Posts with the tag Pakistan

The Reality of the Afghan and Iraq War - Myth Behind the Troop Surge

"Voice for Humanity" — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:28:01 EST

By Padmini Arhant

I urge every reader of this article to view the contents of the preceding article published under the title ‘Global Terrorism – 9/11 and Osama Bin Laden Revelations,’ International Politics, on this website www.padminiarhant.com,

The adapted articles and segments substantiates the fact that 9/11 attack could have been prevented at all costs and the terror leader Osama Bin Laden apprehended during many opportunities presented time and again.

Article continued @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Global Terrorism - 9/11 and Osama Bin Laden Revelations

"Voice for Humanity" — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:19:45 EST

By Padmini Arhant

It is evident from recent terror attacks around the world, that democracies or other form of governments are incapacitated in dealing with security issues on national and international level.

The perennial War on Terrorism has invigorated worldwide fundamentalism aside draining the economies.

It is important for the global community to come forward and demand a legitimate explanation for their government’s impotence in establishing peace as opposed to war against human race.

Remaining article could be viewed @ http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Afghanistan -- Change We Can't Believe In

Rosa — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:55:11 EST

What is the President thinking? How can he continue the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive warfare? Didn't we elect him to set a new course in foreign policy as well as domestic policy?

The U.S. government has already agreed that we have no compelling strategic interest in Afghanistan. Even if Afghanistan were to be taken over by Islamic extremists, it will remain an isolated backwater. The U.S. government's own assessment is that Afghanistan does not pose any threat to the U.S. So why are we fighting a war in Afghanistan? Clearly the only reason to continue to fight in Afghanistan is to convince Pakistan's rulers that we will not abandon them to their opponents. Unfortunately, the government of Pakistan is weak, corrupt, and internally divided. Pressing it to wage a civil war against Islamic fundamentalists will not strengthen it. In fact, pressing it to wage a civil war is likely to result first in a military coup, and then in a protracted conflict. A protracted internecine conflict in a country with nuclear weapons is not a good idea.

If the U.S. wants to be successful in dealing with the Muslim world, and to deprive Al Qaeda and their ilk of their grassroots support, we need a paradigm shift. We must create the basis to implement the vision of President Obama's Cairo speech. That means ending no questions asked support for Israel, including covering up their war crimes in Gaza for them. It means having a policy on nuclear non-proliferation that includes Israel. We can guarantee Israel's security from foreign attack. Israel has no more defensive need for nuclear weapons than Iran does. It means using diplomacy rather than military and covert operations to achieve our objectives. It means, when a free and fair election has been held, we work with the elected government rather than attempting to subvert it (as we have done in Palestine and Lebanon).

Finally, didn't we elect President Obama to create a more fair and just society at home? How will we do that if, in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the great depression, we are spending trillions on foreign wars? Every thoughtful politician knows that the only way to invest in the people of the United States is to cut the military budget. That was the great success of the Clinton presidency. President Clinton reaped the peace dividend that came with the end of the cold war. As a result he was able to pay off the deficit and expand services for people. If President Obama maintains the current military budget, we will not be able to make the investments to create jobs and to grow our economy.

Checks and Balances - Afghan War Strategy

"Voice for Humanity" — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:14 EST

By Padmini Arhant

In my earlier post, World Peace – Part 1, I mentioned about the military might prevalent in the economic and political aspects governing the domestic and the international societies. Although, it’s not a revelation that the military industrial complex (MIC) authority spreads beyond the realm of providing national security, it’s imperative to study the extent of the institutional power.

Besides the limited constitutional role by the military to defend the nation upon real and potential attack, the unconstitutional engagements are expansive and encroaching on the general society.

Often, it’s the "potential" more than the ‘real’ threats or attacks that are the premise for the prolonged military operation proved extremely lucrative in the prolific conventional and nuclear arms race.

Remaining facts detailed @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Afghanistan – The Military Industrial Complex (MIC) Indefinite Mission

"Voice for Humanity" — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:46:17 EST

By Padmini Arhant

The White House and the Congress members are back at work after a refreshing break from the ‘Thanksgiving’ holiday that allows the average and the privileged citizens to celebrate the family moments together. Not all are able to participate in the long held tradition due to the ceaseless demands of the high commanders, the real authority in the system disguised as democracy.

Military Industrial Complex (MIC) troops expansion policy is having a nuclear impact on the nucleus of the Army, the brave men and women in harm’s way as evidenced in the following reports:

From 1st Sgt. Gonzalo Lassally said of soldiers from Able Troop, 3-71 Cavalry Squadron:

“They become your family and being able to eat together like this, to break bread together is a highlight.”

“We’re thankful for all still being here. We’ve been lucky,

From Padmini Arhant: For the kind attention of,

President Barack Obama, Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Diane Feinstein and the united Republican members of Congress endorsing the enormous troop buildup,

Would you, perhaps consider either matching or exceeding the incredible sacrifice by the honorable Sgt. Gonzalo Lassally in the following manner?

As per the above report, “1st Sgt. Gonzalo Lassally, a father of three from Deltona, Fla., has spent four ‘Thanksgivings, three Christmases and “quite a few birthdays” away from home.”

More realities presented @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

World Peace - Part One

"Voice for Humanity" — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:25:59 EST

By Padmini Arhant

Since it’s my 200th post on this website, www.padminiarhant.com, I would like to dedicate the article to my favorite topic, Peace.

The world is riddled with violence in the worst form of terrorism and warfare not barring the dangerous nuclear threats. Then there are local crimes like the drug war in Mexico or the politically incited Philippines massacre exacerbating the miseries of the population. It would be appropriate to attribute the present situation to the political, economic and social injustice prevalent in the society.

Throughout history, the dominance of one nation over another through invasion, illegal occupation and provocative actions have led to the retaliation through terrorism and war including the use of nuclear arsenal witnessed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Often, when the rich nations demonstrate the political power in combination with the military might against the economically weaker countries, the aggression contributes to the perennial chaos and catastrophe.

Remaining article could be viewed @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Afghan War, the Additional Troops Request and the Election - Analysis

"Voice for Humanity" — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:28:10 EDT

Analysis: By Padmini Arhant

From the earlier data, it is conclusive that since the inception of the Afghan war, the constant flow of funding and the troops surge has remained the routine build up in the ill-conceived ‘so-called’ war on terror. The long fought war in the past eight years and previously against the Soviets should provide the U.S. defense a concise idea about the Afghan terrains, terrorists’ hideouts and other relevant operational tactics by the Talibans and the Al-Qaida forces.

Please follow link http://www.padminiarhant.com for the rest of the article.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

The 64th Session of the UN General Assembly and G-20 Summit

"Voice for Humanity" — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:47:09 EDT

By Padmini Arhant

Welcome to the forum on the important global gathering of nations to discuss the issues confronting the international community at large.

A humble request to all visitors to the website http://www.padminiarhant.com to take a moment and view the featured videos that speaks volume of the serious humanitarian crisis in hand. As we all know that pictures are worth thousand words and a confirmation of the reality.

Again, the visuals may not be appropriate for all, given the graphic content. The dire situations in these parts of the world beckon the worldwide condemnation and put an end to these atrocities against humanity and bring the perpetrators irrespective of stature to justice as an evidence there is still hope for goodness to prevail in the ever deteriorating immoral world.

Please remember silence is the worst act of crime.

The general debate by the United Nations began early this week with President Barack Obama addressing the General Assembly for the first time since elected to the office of Presidency. The debate continued then onwards with the address by the undemocratically nominated authorities like the Islamic Republic of Iran and The Great Socialist People’s Libya…

The UN Security Council Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was the highlight of the UN session. The objective of this particular conference was aimed at bringing the States that have not yet agreed to or ratified the treaty for the Non-Proliferation Treaty to come into effect.

For the remaining content please refer to http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Sage Advice

Andrew Bairnsfather — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:44:14 EDT

Dear President Obama,

Please allow me to pass along this quote to you:

"Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master."

- Demosthenes

I gotta tell ya, it sure seems our country—even the corps—are out of control stomping the whole planet to pieces. "Crushing and devouring its victims and trampling underfoot whatever is left." Here's one of the ironies I see. The people pushing the hardest for all this are the ones behind the most unflattering characterization of all time; and behind the minion of the deceived.

Respectfully, Drew.

P.S. Have you contacted LEAP yet?

Remembering the Victims of the September 11, 2001 Tragedy

"Voice for Humanity" — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:16:13 EDT

September 11, 2009

By Padmini Arhant

Please standby for the tribute to the brave citizens, the victims of the catastrophic event that changed the world economy and international security. Also remembering the fire fighters and humanitarian workers, the real heroes selflessly offered their life during the rescue operations on the mournful date.

Presented @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Middle East, big oil and failed promises. What is up, Mr. President?

Marcia Riquelme — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:04:36 EDT

This promising new President is so far head and shoulders above the alternative, it is painful to complain bitterly, but bitterly I will. No solution in the Middle East can be solved by occupation, invasion, or military coercion. How my dear President Obama wishes to ignore the wisdom he learned in undergraduate school, I struggle to understand. How well he comprehended the truths shared with him at that time.

What has happened Barack? You were an excellent student. You 'got the picture'. did you lose it somewhere on the walk into the Oval Office? Which UGLY CORPORATION threatened you into falling in line with them? Please be more honorable than to fall to repression by threat of being a 4-year President. What on earth do you think is more honorable--- to follow the wishes of those who elected you, or the be the puppet of the greed and fear-mongers? Please please change course. There is no HOPE AND CHANGE in your middle East policies at present except, thank you for being firmer with Israel, well, a little firmer.

I want to respect you, find you the best President ever. in all history. You are wavering from the track of truly being the people's President. Now you don't have to do much to improve on G.H.W.B., that's true, but you were light-years beyond him at the inauguration----please don't regress. I am worried. How can my Team support you whole-heartedly in 2012? We really care, we are giving our hearts and souls to support you, please don't fail us.

Where is our access to HealthCare REform for all? Public Plan still won't cut it for many. Now we fear the Public Plan will get the ax, too. Are they chewing your heart out? Threatening you? We will rise up in any way you need us to to protect you all we can, just please by the President we hoped we elected!

Failure of Pakistani Diplomacy or Deliberate Exclusion of Pakistanis

Anila Ali — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 20:52:18 EDT

Pakistan is strife with rumors of US building a fortress of an embassy to camouflage a military base in the heart of Islamabad and Karachi. Many Pakistanis believe that US wants to destabilize Pakistan and that it’s in the interest of the US to Balkanize Pakistan so that it can secure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. Many are protesting the 12 embassies that India has set up in Kabul and Pakistani officials have protested that openly claiming that RAW (Indian Intelligence ) is training Afghans to fight Pakistan Talibans. Whatever the truth what can’t be denied is that, Pakistan is sitting in a very precarious position today.

When pressured to root our terrorism from its North, Pakistan had no choice but to send its army to root out Taliban. Pakistan army is fighting its own people to eradicate terrorists from within. That is not an easy task. This not only caused a strain on its meager resources, but also displaced about two million of the poorest people from their homes in the North causing an immense burden on the already weak economy of Pakistan. Thus Pakistan and its people are making huge sacrifices to help the US fight the extremists. What is our government getting in return? The 1.5 billion dollars will trickle into Pakistan through developmental projects, which we’ve all heard about before and which never really have reached the hands of the poor. It could be different this time since there seems to be more oversight of the monies going to Pakistan.

We know that our US government and State department is aware of the corruption that Zardari is tainted with and how his government has done nothing to give “roti,kapra,aur makan” (food, clothing, and shelter) to the common people who stood behind its slogan. In fact, Zardari has made the poor even poorer and the treasury deplete. However, the number of advisors to Zardari keeps increasing, the VIP culture is back as a nuisance and

Basic necessities like electricity and clean water are still non-existent. Despite the lack of progress and abject poverty in Pakistan, the only reason, I remain, hopeful, is that the people elected Zardari and through this extreme suffering during his tenure; they will learn to vote better in the next elections. After all, Americans waited patiently for years to choose a better leader after Bush’s policies alienated Americans from the rest of the world and caused the complete destruction of two countries in the name of bringing democracy, so can Pakistanis.

Then we come to the very important issue of where the money from the Kerry-Lugar Bill will really go and what is Obama’s policy toward Pakistan. . Center for American Progress recently held a meeting of the all the agencies working on AfPak. What was most surprising was that not a single Pakistani was on Holbrooke’s Interagency Team on AfPak. What is even more surprising is that the Senior Defense Advisor to President Obama on Pakistan and Afghanistan is Mr.Vikram Singh. The Senior Advisor on AfPak is Vali Nasr, an Iranian expert on “shiaism”.

Pakistani Americans are considering this as an attempt to exclude them from any policy making for their native country. This is contrary to what the President was saying to the Pakistani community. Candidate Obama told us that he would engage us in policy making that directly affects Pakistan. Who would know Pakistan better than us?

But then why are we excluded from advisory positions? It’s a failure on the part of Pakistan Embassy Washington, and the government of Pakistan, who should have the vision to look out for Pakistani Americans, like the Indians do. Instead, being the strongest bargaining position, Pakistanis are in the weakest position.

We protest this exclusion.

Anila Ali

Teacher, Community Organizer, Journalist, Activist

18845 Tabor Drive,

Irvine, Ca 92603

www.anilaali.com

Saeed Abbasi English Learning System (SAELS) Project

Saeed Khan Abbasi — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:18:56 EDT

My SAELS Community Learning Project

U.S. Relations with India

"Voice for Humanity" — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:52:43 EDT

By Padmini Arhant

The Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Indian sub-continent is a topic to discuss in different context. It’s obvious that the United States engagement in Afghanistan tied with the success of the Zardari-Gilani government presumably involved in eliminating the mayhem in the northwestern region by the Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces after substantial autonomy from the less credible previous military rule of the President Pervez Musharraf.

Despite the severe domestic economic crisis, the continuation of U.S. financial and military aid to Pakistan is an enormous investment of U.S. trust and resources in the nuclear Pakistan.

More information @http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Protest Against Obama's - Disheartening for an Ardent Supporter

Anila Ali — Sat, 30 May 2009 15:04:31 EDT

An die-hard believer in Obama's policies, I must say I was a little disappointed myself at his decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. I wrote a pice in Pakistan Link and I add that to my blog as well. I was surprised to see so many supporters of the President protesting on Wilshire Blvd. while he was here in L.A. fundraising for DNC.

President's promise to us was that the war in Iraq would end in sixteen months but that seems unlikely with the present state of affairs. that leaves supporters like me, a little disheartened. We have destroyed two countries and taken them back to dark ages; we still have not been able to come up with a viable plan for both countries. For the sake of national security, the military plans aren't being shared with us, I hope business is not getting back to the way it was in D.C?

I was moderating a forum arranged by a non-profit organization, COPAA and a few Pakistani Students

organizations of Ca. The hope that was lit up like lightening when Obama took oath of office, dimmed a little when I heard, a very moderate professor say:

"I feel President Obama is going back on his promises to end wars."

The reason his comment resonates with me is that this American professor has traveled all over the Muslim world and is very aware of the ground realities. Another professor came to President's defense and

reminded the audience that he has done a lot in a short time; he is building bridges with the Muslim world which no President has done before.

As a Pakistani American, I urge the government of President Obama to hear us out. US governments meet officials in power in Pakistan, some of them very controversial and tainted with corruption, and they make deals with them. This makes the Pakistanis think that America makes deals only because of self-interest and forgets the ideals of her founding fathers, liberty, peace justice for all.

If America really wants to impact change and spread the ideals of democracy in Pakistan, it must sow the seeds of democracy by forcing political parties to hold elections within to choose their leaders. Pakistan is an inheritance of the landlords like the Chaudhrys and the Bhuttos. They are feudals, they own the land that the 40% of the iliterate Pakistani grow crops and live on. They are like the serfs in medieval times, they own allegience to these landlords and they have no choice but to stamp a vote for their mostly corrupt feudal lord. If we really want to democratize Pakistan, after the war on extremism is over, we must pressure Pakistani governement to have their political parties hold elections for their leadership. Why did Zardari become the chairman of his party? The old party big wigs of PPP are still unhappy with that decision.

These are the issues that trouble the minds of the young people in pakistan. That we Americans, want to impose democracy but only want leaders that are sympathetic to the west and have no respect for their choices. There are parties like the MQM that have leaders that have risen from the sheer hard work and merit, we must promote that thinking if we want to sincerely democratize Pakistan.

Al Qaeda has restored its capacity in Afghanistan

Unknown user — Thu, 21 May 2009 21:23:49 EDT

‘Talibanization’ of Afghanistan and Pakistan

"Voice for Humanity" — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:26:18 EDT

By Padmini Arhant

The Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and the northwestern regions of Pakistan, particularly the swat valley have proven deadlier for the ruling powers in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United Sates due to the inevitable civilian casualties and displacement arising from the incessant shelling supposedly targeting the Taliban militants.

According to the Pakistani government,

Further info @ http://www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

The Obama Doctrine On Pakistan

Don — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:39:48 EDT

Even the idea that the Taliban could possess nuclear material is harmful to our national security. The President should declare that and have spies and satellites vigilant in Pakistan. In the event Pakistan military forces are overrun near sites containing nuclear weapons or nuclear energy material he ought to immediately order those materials utterly destroyed. The Taliban would use those materials in a dirty bomb. It won’t be enough to drop cruise missiles on them because that would merely scatter the nuclear material around, where Bin Laden’s people can collect it. Mr. Obama should be prepared to nuke them, and he should do it immediately, before materials can be relocated. Many lives would be lost in such an action, but they would not be American lives. While all life is precious, President Obama must act decisively to protect our lives above all others.

Pakistan

Aasi Tahir Siddique — Wed, 06 May 2009 10:49:59 EDT

Here are two major factors facing Pakistan; one is military and other is few old political families, whom don’t want to give up their crown. It is mistake to think that Pakistan may be run effectively by the old politicians only. But people of Pakistan are fed up with the business as usual, corrupt military and the politicians. Pakistan has huge pool of young educated people whom are not given any opportunity to participate in the politics and the government. And it only natural, when all else is failed, people are forced into depending and relying on extremist and fundamentalist for the better or worst outcome. Peace and democracy may be achieved by stable elected government only and not declaring Marshal-law. Pakistan will run well, if only, military play the role to defend the country and its boarders and not to intervene inside politics. It will best if the Military is under the Secretary of Defense like here in the USA and not be above the Pakistan’s government or completely independent. Other idea is to spend all or any overseas funds given to the government of Pakistan or military should be spent to eliminate poverty and increase education rather than spend on wars and killing people. There must be independent panel from the USA and not be associated with the Pakistan’s inner or outer circle, to oversea the funds being invested properly for the welfare of people, to build infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and build industries to create jobs in Pakistan not being stolen by the government officials and politicians. Only, then people of Pakistan will realize us as friends and not foes.

