11/27/09 By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Stars and Stripes, Mideast edition
COMBAT OUTPOST CHARKH, Afghanistan – In most ways, Thanksgiving Day started out just like every day for the men of Company B, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment.
First Platoon greeted the sunny yet brisk morning air with a patrol through a local bazaar.
"It’s Thanksgiving," 1st Lt. Kevin Cory said to his men as they got ready to push out. "We’re thankful that it’s 9 a.m. and we’re cold."
Second platoon, to the bafflement of other soldiers, spent much of the day digging battle trenches for a class they were about to teach the Afghan National Army.
Like any other day, hot water for showers was in short supply; troops grumbled about a variety of things and made jokes about just how stoned on hashish their Afghan counterparts actually were.
Still, Cpl. Jason Huft of Clovis, N.M., had been preparing the holiday chow since the day before. And as the air warmed, T-bones sizzled on a grill fashioned out of a metal barrel.
Life isn’t easy at Combat Outpost Charkh in Logar province.
The showers are jury-rigged affairs. There’s no heat and wooden outhouses.
But despite this rough deployment and the longing that comes with being so close to going home, Thanksgiving came to COP Charkh.
Company commander Capt. Jason Wingeart pulled guard duty before serving chow with the other officers. At a base where most meals are basic, lukewarm affairs, soldiers dug into turkey, steak, ham, shrimp, macaroni and cheese and other holiday staples. It was the first time some had felt full in a long time.
"That was good as (expletive)," one soldier said to another after eating.
And despite the rough conditions, the soldiers said they had a lot to be thankful for. Mainly each other, and that they were all going home. Though there have been many injuries, the company has only lost one soldier in Charkh.
"I’m thankful that all my buddies are still alive and that I get to spend (Thanksgiving) with the guys to the left and right of me who watch my back every day," said 1st Platoon’s Spc. William Brown of Milwaukee. "And I’m thankful I’m leaving in two weeks."
"I’m thankful I didn’t get shot at today," said Pfc. Don Garab of Walkerton, Ind., of 3rd Platoon. "And for a good cigar."
"I’m thankful I’m not digging that foxhole anymore," said Spc. John McDermott, one of the unfortunate 2nd Platoon guys tasked with that most un-festive of duties.
"I’m thankful for ‘A cog’ scopes, M203’s and HEDP," 2nd Platoon’s Sgt. David Lloyd said, military-speak for his rifle scope, grenade launcher and ammunition. "They’ve saved our ass a lot."
Even Afghan army captain and battle-hardened ex-Mujahedeen fighter Capt. Raz Mohammad got a plate, eagerly digging into a mix of steak, greens and pie.
"It’s really good," he said between mouthfuls. "Everything I like."
Despite the grim conditions at COP Charkh, Sgt. Daniel Barsi of Utica, Ill., was thankful for his health and the security of America.
"The way I see things, everything could always be worse."
Meanwhile, in Washington, President Barack Obama telephoned 10 U.S. servicemen and women stationed in war zones Thursday, to thank them for their service.
The White House says Obama called two servicemembers each in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The servicemembers are stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Arabian Gulf.
Doug asked me "What do people in Hawaii have for Thanksgiving?" I said that I would post the answer on CITA.
The seven inhabited islands that make up the state of Hawaii has as of 2005, an estimated population of 1,275,194 people. In 2008 the Census Bureau the breakdown of the population is that Asian Americans made up 38.5%, White Americans made up 27.1%, Multiracial Americans made up 21.4%, Pacific Islander Americans made up 9.0%, African Americans made up 2.4%, and American Indians made up 0.2% of the population.
When the immigrant workers came to Hawaii to work on the plantations they brought their language, customs and foods. The islands are pretty small so everyone has to get along. People had to learn each other's languages to get things accomplished. Today all the languages and customs are so intertwined that it is easy to get mixed up as to which word or custom is from which group. Pidgin English is a mix up of languages; in a sentence you might have Hawaiian, Japanese and Filipino words used all together. The Hawaiian and Japanese languages use the same sounds, like the word Hawaiian "Hemo" means to remove and I grew up thinking that it was a Japanese word. Now I have learned that African languages also have words that use the same sounds as Japanese and Hawaiian.
Peopled shared each other's foods and customs and again it all became intertwined. A Thanksgiving feast might have Hawaiian poke (seasoned raw fish), Japanese maki sushi (rice rolls with a filling and wrapped in a sheet of dried seaweed), a roast turkey with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, Chinese chicken salad, Korean kim chi, pumpkin pie and Hawaii Haupia (coconut pudding).
Hawaii is a pretty cool place cultural-wise. Rarely do you have locals who exclude the customs of the others. Everybody celebrates most of the holidays because it gives them another reason to party. Everybody is Chinese on Chinese New Year eating noodles for long life, Irish on St. Patrick's Day eating corned beef, etc.
I think that is partly President Obama's take on race and culture.
Holiday service: First family hands out food
11/26/09 POLITICO
The first family celebrated Thanksgiving by handing out turkeys, pumpkin pies, vegetables, stuffing and other Thanksgiving groceries Wednesday afternoon at Martha’s Table, just a few miles from the White House. According to its website, “Martha’s Table’s mission is to help at-risk children, youth, families and individuals in our community improve their lives by providing educational programs, food, clothing, and enrichment opportunities." President Obama, First Lady Michelle, daughters Sasha, Malia and First Grandmother Marian Robinson were joined by about a dozen others, including Obama half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, her husband, Konrad Ng and their two daughters, Suhaila and Savita. Pool reports: ”Malia was wearing a vest over her top with a scarf around her neck; Mrs. Obama a grey top and a scrarf draped around her shoulders; Obama, his oft-seen black jacket and Mrs. Robinson, a dark top.”
