If so, you're right, Tiberge, it is puzzling. But this has occurred to me: given that Islamic men frequently blame their women for having been raped and consider them "soiled" and sometimes even worthy of death, perhaps DSK thought a Muslim woman would be the SAFEST woman to violate because she would surely keep her mouth shut rather than risk dishonor. If so, he fatally miscalculated.
However, Old Atlantic Lighthouse brings up some very good points as well - who is this worker who told the maid to enter the room? As OAL notes, a "set-up" need not involve Sarko and DSK's political rivals, but perhaps just a low-level hotel employee or employees familiar with DSK's proclivities and weaknesses and resentful of DSK's arrogance.
The more details emerge, the more confusing this case becomes!
Diane
Oh, and here's something else - I read a report saying the maid is close to 6 ft. tall. She is in her early 30's and (I assume) in good physical shape. DSK is twice her age and overweight. I don't know how tall he is, but when I was in France I noticed that it's not the country to visit if you are searching for potential pro basketball players.:-)
So I do wonder - a little -about how he was able to catch her and force himself upon her. Yes, men are stronger, but a 62 year old vs. a 32 year old who is in much better shape? However, it is possible that her being caught off guard gave him an advantage. I was mugged in DC when I was about 26 by a man who was not much taller or heavier than me. I always imagined I would fight like a tiger if attacked; in reality, I was so shocked I froze, and the little punk then punched me in the stomach before stealing my purse. You don't know how you will react until you are in that situation. Still, since reports are that she did fight back, I am puzzled that he was able to go as far with the assault as he did.
Diane
Diane,
I'm almost unwilling to post anything except intelligent commentary from bloggers who are cautious. I don't know who she is - the French give her two different name Niassatou and Ophelia. Strauss-Kahn apparently admitted not too long ago that he would be set up because of his three defects: his money, his women, and his Jewishness. It could have been some kind of "honey trap" and she will get lots of money out of it. But it was a scandal waiting to happen. He is a world leader, in the public eye, and his past eventually caught up with him. But I don't condone injustice - if he did not rape her then he is innocent, though I doubt that he is totally innocent, but maybe not totally guilty either.
One report described her as "unattractive" but I didn't know she was 6 feet tall! Black women are very strong. She could have decked him. Unless, as you say, she was taken by surprise.
"He is a world leader, in the public eye, and his past eventually caught up with him. But I don't condone injustice - if he did not rape her then he is innocent, though I doubt that he is totally innocent, but maybe not totally guilty either. "
That really is how I feel now. When the story first broke my immediate instinct was to believe him guilty, probably because the phrase "rich French libertine socialist" does not fill me with affection. But the case really is not as cut and dried as I initially thought. However, it is certainly true that DSK's unbridled appetites led to his destruction. And it is rare that such destruction is so public and so swift, which is why so many of us are fascinated by this story. Imagine: just a week ago, DSK was undoubtably enjoying some haute cuisine delicacy and tonight, he dined on prison fare, which must be nearly as bad as the Catholic school cafeteria meals of my childhood:-)
Diane
Diane,
There's more news coming about a possible bail tomorrow. So much for our justice system!
BTW, it was inconsiderate of me not to sympathize with you about having been attacked. It may have been a while back, but we never forget these things. Once on the trolley car with my mother a gang of inner city kids grabbed my bag - a beautiful suede bag with my credit cards - and ran off the car. A very minor incident, but from then on I made sure my credit cards were on me, not in my purse. I've never been physically hurt, but there have been close calls. D.C. has been dangerous for a long time as a kind of hub for violent minorities who like to hover around the seats of power.
HEY BARBARA LERNER SPECTRE MAYBE IT WAS JIHAD! THAT'S MULTICULTURALISM!
LOL!
@ anonymous,
I published your comment, but I don't understand it. Who is Barbara Lerner Spectre?
Tiberge,
"Europe has not yet learned how to be multicultural. And I think we are going to be part of the throes of that transformation, which must take place. Europe is not going to be the monolithic societies that they once were in the last century. Jews are going to be at the center of that. It's a huge transformation for Europe to make. They are now going into a multicultural mode, and Jews will be resented because of our leading role. But without that leading role, and without that transformation, Europe will not survive." - Barbara Lerner Spectre
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