Message for President Barack Obama reagarding Sikh People In Pakistan.

Jagjit from San Francisco, CA — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:15:43 EDT

Through this blog, I would like to make a request to Mr. President Barack Obama to help the Sikh people in Pakistan. I belong to Sikh communtiy from Punjab (India). Recently, I saw the news that Taliban forces behaving very badly with Non-Muslim communities in Pakistan. I watched a report on an Indian news channel that almost 150 sikh families lost their homes in Pakistan, because they were unable to pay the huge amount of some million rupees to Taliban. Report also ahowed that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan singh has talked to Pakistan officials to give some helps to Sikh communities suffered by Taliban. But Pakistan government refused their request by saying that Indian government has no need to worry about Pakistan Civilians. Whole Sikh Community is very disappointed on this and praying for Sikh families in Pakistan. I hope President will read my post and try to help the minorities in Pakistan. Also, for other readers, please feel free to ask questions and comments on this request.

Resources:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Demolition-of-Sikh-homes-India-takes-up-matter-with-Pakistan/articleshow/4471938.cms

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=fffea9ee-2bc5-4017-a48d-69888e4d6cd3

Obama Administration – Performance Assessment

"Voice for Humanity" — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:42:10 EDT

By Padmini Arhant

Courtesy: www.padminiarhant.com

It is one hundred days since the new administration under President Obama took office on January 20, 2009.

Precisely, around that time the nation was in a precarious situation specifically with the economy in severe recession heading towards a possible depression. It required urgent policy decisions to avert the serous economic crisis contributing to the crumbling housing market, potential bankruptcies of the auto industry, tremendous job losses, failing financial institutions and volatile stock market.

Even though, the crises are far from over, the administration demonstrated diligence with the legislation of the $787 billion stimulus bill through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act accompanied by various strategies to reform and revive the financial institutions and housing market.

The financial bailouts were justifiably controversial and awaiting the stress test results due on May 4, 2009. Meanwhile, the alternative of inaction would have proven equally detrimental and exacerbated the liquidity crisis in the financial market.

In addition to the measures in stimulating the economy, the administration’s effort to sustain the existing jobs in different sectors particularly the auto industry is noteworthy. Further planning and policy decisions to create new jobs phrased, as ‘green jobs’ through vigorous environmental and energy programs is the right course of action to efficiently deal with the challenging issues of global warming and energy independence.

Other achievements in promoting science and technology such as the stem cell research within the realm of ethical code, proposal to digitalize medical records as one of many innovative solutions in the health care policy, coordinating with the environmental agencies in the protection of threatened and endangered species are impressive. However, the request from the environmental groups to rescind the rule that limits the protection of polar bears from the melting Arctic ice caused by climate change is pending approval.

In social programs, the signing of two major pieces of legislation into law – the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, ensuring equal pay for men and women and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that guarantees 11 million low-income children affordable health care are significant actions.

World health crisis in the wake of the ‘pandemic swine flu’ appropriately handled by the Obama administration thus far.

Despite the fragile economic conditions, the Obama administration’s response and reaction to most issues has been right on target. The anticipated legislation of the budget focused on education, energy and health care should accelerate the economic growth for rapid recovery from the existing crises.

The administration must strive hard to isolate investment from wasteful spending i.e. earmarks or pork barrel that often finds its way through major budgets and stimulus packages. Likewise, preventing the special interests and lobbyists’ continuous dominance should be part of the administration’s agenda.

With respect to transparency and accountability, the recent scandals involving legislators raises credibility issue for the majority party. It is important to maintain bipartisanship in legislative matters for national interest since future holds no guarantee with the majority rule. Moreover, divisive politics contributes to polarization jeopardizing national unity and ultimately election results.

In foreign policy matter, the recent participation in international summits appears promising with the exception of the boycotting of the Geneva conference on ‘racism.’ Please refer to the article on ‘Racism – The Durban II Geneva Conference’ @ www.padminiarhant.com.

Obviously, the rising tensions in the international arena from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and North Korea are few of the many challenges ahead. Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the form of two states solutions is paramount to attain permanent peace in the region. It would create a pathway for others sharing similar aspirations.

Combat troops withdrawal from Iraq and simultaneous deployment in Afghanistan deserve individual criteria and attention. Military operation always yields immense casualties and often precious lives are lost in the process.

President Obama’s initiative with Russia in the reduction of conventional weapons and other arsenal is praiseworthy. Nevertheless, it remains subject to the real statistics and the actual defense spending contraction by the geopolitical powers. The bold and audacious declaration of nuclear disarmament was music to ears, although the reality of it relies on the willingness and commitment by the other nuclear nations.

At the G-20 summit, the United States’ reluctance to support France’s proposal to force international financial institutions unveil the corporations using tax havens for tax evasions was disappointing. The unpopular yet meaningful recommendation contributed to a major disagreement between France and China leading to the mediation by the U.S. President Barack Obama. The international sources attributed China’s objection to the potential ramifications on the corporate investments in that nation.

In conclusion, the result oriented performance reflects President Obama’s admirable leadership skills and the administration’s ambitious goals in education, energy and health care is a step in the right direction.

I wish President Obama and the administration success in all endeavors.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Pakistan:

Thomas S. Kelly — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:36:51 EDT

Pakistan:

It would appear, that Pakistan (a Nuclear power), finds itself grappling over its own nuclear arsenal amidst an escalating Centering Civil War stemming in no small way from the oppositions uncontrolled mounting sexual frustrations and inability to further suppress woman’s rights in the most remote region of that country. The Religion in the area is not in question.

Pakistan:

Thomas S. Kelly — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 00:32:01 EDT

Pakistan:

Will Pakistan sell all of their Nukes to U.S. (for extraction) in light of their current problems?

Accountability: America's Moral Responsibility to Humanity

Eric from Covina, CA — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:51:12 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE

Accountability: America's Moral Responsibility to Humanity

Eight years of Republican "leadership" has left America both economically devastated, and globally humiliated. Yet, far from apologizing for the damage that they've done to the stability and image of this great nation, instead, they've circled their wagons and gone into damage control mode–not to control the damage that they've done to the nation, but in an attempt to rewrite history in order to control the damage that they've done to themselves.

So now, as President Obama goes about the business of desperately trying to return America to its former position of economic stability at home, and respect, admiration, and moral authority abroad, the GOP leadership seems to be completely oblivious to the nation's desperate and immediate need for a concerted effort in that regard. They're like clueless children who find it impossible to see the big picture. Thus, at this point it has become abundantly clear that their primary concern is not with restoring America to a sound footing in the world, but rather, simply restoring themselves to power at any cost.

They May Speak English, But We're Still 'The Other'

signsSansSignifieds — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:38:56 EDT

Matthew Yglesias, commenting on an article by Spencer Ackerman, thinks lack of knowledge of Afghanistan's languages is "the Achilles heel of the American imperial project." I think that overlooks the most important point.

Speech

Laura — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:04:43 EDT

Once again, I am comforted by his words. I felt upset when I first read the headlines about Pakistan this morning, but I decided to hear what he had to say before I thought any more about it - we are behind his guidance and must trust him to lead us forward. I am grateful.

The "other" India

R.Alamsha — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:52:22 EST

We are good at winning the battle and losing the war. We forget that with 1.2 billion people to feed, whatever we are deabating is simply irrelevant for 70% of the population who have no access even to the very basics like toilet and water supply system. We all know deep inside our heart that this is a nightmare and a silent volcano and tsunami is brewing right under our arse. Even there is a silent consensus among all of us that this is the law of nature and if some has to stay, some has to go. But, we forget that the “other India” also is arriving at the same consensus as we are.

Look at our matrimonial ads. Parents from the 30% are every day seeking alliance from well settled brides / grooms in UK, US, Canada, Australia and Europe. Every one of our ruling elites, including the PM, President, nationalist party leaders and policy makers have their sons and daughters settled in these nations.

Let us look around our neighbours. While bollywood movies and Indian people are loved by everyone around the world, we pretend ignorant to the fact that there is a growing aversion towards India in the SAARC region. While the traditional hatred between India and Pakistan is well known, why India could not build a cordial relationship with any of it’s neighbours Bangladesh, Srilanka, Nepal and China?. We can not close our eyes to the fact that the entire subcontinent is gravitating towards China and very soon India may be left all alone.

The “holier than thou” attitude and unreasonable boasting of intellectual prowess by repeatedly quoting certain phrases like Einstein’s “We owe a lot to Indians who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made”, “worlds largest democracy” etc while the genocides, corrupt judiciary, quality of life, deteriorating infrastrature and weeping poverty speaks otherwise, generates a sense of hypocrisy and disillusion about India in the minds of weaker neighbours.

Dr.Manmohan Singh knows these geopolitical dynamics very well and realised that he can't have an Indo-US nuclear deal under his arms and extend the hand of friendship to China as well. Simply put, China did not buy his bluff. In this context, China is emerging as a defacto leader of the subcontinent and all our "weaker neighbours" have started signing "deals and pacts" with China. Obviously, one can not have his cake and eat it too.

Hope, we are not moving towards taking pride in glorified tragedies like “slumdog millionaire”.

Should India teach or learn a "lesson" from Pakistan ?.

R.Alamsha — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 23:26:21 EST

We all know very well that 150 years of Hindu-Muslim hatred has culminated into the birth of Pakistan. After partition, the Hindu and Muslim population in either countries have become easy target for the majority to vent their anger and frustration against the minority.

After 60 years, the 10% Hindu population of Pakistan has dwindled down to less than 2% while 10% of Muslim population of India has almost doubled to 20% , in proportion with the national average. Most of the Pakistani Hindus have migrated to India, while almost all the Indian Muslims who were not cut by the geographical division have remained intact as Indians, despite descrimination and alienation.

The abscence of a moderating force has pushed Pakistan into the grip of Islamists while Hinduism in India has done the remarkable job of severing the umbilical cord between the Muslims and the Mullahs. An Indian Muslim might be economically and politically weaker than his Pakistani counter part but definitely commands more respect in the world arena and knows how to play by the rules of the game.

The Mumbai terror attack is a crucial milestone in the Indo-Pak rivalry. It has proved beyond doubt that it is impossible for India to teach any kind of lesson to Pakistan by any war. Whatever "other options open" is irrelevant for Pakistan because it is seen as a hero in the eyes of "Muslim world", for the very resons that India can NOT bully Pakistan any more.

Today, the people of Pakistan have got fedup of "Allah + Army" combo and they are eagerly looking out for an opportunity to get out of this mess. In fact, most of the Pakistani intellectuals have started enjoying the vulgar assault of Indian media on Pakistani establishments and they welcome it as a necessary anti-dose for their illness. But, it should NOT be misinterpreted as a disillusion against their state of Pakistan. The desire to see their nation strong and prosperous is "deep rooted" in the heart of every Pakistani as much as that of an Indian for India.

India can not continue with it's "outdated" mindset against Pakistan. We don't have an answer for the "roti, kapda, makaan" dream of 1.2 billion population. It is a silent volcano and tsunami brewing right under our arse. Jingoistic slogans of "Bharat mata ki, jay" is pushing all the neighbours towards China and creating an aversion for India in the SAARC region.

India should gracefully accept the bitter reality that Pakistan is a strong and sovereign nation and will NEVER get cowed down by India.

Pakistan is ready for a "real" dialogue. It is anxiously waiting. India should accept to "live and sleep" with the enemy. India should break the barriers. Pakistan is waiting.

Investigate Bush/Cheney for war crimes. Petition

Texas_Democrat_06 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:04:41 EST

I will remember the last 8 years of financial destruction here in the US and the bloodshed of millions of civilians on a global scale. most honest political and financial experts consider him the worst leader america has ever had and this is why.

Worst fiscal crisis since the Great Depression
Lied about the war in Iraq
No WMD's found in Iraq
Vetoed health coverage for kids
Ignored law, allowed torture
Illegal wiretapping
Had enough info to stop 9/11 and didn't, hid that fact from the public
Lost Bin laden at Tora Bora
Crassly unconstitutional signing statements
Stripped resources from Afghanistan and sent them to Iraq
Didn't catch Bin Laden
Allowed Al Qaeda to regroup in Pakistan Afghan war out of control
Lied about reducing greenhouse emissions, ignored warming
Muzzled warming scientists in NASA and elsewhere
Political appointments to Department of Justice and political prosecutions
Cheney, Rove, and others in contempt of Congress -- refused to tell the American people the truth
Fooled public into believing Saddam was involved in 9/11 when he knew otherwise
Made light of inabilty to find WMD's

Please sign the petition to investigate Bush/Cheney for war crimes.
Then pass it on to everyony you know that will sign it.

Petition link http://www.petitiononline.com/856798/petition.html

military commanders/Afghanistan - survey inquiry

Mary G. in Albuqueruqe NM — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:29:44 EST

Another simplistic response choice:

"With regard to Afghanistan, Politico reported today that “The Pentagon’s top military officers are recommending to President Barack Obama that he shift U.S. strategy in Afghanistan to focus on ensuring regional stability and eliminating Taliban and al-Qaida safe havens in Pakistan, rather than on achieving lasting democracy and a thriving Afghan economy, officials said."

Considering the above passage, which statement best describes how you feel about the war in Afghanistan?
The US must defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda; and leave a functioning democracy in Afghanistan
The US must defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda; any stable regime will be fine in Afghanistan
The US must defeat the Taliban and Al Qaeda; Afghanistan can be left in any condition
The US must pull out of the war in Afghanistan immediately
Don't know"

My Comment: None of the above, again. It is not our business to enforce Democracy. It is our business to model why it is a good choice, and we have fallen down on the job. Just like in Iraq, no one is going to want to pull troops out unless we feel there is stability. Unfortunately in the case of Afghanistan, when we entered Afghanistan the Pakistan question does not appear to have been considered as important as it is in relation to providing a safe haven for terrorists . ( I am a M.E. specialist and knew along with many colleagues that the Pakistan issue was being neglected.) So we have a Pakistan issue that apparently was not taken into consideration from the start, and we seem to be undecided about whether or not Pakistan is intentional harboring of terrorists. The fact that Pakistan is a nuclear power complicates the issue, because it would be to our advantage to function on the premise that Pakistan is NOT harboring terrorists intentionally, even if that is the case. And of course whether or not the government is officially looking the other way regarding the terrorists, the people who live in the mountains who are protecting the terrorists and/or being intimidated by them, may be beyond the control of the Pakistani government. That region has always been inaccessible, and pretty much ignored as being the territory of brigands who are pretty much left alone. A cooperative deal (diplomacy) between Pakistan and U.S. to do something about them might be the best solution to allow us to eventually leaving Afghanistan as stable as possible . . .

Hazarat Bilal and Obama

R.Alamsha — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:58:32 EST

Dear President Obama

Today, America has elected the son of an African black slave as it's President. Mr.President, you will be surprised to know that Prophet Mohammed had appointed, 1400 years ago, an African black slave, Hazarat Bilal as the first moezzin (prayer caller) and the treasurer of the state. Also, for your kind information, Hazarat Bilal is the first person who embraced Islam when Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) brought the peaceful message of Islam for the mankind.

Everyone should practice their faith fearlessly and live true to themselves. Hypocricy wouldn’t work because when i die, God will not ask me what’s my nationality, which religion i followed and how much patriotic was I ?. Rather, i will be judged by my actions as a good human.

I am an Indian Muslim and i follow all good things in my religion but i will NOT accept that one has to be a Muslim in order to enter “jannah”. I can’t imagine a jannah without my good Non Muslim friends.

Our Prophet(PBUH) brought Islam for humanity and he preached universal brotherhood. His own uncle, Abu Talib, who protected him from non believers of Islam never embraced Islam till his last breath. Prophet respected his decision and left it to God. What other example is required for secularism, tolerance and equality in Islam?.

Islam is a revolutionary concept which shattered all the social inequalities and removed the very concept of appointing a religious high priest as a guardian of social values. It brought freedom, equality, and justice for the mankind. Prophet(PBUH) appointed Hazarat Bilal, the black African slave, as the first moezzin (Prayer caller) and treasurer of the state. How many so called Islamic countries practice these great values, is a question they love to avoid. Whereas, Europe, Australia, France, US and UK have all opened their borders for everyone and have allowed them to settle and live a better life.

In fact, if one has to embrace these values of universal brotherhood and humanity, patriotism and motherland becomes antithesis to Islam. Let us be honest. Patriotism has brought wars, hatred and has divided the humanity. One can easily get away wih murders, genocides and massacres in the name of patriotism. It is a lie and evil against mankind and every human being will ultimately move on and settle in any country which provides better life & oppportunities, including we Indians.

Peace in Palestine and Kashmir

Yahya Malik — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:47:42 EST

President-Elect Obama is inheriting so many problems that no other President had. He is among the most intelligent and highly educated President we ever had so I think he must have thought about the same what I am going to write here in brief for your feedback. The difference is, it is based on my observation and experience gained from working and living in Middle East, Africa, Asia and of course US.

Major Hot Points in the World:

There are two major areas that could blow up the big part of the world if President-elect Obama, like his predecessors, does not take a positive and unbiased action; Palestine and Kashmir. Before him, every one also wanted Peace but no one was bold enough to spell out the root cause of the issues and try to bring the warring nations to the table. It is time that we put our foot down and call a Spade a Spade.

The issues are highly complex. No one is willing to compromise. There are many things common among the parties Pakistan/India & Palestine/Israel. Will the history hold America responsible for what is going on in that part of the world? Will the history call us a silent observer or silent party to the problems in those countries? To mention few common areas;

· We as Americans always used UN/Security council to take any action. On the other hand, our biggest allies, India and Israel both occupy land of Kashmir and Palestine and refuse to implement the UN resolutions but we never raised our voice about their inaction.

· We pay each year almost four billions of dollars to Israel from our own Tax money, but we never question, where they are spending, on weapons or infrastructure.

· We gave nuclear technology to Israel and India to build their nuclear reactors and we never ask any question about their piles of nuclear weapons.

President-elect Obama needs to take the Lead and BRING LOVE, PEACE AND JUSTICE to that part of the world. If he succeeds, there will be peace in the world and history will remember him with the best words.

What Needs To Be Done?

Without going into details here is what I think he needs to do as the next President of United States.