President Barack Obama stands next to his mother-in-law Marian Robinson, right, his daughter, Sasha and first lady Michelle Obama as they packing food for Thanksgiving at Martha's Table. AP
The White House- Office of the Press Secretary
November 25, 2009
Statement by the President on Native American Heritage Day
“Tomorrow, Americans everywhere will observe our National Day of Thanksgiving. It will be a time of celebration and reflection as we gather with family and friends to count our blessings and remember those less fortunate. But it will also be a time to remember how this holiday began– as a harvest celebration between European settlers and the American Indians who had been living and thriving on the continent for thousands of years.”
“That is why on Friday, I encourage every American to join me in observing Native American Heritage Day. My Administration is committed to strengthening the nation to nation relationship with tribal governments. But it is also important for all of us to understand the rich culture, tradition and history of Native Americans and their status today- and to appreciate the contributions that First Americans have made, and will continue to make to our Nation.”
Here are some actual quotes on the subject "Thankful"
Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for. Terry Lynn Taylor***Be thankful for the least gift, so shalt thou be meant to receive greater. Thomas a Kempis (1380 - 1471)***Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to a good conscience; for health is the second blessing that money cannot buy; therefore value it, and be thankful for it. Izaak Walton (1593 - 1683)***In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
11/24/09 ObamaFoodOrama.blogspot.com
A sustainable, regional, mostly vegetable menu--and curry gets a nod, in honor of India...At left, Mrs. Obama discusses protocol and petit fours in the State Dining Room this afternoon, with the members of her new girls' mentoring and leadership program, during the press preview event for tonight's State Dinner in honor of India. Mrs. Obama actually gave a very serious and moving speech, which will be posted later. As your intrepid blogger predicted, Mrs. Obama mixed her china patterns for this evening, and is using Eisenhower China and Clinton State China for the service plates, and George W. Bush State China for the dinner plates.Also as predicted, the china had meaning: President Eisenhower was the first president to visit India after it gained its independence. And both of the Clintons--Bill and Hillary--have been enormously useful to the Obamas and the administration. President Bush fostered a close relationship with India, too: He held a State dinner in Prime Minister Singh's honor in 2005.
No chefs at the menu preview...and no food, eitherThe ingredients for the State Dinner were sustainably sourced--and meant to represent American regional cuisine; there is no mention of the now-volatile word "organic" in any press guidance. The pears for the dessert were poached in honey from the White House beehive, and herbs and lettuces were harvested from the White House Kitchen Garden--which Ob Fo also predicted. Desserts, created by Executive Pastry Chef Bill Yosses, will be garnished with mint and verbena from the Kitchen Garden, too. The wines, of course, are all American, as is standard White House practice. Guest Chef Marcus Samuelsson helped Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford create the menu--but he wasn't present at the preview, nor was she. Nor were any of the dishes from the menu--save for a lone plate of Yosses's desserts. The preview event was a bit of a rugby scrum with so many journalists and photographers climbing over each other. But the menu is interesting--and more on that later, too.
For the State Dinner Menu: http://obamafoodorama.blogspot.com/2009/11/state-dinner-menu.html
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Remarks by the First Lady at Indian State Dinner Press Preview
Photos: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Obama-hosts-first-State-Dinner-first-lady-Michelle-Obama-President-Barack-Obama-Gursharan-Kaur/ss/events/pl/112409statedinner/im:/091125/480/545afa31e497430ba7e54779764189a1/#photoViewer=/091125/480/f59cb9f7fcae481d924696773e4ef89d
President Obama In South Korea: The Luncheon Menu...And Other Fun Details
11/20/09 ObamaFoodOrama.blogspot.com
President Obama gains weight in Asia, and Mrs. Obama magically appears for lunch in South Korea
President Obama attended a closed-press luncheon in South Korea with President Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok during his visit to Seoul on Nov. 19. But Korean media is reporting that First Lady Michelle Obama also attended the lunch at the Cheongwadae, the seat of government--although Mrs. Obama was in the US the entire time President Obama was in Asia. Perhaps local media enthusiasm is to be excused--there was a massive welcoming ceremony when President Obama arrived in Seoul, and during lunch, he was goofing around a little bit--which was captured in the photo, above, taken in the banquet room. President Lee had just presented President Obama with a taekwondo outfit, including an honorary black belt, as a memento of his visit; the President learned the martial art as a younger man. Lee also handed over a gift for Mrs. Obama: A book of Korean recipes, because everyone knows she's a cooking enthusiast, apparently.
The menu is below, verbatim, from Korean media--because it includes excellent "insidery" details, including the fact that President Obama gained wight on his trip. Actually, the reverse is true--so much so that during his trip, President Obama had to answer questions about weight loss from NBC and CBS, and explain that his weight fluctuates by five pounds. Here's the (possibly) fictitious Korean luncheon menu: Some of the notable dishes were sinseollo, bulgogi, marinated grilled beef; bibimbap, a rice dish with assorted vegetables and beef; japchae, glass noodles with assorted vegetables; and dubu-bugeotang, a dried pollack soup with tofu. Sinseollo, also known as Korean Royal Pot, is one of the most colorful Korean dishes, containing pan-fried beef, kimchi, shrimp pancakes, king trumpet mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms among other things. The dish was initially not considered due to possible complications while serving and eating, but the First Lady insisted, saying there's nothing like a good hot soup in a cold weather. A total of six basic side dishes (called banchan) accompanied the main dishes; kimchi, water kimchi, assorted spinach, tangpyeongchae (mung bean jelly mixed with vegetables and beef), jangjorim (beef boiled in soysauce with egg) and dashima-toegak (dried kelp fried). Obama, for his part, showed how comfortable he was with chopsticks and repeatedly complimented the dishes served as “delicious.” When he commented that he is gaining weight due to the many Asian delicacies he has enjoyed on this trip at previous summits in China, Japan and now in Korea – Lee assured him that Korean dishes are low in calories. Spinach was included as it is known to be the favorite side dish of US Ambassador to Korea, Kathleen Stevens. *****************
Gochujan (chili paste) is mixed with honey and vinegar to create the Korean Gochujang sauce that is a popular condiment that would accompany many of the dishes mentioned in the article.
