"The whole affair is being hyped to divert attentioin from what is about to happen in UK/US."

My first thought is one of indignation. I've seen the footage, heard the interviews and therefore know to my own satisfaction that the situation in Zimbabwe does not need to be hyped ... right? ...

Then the "fair" side of my patronizing overview kicks in and points out that there are no British and American journalists allowed in zimbabwe ... apparently ...

And that I have been trusting the word of Tsvangirai - the Galant hero - implicitly, while I have accepted that Mugabe and the Zimbabwean press are one sided and deliberately misinformative.

I wonder to myself briefly if these are grounds for a conspiracy theory that we are in fact the ones on the receiving end of the propaganda and Mugabe really is a hero resisting western interference.

I doubt it, but I indulge my muse ...

I allow myself to consider the perceived idea that China and Russia are siding with Mugabe (the bad guy) and taking money from his people that they can't afford in exchange for weapons to kill them, and Russia and China by proxy are therefore also the bad guys.

I reflect that the KGB are (reportedly) back in power and that russia is (apparently) more powerful than ever, while China has been murdering more Tibetans.

I consider images which seem to portray a new streamlined, market wise, form of communism emerging.

I speculate about the possibility that China and Russia might be sending a message ... "sorry, Zimbabwe isn't yours any more" ...

I remind myself of the recent Burmese purge ... and how it was worsened by a natural disaster ... and how the junta there wouldn't even allow aid agencies to interfere if it meant saving the dying.

And how "even" China pleaded with the Junta there to allow aid in.

And China worked unstintingly to save her own earthquake victims - and welcomed Japanese help - resulting in unprecedented warm relations with Japan, later opening flights to and from Taiwan -Americas other "friend" in south east Asia.

I consider that America and Britain aren't as popular or trusted as they used to be as a result of the shenanigans over Iraq and note the timing of China and Russias apparent displays of strength and independance on the one hand and apparent amiable congeniality on the other.

I am told that there are UN observers at the Zimbabwe elections who can hopefully be trusted to return accurate findings, and there are apparently millions of refugees escaping into south Africa ... another country who are being recast as the bad guys again after their miracle of democracy failed to deliver the instant rewards the world anticipated, nor the unconditional alliance that we had hoped for.

I see Britain desperately hanging on to europe by its finger tips and America saying " ... aw shucks ... "

And Britain putting on a brave face despite wanting to cry with shame.

And Bush softening his Image, partially obscured by the hullabaloo surrounding the competition for power between a Woman and a Black man.

I turn to the TV on my wall and descend illiterately into an intoxicating intricate orwellian abstract ......