1- Tell all the four warring countries, India & Pakistan, and Israel & Palestine to sit at the table to discuss their issues and come up with their solution, within a given time period. We should be represented in those meetings.

2- If they do not reach a decision,

a. US will recall its diplomatic staff

b. US will stop sending financial aid

c. US will get a Resolution passed by the UN to impose strict air, land and sea blockade, as we did against Iraq, Libya and Iran.

d. US will not allow any funds transfer to the country by a business or an individual

e. US will use armed forces of Muslim countries, if necessary, to bring peace and order in those countries.

3- Do not pay any Financial aid to any country in cash. Approve the amount for their specific projects that must be completed by American companies. It will generate more jobs and more business for Americans. The local population of the recipient country will see the result of the aid and will appreciate it. Our money will not go into the pockets of their politicians. Otherwise, we will continue losing money.

Unleashing Terrorist Network in Pakistan

Unknown user — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:55:42 EST

Unleashing Terrorist Network in Pakistan

by Pukhtoon Khan

The Pakistani Media has again as usual,mis-quoted the recent statements of President Karzai in which he issued a forceful warning to militants in Pakistan, saying he will send Afghan troops across the border to combat Taliban insurgents. The mis-interpretation of the President's statements is done intentionally by the Pakistani media to provoke the Tribal Pashtuns against their fellow Afghan brethren despite of the fact that President Karzai has been warning Pakistan regarding cross border infiltration of Pakistani religeous and military terrorists into Afghanistan.

What President Karzai said in his statement was :
1) That terrorists from Pakistani tribal areas are entering Afghanistan for suicide bombing to target Afghan and ISAF forces.
2) That these Terrorists are [ISI-backed] Taliban whose leader is Baitullah Mehsud or Mulla Umar in Pakistan.
3) That Afghanistan and ISAF forces reserve the right to take the revenge of killings by these Talibans in Afghanistan even if Afghan and NATO forces have to chase them to their houses in the FATA.
4) That Afghanistan is also concerned about the atrocities being committed to Pashtuns in Pakistan.
5) That Afghanistan only trusts ANP among the political parties in Pakistan.

It is obvious that if the govt of Pakistan does not take any action against these terrorists entering Afghanistan but rather facilitates and trains them to do these nefarious activities then Afghanistan would feel insecure and it would be compelled to take precautionary measures for her security.

Pakistani media projected the statement as provocative and tried to hide factual position from the world which implied :
1) That Afghanistan is neither interested to violate the so called sovereignty of Pakistan nor does it want to harm or attack its fellow Pashtun brothers in FATA.
2) That Pakistan is behind the suicide attacks in Afghanistan.
3) That Pakistani agencies are behind the planing and training of the suicide bombers and terrorist.
4) That Pakistan is not sincere to see peace and progress in Afghanistan. 5) That Afghanistan reserves the right to take revenge of all the suicide bombs done by the invisible hands which get activated from FATA – the land of non-local terrorists trained by Pakistani army and agencies with the help of local religious demagogues.

Let us unleash the multi-tier terrorists network active in Pakistan under state supervision .

It is a well established fact that the Taliban as well as other religious prototype groups are the products and terrorist wings of ISI. The statements of Baitullah Mehsud and Mulla Umar of Taliban Movement Pakistan are just the Pashto translation of ISPR's statements regarding Afghanistan and Pakhtoonkhwa.

The nomenclature of the terrorist network in Pakistan is as follows:
1. The planning and strategy formation is done at the GHQ Rawalpindi both against Pashtuns,Balochis or Sindhis and against India and Afghanistan.
2. The plan is executed by the intelligence agencies (ISI,MI,IB etc) of Pakistan.
3. Depending upon the geopolitical situation of the region, the modus operandi of the terrorist activities is customised accordingly. In Pukhtunkhwa, the religious parties and clerics are bribed to provide "manpower" for the suicide bombs and other terrorist activities while the more technically sensitive operations like killing of political leaders are carried out by the intelligence agencies themselves.

Religeous groups like Taliban along with the local criminal elements are guided by the professionals of the intelligence agencies to control the local people through religious authority. The network of Taliban is extended across Pakhtunkhwa regionwise in order to hijack the freedom and liberty of the local people anytime and to terrorise the people constantly.

Baitullah Mehsud in Waziristan,Mangal Bagh in Khyber agency, Mulla Fazlullah in Swat,Mulla Omar in Bajaur etc are all the ISI puppets playing with the lives of innocent Pashtuns - a nation which has never been conquered with sword but has been falling prey to the authority of religion in history. On top of it all ,the military is carrying out operations in the name of war on terror but infact killing all those among the local population who might potentially become a power to reckon with against the designs of the state sponsored terrorist activities and hegemony of Punjab dominated Pakistan army.

In Afghanistan,there is peace in all those cities that are bordering other neighboring countries except Pakistan.It is the border with Pakistan which has been experiencing political unrest and insurgency due to Taliban. The Talibans in Afghanistan – who were the product of ISI in the early 90's - are under the complete control of Pakistani agencies and plotting plans to destabilise Afghanistan in every possible manner.

Pakistani agencies export experts and expertise to the Taliban in Afghanistan via FATA.The same notorious agencies are propagating against the ISAF forces to deceive the world media on one hand and motivate the local population for "Jihad" on the other in order to justify its anti-Afghan activities.

It is therefore suggested that the world community should pressurise Islamabad so that it stop its interference in the internal affairs of its neighbouring contries specially Afghanistan. A stable Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan as Afghanstan is the gateway for all the trade routes to central Asia. Based on an ambiguous state ideology and having no roots and bonds of integrity among the various nationalities ,Pakistan is already on the brink of another collapse due to the prevalent system of injustice and exploitation and therefore is fastly loosing its chances of survival.

In 1999, Dennis Blair, as PACOM head disobeyed an order from the Clinton administration to tell Indonesia's military commander to shut down pro-Indonesian militias that were killing civilians in East Timor.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:04:34 EST

December 18, 2008 -- Obama selects Dennis Blair as DNI

by Wayne Madsen @ waynemadsenreport.com

In a further slap in the face of progressives and human rights advocates, President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Admiral Dennis Blair as the Director of National Intelligence, replacing retired Admiral Mike McConnell.

On December 1, 2008, WMR wrote the following about Blair in the DNI position:

"President-elect Barack Obama's reported choice to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI), retired Admiral Dennis Blair, a former Pacific Command chief and Associate Director of Central Intelligence for Military Support, will ensure that the United States continues its neocon rhetorical babble on key foreign policy issues, especially those that relate to the Muslim world, including India and Indonesia.

SOURCE - http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

Islamists define "Zionism" anyone standing up against terror-massacres and for security and survival

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:34:06 EST

Islamic Pakistani TV channel blames the Islamic massacre on “Indian (hindu) zionists”

Pak TV channel says 26/11 hatched by Hindu Zionists - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Pak_TV_channel_says_2611_hatched_by_Hindu_Zionists/articles%20how/3785654.cms

—

There you go, the usual Islamic follow-up crime, after committing the massacre - (on top of everything) blaming the victims!

What the heck is an “hindu zionist” anyway??? then again, Who said Islamofascism makes sense?

The truth — however — is that the Islamists consider ANY anti terrorists pro-security, pro-survival, pro-life acting “entity” as “zionists”, that’s IslamiPedia for “Zionism”.

A consensus is emerging among intelligence analysts and pundits that Pakistan may be President-elect Barack Obama's greatest policy challenge.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:32:44 EST

Does Obama Understand His Biggest Foreign-Policy Challenge?

The president-elect wants to work with the Pakistani government to "stamp out" terror. It's not nearly that simple.

by Juan Cole @ salon.com - Published on Saturday, December 13, 2008 by Salon.com

A consensus is emerging among intelligence analysts and pundits that Pakistan may be President-elect Barack Obama's greatest policy challenge. A base for terrorist groups, the country has a fragile new civilian government and a long history of military coups. The dramatic attack on Mumbai by members of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e Tayiba, the continued Taliban insurgency on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the frailty of the new civilian government, and the country's status as a nuclear-armed state have all put Islamabad on the incoming administration's front burner.

But does Obama understand what he's getting into? In his "Meet the Press" interview with Tom Brokaw on Sunday, Obama said, "We need a strategic partnership with all the parties in the region -- Pakistan and India and the Afghan government -- to stamp out the kind of militant, violent, terrorist extremists that have set up base camps and that are operating in ways that threaten the security of everybody in the international community." Obama's scenario assumes that the Pakistani government is a single, undifferentiated thing, and that all parts of the government would be willing to "stamp out" terrorists. Both of those assumptions are incorrect............

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/12/12/pakistan/index.html

The United States, Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan are sending a terrible message to the rest of the world by refusing to take part in the historic signing of a treaty that bans the production and use of cluster bombs.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:14:43 EST

Cluster Bomb Treaty and The World's Unfinished Business

by Ramzy Baroud @ commondreams.org

The United States, Russia and China are sending a terrible message to the rest of the world by refusing to take part in the historic signing of a treaty that bans the production and use of cluster bombs. In a world that is plagued by war, military occupation and terrorism, the involvement of the great military powers in signing and ratifying the agreement would have signaled - if even symbolically - the willingness of these countries to spare civilians' unjustifiable deaths and the lasting scars of war.

Nonetheless, the incessant activism of many conscientious individuals and organizations came to fruition on December 3-4 when ninety-three countries signed a treaty in Oslo, Norway that bans the weapon, which has killed and maimed many thousands of civilians.

The accord was negotiated in May, and should go into effect in six months, once it is ratified by 30 countries. There is little doubt that the treaty will be ratified; in fact, many are eager to be a member of the elite group of 30. Unfortunately, albeit unsurprisingly, the US, Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan - a group that includes the biggest makers and users of the weapon - neither attended the Ireland negotiations, nor did they show any interest in signing the agreement.......

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/13-3

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, someone "close" to President-elect Obama told them that the Obama-Biden-Hillary administration intends to offer Israel a "nuclear umbrella."

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 15:09:49 EST

Nuke Umbrellas
by Gordon Prather @ antiwar.com

According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, someone "close" to President-elect Obama told them that the Obama-Biden-Hillary administration intends to offer Israel a "nuclear umbrella."

Now, you know what an ordinary umbrella is. And if you can find it and unfurl it in time, if the rain is coming straight down out of the sky, and if you are standing directly under it, it can protect you from getting soaking wet.

Okay, what if it’s extremely windy and the rain is coming at you almost horizontal? Well, don’t bother unfurling your umbrella.

So, what’s a "nuclear umbrella"?

Presumably, it’s something that, if you can find it and unfurl it in time, and if the nukes are coming straight down out of the sky, it can protect you and yours from getting nuked in your jammies.........

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.antiwar.com/prather/?articleid=13900

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

WEBMASTER — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:26:14 EST

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when people see the economic benefits of using alternative energy technologies

Call 949.645.1701 for information on how Green Wave Energy can help you save the planet.

Alternative Energy
Source: David Apperson

url: http://veterans.barackobama.com/page/community/tag/alternative-energy

Suspected Taliban insurgents attacked two truck stops, destroying more than 150 vehicles carrying supplies bound for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:21:19 EST

Supply trucks hit in brazen attack in Pakistan

Arshad Arbab / EPAU.S. military Humvees destined for the NATO forces in Afghanistan were burned in an attack near Peshawar.

Suspected Taliban insurgents attacked two truck stops, destroying more than 150 vehicles carrying supplies bound for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.

By Laura King @ latimes.com, Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan
6:32 AM PST, December 7, 2008

In one of the biggest and most brazen attacks of its kind to date, suspected Taliban insurgents with heavy weapons attacked two truck stops in northwest Pakistan early today, destroying more than 150 vehicles carrying supplies bound for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan.

The predawn attack on the outskirts of the city of Peshawar left the grounds of the truck terminals littered with the burned-out shells of Humvees and other military vehicles. At least one guard was reported killed...........

ARTICLE - http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pakistan8-2008dec08,0,2335333.story

Mumbai attacks more complicated than corporate press reports

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:08:00 EST

December 1, 2008 -- Mumbai attacks more complicated than corporate press reports

by Wayne Madsen @ waynemasdenreport.com

As first reported by WMR while the corporate press was uttering the "Al Qaeda" bogeyman as likely behind the terror attacks on Mumbai, the Press Trust of India (PTI) is now confirming WMR's initial report that Pakistan- and Dubai-based criminal syndicate boss Dawood Ibrahim's gangsters handed over the weapons and explosive material to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) terrorists to carry out the assault on targets in Mumbai.

According to PTI, one LET terrorist captured by India, Ajmal Qasab, said he and his fellow terrorists sailed from Karachi and entered Mumbai's port area with the help of Ibrahim's agents who run several customs facilities in Mumbai. However, there are some questions being raised about Qasab and his claims. The so-called security camera shot of Qasab, who is being billed by the media as the "lone surviving gunman," at Chatrapathi Sivaji train terminal in Mumbai, appears fake. The angle is too narrow for a train station which would have a wider angle and be shot from higher up than the photo being shopped by the Indian police. However, according to Asian intelligence sources, Qasab may have been trained by Hindu militants and was rushed to the scene of the attack for a photo opportunity hastily arranged by the Hindu right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) propaganda team. One Asian intelligence source who has spent a great deal of time in Pakistan reports that he has "never seen a haircut like his [Qasab's] in Pakistan or on either side of Line of Control in Kashmir." He also pointed out that Qasab is a bit overweight for an average "mujad" who slim down in training by exercising and eating a sparse diet of lentils and flat bread.......

SOURCE - http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

Bound by Sorrows

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 17:00:35 EST

Bound by Sorrows: India and Pakistan Are in this Together

by Mohsin Hamid @ guardian.co.uk

In the rush to blame Pakistan for the terrorist atrocity in Mumbai, a dangerous mistake is being made. The impulse to implicate Pakistan is of course understandable: the past is replete with examples of Pakistani and Indian intelligence agencies working to destabilize the historical enemy across the border.

But it is too soon to know who is behind the current attacks. Some or all of the attackers may indeed come from or have supporters in Pakistan. Equally, some or all may be Indian. The desire of some in India to ascribe guilt to Pakistan before the evidence is in is, therefore, an attempt to avoid introspection.

India and Pakistan are more alike than politicians of either country tend to acknowledge. The triumphal narrative of India as an incredible success, and the defeatist narrative of Pakistan as an impending disaster are both only half true. For much of this young century, Pakistan has enjoyed economic growth rates not far behind those of India, and this year Pakistan has emulated its neighbor by returning to democracy..........

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/29/india-pakistan-terrorism

MUMBAI: India’s intelligence services had delivered at least three precise warnings that a major terrorist attack on Mumbai was imminent

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:46:43 EST

Pointed intelligence warnings preceded attacks

Praveen Swami @ "The Hindu" (India)

Weaknesses in police infrastructure facilitated the attack, government sources say

MUMBAI: India’s intelligence services had delivered at least three precise warnings that a major terrorist attack on Mumbai was imminent, highly-placed government sources have told The Hindu.

However, weaknesses in police manpower and training allowed the attacks to proceed, the sources said.

On November 18, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) intercepted a satellite phone conversation, in which a so-far unidentified caller notified his handlers that he was heading for Mumbai along with a certain cargo.

RAW analysts, however, rapidly determined that the apparently innocuous call was made to a Lahore phone number known to be used by the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s main military commander for operations targeting India, who is known only by the code-names ‘Muzammil’ and ‘Abu Hurrera.’

Mumbai Police investigators have determined that the call was made from a satellite phone that was eventually found abandoned on the Porbandar-based fishing boat Kuber, hijacked by the terrorists mid-ocean, most likely on November 19. The satellite phone also contains records of several other calls to Lashkar handlers in Pakistan..........

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/30/stories/2008113055981500.htm

It looks like whoever planned and executed this terror attack aimed it at America -- specifically, at Western media feeding Americans on a holiday.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:02:23 EST

Also Aimed at America

By: Teddy Partridge @ firedoglake.com

While I agree with Digby that early coverage by our media of the American-centric aspect of the Mumbai terror attacks was rather shameful, by now it looks like whoever planned and executed this terror attack aimed it at America -- specifically, at Western media feeding Americans on holiday around our televisions on a long weekend with less shopping planned.

That's fairly sophisticated and fairly scary too.

The hotels that were attacked were central to the American expat/tourism experience in Mumbai; most Western companies that are now firmly ensconced in that south Asian financial capital began their Indian incarnation in a small hotel suite in the Taj or the Oreboi. Some that haven't yet built or leased their own office towers now occupy entire floors. And the Taj Palace and Towers was readying for an influx of Westerners, especially Americans, for Thanksgiving celebrations......

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://firedoglake.com/2008/11/28/also-aimed-at-america/

Mumbai: Institutional Paranoia And Obama's Foreign Policy

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:47:45 EST

Mumbai: Institutional Paranoia And Obama's Foreign PolicyBy

Cernig @ crooksandliars.com

There are a lot of conflicting reports coming out of the Indian subcontinent right now, and no-one seems to have told their right hand what their left hand is doing. For instance, The UK's Telegraphreports Vilasrao Deshmukh, the chief minister of Mumbai, saying that two British citizens were among the terrorists who first attacked Mumbai two days ago and who are still being winkled out of their positions by Indian special forces- while elsewhere the Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor is being quoted as saying "We have found nothing to indicate they were British."

That confusion extends to speculation about who is to blame, although India seems to be prematurely certain. Pranab Mukherjee, India's Foreign Minister, has said: "Preliminary evidence, prima facie evidence, indicates elements with links to Pakistan are involved." India is stopping and searching Pakistan-flagged merchant vessels, yet the best indications are that the terrorists came ashore from Indian fishing vessels. Rather than admit it might have an indigenous terrorism problem, which would open an unhappy can of worms about tensions between militant Muslim extremists and equally militant Hindu supremacists, the Indian government is stretching as hard as it can to implicate Pakistan. Their working theory is that these Indian boats were hijacked off Pakistani shores - yet they've no evidence for that at all......

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://crooksandliars.com/cernig/mumbai-institutional-paranoia-and-obamas-fo

Forgotten Lessons From 9/11

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:19:06 EST

Forgotten Lessons From 9/11

By Anne Applebaum @ washingtonpost.com

Saturday, November 29, 2008; Page A15

As I write, the world's security experts still have no idea which organization carried out this week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai, and I have no idea myself. The Indian government suspects Pakistani groups, but some eyewitnesses have said the gunmen spoke Hindi, which could mean that they were of Indian origin. The attacks, carried out on several targets simultaneously, reminded some of al-Qaeda, but the gunmen were not suicide bombers and they did not use standard al-Qaeda technology. A group calling itself the "Deccan Mujaheddin" has claimed responsibility, but no one has heard this name before. One anonymous "U.S. counterterrorism official" mentioned a few other groups -- Lashkar-i-Taiba, which means "Army of the Pious," and Jaish-i-Muhammad, or "Soldiers of Muhammad" -- but even off the record he refused to be drawn further. "It's still too early for hard and fast conclusions."