I am on the third chapter of David Plouffe's book "The Audacity to Win" and I am enjoying it. It reads very well.
I feel compelled to compare it to Richard Wolffe's book "Renegade"; in Renegade you get a closer look as to being on the trail of the Obama campaign but in Plouffe's book you actually hear all the raw language spoken and feel the tense situations. The Obama team was not a bunch of dreamers who felt that Obama's success was inevitable they were prepared to give it their all and fail. Plouffes says that the prima dona mentality was common among candidates but that Obama is the exception and that the team never woke up dreading their candidate.
11/18/09 Posted by Molly Fedick - WhiteHouse.gov
Veterans Day serves as a reminder to not only honor America's men in uniform, but also the women—the mothers, sisters, daughters, and grandmothers who, throughout history, broke barriers and endured hardships to serve our country. Today at the White House, First Lady Michelle Obama, along with Blue Star Mom Dr. Jill Biden, welcomed some of those women in celebration of their bravery and commitment to protecting our freedoms:
In this room alone, we have the first female four star general. We have the first woman in the Navy to be promoted to Master Chief. The first woman in the Army Reserve to be promoted to the general officer rank. We have the first woman in the Army to receive the Expert Field Medical Badge. We have the first African American woman to serve as Chief Nurse at Walter Reed Hospital. And so many more "firsts" and "onlys" -- and that's the result of your hard work and your courage and your persistence. But we know these achievements aren’t yours alone. That's something that Jill and I have talked about, we've learned more about over the course of this year, because we know that service doesn’t just end with the person wearing the uniform. You all know that. We know that our servicemen and women’s sacrifices are their families' sacrifices as well. And many of you have spouses, partners, children, parents who stood by you and encouraged you and prayed for you every step of the way. And this day is their day too, as far as we're concerned. So let’s take a moment to recognize those members of our families who supported you in your service as well. (Applause.)The First Lady continued, praising them not only for the good they've done, but for the good they have inspired in others:But I hope you all know that your service -- that your legacy is more than just your own service. I hope that you know that your legacy will be measured in the service of every woman who follows in the trails that you've blazed -- every woman who benefits from your daring and determination. It will be measured in the inspiration that you provide to our daughters and our granddaughters -- and to our sons and our grandsons as well.Because of you, when young women wonder how high they can rise in our military, they can look at General Ann Dunwoody and her four hard earned stars. That can see that, it's real. When they ask what kind of jobs they can do, they can look to women like all of you who’ve played just about every kind of role imaginable. And when they ask whether they can cut it -- whether they have what it takes to succeed -- all they have to do is to look at your lives, to look into your lives and to look at the careers that you've developed that inspire us all. First Lady Michelle Obama attends a Women in the Military Tea in the East Room of the White House Nov. 18, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
In this room alone, we have the first female four star general. We have the first woman in the Navy to be promoted to Master Chief. The first woman in the Army Reserve to be promoted to the general officer rank. We have the first woman in the Army to receive the Expert Field Medical Badge. We have the first African American woman to serve as Chief Nurse at Walter Reed Hospital. And so many more "firsts" and "onlys" -- and that's the result of your hard work and your courage and your persistence.
But we know these achievements aren’t yours alone. That's something that Jill and I have talked about, we've learned more about over the course of this year, because we know that service doesn’t just end with the person wearing the uniform. You all know that. We know that our servicemen and women’s sacrifices are their families' sacrifices as well. And many of you have spouses, partners, children, parents who stood by you and encouraged you and prayed for you every step of the way. And this day is their day too, as far as we're concerned. So let’s take a moment to recognize those members of our families who supported you in your service as well. (Applause.)
The First Lady continued, praising them not only for the good they've done, but for the good they have inspired in others:
But I hope you all know that your service -- that your legacy is more than just your own service. I hope that you know that your legacy will be measured in the service of every woman who follows in the trails that you've blazed -- every woman who benefits from your daring and determination. It will be measured in the inspiration that you provide to our daughters and our granddaughters -- and to our sons and our grandsons as well.
Because of you, when young women wonder how high they can rise in our military, they can look at General Ann Dunwoody and her four hard earned stars. That can see that, it's real. When they ask what kind of jobs they can do, they can look to women like all of you who’ve played just about every kind of role imaginable. And when they ask whether they can cut it -- whether they have what it takes to succeed -- all they have to do is to look at your lives, to look into your lives and to look at the careers that you've developed that inspire us all.
First Lady Michelle Obama attends a Women in the Military Tea in the East Room of the White House Nov. 18, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
To view the video: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/11/18/so-many-firsts-and-onlys-first-lady-honors-military-women
TOKYO (AFP) – US President Barack Obama charmed his Tokyo audience on Saturday with references to green tea ice cream, Japanese traditional hospitality and, of course, the small town that bears his name.
"I could not come here without sending my greetings and my gratitude to the citizens of Obama, Japan," said the president to the delight of the western Japan town that has turned its accidental fame into a cottage industry.
The ancient fishing town of 30,000, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Tokyo, has long supported its White House namesake, and some of its residents were in Tokyo to steal a glimpse of the president.
Wearing "I Love Obama" T-shirts, a small delegation braved rainy weather on a Tokyo sidewalk and waved as the presidential motorcade passed by.
"The president clearly looked at us and recognised us," said an excited Seiji Fujihara, who leads a dance troupe that on Friday performed a hula dance in honour of the president, who was born in Hawaii.
"I was so touched when President Obama mentioned our town," Fujihara gushed. "I felt goose bumps."
Obama in his speech Saturday recalled a childhood visit to Kamakura, a temple-studded town near Tokyo, where he "looked up at that centuries-old symbol of peace and tranquility, the great bronze Amida Buddha."
Then he quipped: "As a child, I was more focused on the matcha (green tea) ice cream. But I have never forgotten the warmth and hospitality that the Japanese people showed a young American far from home."
Obamania was alive and well among the audience -- where many hailed his personal charm and wide knowledge about the region.
"His voice was good. He spoke naturally. He has something that attracts people," said Yasuko Maki, a 60-year-old housewife.
Her husband, Akihiro, 66, agreed: "He covered every subject and explained how America will handle it. He intends to work as our partner. He is different from former US presidents."
Best of "W" quotes from THAT past president (who were his English teachers?) :
1. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."--Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004 2. "I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."--Greater Nashua, N.H., Chamber of Commerce, Jan. 27, 2000 3. "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?"--Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000 4. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."--Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004 5. "Neither in French nor in English nor in Mexican."--declining to answer reporters' questions at the Summit of the Americas, Quebec City, Canada, April 21, 2001 6. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.''--Townsend, Tenn., Feb. 21, 2001 7. "I'm the decider, and I decide what is best. And what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the secretary of defense."--Washington, D.C., April 18, 2006 8. "See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda."--Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005 9. "I've heard he's been called Bush's poodle. He's bigger than that."--discussing former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as quoted by the Sun newspaper, June 27, 2007
10. "And so, General, I want to thank you for your service. And I appreciate the fact that you really snatched defeat out of the jaws of those who are trying to defeat us in Iraq."--meeting with Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Washington, D.C., March 3, 2008 11. "We ought to make the pie higher."--South Carolina Republican debate, Feb. 15, 2000 12. "There's an old saying in Tennessee--I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee--that says, fool me once, shame on--shame on you. Fool me--you can't get fooled again."--Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 17, 2002 13. "And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it."--speaking on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007 14. "We'll let our friends be the peacekeepers and the great country called America will be the pacemakers."--Houston, Sept. 6, 2000 15. "It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet."--Arlington Heights, Ill., Oct. 24, 2000 16. "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures."--U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 3, 2000 17. "People say, 'How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?' You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you."--Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002 18. "Well, I think if you say you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness."--CNN online chat, Aug. 30, 2000 19. "I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep on the soil of a friend."--on the prospect of visiting Denmark, Washington, D.C., June 29, 2005 20. "I think it's really important for this great state of baseball to reach out to people of all walks of life to make sure that the sport is inclusive. The best way to do it is to convince little kids how to--the beauty of playing baseball."--Washington, D.C., Feb. 13, 2006
21. "Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream."--LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000 22. "You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war president. No president wants to be a war president, but I am one."--Des Moines, Iowa, Oct. 26, 2006 23. "There's a huge trust. I see it all the time when people come up to me and say, 'I don't want you to let me down again.' "--Boston, Oct. 3, 2000 24. "They misunderestimated me."--Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 6, 2000 25. "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office."--Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008 Slate V: The Best of Video Bushisms
11/13/09 Lousia Lim - NPR
It is a tale of two brothers, but no ordinary brothers. One is president of the United States; the other is his half-brother, who lives in China. As President Obama arrives this weekend in China, his half-brother recently released a semi-autobiographical novel, revealing the abusive nature of their father.
Mark Obama Ndesandjo's face bears an uncanny resemblance to his more famous sibling. His eyes are familiar, yet different.
Ndesandjo and Obama share the same father, but their lives have veered apart. Barack Obama hardly knew their father, who left when Barack was 2. But his younger half-brother Mark grew up in Kenya under the same roof as their violent authoritarian father.
"He managed to work his way up through ... sheer intellect, will and also, at the same time, persistence to go to Harvard and some very high levels in American society," Ndesandjo says of their father. "Then something happened. It was an explosive mixture of drink, maybe disappointment and an inability to understand his own demons that caused the domestic violence we had in our home."
Ndesandjo (pronounced de-SANZ-jo) wrestles with that legacy in his semi-autobiographical book Nairobi to Shenzhen. Like Obama, his mother was a white American, so the book describes his struggle with his multiracial identity. Like Obama, he went to university in the U.S., studying physics and math at Brown, then earning further degrees at Stanford and Emory.
But his academic success was overshadowed by those formative years in Kenya. He says the violence at home hardened him, making it difficult for him to forge relationships or even to look closely at himself.
"With me what happened is that I also didn't want anything to do with anything that had to do with my father. This could include aspects of African culture. It could be not wanting to be associated with the Obama name," Ndesandjo says.
After losing his marketing job in the U.S. after Sept. 11, 2001, Ndesandjo moved to China where he took refuge in music and community work. A gifted pianist, Ndesandjo recorded an album and he volunteers at a local orphanage. Last year, he married a Chinese woman.
But he says Barack Obama's election campaign turned his life upside down.
"I didn't want anything to do with American politics: It's scrappy, it's something that turns huge spotlights on everybody. But then slowly I began to see an atmosphere around the world that was moving from one which had been in fear towards one of hope," he says.
Indeed, the spotlight did turn on Ndesandjo. Last year he flew to Austin, Texas, using money he had been saving to buy a piano, to meet Barack Obama for the first time in many years. He says it was an emotional moment.
"Well, first I hugged him, and he looked at my moustache, and he said, 'Hey, what's this little thing here?' And I said, 'It's a moustache, dude.' Then he said, 'You have a little less hair than last time I saw you.' And I said to him, 'Well, so do you.' And he said, 'Oh I couldn't afford a haircut then.'"
His half-brother's election has allowed him to take pride in the Obama name, which he hadn't used for many years. Their father — who had six other children — died in a car crash in Kenya in 1982.
Barack Obama's 1995 memoir Dreams From My Father dwells on his absent father and how it shaped Barack's life story.
I didn't want anything to do with American politics: It's scrappy, it's something that turns huge spotlights on everybody. But then slowly I began to see an atmosphere around the world that was moving from one which had been in fear towards one of hope.
- Mark Obama Ndesandjo
For Obama and Ndesandjo, their father's shadow looms large over their lives. Back in 2004, Barack Obama described that influence in an NPR interview.
"There's a wonderful saying by Lyndon Johnson that every man is either trying to live up to his father's expectations or making up for his mistakes. I guess I'm sort of doing both. I think in some ways I still chase after his ghost a little bit," Obama said.
Ndesandjo calls Obama's reflections interesting.