Other experts, both named and anonymous, used phrases such as "premature" and "I'm pretty sure" and "caution." Without much to go on, analysts have been speculating about the consequences of a political rupture between India and Pakistan or the long and somewhat neglected history of domestic terrorism in India. Some think the apparent targeting of American, British and Jewish tourists is significant. Others reckon that the real target must have been the financial district of Mumbai, India's commercial capital. All in all, it is a very unsatisfactory picture.......

ARTICLE - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/28/AR2008112802039.html

Mumbai attacks part of "Blowback" for CIA double cross

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:36:59 EST

November 27-28, 2008 -- Mumbai attacks part of "Blowback" for CIA double cross

by Wayne Madsen @ waynemadsenreport.com

The violence that is sweeping Mumbai's tourist and business areas is the work of rival Hindu nationalist terrorists and Muslim gangs, according to WMR's Asian intelligence sources. Scores have been killed and hundreds injured in the violence sweeping India's financial capital. Although the "Indian Mujaheddin" and "Al Qaeda in India" are the corporate media's suspects in the violence, the attacks have more to do with score settling and a warning by a CIA asset and Muslim-Hindu gang violence.

The violence began with some crude "dud" bombs being planted around the city. However, these are seen as "false flag" attacks carried out by HIndu nationalist terrorists who support the Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which hopes to beat the ruling Congress Party in forthcoming elections. The Hindu nationalists often wave the "Muslim terrorist" shirt to win popular support.

SOURCE - http://www.waynemadsenreport.com/

Opponents of cluster bombs say a treaty expected to be finalized by more than 100 countries next week in Norway's capital could shame non-signers like the U.S., Russia, China, Israel, Pakistan and India into also shelving the weapons.

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:22:48 EST

Opponents of cluster bombs speak out in Norway

Cluster bomb opponents say treaty to be finalized in Norway next week to shame non-signers

Nov 26, 2008 09:54 EST

Opponents of cluster bombs say a treaty expected to be finalized by more than 100 countries next week in Norway's capital could shame non-signers like the U.S., Russia and China into also shelving the weapons.

Cluster Munitions Coalition umbrella group coordinator Tom Nash says the treaty "will stigmatize the weapons," making them "morally unacceptable." Nash was speaking Wednesday before the Dec. 3-4 signing ceremony in Oslo.

Cluster bomblets are packed by the hundreds into artillery shells, bombs or missiles that scatter them over vast areas. Some fail to explode immediately. The unexploded bomblets can then lie dormant for years until they are disturbed, often by children attracted by their small size and bright colors.

___

On the Net - http://www.stopclustermunitions.org

SOURCE - http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=467455

The Change is here.....

Unknown user — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:21:40 EST

Mr Barack Obama ran his presidential campaign on the short and moving title of Change can happen. Well, the change is finall here and we all, including those who are not Americans and are living far far away in the east, are now waiting with bated breath as to how the future would unfold for all of us.

Mr Obama is yet to come clear on what his policy towards the subcontinent would be. However, there is just one thing i want to take up right now and that is his statement regarding shifting American troops from Iraq and bringing them in to Afghanistan.

I, as a citizen of India and having been lived in close proximity of militancy, as is prevalent in Kashmir, I would like to let you know that more troops are not going to be the solution to the crisis that has engulfed Afghanistan and its neighbours, including Pakistan and India.

We all need peace, i guess and we have long been forced into believing that peace would come through more soldiers walking on the roads. Well, that is not happening. we have been having troops for the past almost two decades in Kashmir and it is not close to peace yet.

So, please do not bring more troops to Afghanistan, bring development, employment and governance, if you must.

We are also told that troops are necessary in Afghanistan because Laden has to be found. but for the past seven years now, no amount of allied forces have been able to search him out.

I have a suggestion to make: If you bring real peace to Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, you will not have to search for Laden, people will search for him themselves and bring him to justice, as they should.

Please give it a thought because we have had enough wars now.....

Good Or Bad Presidential Motives – What Inspires Your Vote?

Marcus Cyganiak — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 04:03:25 EST

Good Or Bad Presidential Motives – What Inspires Your Vote? With anything, there has to be a captivating subjectivity that lures an individual into any given matter in order to prompt an invested action. When you look at Barack Obama and John McCain campaigning for President today with Election Day drawing near, you realize their inspired emotional connection they’re extracting on all of us. They’re living their lives to inspire you to vote for them, which in turn will allocate them the control over your country.

How do they do it?

They instill fear in you, sometimes for legitimate reasons or other times to dictate. Once you’re scared you scramble for a new direction and you’re likely to turn to your elected President or Prime Minister because that person has the biggest title in the country. The reason you turn to the commander and chief is because you were inspired to do so during a crucial time early on – the campaign trail. Depending on if that commander and chief stays true to his or her word during their time in office will determine whether or not you will remain inspired on following their word.

Bill Clinton inspired us all during the 1990’s when he took a country in great deficits and overturned the economy into one of the richest and most stable economies in the world, with its biggest surplus in history. Clinton stayed true to his word from words spoken on his campaign trail in 1992 and that’s why we followed him, and in most cases we still do today.

Bill Clinton was elected in 1992 and brought into the oval office in 1993 because the United States was entering a recession at the time under George H. W. Bush, and there were fears of that transcending into another Great Depression. Bill Clinton was able to use that fear and use proceeding Bush’s track record of some of the greatest deficits in US history as a way to inspire Americans for their vote, and it worked despite Clinton being “young” in comparison and “inexperienced.”

Fast forward to 2001, George W. Bush was elected into the oval office and he sure did not fall short from his father’s footsteps. He took America’s largest grossing era and detracted the economy down to its now largest deficit in history. Both George Bush’s have set records during their Presidential terms, and they’re both gutter performances. The United States are trillions of dollars in debt and are in a current recession, which brinks yet another Great Depression during a time of “economic crisis,” that is now spreading worldwide.

I don’t know how Bush, Jr. was able to do it, but he beat out his daddy on this one!

So who can fix this next round of recessionary times in America? Do we stick with the Republicans and pick John McCain because he wants to tax the middle class and keep rich families and corporations on top as they are? Or do we want to once again turn to the Democrats, the quintessential saviors of the 1990’s, and elect Barack Obama because he wants to reform America and cut taxes for 95% of Americans, while implementing standard taxation rules for the rich?

In 1992, George H. W. Bush was planning to enforce further military use in the Middle Eastern regions upon re-election, in continuing a Gulf War during recessionary time; however, the Americans said no by electing a new face in Bill Clinton to repair the economy.

Americans can basically copy and paste the history of 1992 and insert it into 2008, because now John McCain wants to continue George W. Bush’s plan in the Middle East by attacking Iran. Furthermore main staple countries like Russia, China, and Korea are on McCain’s target list while Barack Obama rather set his attentions on the fast sinking economy.

This is an example of history never being so important like it is right now folks. You can say no to John McCain today, just like you said no to George H. W. Bush in 1992, by electing the “young” Barack Obama, who has often been deemed “inexperienced.” Obama definitely cannot overturn the deficits into greens across the board during a 4-year term, but he can set America on the right track of surplus with the help of Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden, a man with over thirty years of involvement in politics. After the first term, the second term would be the time of economical surplus once again for America.

I have warned you all already that if you do choose to vote John McCain as your next US President, you will have to be prepared for the absolute worst. McCain would be continuing off the Bush path, essentially serving a 4-year extension of George W. Bush.

President Bush has already started the preliminary stages of a potential World War III by invading Iraq in 2003, and that war is still on-going. Bush has also in recent weeks invaded Pakistan and Syria. Let us not forget that a tie in with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has also been brought to forefront in regards to Georgia’s attack on Russia in August 2008 that prompted the Russian invasion in Georgia. Apparently President George W. Bush wanted to antagonize Russia into another war, and that immediately brought up fears of a new Cold War.

With all these future wars in sight during a John McCain Presidential run, why would you in your right mind vote for him and the Republican Party? McCain takes great pride in fighting a war, it’s what inspires him into thinking he’s a great patriot of America when really he would be sending more young men and women down to the depths of hell.

You have to ask yourself this question. Whose motives inspire you more? John McCain, who will continue to tax you in large scales while fighting countries around the world with the use of military force, or Barack Obama, who looks to change the financial direction of America through democracy as Bill Clinton did during the 1990’s?

Barack Obama delivers that captivating subjectivity that should surely lure your vote, because your vote should be one subjected towards a better America and a better world. History is on Barack Obama’s side for this one.

Senator John McCain's Accomplishments?

Patriot for Obama — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:24:21 EDT

What Has Senator John McCain Accomplished in the War on Terror?

He supported relocation of our focus on the War on Terror from Afghanistan to Iraq, which had a limited al Qaeda or al Qaeda linked presence opposed to Saddam Hussein, thereby allowing the al Qaeda and the Taliban to expand, reemerge, reorganize and strengthen!

He authorized exceptions for President George W. Bush to provide foreign aide to Pakistan. Pakistan utilized the aforementioned foreign aide money to bribe Mujahideen Commanders, including Nek Mohammed, and Taliban Commanders, who had declared their need for the money to repay their loans from al Qaeda. Pakistan openly declared their support of the Afghan Tribal Warlord, who was declared a suspect in the bombing of an Indian Consulate in Afghanistan. The Pakistani ISI may have funded the attack with U.S. foreign aide.

Mujahideen and Taliban Commanders or Warlords with al Qaeda links or sympathies have expanded their control. They now control more regions or states within Pakistan than ever before. Fifty Pakistani Nuclear Weapons are at imminent risk of falling into the hands of fundamental and radical Islamists who are sympathetic to al Qaeda. More students are graduating from fundamental and radical Islamist Terror Schools than ever before.

He followed the recommendation of an Iraqi opposition leader linked to the Iranian Republican Guard and supported installation of a new government in Iraq, which is sympathetic to Iran, who is otherwise described by President George W. Bush and Senator John McCain as an axis of evil!

Iran continues to progress toward development of nuclear weapons.

He, also, supported the installation of fundamental and radical Islamists in regional or state Iraqi positions which they had not held before!

He supported unconditional pardons for Iraqi insurgents, who attacked and killed allied and U.S. Government and Military personnel. Bribery of insurgents may, also, have incurred.

He is quietly supporting a plan by General David Petraeus to initiate contact and negotiations with members of the Taliban, who have attacked and killed allied and U.S. Government and Military personnel and who have supported al Qaeda operations prior to and after the 9/11 attack, through intermediaries. This action in combination with the negotiation in Iraq had been declared as the “Second Surrender” by a Republican President of the United States, since the negotiations with Hanoi under President Richard M. Nixon.

More terrorist groups, who are sympathetic to al Qaeda, exist now than at any time prior to 9/11.

He is alleged to have supported bribery of Somali Warlords, who were responsible for the attack and killing of U.S. Military Personnel as depicted in the Movie Blackhawk Down, although a strike was later launched against one of those Somali Warlords.

He supported economic terrorism against the citizens of the United States, including the Commodity Future Modernization Act of 2000, which was shepherded by his friend and sometime economic adviser Phil Gramm that prohibited States from enforcing post depression laws that allowed unregulated credit derivatives and credit default swaps. Insurance without financial backing for Wall Street gambling or speculation on commerce, which they were not actively invested in, brought the economy of the United States to it knees. It has been described as an act of Economic Terrorism.

Senator John McCain oversaw or overlooked widespread corruption and fraud as a member of the Senate Armed Service Committee. This included the commission of fraud against U.S. allies in the war on Terror. This included fraud that resulted in deaths from criminal negligence of allied and U.S. Military personnel.

Senator John McCain oversaw or overlooked the loss of over 3 Trillion Dollars missing and unaccounted for from our Treasury. Some allege that the figure now exceeds 4 Trillion Dollars.

He supported lower taxation for the wealthy while imposing a higher tax burden on the middle class and poor, which in effect redistributed their money to the wealthy. It has been described by some as the “Reverse Robin Hood and Little John Economic Theory”. Some simply describe it as “Rob from the Poor and Give to the Rich.”

If Senator John McCain describes these as his accomplishments and successes, I would really hate to see what happens when he has a really bad day in the Senate. We cannot afford to risk this nation by electing someone with Senator John McCain’s accomplishments or lack thereof.

Uri Avnery on Barack Obama

Steve — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:15:07 EDT

I found this opinion editorial in the Pakistani Daily Times:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C10%5C28%5Cstory_28-10-2008_pg3_6

I regard Uri Avnery as a sage in the extremely important and difficult stage of Middle East conflict. I believe that finding his perspectives on a Pakistani website is strongly worthy of our notice.

Pakistan and Afghanistan, Iraq and Israel and more..

Unknown user — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 14:58:54 EDT

The Was is really there... not Iraq. American commandos have been conducting raids in Afghan tribal area...and American officials have indicated that US Special Forces will be conduting even broader campaigns inside Pakistan. Yes, Pakistan is finally actively becoming involved in the fight against the Taliban-- and al-Qaeda-- which have seen unparallelled resurgence inte area over the last 6 years.

As military threats from al-Qaeda diminish in Iraq, and as the Neighborhood Watch concept has firmly secured itself in Iraq and helped put an end to sectarian infighting, the world is seeing less chaos and more order in Iraq. It has nothing to do with the "surge"...if anything, it was a serendipitous coincidence. it was the Iraqi people who decided enough was enough. the US never had sufficient forces on the ground...when it needed 500,000 it had a third of that...and no exit strategy. The US needed 5-600,000 troops to rsecure Iraq to forestall and prevent the hell that the country went through during our 6 year occupation to date.

The United States is in economic peril because of greedy self-interest and lack opf personal fiscla responsibility, flames fueled by Wall Street and a voracious appetite of shady Mortagage Lenders. It is also spending close to $10.3 Billion on the war in Iraq every month. That does not even count the more than 4.158 US troops and 10-20 t imes as many Iraqi citizens who have lost their lives in this stategically-devoid campaign. It has given $114 Billion dollars to Israel since 1949, not including giving them our best technologies. Still, Israel is cuilding settlements, in clear violation of international law and UN decisions, and against its own promises. If the US could stop pre-emptive invasions of other countries, provide equitably distributed support for neighboring nations in the middle east, stop being an oil hog, and stop no-bid contracting with Neocon run corporations, the world would no longer hate us. They have a right to! Then we could concentrate on Domestic Issues of major concern.

Our nation, when operating on the foundations upon which it was built, is the greatest the world has ever known. The people are generally hardworking. A generation ahs been tainted with materialism and lack of sacrifice, and our borders need to be secured, but the Constitution is still a real foundation on which we can build. Yes, we are required to get rid of leadership when they usurp powers not intended by the founding documents...thus cometh President Obama.

So what can our beloved soon-to-be President, with his inclusiveness and leadership abilities (ocllaborative and visionary) do? He will need to announce a timeframe, a plan. He willneed to set US troops at borders to stop infiltration of orms from neighboring countries. He must support early elections under watchful supervision to dissuade fraud. the current Iraqi administration is powerless and not backed by popular support and will need to be replaced with a unified, nonsectarian and secular government that supports religious freedoms of its people.

President Obama must support an independent Palestinian state with equal enthusiasm and say as Israel. That is all the people want...mutual respect. There are no second class citizens of the world any longer.

NATO, an organiation that has outlived its charter and had to reinvent itself at the end of the Cold War, needs to be abolosihed. It is becoming a dangerous vehicle that is creating the problems it once sought to protect us from. Building bases in Russia's backyard, equivalent to them building facilities in Venezuela, is not acceptable. While we should suport the independent states that were once part of the defunct Soviet Union, we must not use them as pawns, nor encourage them to seek Western aid so that they can attack Russia as Georgia did. I do not defend Georgia...it started the atacks. I think Russia did what it had to to destroy military facilities, NOT overthrowing the capitol, and slowly backing out. Losses incurred by Georgia are the direct result of stupidity on the part of Georgia's President. While I am not accusing, it would not surprise me to learn that the incident was proscribed by the current administration to provide aplatform upon which Condy and McCain could stnd and shake their fists at the Bear...they are that lacking in mores and scruples.

How is Pakistan different than Mexico?

AdamsJohn — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:02:14 EDT

Sen. McCain's hero, Teddy Roosevelt, inveighed against the depradations of US citizens by Pancho Villa's adherants beginning in 1914. When Pancho Villa's men invaded the United States and killed our citizens in Columbus, New Mexico it was obvious that the Mexican government did not have the capacity to bring him to justice. We knew who was responsible and, in general, where he was. General "Black Jack" Pershing led US troops in pursuit across the border. But Villa was neither captured or killed by the US troops in a year-long expedition.

What were the obstacles? First, the terrain of the Sierra Madres high peaks and deep canyons. Second, the disinformation provided the Americanos by the local population and their support for the Villistas who mingled freely without detection. And third, the hesitation of the Wilson government to upset the Carranza government. Pershing ended up fighting the Carranza troops almost as often as engaging the Vilistas which brought us to the brink of another war with Mexico. Sound familiar?

Sen. McCain's discussion of the pursuit of bin Laden has the feel of a half cocked pistol. Westerners know how dangerous that can be. In the midst of the rhetoric, though, we heard something important.

Tonight I heard both Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama touch on what must be the essential strategy. We must give the people of Afganistan and Pakistan the incentive to turn away from al-Qaeda. We must give them markets for their products, clean water, secure electrical power, educational opportunities, respect for their cultures and we must empower them to provide for their own physical security. The tribal commonalities between Afganistan and western Pakistan are a reality and only when we convince them that the Taliban are a foreign influence will we be able to make progress.

Let's continue with what should have been the rest of "Charlie Wilson's War." and get it right for once.

BTW the solution to the Mexican immigration problem is economic development in the northern states of Mexico and the willingness of Americans to do the ordinary jobs and American employers to pay Americans fair wages for doing them.

John R. Adams

Transcript of Debate 2: Biden v. Palin (10-02-08)

Stephanie Williams — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:12:56 EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The vice presidential candidates, Democratic Sen. Joe Biden and Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, debated in St. Louis, Missouri, Thursday night. Gwen Ifill of PBS was the debate moderator. Here is a transcript of that debate:

Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin debate the issues Thursday night.