"Well, I guess in my case I don't see myself chasing after his ghost. I think for a long time his ghost was chasing after me," he says.
These mirror-image reactions in a way reflect the relationship. These half-brothers have much that is shared — and much that is not. Ndesandjo is planning to meet his half-brother on his trip to China, which starts Sunday.
"I look at my brother — President Obama — and I'm so totally proud of all that he's been able to do. I'm extremely excited my brother is coming to China," he says.
In Dreams From My Father, Obama describes meeting Mark as being like "looking into a foggy mirror." All these years later, Ndesandjo says he finally hopes to wipe clean the fog from that mirror.
To hear the audio of the interview: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120387029&ft=1&f=1004
11/14/09 Robbie Dingeman - Honolulu Advertiser
President Obama's announcement last night that Honolulu will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation annual meeting in 2011 put his hometown at the center of one of his most important international initiatives.
Hawaii has been vying for months to host the gathering of 21 heads of government from the Asia-Pacific region who discuss the economy, trade and investments.
And last night, leaders from Washington, D.C., to Downtown Honolulu praised Hawai'i's selection as a way to put the state on the map as a serious international business meeting place where East meets West year-round.
East-West Center President Charles Morrison said the summit is expected to bring 19 heads of state, many Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials, and more than 10,000 participants.
Holding the leaders meeting in Hawai'i "attracts attention and excitement no amount of money can buy," said Morrison, who is attending this year's APEC meeting in Singapore.
"Hawai'i has never had anything remotely approaching an international meeting where the president of the U.S., president of China, prime minister of Japan, and many other heads of state come at the same time, not to mention something like 75 Cabinet officials, the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization, and leading regional and global business people," Morrison said.
He added, "This may be arguably the biggest and most open international meeting of 2011, and it's in Hawai'i."
The 2011 event will be held from Nov. 12 to 20.
The president made the Hawai'i announcement to APEC leaders gathered in Singapore.
"When America hosts APEC in a few years, I look forward to seeing you all decked out in flowered shirts and grass skirts, because today I'm announcing that we are bringing this forum to my home state of Hawai'i in 2011," he said.
In comments to the APEC leaders, Obama stressed the critical importance of the region.
"Perhaps no connection between Asia-Pacific and the United States runs stronger or deeper than the economic ties we share," he said.
In his first major trip to Asia as president, Obama has called himself the "first Pacific president." He was born in Honolulu and lived here — except for four years in Indonesia — until he went to the Mainland for college.
"America's four top trading partners are now APEC members, with the countries that form the Association of Southeast Asian nations collectively making up the fifth," Obama said.
He noted that 60 percent of the goods and services the United States exports go to APEC nations — exports that support millions and millions of American jobs.
"The United States is also the largest export market for Asia, which has led to more affordable goods and services for American consumers," he added.
Obama earlier indicated that the United States will also be engaging with the four Trans-Pacific Partnership countries (Brunei, Chile, Singapore, New Zealand) with the goal of shaping a regional agreement that will have broad-based membership and the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement.
"We also believe that continued integration of the economies of this region will benefit workers, consumers, and businesses in all of our nations," he said. "Together, with our South Korean friends, we will work through the issues necessary to move forward on a trade agreement with them."
The APEC meeting rotates among members and was first held in the United States near Seattle in 1993. That's where then-President Bill Clinton came up with the tradition of having the leaders wear outfits chosen by the host. The 2010 meeting will be held in Japan.
The meeting here is seen as a coup for the state's visitor industry as it underscores Hawai'i as a good site for international business gatherings, especially for the Asia-Pacific region.
Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann last night said he was "ecstatic" that Honolulu had been selected to host the 2011 APEC Summit.
In addition to collaborating with the East-West Center and Hawai'i Tourism Authority on the proposal to host the conference, Hannemann said he lobbied for the effort in meetings with White House and State Department officials in June.
"When President Charles Morrison of the East-West Center first approached the city about collaborating on a proposal to host APEC, the key component was security," Hannemann said, and Honolulu beat out the two California cities there.
"Honolulu, and all of Hawai'i for that matter, will be on the world stage come 2011, and it will be our opportunity to show that we're more than sun, sand, sea, surf and the spirit of aloha," Hannemann said.
Aside from the immediate economic impact, Morrison said it opens a new line of business over the longer term for the state as "a truly world-class international center."
Gov. Linda Lingle said the selection of Hawai'i to host the APEC Leaders Meeting is "an affirmation of Hawai'i's strategic role as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and will help build a stronger economic foundation for Hawai'i's future."
"We appreciate President Obama selecting Hawai'i for this important meeting and recognizing the significant role Hawai'i plays as America's most diverse and strategically located state," she said.
U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye also praised the selection.
"The spotlight that will shine on Hawai'i during the APEC meetings will remind the world that our culture and strategic location is the ideal site to gather global leaders and debate the needs of a diverse society," he said.
Inouye said the state serves as a bridge between the East and the West, and "will help show our Asia-Pacific neighbors that the United States remains committed to collaborating on economic policy as the world emerges from international recession."
HTA president and chief executive officer Mike McCartney said the leaders meeting will help to combat the state's image as more of a place to play than work, often dubbed "the boondoggle effect."
"The APEC meetings will dispel that misconception and position Hawai'i as a global business destination," McCartney said. "The world will see that Hawai'i is an ideal place to conduct business due to our strategic location in the Pacific and our multi-cultural diversity."
State tourism liaison Marsha Wienert earlier said she does not yet have an estimate of what the economic value of having the international meeting here would be, but it is significant.
The last high-level international gathering for Honolulu was the Asian Development Bank meeting in 2001.
That meeting had stirred worries of violent protests that had erupted in other cities but the meeting went smoothly with only small non-violent demonstrations.
San Francisco, the Los Angeles-Orange County area, New York and Miami were being considered as possible venues for the conference. Earlier, Hawaii Convention Center's SMG general manager Joe Davis said the decision was narrowed to between Honolulu and the two California destinations weeks ago.
The 21 members of APEC are: Australia; Brunei; Canada; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; New Zealand; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; the United States; Chinese Taipei; Hong Kong, China; People's Republic of China; Mexico; Papua New Guinea; Chile; Peru; Russia; and Vietnam.
City of Obama, Japan
The city of Obama has received much publicity because it shares its name with that of U.S. President Barack Obama. It began when Obama as a Senator gave a 2006 interview to Japanese television network TBS where he noted that, when passing through customs in Narita Airport, an official looking at his visa said that he was from Obama.The Obama City Hall heard about the interview and the mayor, Toshio Murakami, sent Senator Obama a set of the city’s famous lacquer chopsticks, a DVD about the city and a letter wishing him the best. As Senator Obama's presidential campaign progressed, more local businesses began to organize primary parties and put up "Go Obama!" posters, sell "I love Obama" T-shirts, and produce manjū (a type of Japanese confectionery) with Senator Obama's face on them. A hula group began in the town in honour of Senator Obama's home state of Hawaii. The troupe visited Honolulu in June to perform at the Pan Pacific Festival.
President Obama has since thanked the town for their gifts and support, saying "I look forward to a future marked by the continued friendship of our two great nations and a shared commitment to a better, freer world".
There are a number of Japanese with the surname Obama. Though the American President is of Kenyan Luo heritage, it is not uncommon for Japanese and East African names to sound alike.
As a result of the victory by Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election, the Mayor of Obama City announced to the Japanese press that he intends to commission a statue of Barack Obama to be put in front of the city hall "as a token of the great historical moment for the name Obama".
In addition, he has declared that November 4 will be an annual holiday in the city.
On January 20, 2009, the day that Barack Obama was sworn into office, the city of Obama celebrated with women dancing the hula at the Hagaji Temple to celebrate the inauguration.
(source: wikipedia)
Japan's Obama town welcomes president with Hawaiian dance
11/13/09 AFP
TOKYO (AFP) – When the US president arrived in Japan on Friday to kick off his first Asia tour in office, no-one was happier than his most fervent fans in the country -- the residents of the town of Obama.
To welcome the US leader, who spent part of his youth in Hawaii, and whose father was Kenyan, the town of 30,000 people dispatched its team of hula dancers to perform a dance outside the embassy of the African country.
The tropical-style welcome was actually performed several hours before Barack Obama's Air Force One touched down in a cold drizzle -- but the undeterred organisers suggested it was the symbolism that mattered.
The namesake of their ancient fishing town, which means "small shore" in Japanese, had been unable to make time to visit Obama town during his busy two-day trip, or even to watch the heartfelt Hawaiian welcome, they said.
"Security is so tight that we only hope to get a glance of the president at some point," said the group's leader, Seiji Fujihara, referring to the 16,000 police who are on duty in Tokyo during the state visit.
"We danced for friendship with Kenya and for the new ambassador," he said. "We also danced with the wish that we will meet President Obama."
Fujihara later said he and his dancers would wait again on Saturday to perform another show somewhere along Obama's route.
"We know it will be impossible to bring him to Obama," he said. "But we hope something will happen, and we are thrilled."
The people of Obama have rallied hard for the US President since his election campaign, creating a hula dance in his honour and distributing "I Love Obama" T-shirts.
The western Japan town, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Tokyo, has turned its accidental world fame into a cottage industry, selling presidential souvenirs and snacks, and enjoying a spike in tourism.
The town's officials had made every possible effort to contact Obama, sending him a gift of lacquer-coated chopsticks, the town's traditional craft, and offering him an invitation to the coastal settlement.
"The invitation was not accepted, due to the tight schedule of the president, but instead the US government invited the mayor to his speech," which is to be held in Tokyo on Saturday, a city official told AFP.
Obama Mayor Koji Matsuzaki gladly accepted the offer, she added.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
11/12/09 Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, Alaska
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, Elmendorf! (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you. Please -- thank you so much. Anybody who has a seat, go ahead and take a seat.
I want to thank General Troy for the introduction and for his extraordinary service; to Colonel Mark Camerer and your outstanding local leaders for welcoming me here today. And I want to give a shout-out to the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific. (Applause.)
I realize that your Commander, General Atkins, couldn’t be here. I’m told that he got called down to Hawaii -- shaka brah, what's up? (Laughter.) I grew up there, so I hope that he's getting as warm a welcome as I'm getting here.
I want to thank your senior enlisted leaders: Command Chief Master Sergeant Robert Moore, Chief Master Sergeant Tom Baker and Command Sergeant Major David Turnbull. Give them a big round of applause. (Applause.) And please give some applause to all the airmen and soldiers up here. They look terrific. (Applause.)
It is wonderful to be here at one of America’s great air bases. I have to tell you I'm also really excited because I had up until today visited 49 states. So this is officially my 50th state. (Applause.)
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Love you --
THE PRESIDENT: I love you back. (Applause.) But we also have a lot of folks from Fort Richardson. (Applause.) We've got folks from all across Alaskan Command -- Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, United States Marines; Active, Guard and Reserve. (Applause.) We have our allies and friends from the Canadian armed forces. (Applause.)
I see -- I see many spouses here today. (Applause.) And I want you to know you are the backbone of our military families and we honor your service. (Applause.) And I'm thrilled to see the kids who are here today -- hey, guys, thank you. (Applause.) I know you’re proud of your mom and dad, but we’re all proud of you, too.
You know, we’re here in "America’s Last Frontier." And most of you are far from home. And I know your service is made a little easier by your unbelievable neighbors. So we want to thank your local and state leaders, Lieutenant Governor Craig Campbell, all the people of Anchorage and Alaska for their incredible support.
And we’re also joined today by a leader who is fighting for Alaska in Washington, and for you and all our men and women in uniform as a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee -- Mark Begich is here, Senator Mark Begich is in the house. Stand up, Mark, so everybody can see you. (Applause.)