Yo, Joe.

Kelson Philo — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:08:49 EDT

Well, any doubts I may have held about Biden have been quashed. I'm sure that Palin will get the obligatory "Oh, didn't she do swell considering" nod, but I think it's pretty clear which candidate is better suited for the VP.

"Ultimate Bridge to Nowhere!"
"Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history."
"The idea he's part of the Legislative Branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of a unitary executive and look where it has gotten us."

Blammo. Biden's been the best debater so far.

Palin on Pakistan, Newspapers

Adam — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:32:07 EDT

During the first debate, Senator McCain said "[Senator Obama] said that he would launch military strikes into Pakistan. Now, you don't do that. You don't say that out loud."[1]

Apparently, what he meant was "that's the job of your running mate." Watch the YouTube video with Katie Couric.

Oops Journalism

Henry M — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:12:38 EDT

Palin says McCain "Absolutley Right On"

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/mccain-and-palins-interview-with-couric/?hp

September 29, 2008, 7:48 pm

McCain and Palin’s Interview With Couric
By Katharine Q. Seelye

Senator John McCain tonight said he was proud he had picked Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate, even as an increasing number of critics, including an expanding circle of conservative writers, are questioning Ms. Palin’s qualifications to serve as vice president, and possibly president.

Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin spoke tonight to Katie Couric of CBS News. Earlier interviews with Ms. Couric that aired last week seemed to contribute to the concern that critics are expressing over Ms. Palin’s apparent lack of familiarity with major issues confronting the country.

Watch CBS Videos Online

In a fresh interview tonight with Ms. Couric in Ohio, Mr. McCain said that Ms. Palin had generated unusual excitement in the race. He did not discuss her qualifications.

“I’ve seen underestimation before,” Mr. McCain said. “I’m very proud of the excitement that Gov. Palin has ignited with our party and around this country.”

Ms. Couric asked Ms. Palin for her reaction to complaints that she is not ready for prime time.

“Not only am I ready but willing and able to serve as vice president with Senator McCain if Americans so bless us and privilege us with the opportunity of serving them, ready with my executive experience as a city mayor and manager, as a governor, as a commissioner, a regulator of oil and gas,” Ms. Palin said.

The interview began with a question about an incident on Saturday in Philadelphia, in which a voter in a restaurant asked Ms. Palin about cross-border attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan.

She had said she approved of such attacks, to “stop the terrorists from coming any further in,” which is the position of Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee.

Asked if she and Mr. McCain were “on the same page” on this subject, Ms. Palin said:

“We had a great discussion with President Zardari as we talked about what it is that America can and should be doing together to make sure that the terrorists do not cross borders and do not ultimately put themselves in a position of attacking America again or her allies. And we will do what we have to do to secure the United States of America and her allies.”

Ms. Couric noted that Mr. McCain had said earlier that such attacks were not something that should be discussed out loud, and asked him again: “Is that something you shouldn’t say out loud, Senator McCain?”

Mr. McCain said: “Of course not. But, look, I understand this day and age ‘gotcha’ journalism. Is that a pizza place? In a conversation with someone who you didn’t hear — the question very well, you don’t know the context of the conversation. Grab a phrase. Governor Palin and agree that you don’t announce that you’re going to attack another country.”

Ms. Couric asked Ms. Palin if she was sorry she had made the statement, but Mr. McCain jumped in.

“Wait a minute,” he said. “Before you say, ‘is she sorry she said it,’ this was a ‘gotcha’ sound bite that, look …”

Ms. Couric said it was not a “gotcha” moment and that the question was tossed out by a voter, not a journalist.

“No,” Mr. McCain said. “She was in a conversation with a group of people and talking back and forth. And, I’ll let Governor Palin speak for herself.”

Ms. Palin said that Mr. McCain was “absolutely right on.”

She added: “In the context, this was a voter, a constituent, hollering out a question from across an area asking, ‘What are you gonna do about Pakistan? You better have an answer to Pakistan.’ I said we’re gonna do what we have to do to protect the United States of America.”

Ms. Couric said: “But you were pretty specific about what you wanted to do, cross-border … .”

Ms. Palin said: “Well, as Senator McCain is suggesting here, also, never would our administration get out there and show our cards to terrorists, in this case, to enemies and let them know what the game plan was, not when that could ultimately adversely affect a plan to keep America secure.”

Ms. Couric asked her what she had learned from the experience.

“That this is all about ‘gotcha’ journalism,” she said, smiling. “A lot of it is,” she said, quickly adding, “But that’s O.K., too.”

After Ms. Couric had asked Ms. Palin about her negative reviews and Ms. Palin had said that she was ready, willing and able to serve, Mr. McCain put in:

“This is not the first time that I’ve seen a governor being questioned by some quote, ‘expert.’ I remember that Ronald Reagan was a cowboy. President Clinton was a governor of a very small state that had ‘no experience’ either. I remember how easy it was gonna be for Bush One to defeat him. I still recall — whoops, that one. But the point is I’ve seen underestimation before.

I’m very proud of the excitement that Governor Palin has ignited with our party and around this country. It is a level of excitement and enthusiasm, frankly, that I haven’t seen before. And I’d like to attribute it to me. But the fact is that she has done incredible job. And I’m so proud of the work that she’s doing.”

President or Dictator?

Susan Samuel — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:02:41 EDT

Can Bush43 tell the difference between a President and a Dictator?

My son and I were talking about WHY the change in tactics on the Afghanistan and Pakistan border, and if Palin supports Obama's or Bush's position there. I hold that the original cross-border raid that killed a high-ranking Al Quaida leader, was Bush following Obama's advice since Bush's tactics were not succeeding. Now Palin, to me, seems to favor Bush's continuing raids on less valuable targets. This is an especially important policy, since the removal of the American-backed dictatorship and the return of the government to a nation of laws. This I think has lead to a deep Pakistan anger since they have a new effort of their own to rid their country of fear and terrorism; which may be part of the reason they have reinforced their Afghanistan border against us.

So I asked my son " Why do Bush, and Palin, still advocate a policy of attack over the Pakistan border?"

My son said, " That's easy they can't tell the difference between a Dictator and a President."

Did John McCain LIE About Visiting Waziristan?

KravitzKravitz — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:00:20 EDT

The question is on the table.

John McCain truly needs to explain to America about just why he is running for president, based on quotes from his book. Additionally, there also seems to be a valid question about whether John McCain was ever in Waziristan. Simply because he says it, without proof, some people will believe it, and reporters print it. Where is the documented proof of his trip to a terrorist stronghold?

It hasn't been safe to navigate by air. It hasn't been safe to travel on ground. Our troops have had issues there since 2001. But there have been congressional visits to the southern part of the region. It is the northern region, at the Afghanistan border, where the true problems reside.

The Pakistan Times lists others who have visited South Waziristan. McCain is not on the list.

LTE: McCain’s Anti-Terror Position is Weaker than Obama’s - 138 words

Chuck — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:26:32 EDT

In the first presidential debate, John McCain once again criticized Barack Obama for saying he’d send troops into Pakistan to “take out” bin Laden or other al-Qaeda leadership even if the Pakistani government did not approve. He called Obama "naive."

However, McCain previously said that, if elected, “I will follow bin Laden to the gates of Hell and I will get him. I promise you that." Apparently he’d follow him to the “gates of Hell,” but not into Pakistan.

Obama clearly has our safety in sight on this issue, and not political posturing. If McCain must first seek permission from whatever government is running Pakistan at the time in order to get bin Laden, then our security will be compromised by his presidency. I’m voting Obama as the candidate who would truly fight terrorism, not just give lip service to doing it.

Transcript of Debate 1: Obama v. McCain (09-27-08)

Stephanie Williams — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:11:30 EDT

The presidential candidates shake hands at the start of their first debate.

WASHINGTON (CNN ) -- Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama debated on the campus of the University of Mississippi Friday night. The moderator for the debate was Jim Lehrer of the NewsHour on PBS. What follows is the full transcript of the debate:

Circus Maximus

Lynn — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:34:47 EDT

I truly cannot believe the political and media circus surrounding the proposed economic bailout.

I've had a lot of time on my hands during the past few days, and I've watched a lot of CNN and MSNBC. Not to mention CSPAN. On Monday I got the second series of cortisone shots in my lower back, and I was on bedrest for several days. I thought I'd be napping and watching a few Netflix films, but the circus on the news stations was just too compelling to turn off.

I need to mention: I usually don't sit and watch the news.

I thought that Lou Dobbs and Jack Cafferty were going to burst some blood vessels, expressing their respective outrage. I'm glad that someone in the public eye is outraged.

When I heard that John McCain suspended his campaign, my first thought was: WHAT A CAMPAIGN PLOY! He's starting to lag in the polls, so this will give him some momentum. Oh, doesn't he look "Presidential" dropping his "unimportant" election campaign, cancelling Friday's debate, and rushing back to to Washington -- to do what -- totally screw up the proceedings! Then he blows off David Letterman, opting instead to take an interview with Katie Couric. Oh, how I enjoyed watching Letterman rip him last night! I really hope that McCain's kneejerk reaction will cost him votes.

And yes, why doesn't he just send Sarah Palin to debate in his place? Or better yet, change around the debate schedule, so that the VICE PRESIDENTIAL debate takes place tomorrow night! Oh, what a fun night of TV viewing that would be. Personally, I believe that McCain is trying to make it impossible for Palin to debate. I think he's afraid of what she would say. If Friday's Presidential debate is cancelled (a travesty IMO), then they will have less time to hold 3 Presidential debates (necessary to declare a winner of 2-out-of-3), so the next logical decison would be to cancel the Vice Presidential debate, which is much less important. Well...it's less important unless you were looking forward to Sarah Palin making a fool of herself on international TV.

Speaking of Sarah Palin....didn't you just LOVE the way that the President of Pakistan practically jumped out of his pants, gushing that Sarah Palin was "more gorgeous in person" and wanting to hug her? Hell, let's just nominate the next Penthouse Pet to be Vice President! Then all the male world leaders can be pussy whipped into submission, and world dominance would be ours!

But, I digress...

The bailiout. Or as George W calls it, "the rescue." I don't totally agree with this bailout stuff, but frankly -- like many Americans -- I'm not an economics expert. I'm perplexed that Obama is agreeing that some sort of plan must be drafted. I would like to hear more objections from him, or at least a sentence beginning with "I do not agree that the Federal Government should get involved with private business failures, but...."

I have a plan: let the greedy unethical corporations go down. Save the corporations and programs that will affect the little guy. Of course, there's no easy way to do that, so I suppose some sort of blanket plan must be drafted. I kept hoping to hear Obama say something along the lines of "This is bullshit," but I suppose he walks a slippery slope on this huge issue.

What really bothers me about this whole thing is that it is predicated on fear. I haven't heard one single economics expert explain EXACTLY what could LOGICALLY happen if no plan were enacted. Surely, among all the highly educated experts in this country, SOMEONE can draw up a flow chart that is more specific than "...many banks will fail, perhaps some in your town." Don't you just love the way that George W dumbed down his speech? Now children, Daddy knows best, so I'll put it in a way you're going to understand....

Yes, I understand. Nobody was watching the store. George W, can you please explain WHY nobody was watching the store, instead of merely telling us that now we're really in a pickle? I swear, it's like a Paddy Chafesky story!

Did you see the footage of Paulson from March 2008, stating that the economy was sound? How about the footage George W stating the same thing in July 2008? Are these guys total morons, or are they just backpeddling? How could they have not known that a crisis like this could be looming? When Bear Stearns, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac got into trouble, you think they'd have said, somwhere along the line MONTHS ago, "Gee, this really has potential for trouble, maybe we should do something about this now?" Instead they waited until they could whip Wall Street into a frenzy.

My husband has joked, on many occassions, that George W Bush is really working for Al Qaeda to ruin this country. I always chuckled at his comment, but lately I'm beginning to think he may be right.

Taking a cue from Paddy Chafesky, let's all open our windows, and yell at the top of our lungs, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!"

On second thought, instead of yelling it from our windows, let's yell it from the voting booths on November 4th. Let's elect Barack Obama in a landslide victory.

Huffington Post Just Published my Biden/Heads of State article, so please do comment here:http://tinyurl.com/Bidenvs-Palin

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:15:00 EDT

Biden Has Done More Than Look At Russia Across The Horizon, my FIRST article at Huffington Post, so please do comment: http://tinyurl.com/Bidenvs-Palin or www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-fox/biden-has-done-more-than_b_129382.html

I welcome your insights and ideas, and Huffington Post is a place perhaps millions more people will see them and want to participate in this emerging dialogue about what direction our Nation must move in the next four years, to repair the enormous damage internationally during the past 8 years by Bush/Cheney/Halliburton/Rumsfeld/KelloggBrownand Root/Blackwater, and others!

Financial crisis: What spending to cut? What tax cuts to cut?

Dr. Jeffrey Kargel — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:48:59 EDT

The United States cannot tack on trillion-dollar deficit on top of half-trillion-dollar deficit. It will not work for the long-, medium-, or short-term. As it is, we will see higher inflation and higher interest rates from all the borrowing (or effectively printing money, whichever it may be); and we will see higher interest payments on the national debt for decades to come, something that will impact the security and well being of our children. Something has to give. The blame game, where Bush is obviously most responsible, and the obvious problem of allowing financial institutions to regulate themselves through natural instincts of greed, is beside the point of this message. Those things and the various responsible people have to be brought to account, and changes have to be made in the regulation and oversight of an out-of-control anarchic greed-based system, but there is more that needs doing. A lot needs to be re-thought.

Tax cuts: they must go on hold.

Spending: (1) Iraq: it makes no sense to pile bankruptcy on top of a challenging national security situation made all the more challenging by over-extension of our forces and aggravation of an angry world's wounds and perceived slights wrought by the American invasion. So we must get out fast. Thus, we reinforce our plan to be out soon. (2) Anti-ICBM missiles in Poland: It makes sense to increase American/NATO forces in Poland, including stationing of upgraded Patriot batteries, but it makes no sense to be building anti-missile shields that have no proven effectiveness, especially when those missiles-- functional or not-- are such a point of inflamation with Russia. (3) Health care: This is going to hurt, but we have to put the major investments on hold until 2012 (or so). (4) Space: It makes no sense to go to the Moon if that contributes to our bankruptcy. It makes no sense to finish the International Space Station, when Europe and Japan are not helping on bailout issues and aiding in crisis recovery when their financial industries have made contributions to the crisis, and when the plan is to abandon the Space Station anyway once it is built. The ISS is doing almost no science, so mothball it now; boost its orbit with one last shuttle flight to the ISS, secure it for the future as best we can, close the doors, and lock them. Nobody goes there without us saying so. Regarding the moon, spend a couple years thinking out how we will do it and move aggressively onward from there, or maybe substitute a human mission to near-Earth asteroids (in some ways easier than the Moon, and more resource-rich). I say this with great pain, as space exploration has been my career and a chief motivator in my life since Apollo 8 in 1968.

Together these steps will save $150 billion/year or more in spending, and raise money as well from deferral of tax cuts. The two spending areas I would urgently recommend increasing is hybridizing our vehicle fleet and boosting our forces in Afghanistan/Pakistan; we and the rest of the West must stop sending our financial resources to Saudi Arabia and Venezuela and Russia, and start getting al Qaeda and the Taliban.

There will be a lot of flip-flops and reversals, and upset people when carefully thought plans are upset like this. In part, I cannot help but think it is partly deliberate-- at least the timing of all this eruptive activity. But there is a real crisis, of that we can be sure. It has been building for decades, but especially this last 8 years. The New York Times a few days ago headlined the "war" feeling in Washington. It's a war out here, too, with one brother verging on a housing-related bankruptcy, another whose life is on hold until he sells an apartment that isn't selling, and a mother trying to live on social security. So the war has indeed trickled up to Washington and Wall Street. I feel angry about being so close to having the best President ever, and then being financially strangled like this by the ineptitude and greed of this last 8 years' gang of Misleaders. But we are in financial Triage here. We must save our nation. This terrible situation does mean that priorities shift. Plans change. Dreams come unglued or are deferred. We need to take control of the situation. Paulson won't do it; Bush won't do it; McCain won't do it; the Republicans won't do it; they will give away hundreds of billions of dollars more, on top of trillions already in the works, mostly to those who don't need it.

Let's take control of our lives and our nation, bite the bullet, do what's needed, and then thrive with our dreams in the second four years. I am so sorry to say this. But we CANNOT let them get away with this.

Bin Laden Supports McCain

Jim — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 12:54:35 EDT

Look for McBush and the current Republican Administration to try to scare everyone over the attacks in Yemen and Pakistan. But it seems like if Al Queda is behind this stuff that they are supporting McCain!

Bin Laden has vowed to bring down the United States and the West. His attack on the Towers was aimed at the financial institutions they represented. If you think about it Bin Landen must be looking at this financial crisis we are experiencing as a win for him. He wants us to stay in Iraq and the Middle East spending Trillions of dollars and bogged down in endless wars, our economy in tatters.

So Bin Landen doesn't want an Democratic Administration he wants as many years of Bush or McBush and their policies as possible. It's not like he feels threatened living the life in Pakistan or somewhere else, Bush hasn't even been trying to find him since Bush wants him around to scare us with. McCain is no different.

It's pretty clear that Bush, McCain, Cheyney and the Republicans have been loosing the war against Bin Laden and Al Queda. If McBush can't win the election with culture wars, he'll go for foreign wars and terrorist threats to scare us that we need a militarist as President.

But even that falls short for a reason to vote for Palin-McBush because McCain has no real Military command experience and finished near the bottom of his Annapolis class. His military career was a disaster.

Any rise in terrorist attacks shows that the terrorists are supporting Bush and McBush.

Stephen Views the News 9/16/08

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:59:50 EDT

Stephen Views the News 9/16/08

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* On Sunday morning two AP headlines caught my attention – “It’s Race Against Time To Save Ike Stalwarts” and “Feds, Wall Street Race to Save Lehman.” The first headline refers to the humanitarian efforts to save human beings in the aftermath of a natural disaster – hurricane Ike that devastated large parts of Texas. The second headline refers to a man-made disaster - the potential bailout of another financial institution that has been managed by seedy and greedy millionaires. They were enabled by an incompetent federal government and an impotent congress blinded by the campaign contributions and lobbyist gifts funded by these same financial mega corporations now facing bankruptcy.