Today, I’m on my way to Asia -- my first visit there as President. The crews are out there refueling Air Force One. But I didn’t want to just pass through. Because this is also, as I said, my first visit to Alaska and my first visit to Elmendorf. And I couldn’t come here without taking this opportunity to deliver a simple message -- a message of thanks to you and your families.
Now, these have been days of tribute. Two days ago, we gathered at Fort Hood and we honored 13 Americans taken from us: soldiers and caregivers; mothers and fathers; husbands and wives; sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. We grieved with families who have endured unimaginable loss. And we found inspiration in the wounded, their spirits unbowed, and in those who braved the bullets so that others might live.
Yesterday, we gathered at Arlington National Cemetery to salute proud veterans who served on foreign fields long ago and wounded warriors from today. And as citizens of a grateful nation, we are humbled by such service.
Today, we gather here, at Elmendorf. And we see the same spirit. It’s the spirit that I saw in the outstanding airmen and soldiers I met with a few moments ago. It’s the spirit that I see in all of you.
It’s your sense of service -- answering your country’s call, volunteering in a time of war knowing that you could be sent into harm’s way. That's a sense of responsibility on your part -- the belief that the blessings we cherish as Americans are not gifts that we take for granted, they are freedoms that are earned. And it’s your sense of unity -- coming from every corner of the country, from every color and every creed and every faith and every station -- to take care of each other, and to serve together, and to succeed together, as Americans. (Applause.)
So I’m here to say to all of you, all of you who serve, all the families who are here: Of all the privileges I have as President, I have no greater honor than serving as your Commander-in-Chief. (Applause.) We have the finest fighting force the world has ever known. And it’s because of you -- because we've got the finest personnel in the world. That's our most precious resource.
By being here all of you are joining a long line of service at Elmendorf -- from the liberation of Pacific islands during World War II through a long Cold War. You embody that creed: "faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, and a legacy of valor." And you uphold that legacy every day.
Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, you keep America’s skies safe. So we salute the 3rd Wing. And the 11th Air Force. (Applause.)
You project power across the Pacific, returning just recently from Guam: the 90th Fighter Squadron -- the "Dicemen." (Applause.) And the 525th Fighter Squadron -- the “Bulldogs.” (Applause.) And all the maintenance troops who support them. Welcome home. (Applause.)
And when disaster strikes -- whether a typhoon in the Philippines or an earthquake in Samoa -- you’re there, delivering the relief that saves lives. So thank you "Firebirds." (Applause.)
Today, we also send our thoughts and prayers to all those who at this very moment are serving on the front lines. (Applause.) There are airmen from Elmendorf in every corner of the world. They’re soldiers from Fort Richardson: military police in Iraq -- (applause) -- the 4th Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan. (Applause.)
Fort Rich paratroopers are no strangers to tough assignments. (Applause.) A few years back, you all spent 14 months in Iraq. Now, they’re working to bring stability and security to eastern Afghanistan -- building roads and medical clinics, renovating schools, protecting the Afghan people and giving them a chance at a better future. They are doing a terrific job and we salute them.
But with services comes sacrifice. All of you know this. You’ve made the most profound commitment a person can make. You’ve pledged to dedicate your life to your country. And perhaps give your life for it. Here at Elmendorf and Fort Richardson, some have.
They’re airmen like Staff Sergeant Timothy Bowles, who -- when a comrade fell sick -- volunteered to take his place on the patrol in Afghanistan that would end up taking his life.
They're soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team, like the husband and father who gave his life in Afghanistan last week -- Specialist Julian Berisford.
And citizens of this state, like Alaska Native Corporal Gregory Fleury. Raised in Anchorage, he joined the Marines and served two tours in Iraq. He loved the Corps, he loved Alaska, so much so that he carried the state flag with him everywhere. It was with him last month when he was killed in those helicopter crashes in Afghanistan.
A little while ago, I had the honor of meeting Greg’s family, Donna and Christopher, and his grandfather Albert. And I expressed the gratitude of our nation, and we thank them for being with us here today. Donna, Albert, please stand. (Applause.)
There are no words that are strong enough and no tribute worthy enough to match the magnitude of such service. But to you and all who serve, I say this: The American people thank you. We honor you. And just as you have fulfilled your responsibilities to your nation, your nation will fulfill its responsibilities to you.
So as your Commander-in-Chief, here’s the commitment I make to you. We’ll make sure you can meet the missions we ask of you. That’s why we’re increasing the defense budget, including spending on the Air Force and the Army. (Applause.) We’ll make sure we have the right force structure. So we’ve halted reductions in the Air Force, increased the size of the Army ahead of schedule and also approved a temporary increase in the Army.
We’ll spend our defense dollars wisely. So we’re cutting tens of billions of dollars in waste and projects that even the Pentagon says it doesn’t need -- money that's better spent on taking care of you and your families and building the 21st century military that we do need.
I want you guys to understand I will never hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests. (Applause.) But I also make you this promise: I will not risk your lives unless it is necessary to America's vital interest. (Applause.)
And if it is necessary, the United States of America will have your back. We will give you the strategy and the clear mission you deserve. We will give you the equipment and support that you need to get the job done. And that includes public support back home. That is a promise that I make to you. (Applause.)
And as you meet your missions around the world, we will take care of your families here at home. That’s why the First Lady, Michelle, has been visiting bases across the country -- go Michelle. (Laughter and applause.) Your family is a priority for our family. So we’re increasing pay. We’re increasing child care. We’re increasing support to help spouses and families deal with the stress and separation of war. (Applause.)
And finally, we pledge to be there when you come home. We’re improving care for our wounded warriors, especially those with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries. I want to salute the outstanding work you do at the hospital here on base, including your new TBI clinic. Thank you for giving our wounded warriors the world-class care they deserve. (Applause.)
We’re funding the Post-9/11 GI Bill -- (applause) -- because we want to give -- we want to give your families the chance to pursue your dreams. And we’re making the biggest commitment to our veterans -- the largest percentage increase in the VA budget in more than 30 years. (Applause.)