A competent parent knows that a teenager needs guidance and oversight – the same constrictions needed by commercial institutions that are myopically consumed by profits. This greed on steroids is devoid of ethics, integrity and the concept of the common good. We are now told that it is in our interest to use billions of dollars of taxpayer money to keep private companies like Bear Stearns and Lehman and quasi governmental companies like Fannie Mae and Fannie Mac from being flushed into oblivion. These same companies who fought every suggestion at oversight and regulation, whose policies consciously screwed over so many Americans, are now asking the American taxpayer for handouts. Neither the executive branch nor congressional branch of the government exercised their fiduciary responsibility to the American people.

Monday morning headlines: BLACK MONDAY; World Stocks Sink; U.S. Stocks Set to Sink at Open; Merrill Sells Itself to Bank of America; Lehman Files for Bankruptcy; FED Takes Emergency Steps; Insurance Giant AIG Scrambles for Cash; Banks Roll Out $70 Billion Loan Program. I am waiting for the next Republican politician to extol free enterprise free of regulation. I am waiting for the next Democratic politician to exhibit a patriotic spine and tell the American people that they will fight for legislation to achieve two goals: real ethics reform that actually minimizes the influence of lobbyists; public financing of elections so that the legislators are not in the pockets of special interest groups and so that legislators are not spending so much of their time trolling for campaign contributions from banks, insurance companies, oil and gas companies, insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Any congressman that does not support such measures should be thrown the hell out of office.

Monday afternoon – McCain tells a rally in Florida, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong." If this is a result of McCain listening to his economic advisors they are bigger derriere orifices than Bush’s financial team.

* Why Black Monday occurred:

1.) Incomes shrank for most Americans over the last expansion.

2.) But Americans kept spending thanks to a mammoth increase in household debt.

3.) To increase the amount of debt in the system, lending standards were lowered.

4.) Lowered lending standards have led to a higher default rate from borrowers.

5.) Higher default rates have lowered the value of all the collateral backed by mortgages.

6.) Lowered collateral values have killed the balance sheets of literally every major financial company.

So wrote Hale Stewart at the Huffington Post. He provides details about each of the above points in an interesting and informative article. Stewart’s piece and other writings this week would lead one to conclude that a Republican president, a Republican congress and an Alan Greenspan-led Federal Reserve became too cozy with America’s major financial institutions and that created a perfect storm for financial disaster. Their arrogance and greed led them to believe our current crisis could not happen. I suggest a read of this article to determine if there is merit to John McCain’s claim that the fundamentals of our economy are strong.

* Six alarm fire – On Tuesday John McCain called “for a high-level commission to study the current economic crisis and claimed that a corrupt and excessive Wall Street had betrayed American workers.” A commission may have some merit even if we know what happened. What was missing in McCain’s exhortation was mention of the commission by him and his Republican Party being a party to this debacle. It is reminiscent of the pyromaniac that sets a blaze and then calls for the Fire Department. Perhaps the American voter will begin to understand that a McCain presidency is akin to appointing the arsonist the Fire Chief.

* The pieces of the puzzle continue to come together – From the Progress Report: McCain and his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK), published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal (on September 9) that called lobbyists "primary contributors" to the crisis. One of these lobbyists though, is McCain's own campaign manager, Rick Davis, who "served as president of an advocacy group led by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that defended the two companies against increased regulation." Davis challenged even the smallest reform measures intended to make sure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were being held more accountable for their actions. This helped the mortgage giants, "consistently [beat] back congressional efforts to increase oversight, even after a major accounting scandal in 2003 resulted in a $400 million fine for Fannie.

In an effort to provide full disclosure it should be noted that Rick Davis is only one of 120 lobbyists working for the McCain campaign. That McCain is one heck of a lobbyist basher!

Also earning special mention is the economic advisor to McCain, former Senator Phil Graham. While a senator and then as a lobbyist Graham opposed any legislation that would have regulated financial institutions – regulations that may have averted the financial crisis gripping America and the international community. I wrote about Mr. Graham in July of this year. His hands are as dirty as his pockets are full.

The Republican Party and the lobbyists took their relationship to a new level at the beginning of the Bush administration. It was spirited by then Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) who led the K Street project - a marriage of Republican politicians and lobbyists that threw open the doors of congressional access to the likes of Jack Abramoff, former ultra lobbyist and current resident of a federal prison. Santorum was rejected for re-election in 2006 but the effect of his efforts to put the federal government up for sale continues today.

* Speaking of money ill-spent – George Bush has given Pakistan billions of dollars to be our ally in the global war against terrorism. This week the Pakistani government ordered its troops to fire on the U.S. military if it conducts raids in Pakistan against terrorists and their supporters. Yes, the world is a complicated place. Let us hope that the next president has the ability to navigate such treacherous terrain. Someone who has not rubber-stamped Lost George.

* What is an over-worked secretary to do? - Speaking last week to the annual Conference of the White House Initiative on National Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice admitted that there are too few African-Americans in her agency. "I can go into a whole day of meetings at the Department of State -- and actually rarely see somebody who looks like me," Rice said. "And that is just not acceptable." Since January 6, 2005 Rice has been in her current position working around the clock to cover the errors of her boss. There simply has been no time available or inclination to change the State Department from looking like the Republican National Convention.

* You would too - Thirty-two of the nation’s leading historians have sent letters to congressional leaders calling on them to strengthen the Presidential Records Act (PRA). They are concerned that as the Bush administration prepares to leave office they are ready to expunge the record on its tenure. Expunging the record makes perfect sense. Their “record” is one of incompetency, lies and illegal activities. One would have to be in a vegetative state to not try to hide such documentation. Destroying the records will also help keep some of them out of prison.

* Last weekend in Andover, MA legal scholars, lawyers, and activists came together for "JUSTICE ROBERT H. JACKSON CONFERENCE: PLANNING FOR THE PROSECUTION OF HIGH LEVEL AMERICAN WAR CRIMINALS. As the insulated and self-protected members of the Bush administration leave the White House in January 2009 I am surer that they will be looking over their shoulders than they were “certain” that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Thousands of Americans were culpable in the use of torture, breaking the law and the ever-present “cover up.” Unlike a tragic Italian opera this will not be over when the fat lady sings the aria Arevaderchi.

* Get your free score card - If you are having difficulty keeping up with the McCain lies a new website sponsored by the Democratic Party will help you. The name of the site is Count the Lies - McCainPedia.org. This website will need a server capable of handling substantial gigabytes of memory.

* That Grand Old Party – The Michigan Republican Party is attempting to question voters’ eligibility whose homes have been foreclosed. “According to voting rights experts a foreclosure notice does not mean that a person is no longer a resident -- making it an inadequate basis for a challenge.” I imagine that GOP strategists have strategized that more Democrats have homes that have been foreclosed than Republicans. Thirteen U.S. Senators have petitioned the Justice Department to prevent disenfranchisement of voters who have lost their homes.

* A wealth of insight – NY Times op-ed columnist Frank Rich once again offers a cogent and perceptive analysis of the presidential race. I highly recommend a read of this in-depth article for which a summarization would not do it justice. I will note his concluding recommendation to the Democratic presidential nominee: If Obama “focuses voters on the 2008 McCain, the Palin question will take care of itself.”

* "No nation is permitted to live in ignorance with impunity."

Thomas Jefferson

Palin Interview Says A Ton About McCain

Michelle — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:01:41 EDT

This week, Sarah Palin gave her first unscripted (although highly prepared for)interview, nearly two weeks after accepting her Republican vice presidential nomination. Although the interview spoke volumes about Palin and her inability to lead our nation, that is not my focus. Rather, my focus is on John McCain and how Palin’s interview is evidence of why he is unfit to serve as President of the United States of America.

In her interview last night, when asked if Obama should have picked Hillary Clinton as his running mate, Palin replied derisively, “I think he's regretting not picking her now, I do.” (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13, 2008) Of course, what Palin failed to mention is that Barack Obama did not pick Hillary because, rather than focus on what would bring the most “wow factor” during this election or what could possibly get him a few more votes in the here and now, Obama focused on choosing a vice presidential running mate that would make the best president. After careful review of all of the potential VP candidates’ credentials, Obama realized that Biden has the Senate, foreign policy, national security and economic policy experience to successfully lead America.

McCain, on the other hand, chose Palin precisely for that “wow factor.” Seeing that Obama had chosen Biden and not Hillary, he hoped to create a media frenzy (which he did) by choosing a female running mate. Hoping to galvanize voters that might have been in that Clinton camp while, at the same time, appeasing the Christian conservative base that McCain has so much trouble connecting with, he settled on Palin despite her utter inexperience. McCain did not pick Palin because she would make the best president – that is clear. No, he chose her because she could possibly bring him the most votes right now and getting into office is all that McCain cares about right now. In choosing Palin, McCain failed America and it’s people – he is not planning what is best for America’s future, he is only planning what is best for John McCain right now.

If elected, should John McCain be unable to serve his entire term as President, McCain leaves us with Sarah Palin as President. Below is a an outline of Palin’s weaknesses, weaknesses that McCain knew Palin had when he chose her, but weaknesses that he was willing to overlook in an effort to get that extra vote; weaknesses that show McCain was not putting his “country first;” and weaknesses that we, as the American people voting in this election, cannot allow ourselves to overlook.

Foreign Policy is Foreign to Sarah Palin

Aside from a trip last year to Kuwait with a stop in Germany, in her 44 years of life Palin has not traveled outside the continent of North America, only having visited Mexico and Canada. (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) In the dangerous world we live in today, how can we have a president who has never even been to the very countries that are our allies, or even more importantly, our potential enemies?

When pressed during her interview, Palin admitted that she had never met with a foreign head of state. Of course, she only admitted it after attempting to fudge that she had – this would have been yet another lie to the American people had Charlie Gibson not caught it. (abcnews,com, Sept. 11, 2008)

When asked by Charlie Gibson if she agreed with the "Bush Doctrine," Palin was clearly, and embarrassingly, stumped.(abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) I guess no one prepped her on the Bush Doctrine in the two weeks she spent in Alaska with McCain’s top policy advisors preparing for this interview. (New York Times, Sept. 11, 2008) Apparently the Bush-Doctrine of a preemptive strike on another nation that we believe poses a threat (ahem…Iraq!) was not important enough for her to be prepped on. That should tell us something.

Asked how the proximity of Alaska provides insight into Russian actions, shereplied: "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008) Unless Palin is some sort of superhero and she can actually see Russia’s actions when standing on this island, then no, that does not help to answer the question at all.

Palin’s War-Focused Mentality

During her interview, Palin stated “that Georgia and Ukraine should be admitted to NATO and that the U.S. should be prepared to go to war if Russia invades Georgia again.”(The Wall Street Journal, Sept. 12, 2008) She then went on to say that we cannot repeat the Cold War after, thankfully, winning the Cold War during the Reagan administration– the Cold War was actually ended three years after Reagan left the White House. (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 12, 2008) I guess none of the six colleges that Palin attended over six years taught her about the Cold War. (Associated Press, Sept. 4, 2008)

Palin also "said that she believed a nuclear Iran presented a threat to 'everyone in the world' and that if Israel's existence was threatened by those weapons it had a right to defend itself." (abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008). When asked if we would cooperate with Israel in that event, Palin replied that “We cannot second guess the steps that Israel has to take to defend itself,” implying that we would cooperate with an Israeli decision to take out Iranian nuclear facilities, thus going to war with Iran in support of Israel. ( abcnews.com, Sept. 11, 2008)

Palin’s Disregard for the Environment

Palin "also reversed her stand on the cause of climate change, telling ABC News that she believes 'man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming.' Less than a year ago, she said the opposite."(Los Angeles Times, Sept. 12, 2008) If Palin, against all scientific evidence, believes that global warming isn’t primarily man-made, how can Palin work to provide solutions to ease global warming? The solution must stop the problem at the root – of course, despite the volumes of scientific evidence proving otherwise, Palin conveniently believes the root lies elsewhere, making reducing global warming, should she lead our nation, difficult at best.

Despite the fact that McCain disagrees with US drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Palin adamantly supports the idea. In fact, she has gone so far as to sue the U.S. Department of the Interior for it’s May ruling to list the polar bear species as threatened on the endangered species list. The decision is the result of nine U.S. Geological Survey Studies that find 2/3 of the world’s polar bear species population -and ALL of Alaska’s- will disappear by mid-century because of ice loss. Because for as long as the polar bears are listed as an endangered species we cannot drill in ANWR, Palin is ruthlessly aimed at removing the bears from the endangered species list, calling the ninegovernment studies highly speculative and questionable, insisting their populations are stable. Apparently, Palin prefers to put the interests of big oil ahead of that of our planet and its people, specifically, the environment and people of Alaska, her home state. Not exactly the best quality in a possible future president, is it?

Caution – Social Agendas May Differ

When asked about abortion, Palin replied: “I am pro-lfe. I do respect other people's opinion on this also, and I think that a culture of life is best for America.”(Los Angeles Times, Sept. 13, 2008)

“On stem cell research, the McCain campaign released a radio ad Friday touting his support for stem cell research the Bush White House -- and Palin -- opposes. Palin said she ‘owes it to Americans’ to explain her personal opinion which ‘may end up different than what the policy in an administration might be.’”(Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 13, 2008)

So, on the issue of abortion, it is both McCain and Palin’s personal opinion that women should not have the freedom to be able to choose to have an abortion in America. Yet, they both feel it proper to overturn Roe v. Wade if elected and make their personal opinion the law that all Americans must follow, whether they agree with Palin and McCain or not. And on the issue of stem cell research, because McCain and Palin disagree, Palin’s personal viewpoint (that stem cell research should be outlawed) will not be vigorously pushed into policy by the administration. This doesn’t seem like a government of the people and for the people – seems more like the government of McCain for the people that agree with McCain. After all, even Palin’s viewpoints don’t influence McCain so how can we, as the American people, stand a chance of having his decisions influenced by our needs? And the inconsistencies among McCain and Palin mean that should Palin need to take office, we will have a president with a different social agenda than the one she is replacing. An America that changes at the whim of its leaders is not the democratic and free America that our forefathers worked so diligently to found.

Palin Loves Earmarks, Actually

Palin likes to claim she is a Washington outsider, always opposing earmarks, but as Charlie Gibson exposed during their interview:

She was a vigorous supporter of the “Bridge to Nowhere” (even wearing a t-shirt supporting the cause), a bridge slated to be built with $398 million in federal funds to a small island with only 50 residents, a project that is now the poster child for needless government spending.

This supposed “Washington outsider” hired a powerful Washington lobbyist in order to get the funds for the “Bridge to Nowhere,” the same bridge McCain ads say she opposed.

After Congress abandoned the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” and it became a national embarrassment, then Sarah Palin changed her stance to that of opposition, but Alaska still kept the $223 million it had received to build the bridge that never came to be.

Although McCain ads tout McCain and Palin as “mavericks” fighting against earmarks, under Palin, the state of Alaska, the second least populous state in the U.S., received $155 million in earmarks for 2008; Illinois, Obama’s state and one of our most populous states in the U.S., received only $22 per person for 2008. That is ten times the amount of earmarks per person for Palin and Alaska– not such a “maverick” when you look at the numbers, eh?

This year alone, this “maverick” requested $3.2 million in earmarks to study the genetics of harbor seals and the mating habits of crabs – the same type of earmarks that McCain/Palin in their speeches and ads have said they will fight if elected. By selecting Palin as his running mate, McCain stands in support of Palin’s history, her excessive use of government ear marks, her ties to powerful Washington lobbyists, actions that prove neither McCain or Palin are or will be the “maverick” agents of change they repeatedly claim they will be.

McCain, in choosing Sarah Palin, has done a disservice to America. Not only has he picked a candidate that is inexperienced in matters of foreign policy and national security, issues that are crucial to the continued safety of the American people, but he has also picked a candidate with a history of, even in the sparsely populated state of Alaska, working with lobbyists, supporting earmarks, abandoning important environmental issues, and failing to abide by established ethical standards. McCain has chosen “wow factor” over who would make the best President, he has chosen “wow factor” over who is best for America and it’s people. When he made this decision, he wasn’t thinking about the family that just had their home foreclosed on, the single mother that just lost her job, the elderly couple who can’t afford to heat their home this winter or the parents taking on third jobs to pay for their child’s cancer treatment which is not covered by insurance – no, McCain was thinking about how he could best manipulate the American people to get himself elected. When McCain chose Sarah Palin, he put McCain first and his country second. We can’t make the mistake of electing someone who has forgotten the American people even before he has been elected.

9/11

Ralph — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:34:56 EDT

Seven years have passed since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The most powerful nation on earth has not been able to capture or kill Osama bin Laden, a man who lives in a cave, who travels on foot, or by camel, donkey or pickup truck, and whose most powerful weapon is his ideology. Seven years have passed, and bin Laden continues to spread his poisonous philosophy and teach his murderous techniques to more young recruits.

We won World War II after less than four years of great sacrifice. We landed on the moon after eight years of hard work. I am convinced we could have brought bin Laden to justice by now if we devoted our full attention to the task. Instead, we have almost five times the number of troops post-surge in Iraq, where bin Laden is not, as we have on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border, where he is. Iraq has huge proven oil reserves. Afghanistan has no oil reserves. Is our priority oil, or justice?

Barack Obama Policy Adopted by Bush Administration Again

Tim — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:38:18 EDT

Once again Barack Obama's leadership on foreign policy has been adopted by the Bush administration. The New York Times is reporting that back in July, George Bush gave the order allowing military operations in Pakistan without prior approval of the Pakistani government.

More than a year ago, Barack Obama outlined this policy. Bush adopting the Obama policy in Pakistan follows Bush adopting the Obama policy in Iraq. In laying out his roadmap for success, Barack Obama is helping Bush and Cheney to unwind the mess they've gotten us in.

No word on why Bush didn't adopt his friend (and 90% of the time supporter) John McCain's policy of "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" or the "100 year" strategy in Iraq.

John ‘where the hell is Pakistan’ McCain

MM — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:49:37 EDT

“F__ it, we're going in!" said Bush the Decider, as he launched his invasion of Iraq. That mindset pretty much describes John McCain’s campaign for president.

Damn the facts and the egregious record of the last 8 years! Bravo, Karl Rove, Roger Ailes & Co. - you’ve made Americans almost forget that it’s the republican politicians not the democrats – McCain & Palin included – who got America into the outrageous & shameful messes our proud nation is bleeding from. Let’s see: Lying about WMDs, a misguided and unjustifiable war, 4,000+ brave American heroes unjustifiably sacrificed, war profiteering, Abu Ghraib, Katrina, Bank & Hedge Fund bailouts, Mortgage Mess, Financial failures, rising unemployment, 47M uninsured Americans, $4 gas. An impressive record!

The long shot McCain & Palin needed to create an image far from Bush & Cheney and mainstream republicans. Well, Mission Accomplished! No one actually seems to remember, or care too much, that McCain & Palin are the same folks who backed Bush & Cheney for 8 long years, or that they vigorously voted for, cheered and encouraged the last 8 years of horrors! “Oh, they’re just maverick independents, who just happen to be waving the republican flag!” Really now!

The RNC alchemists started nasty rumors and transmuted them into a substantial republican wave against Obama’s faith, patriotism, experience, popularity and motives! The faith-based viral tactics they pioneered in 2000, polished in 2004 and have now mastered are truly a lesson for all Americans how easily we can be manipulated. Does the record even matter? Does America even matter, despite all the flag waving? "Well folks, since Newt, Rush and Hannity haven't called for public outrage this time around - there’s no reason to be upset!"

And, what exactly has Sen. McCain done over the last 8 years to help Americans? Ok: McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill & voting with Bush 90% of the time leading to the current mess. And those are qualifications to be the next President? ‘Cause he's not looking too good in the leadership department.

The true test of leadership for McCain was the last 8 years, everything before that is history. “2001 changed everything” we’ve been told every day by McCain and the republican politicians and post-2001 is a whole new ballgame. Ok, we believe you. By that standard, McCain’s votes for Bush’s egregious policies and his direct culpability for Bush’s disastrous failures, disqualify him from holding public office, or at least applying for the highest office in the nation. He stood back when he should have stood up to the pillaging & plunder of America. His 'experience' went AWOL precisely when Americans most desperately needed it.

He’s a genuine war hero. So how come he supported and continues to support Bush who sent our men & women into harm's way without adequate armor, intelligence or arabic speakers? how come we have vets sleeping in the streets, and being neglected in awful conditions at Walter Reed Army hospital? Not looking too good there Johnny Mac.

McCain says he’ll send forces to find al qaeda near Iran’s border with Pakistan? Hello! How can he, a military man with presidential ambitions, who was taught how to read maps in basic & advanced training, not even know the basic simple map of the middle east and asia? No wonder he’s clueless about where to find al qaeda and the evildoers who attacked us! For others tuning in late: al qaeda has been created, nurtured & funded out of Pakistan.

He said he’ll follow bin laden to the gates of hell. But old chap, you haven't even followed him to where he’s actually hiding - in Pakistan & Afghanistan for the last 7 years! Instead, you have helped squander thousands of precious American lives and hundreds of billions scarce American dollars chasing ghosts in Iraq! That’s not leadership - that’s stupid followership.

“Let’s drill for oil, let’s be rich & free again”. Good for you & your rich friends, sir! What questions, senator, have you pressed on Bush & Cheney to uncover the looting of America and recover our stolen billions? Fuzzy? Let’s see: Halliburton, Blackwater, War Contractors – do any of those ring the bell of your conscience? Apparently not. You’re just a good soldier who takes orders!

Over gins and tonics & single malts clinking softly in crystal glasses at the country clubs, you & other faithful readers of the Robb Report are plenty harsh and indignant about the fall of America. But instead of going after the actual perps (Bush-Cheney-Rove-Condie-Rumsfeld-Wolfowitz…..), you’re blaming democrats? “What will those muslim loving weaklings do next - attack the country?” “Good god! Rally the forces, outlaw everything, lock 'em up, and exile them to obscurity”. "Karl, why don't you use your wicked dark arts to whiplash democrats and whip all flag waving conservatives into a frenzy? Roger & his people are waiting in the ante room to discuss their latest broadcast strategies with you. Go forth and scare the bejeezus out of the American people again, and god bless you my dark knight!"

Mr. McCain knows his Thomas Pinks from his Brooks Brothers, ah, the joy & comforts of a $100 Million! So how could he even begin to understand the woes of ordinary Americans? Why, make it up of course and smile confidently! The new math is: war hero + beau coup dough + rich wife + republican funding = solid chap, good presidential material! Facts, schmacts.

And, thank God he's white, what a relief! Can you imagine a black man leading a nation? (um..South Africa? By the way, does that mean they can say they are freer & braver than the US?). But suburban & rich folks can sleep easy at night because McCain is white (and presumably right!). Don’t be silly, he didn't let us down over the last 8 years - that was Bush & Cheney! Forget them they're going to be gone soon, forget that McCain toed the line and voted with them every step of the way. And hey, Bush even brought him a cake to the airport to celebrate his birthday! Now, how many people do you suppose Bush did that for? That just goes to prove that McCain is so independent that Bush has to come to see him. A shining example of the power McCain has over Bush! You can't ask for more proof of power and leadership from a future president, now can you?

And, hey, no fear about guns - got that one covered! We'll finally have a shooting range at the White House ! “Lapierre, bring your silver plated Winchester repeater signed by the original confederate owner, we’ll give it a chance to grace the White House collection of the people’s right to bear arms!”

Yes, Katrina was a disaster, And so was Abu Ghraib. Enron. Blank checks to Halliburton. Rumsfeld. Cheney. Secret oil deals. War profiteering. Bank and Hedge fund bailouts. Rendition. Oops – Invaded Iraq not bin laden’s stronghold. 47M uninsured.

“Hey, s_it happens!”

Look on the bright side - none of this was McCain’s fault! He merely supported, stood by and voted with the guys who did all those bad, bad things. His hands are as clean as Macbeth’s.

At Least 20 Civilians Killed as US Drones Attack School in North Waziristan

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:21:14 EDT

At Least 20 Civilians Killed as US Drones Attack School in North Waziristan

compiled by Jason Ditz

This morning two US Predator Drones attacked a small village two miles north of Miramshah in Pakistan’s North Waziristan Agency, killing at least 20 and wounding 25 others. According to an anonymous Pakistani military officer, none of those killed were militants. At least four women and two children were reported among the dead and most of the wounded are also reported to be women and children......

ENTIRE ARTICLE- http://news.antiwar.com/2008/09/08/at-least-20-civilians-killed-as-us-drones-attack-school-in-north-waziristan/

"Follow The Leader"

BroncoSandi from Idaho — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:41:56 EDT

It occurred to me today that I am seeing a leadership pattern in politics '08.

A long time ago, I heard a voice calling for the end of the war in Iraq with a time table for withdrawal. Later I heard the call for meetings between the leaders of the various “Axis of Evil”countries. Afghanistan's conditions were pointed out, along with the need to make some movement to correct the problems concerning Pakistan. I heard a desire to improve our standing in the eyes of the world. Many discussions arose concerning the government's treatment of our military both at war and at home. For our military, reasonable life insurance, better hospital conditions, readily available medical treatment, a “GI Bill” with increased benefits were some of the items addressed.

Many Republicans including their presidential candidate disagreed with all these situations. They ridiculed, distorted and denied that these were needs our nation should address, but the pressure continued. (It is all on You Tube) Slowly we have seen changes in these areas and improvements with “Time Horizons” for leaving Iraq, meetings held between various hostile tribes and nations, more contact with our allies, the US has moved toward the hills and caves that harbor evasive enemies while acknowledging Afghanistan's needs, and recently the passage of the new “GI Bill”.

I heard a strong patriotic leader advocating these changes and leading our nation to address these conditions. This leader has persevered through smear campaigns and name calling attacks, while displaying a temperament for leadership. Our nation continues to “Follow the Leader”.

This leader is Barack Obama.

"We Cannot Turn Back" from a speech before more than 84,000 people, DNC, 2008, Barak Obama for President

jeffrey — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 22:11:17 EDT

This story just in from the International Herald Tribune

Did anyone think it would happen? Just the other day, I was wondering, "Have we viewers forgotten about Pakistan? Take a look.

Bhutto's widower elected in PakistanBy Jane Perlez and Salman Masood
Sunday, September 7, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of the assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who has little experience in governing, was elected president of Pakistan on Saturday by a wide margin.

Zardari, 53, who spent 11 years in jail on corruption charges that remain unproved, succeeds Pervez Musharraf, who resigned last month under the threat of impeachment. He is expected to be sworn in on Monday or Tuesday, Pakistani officials said.

Zardari has the tacit approval of the United States, which views him as an ally in the campaign against terrorism. He has promised a tougher fight against members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda ensconced in the nation's tribal areas, from where they mount assaults on American and NATO troops fighting in Afghanistan.

His election coincides with a stepped-up effort by the United States to root out the Taliban and Al Qaeda from the tribal areas. American commandos attacked militants in a village near the Afghan border on Wednesday, in what American military officials said could be a continuing campaign in Pakistan's tribal region.

Zardari becomes president amid increasing evidence that the Pakistani government and military face almost overwhelming difficulties in battling the militants, who now virtually control the tribal areas. In a reminder of that challenge, a suicide bomber killed at least 30 people and wounded 80 at a police checkpoint near Peshawar on Saturday.

Official results from voting in the two houses of Parliament and four provincial assemblies showed that Zardari, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, won 481 of 702 votes. His closest competitor, Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui, of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, won 153 votes, and a third candidate, Mushahid Hussain Syed, received 44 votes.

After Bhutto was killed in December, Zardari became the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, which was founded by Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and is considered to be almost a cult of the Bhutto dynasty.

Zardari led the party to victory in a parliamentary election on Feb. 18 and formed a coalition with Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N.

That coalition collapsed last month amid recriminations over the reinstatement of some 60 judges fired by President Musharraf when he imposed emergency rule in November.

In a sign of conciliation, Sharif telephoned Zardari on Saturday to congratulate him on his victory and pledge his support, according to television accounts of the call.

The White House issued a supportive statement on Saturday. "The United States congratulates Asif Ali Zardari on his election as president," said Gordon Johndroe, a White House spokesman. "President Bush looks forward to working with him, Prime Minister Gilani and the government of Pakistan on issues important to both countries, including counterterrorism and making sure Pakistan has a stable and secure economy."

Zardari's aides have promised that as president, Zardari would agree to the elimination of a constitutional provision that allows the president to dismiss Parliament, long considered a weak institution.

The minister of information, Sherry Rehman, a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, said the relationship between the presidency and Parliament would be better balanced under Zardari, resulting in a "new era of democratic stability." Rehman added, "Today, every Pakistani can raise his head with pride."

After the vote, Zardari spoke briefly outside the prime minister's residence. Flanked by his two teenage daughters, Bakhtawar and Asifa, Zardari said he would uphold the democratic philosophy of Bhutto.

"Parliament will be sovereign," he said. "This president shall be subservient to the Parliament."

But there was considerable skepticism among politicians and in the news media that Zardari would agree to a diminution of power. An editorial on Saturday in the daily newspaper Dawn said it hoped that "his commitment to make himself a titular head of state will not waver."

Most Pakistanis looked on the presidential vote with considerable indifference, a sharp contrast to the excitement during the campaign leading to parliamentary elections.

In the Aabpara market in Islamabad, some storekeepers viewed Zardari's victory as a foregone conclusion.

Several said it was good for Pakistan to have a president and a prime minister from the same party, reflecting the official line of the Pakistan Peoples Party. "He can be a good president because the whole party is behind him," said Malik Zahoor, 50.

But some vendors said the corruption charges against Zardari made him unsuitable for the presidency.

"He's a certified thief," said Akhlaq Abbasi, 60, the owner of a fabric and tailoring shop.

Correction:
Notes:

Watch out for the Big Surprise

Eli from Henderson, NV — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:29:51 EDT

Has anyone figured out the BIG surprise? The Bush administration is working furiously on the Pakistan border trying to find Bin Laden. Any bets that they find him, kill him or otherwise just as the election is about to come to a close?

Just in the last 3 days there have been air attacks and commandos roaming the border like mad. Why all of a sudden? We as supporters and the campaign better be ready for this one in advance. We all want Bin Laden caught there is no doubt. And the Bush Administration is counting on it. We need to pre-empt this strategy and prep ourselves NOW because this is just the kind of thing the Bush administration would pull on the American people.

Does anyone remember when Ronald Reagan just so happened to get the Iranian Hostages freed? Do we remember that there was suspicion about how those events took place? This same sort of ploy could work to sway those who do not yet believe Barack Obama will be our next President and in fact put John McCain in the white house. Let's not let them steal this one away from us.

Outrage in Pakistan as US Attack Kills 20

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:11:40 EDT

Outrage in Pakistan as US Attack Kills 20

compiled by Jason Ditz on September 3, 2008

At approximately 3 AM this morning, US helicopters landed in a tiny village in South Waziristan, not far from the Afghanistan border. Troops emerged and opened fire on the villagers, killing at least 20 civilians according to North-West Frontier Province Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani. Governor Ghani condemned the attack as “cowardly” and urged the Pakistani military “to defend the sovereignty of the country” with a response to the attack........

ENTIRE ARTICLE- http://news.antiwar.com/2008/09/03/outrage-in-pakistan-as-us-attack-kills-20/

Real Threat Pakistan/Afghanistan

Abe — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:39:27 EDT

It has become obvious now that we shouldn't have invaded Iraq in first place and stayed in focus in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the real threat was and still is. As the situation gets worse in Afghanistan and the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan, the International Security Force (NATO) and the US have realized that the focus should be put back in that region.

Sometimes I am trying to understand why we changed our focus from Afghanistan and Pakistan to Iraq when we knew that that terrorists are getting their trainings from Afghanistan/Pakistan area, receive their educations from the schools (madrassas) in Pakistan, mostly mobilized in Pakistan/Afghanistan, the leadership of the terrorists hang out around those borderless area, attack the US bases and Nato forces inside Afghanistan, and much more... but we still decided NOT to focus in that area instead we have created another recruiting center in Iraq- it simply doesn't make sense.

Refocusing in Afghanistan and Pakistan may not be as easy ride as we had the opportunity after we drove the Taliban (Afghan/Pakistani extremist, ISI Influence, and Al Qaida group) out of Afghanistan. We may even need much more resources and greater support of the NATO to get us just where we were 6 years ago in Afghanistan. As our attention was in Iraq, the so called "democratic elected Afghan government", has been transformed to a corrupt entity that has lost the support of its people and the "hope" of a better tomorrow is getting deminished in Afghanistan. We have lost the support and the excitement that we had generated among the Afghan people after the defeat of Taliban and Al Qaida six years ago, but we have no other option than focusing back in a region where the terrorist initially planned and attacked us on 9/11.

I believe strongly that Barack Obama has a better idea on keeping us safe. He has repeatedly requested that we should focus in Afghanistan and Pakistan and send more troops in Afghanistan.
He will focus in Pakistan and Afghanistan where the real threat was and still is when he is the President of the United States of America.

O'Reilly - Not well informed ...

Obamanizer — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:05:33 EDT

... when he claimed not to know what Senator Obama meant talking about Senator McCain not following Bin Laden to the cave he's living in.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414385,00.html

I must say that when Senator Obama did this remark during his acceptance speech, I was thinking that there might be a lot of people that don't know about the controversy earlier this year when Senator Obama was critizised from all sides when he stated he would go after Bin Laden even in Pakistan without the government's approval (and just a week later, the Pentagon bombed target in Pakistan).

Too bad that O'Reilly wasn't able to remember just this story ... right?

Is Pakistan Burning?

MM — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:25:06 EDT

Pakistan is topic du jour. Unfortunately the Bush administration's response to Pakistan is more like Rip Van Winkle, rather than a storm trooper. McCain, true to his roots, does not understand that Pakistan is the source and the solution of our security problems. 7 years have passed in the futile hunt for the source of the very tragic and highly heinous attack on America. Suddenly there are more stories about what we are doing/should be doing to rein in Pakistan and stop the extremists. None of what's going on in Pakistan is new - its old news! One would expect McCain the self-proclaimed world-wise leader, to at least know that. He is clearly clueless about the world, especially the muslim world, and he's not so fit to lead America after all. Which makes the daily 'revelations' and talk of 'pressuring Pakistan' rather amusing. A storm's been slowly building in Pakistan for over 50 years - shame on the Bush administration for only waking up to it now, especially since we've had a ringside seat since the beginning of this problem. The first tornadoes from this violent storm system have already lashed & hurt the US , UK and Spain, and if history is any indicator, the world should expect more. Kudos to Barack Obama for understanding & recognizing this serious threat way before Bush & McCain. The fact that he was smarter than both of them on North Korea & Iran, absolutely confirms he alone has the wisdom, foresight & courage to be the next president of the United States. To understand the threat that conditions in Pakistan pose to America and the world, consider the following.

A bloody birth
Pakistan had a bloody birth in 1947. Before that, what is now Pakistan was a part of British-ruled India, with millions of citizens descended from muslim armies who first invaded greater India (including what is now Pakistan) from the northwest starting in 664 AD. Those marauders looted, plundered, killed, and then settled down and eventually ruled the entire Indian subcontinent. In 1947, muslim descendants of those invaders violently agitated, passionately petitioned and convinced the Brits to cleave the new state of muslim Pakistan from hindu India. Over 1 million hindus and muslims hacked each other to death in the ensuing savagery to partition homes, lands and families. Even the great Mohandas Gandhi was unable to convince the firebrand segretationist muslims to stay in India and coexist peacefully. Today, India and Pakistan have approx. 140 million muslims each, and violence between muslims and hindus continues.

A Nation at Perpetual War
In 1947, when the hindu raja of Kashmir agreed to join the new India over the new Pakistan, enraged Pakistanis attacked Kashmir and tried to usurp the decision, India sent in its army and wrested control, and then the UN interceded and established a line of control on the fractious border. The fuming Pakistani generals vowed revenge against India, eventually fighting and losing three wars with India, the last one in 1972. Lesser scale skirmishes have continued ever since, fueled by a muslim army steeped in hatred for India, and ever eager to fight in the name of Islam. The nukes each side owns are an extension of that deep mutual animosity. Since the inception of the Pakistani nuclear program, they have referred to their nukes as the 'Islamic bomb'. The far-seeing Mossad tried to eliminate the first Pakistani nuclear reactor at Kahuta in the late seventies, but failed to convince India to lend logistical support for their fighter-bombers since India did not want to tick off the arab world.