So these are the commitments I'm making to you. Because you’ve always taken care of America, and America must has to take care of you back. America’s obligation to our military -- as we saw this week -- is a sacred trust that we are honor-bound to uphold.
It’s the sacred trust that brought a nation together this week around 13 battlefield crosses. It’s the sacred trust that leads us to pause, on that November day, to give thanks for all those who have served before us. It’s the sacred trust that brings me here -- to say thank you for serving today, thank you to you and your families for all you do to protect this country we love.
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Clarification:
At the begining of his speech at Elemendorf, President Obama said "Shaka brah. What's up?" The "shaka" sign is a common hand signal of greeting in Hawaii consisting of extending the thumb and pinkie while keeping the three middle fingers curled in, and raising the hand as in salutation with the back of the hand facing the person that is being greeted.
11/13/09 Mainichi Daily News (Japan)
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, right, shakes hands with visiting U.S. President Barack Obama at the beginning of their summit at the prime minister's office on Friday evening. (Mainichi)
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed Friday to step up bilateral cooperation in combating global warming and pursuing nuclear disarmament with the Japan-U.S. alliance as the core of such efforts.
But the two leaders postponed a final decision on the relocation of U.S. Air Station Futenma, a sticky bilateral issue.
Hatoyama held the 90-minute summit with Obama after he arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Friday evening on the first leg of his Asia tour. It was Obama's first visit to Japan since he took office in January.
During the summit, Hatoyama and Obama agreed to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and confirmed that they will step up cooperation in working on global issues such as climate change and nuclear disarmament.
The two leaders also agreed to set up a ministerial working group at an early date to settle the bilateral dispute on the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Hatoyama told Obama that his ruling Democratic Party of Japan pledged during the campaign for the Aug. 30 general election to seek relocation of Futenma base out of Okinawa Prefecture and out of the country.
At a subsequent joint news conference, the prime minister underscored the importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance. "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the foundation of Japan's diplomacy. We'd like to develop the alliance into a more constructive and future-oriented one."
The president also said the bilateral alliance is the axis of efforts toward stability and prosperity for not only the two countries but the whole Asia-Pacific region.
Moreover, Hatoyama urged the United States to be involved in an East Asian Community that the prime minister has proposed.
While stressing that he and Hatoyama share the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, Obama said the United States will maintain its nuclear deterrence for its allies as long as such weapons exist.
Even though he expressed hope that he will visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Obama denied that he has any plan to visit the two atom-bombed cities in the immediate future.
The president expressed gratitude for Hatoyama's offer to extend 5 billion dollars in assistance for reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan over the next five years.
11/12/09 Mainichi Daily News (Japan)
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Nations must temper stimulus spending, ensure stable growth and strengthen financial systems to ensure a prosperous global economy in the post-crisis period, Asia-Pacific ministers said Thursday.
Finance ministers from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum's 21 member economies huddled Thursday in Singapore to discuss the pressing challenge of finding ways to sustain growth and encourage free trade at a time of fragile economic recovery.
The weeklong forum culminates in a weekend leaders' summit weekend that includes President Barack Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, among others from Pacific Rim nations.
Restoring growth potential, withdrawing stimulus packages and meeting the region's massive infrastructure needs are key challenges facing the world economy after the crisis subsides, said a joint statement due to be released by the finance ministers.
A draft of the statement, obtained by The Associated Press, said that reducing public sector debt will require more than "the mere phasing out of stimulus measures." It will need lower budget deficits and reforms that support economic growth, the draft said.
The ministers agreed to "undertake monetary policies" that take into account flexible exchange rates.
The statement also called for freer trade and warned against resorting to protectionism.
"We are committed to supporting open trade and investment to advance Asia-Pacific and global prosperity and growth ... and (we) will actively resist projectionist measures," the proposed statement said.
The ministers also commit to strengthen financial supervision and regulations to prevent excess credit growth, blamed for the biggest financial crisis the world has seen since the 1930s, the draft said.
New Zealand Finance Minister Bill English told reporters New Zealand is gradually withdrawing stimulus and new spending in 2010.
"We are pulling back from pumping money in," he said. "The concern is that the U.S. needs to keep stimulating their economy because it's in a pretty bad shape. We are in a better shape, we can afford to pull back and get a more balanced recovery so that the private sector can get up and running, providing new jobs."
English said the impact of the weak U.S. economy has been cushioned by robust Asian economies, especially China.
"We are on the road to recovery but there are going to be a few bumps along the road," he said.
A main focus for the regional dialogue remains efforts to create an Asia-Pacific free trade area, which would account for about half the world's exports and imports if it becomes reality.
Some ministers expressed optimism that Obama would support the plan given the deadlock in World Trade Organization talks.
But the plan is still some years away because of reluctance among some members, especially in Southeast Asia, to sign on to an agreement that would be dominated by the U.S.
"I think it's a vision that any region could aspire to but whether or not it will be achievable and when" remains to be seen, said Surin Pitsuwan, the secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
"There are many, many ideas floating around ... but we have to move very, very incrementally and carefully," he said.
APEC was founded 20 years ago to promote greater trade and integration around the Pacific Rim. Its scope since has expanded to encompass a wide range of issues, including climate change, energy security and food security for the millions of vulnerable poor in the region.
In a significant breakthrough, APEC government officials agreed that leaders should discuss abolishing trade restrictions on food. The plan was recommended by the APEC Business Advisory Council, or ABAC, a council of regional business leaders.
ABAC says free trade in food would allow APEC members to use one another's strengths to produce the best and cheapest food for all.
"We have finally got to an agreement with officials that this should go on at a very high level dialogue ... we are also calling for rules to make leaders end export controls," said John Denton, an ABAC official.
If the plan takes off, Thai rice could be imported in any amount by any APEC member. Currently, many countries, including the Philippines, Japan and South Korea, restrict rice imports to protect their farmers.
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I will be posting news coverage of POTUS' asian trip via Japan's Mainichi Daily News site
Armistice Day also known as Veterans Day and Remembrance Day
November 11 and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning — the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" 1918.