Global Ambitions gone bad
India embraced the USSR and Pakistan signed up with the US, as each sought to align itself with a major world power. India won 3d rate technology and the woes of socialist planning. Pakistan fared much worse. Unlike democratic India, Pakistani generals have always controlled the relationship with, and the billions of dollars from, the US, trampling successive political movements underfoot and generating massive discontent in Pakistanis. The frustrated army echelons that did not get to share in the US largesse, coupled with the rise of islamic fundamentalism over democratic institutions, laid the seeds for 9/11. Stung by humiliating losses in 3 wars with India, the Pakistani army and intelligence services turned west and launched a plan to assimilate Afghanistan as a client state. They installed the taliban as their minions, with the goal of creating a greater islamic state. Fighting along side the US to rout the Russians was beneficial for the Afghanis and their Pakistani mentors. The post-Russian era left behind mujahideen, weapons and strategies that have been conveniently transformed into the service of al qaeda and the enormous drug trade in the unmonitored border regions

The Golden Crescent
What would possess the Pakistanis and Afghanis to embark on this great alliance? Was it solely for the glory of islam? Not really. The biggest cause of terrorism that no one wants to talk about is right under our noses: poppy. That bright red flower has brought more wealth to the extremely impoverished tribal regions of the golden crescent of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran than external sources ever have. It has also vastly enriched the top generals beyond their wildest imagination, giving them a stake in maintaining the cash flow. The best weapons, satellite communications, SUVs, and modern comforts are available to the drug lords in areas where the average person subsists on pennies per day. Best of all, there's no need to beg or ask for anything from the government or from the west. Ancient tribal fealties and loyalties have been nourished and reinforced by drug dollars, bound by religious ties and tribal codes of honor and loyalty. In turn creating fertile, welcome grounds for terrorists to live and flourish.

Riding the tiger
Its laughable everytime the administration talks of convincing/cajoling/punishing/rewarding Pakistan to shut down the terrorists. God bless them and our efforts to maintain close relations, I hope we will be successful. But relying on hope alone ignores the reality that every Pakistani general and administration is riding a tiger, and sooner or later will be eaten alive. Consider the odds: A rebellious & fundamentalist islamist Pakistani army held in check through manipulation, coercion, bribes, and appeals in the name of islam, including the goal of wresting Kashmir back from hated India. The pressures of constantly watching for and eliminating the next generation of potential coup leaders. Dodging al qaeda's bombs and bullets. Maintaining the nuclear-military-economic strategic relationship with China, North Korea, Iran and Libya. Collaborating with the US to capture terrorists and safeguard the nukes. Bowing to the all powerful drug lords and tribal chiefs along the border. And inspite of it all, maintaining the peace with the fundamentalists, the army and the all powerful Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence spy outfit. Every Pakistani leader is going to do whatever he can to survive. Whatever bones he can throw us, he will. The all powerful, fundamentalist, rogue Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence will ultimately decide his fate. But giving the US everything we ask for is to sign his own death warrant.

50 years of human intelligence down the drain
In 1960, Maj. Gary Powers took off in his U2 from Peshawar, Pakistan for reconnaisance over Russia before being brought down by a Russian missile. Since the US doesn't indiscriminately launch top systems from just anywhere, it begs the question how we are leveraging the relationships and ties with the Pakistani army that were first established 50 years ago. Pakistan is a long time client of many US weapons systems, an ally and collaborator in the cold war, and has sent many of its army officers to the US for training. More importantly, even though we are inevitably intertwined with the Pakistani army, how do we build & sustain more democratic relationships. Standing too close to a hated leadership has often come back to haunt us - remember Iran? The continuing reference to the 'Khan nuclear network' is a running joke, as if he was some lone ranger. On the contrary, AQ Khan cannot so much as sneeze without direction from the ISI and the army. The nuclear bazaar that transferred nukes to Libya, North Korea and Iran has been run by the Pakistani army. In essence, they are responsible for unleashing the two biggest threats the world faces today - terrorism and loose nukes. To say that this is new information, is laughable. Question is: what have we done so far and what are we going to do now that pandora's box has been opened?

Its time to Pay the Piper
Defusing the fundamentalists and checkmating the terrorists can only be achieved by empowering and enriching Pakistanis. If we can blow $2.4 trillion and counting on Iraq, we must come up with at least $200 billion for Pakistan to defuse the two biggest threats to our peace and security. All our military might cannot effectively tackle the terrorists who are deliberately fragmented, persistent, evil and heinous. The fact that they enjoy support from elements of the Pakistani army, the same people we are trying to work with, makes this is an even bigger challenge. The answer is to massively build up infrastructure, industry and trade in Pakistan so that meaningful wealth and benefits will flow to the man on the street as well as to the army. Only then will Pakistanis be able to further their self interests constructively, and begin the long journey away from the oppression of religion, hate & terror. The question is: do we have the nerve and the leadership to do what's in our best interest, and do it fast?

Obama understands these enormous challenges and their dire implications for the US and the world, McCain does not, and an Obama Presidency on Jan 20 can't come fast enough.

It's my country too & I want it back

MM — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:26:07 EDT

Got my green card - America here I come - land of the free and the home of the brave! 20 years, hard work, many tax dollars, citizenship and many experiences later, the dream is falling apart.

I'm not white, wasn't born here, but am as American as anyone else. No one has the right to question my patriotism or exploit this nation and its bounties with impunity. Sadly, they have, and continue to do so. I'll never forget the Republican who asked me in 2002 if I was muslim, and when I said I was not, rebuked me publicly for not doing enough to prevent 9/11 !

Immigrants - all of us - have built this nation with our blood, sweat & tears. Right wing elitists cannot enslave or deny our ambitions. Or impugn our credentials, motives, actions or beliefs.

When Bush took office, gas was $1.46. Through the machinations of a handful of rich, white people ignorant of the world we live in - Americans are hurting. That greed & stupidity have cost precious American blood, stature & dignity, and robbed hundreds of billions of dollars desperately needed by Americans at home. Muslim has been disgracefully reduced to a perjorative for most whites, and this ugly uber-patriotism has been transmuted into an obsession with the hateful, lying rants of the Ailes-Rove machine.

And while we blunder, other nations are ascendant and competing with us and winning a larger share of the world's resources and markets, especially from 1.2 Billion muslim consumers or 22% of the world's population. The total abandonment of America's stewardship for blind partisan gain, is the worst example of greed and stupidity in this nation's history - a crime against all Americans who have worked and fought so hard to build this nation.

It's time to take back our country. No boogie man cometh this time, no red, orange, yellow threats or duct tape, Obama's NOT muslim and it would be fine if he was (but it's rumored McCain likes to play with blonde barbie dolls). No more distortions, or fake empathy with the middle class with 'merica', 'nucular' & good ol' boy winks and snarky witticisms.

It is the duty of every American to ensure 8 years of deception, lies, thieving and debauchery end on January 19, and remerge red & blue states back into a stronger United States of America.

Pakistan is at last finding its voice. The US would be wise not to gag it

Chinni — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:13:49 EDT

Pakistan is at last finding its voice. The US would be wise not to gag it

Mohsin Hamid - The Guardian, Friday August 22 2008

..As a democracy, Pakistan's role in this drama is likely to change because a great tension at the centre of the US-Pakistan alliance will increasingly be exposed. That tension, in a nutshell, is this: most Pakistanis are anti-America. For a combination of reasons, and despite evident fondness for American products and individuals, my impression is that most Pakistanis have extremely negative views of the US as a geopolitical player..
..The anti-America sentiment suggests that Pakistanis would like greater independence in their relationship with the US. But the moribund state of Pakistan's economy and the fraught nature of its security situation make the country utterly dependent on US aid and eager for hi-tech American weaponry. The challenge facing Pakistan's new leaders is to explain that Pakistanis cannot have both. If they are to satisfy their constituents, they will need to articulate a plan for increasingly putting Pakistan's interests first while gradually reducing the country's reliance on the US.
The US, for its part, will need to adjust to a Pakistan in which anti-America sentiment could seriously undermine US interests. The US can best do this by offering Pakistan not the appearance of an alliance but the equality and mutual respect that constitutes the substance of one. Pakistan's people have already demonstrated through the ballot that they reject the Taliban worldview, and the number of Pakistanis who died in terrorist attacks last year alone exceeds the number of Americans killed on 9/11..

How The Bush-McCain Man In Pakistan Finally Quit

Charley James — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:05:11 EDT

Writing this morning at Salon.com, noted University of Michigan Arabist and Middle East expert Juan Cole describes the fall of Pervez Musharraf, the Bush-Cheney-McCain man in Pakistan. Despite his despotism and double-dealing with the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Bush, McCain and the entire GOP embraced him to the bitter end.)

Here’s an excerpt from the Salon piece.

It is a measure of the Bush administration's broken foreign policy that the departure of Pervez Musharraf, the corrupt, long-time military dictator of Pakistan, is provoking fears in Washington of "instability." Despite Bush's warm embrace, Musharraf gutted the rule of law in Pakistan over the previous year and a half, including sacking its Supreme Court. He attempted to do away with press freedom, failed to provide security for campaigning politicians and strove to postpone elections indefinitely.

Bush, Cheney and McCain have a regular practice of undermining democracy in places where local politics don't play out to their liking, and in that Musharraf was a true partner. But stability does not derive from a tyrannical brake on popular aspirations but from the free play of the political process. Musharraf's resignation marks Pakistan's first chance for a decent political future since 1977.

You can read the whole thing here.

Meanwhile, the Karachi newspaper Dawn runs down how Bush was finally convinced that Musharraf had to go.

- Bush was the last holdout supporting Musharraf in Washington, long after Rice and even Cheney had concluded he was not viable.

- PM Yousef Raza Gilani's recent trip to Washington was largely aimed at convincing Bush and others that the dictator had to go. "The prime minister took a team of 'Musharraf experts' with him to the luncheon and they played a key role in persuading Mr Bush to stop supporting the Pakistani leader."

- U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson "argued that if Washington continued supporting Mr Musharraf it would end up stoking massive anti-American feelings in Pakistan."

- Joint Chief Chairman Mike Mullen made three trips to Pakistan and engaged in intensive discussions with his opposite number, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, receiving assurances that without Musharraf the Pakistani military would remain committed to the fight against the neo-Taliban and al-Qaeda.

- Pakistan's Ambassador to Washington, Husain Haqqani, expertly worked Congress and the Senate, as well as think tanks, trying to convince them that Pakistan would not be "unstable" without Musharraf. People in Washington are so funny. Musharraf has been like a one man hurricane in Pakistan for the last year and a half, and the source of most of its instability.

- Perhaps thinking perhaps of his own, personal vulnerability come Jan. 2009. Bush wanted assurances that Musharraf would be granted legal immunity. He enlisted the help of Britain and Saudi Arabia. Dawn reports, "The British sent their former ambassador in Islamabad, Mark Lyall Grant, to Pakistan and the Saudis sent their intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz to negotiate the terms for Mr Musharraf's departure." The Saudis also put pressure on former PM Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Muslim League (N), to tone down his rhetoric (Sharif was in exile in Saudi Arabia for years and is close to its elite).

- Once Bush was convinced Musharraf had to step down, the super-majority in the Pakistani parliament began moving against him.

Imagine my surprise at discovering that Bush, not Cheney, was the last holdout. If the man really does have no common sense and is the ultimate decision-maker, that helps clarify what has gone so wrong for the last seven years.

McCain Gives A Good War Speech..But What About The Rest Of Us?

Madera Strong - Team Co-ordinator For City of Madera — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:06:12 EDT

Whenever I listen to McCain he goes off on war talk, which seems to energize him. He'll tell us we are all warriors. We can not be defeated? We need to fight on......

Then I look at me and my life. I am a loyal American. I'm not going to become a Muslim or an Iraqi. But, war, in the sense discussed by McCain, is something I do not want to stir up or have as my future. War talk before diplomacy makes me unhappy. I am educated and know of better means to start negotiations. I am not the warrior of yore. I will defend the U.S. and defend our supporters, but I will not rush into these crazy wars that some seem to seek.

War talk makes everybody fearful and they begin to huddle together in defense mode. It is easier to control people who are encased in fear. Politicians just say the name of the "terrorist" when they start to lose control and everyone returns to the huddle.

Currently, we are at war against an Afghanistan gang of rich folks. War talk feeds the gangs agenda and makes them stronger. As leaders of the world, America needs to be able to see more options and be less eager for combat. I like a leader who does not reflexly jump into combat mode.

If we are going to wage a war against terrorist gangs who kill thousands by their actions, let's take our military to Los Angeles, Cleveland or Detroit. Let's win the war there first and use less military in all the various countries around the world.

When someone starts to try to control you by telling a story of struggle and hardship and threats of war and the need to huddle and fight...,take a deep breath, realize that this is not a world war or a war against a country, this is just a gang of rich folks, we fight them everyday in many ways. Regain your senses and take back control. Vote with your head, not out of fear.

See the CNN documentary "Beneath the Veil"...Women in Afghanistan need help. Help by volunteering to help the women in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The women are made worse by war and the future in these countries will be worse unless we help without war.

If we choose the road to more war, we will be fighting forever (McCain says 100 years).

...

.....

Georgia On My Mind II

The Medici — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:33:13 EDT

What Mr. Obama must say (in his intimate setting, reflecting the situation's seriousness) is not Russia should get out of Georgia.

No.

What he must say is that "Russia has achieved its objective. It has shown the weakness of the balance of power in Europe. And the vulnerability of Central Asian nations. This is why my trip to Europe recently was so important. For nearly 30 years NATO has languished in developing a strategy for its own protection and that of its Eastern borders. It has welcome Central Asian nations into this vortex, without strategic goals or tactical arrangements necessary to project a show of strength against Russian proclivities.

The reason the United States should have lead on this issue over the last 30 years is because a weak Europe means increased costs for America both militarily and economically, and tragically, if we are not insightful, American lives.

I made this case on my trip to Europe and reassured Europe that whilst America will defend its freedoms, we insist on a real credible defense policy for Europe that will not render NATO to the world as a toothless tiger".

Mr. Obama must also say, "given that Russia has achieved its objectives, the US must now manage a series of critical options. If we had engaged Iran as I advised and my Opponent rejected, we would have an independent open line of communication with Iran, that would allow us a stronger position against Russia. Had we concentrated on Afghanistan, we would have had troops in the strategic area.

These events demonstrate that the danger in the world is not Iran, but Central Asia, anchored by Pakistan, linked to Afghanistan".

He should add that "Our policy in Pakistan shows the same reliance on old formulas, and general misunderstanding of the situation. Our forcing of elections in this situation has left us with a destabilized nation and a breeding ground for terrorists in a nuclear-capable nation in an over-weaponized region".

Finally, he should say, "My Opponent has said that "we are all Georgians now". Not quite. That is over-reaching simplification of a complex situation. Georgia was wrong to impose itself militarily in South Ossetia and Russia was wrong to over-react. Russia must cease its activities in Georgia, but Georgia must show restraint and the US must not give false comfort to Central Asian nations. That is the issue. The strategy must be to build up NATO's capability in the region. Our tactics must include Central Asian and European nations. Our approach must be diplomatic, leveraged by Russia's desire for growth; particularly in circumstances in which there is a fall-back in commodities prices that underscores Russia's economic confidence".

Thus politically, Mr. Obama must show that Mr. McCain failed the Commander-in-Chief test by over-emotionalising in the situation, and failing to see Georgia's contribution to the conflict, aided by the Bush administration's negligence.

He must say, "yes McCain has experience but he is suffocated by it, and like Bush, thinks tough talk shouted aimlessly is diplomacy. But today's world requires a surgical approach in which the good guy and bad guy of the cowboy movies are no longer relevant".

Dammit, TELL ME THE TRUTH!!!

Tanya — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 01:51:17 EDT

Ummmm..Mr McCain?…are ya sitting down? Here’s a few of your own words that lead all of us to distrust you overwhelmingly, every day! You’re an embarrassment to yourself, McSame! This is the age of the “Internet(s)” and “the” Youtube using Bushian malaprops. We’ve got you on record, McFlip/Flop! Facts are just silly things that get in your way…ehhh, McSame?

Many, many, many thanks to one of my true media heroes and ever-present mentor..Keith Olbermann!

The Bush to McCain to al-Qaeda Connection

Charley James — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:09:57 EDT

If you didn’t see the New York Times this morning, intercepted communications between sections of Pakistan's military intelligence division, the ISI, indicate that it provided support to Pushtun guerrillas in bombing the Indian embassy in Kabul recently. There have long been suspicions the Pakistani military was using Pushtun guerrillas to project power into Afghanistan, even as they fought them inside Pakistan itself. The Times was told by US officials that this intercept was the first smoking gun proving that active-duty ISI officers were complicit with violence in Afghanistan and therefore with attacks on US and NATO troops.

The Pakistani military has a very tight command and control system. ISI collaboration with the neo-Taliban and other guerrilla groups could not occur without the knowledge and acquiescence of Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf, who was chief of staff until last fall. That is, Cheney, Bush and McCain have backed to the hilt a military dictator who has continued the old 1980s and 1990s policy of supporting Pushtun guerrillas as a way of dominating Afghanistan and training other guerrillas to hit Kashmir.

Yet this is what McCain said about “my good friend” Musharraf on Dec. 28 in New Hampshire during the primary campaign: "I continue to believe Musharraf has done a pretty good job, done a lot of the things that we wanted him to do . . . I would remind some of my fellow Americans that Benazir Bhutto and [former prime minister Nawaz] Sharif presided over failed states, there was corruption, there was a failed state in Pakistan when Musharraf took charge...I would like to give Musharraf some credit for taking the measures that we asked him to do."

A “pretty good job?” Musharraf's “successful state” involved dismissing the Supreme Court, provoking massive and repeated demonstrations, violating the constitution, interfering with free and fair elections, and presiding over a virtual national meltdown on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto late last December.

It’s clear that McCain values nothing beyond sheer military might – even if it has shady contacts to al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In other words, McCain’s so-called “experience” tells him that the US should give money to Pakistan so its ISI can fund Taliban and al-Qaeda forces that are killing NATO and US troops in Afghanistan.

So much for McCain’s campaign stump line, “I know how to win wars.” If this is how he wins, how much more of his incompetence will it take for him to “lose” one?

When the newly elected civilian government of Pakistan tried to put the ISI under the civilian Ministry of the Interior last weekend, it was quickly reversed by the generals. The US government should be supporting the elected civilian government in its efforts to get control of the ISI.

But this news is not rally about Pakistan, since most Pakistanis dislike al-Qaeda and the Taliban. It is not about the elected Pakistani government. It is not even about the Pakistani military, which has fought hard battles against the Pakistani Taliban and suffered hundreds of casualties in doing so. It is about corruption in the Pakistani officer corps and the penetration of pro-al-Qaeda elements in the ISI.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani is in constant denial about the ISI/Taliban links, or perhaps he doesn't want to provoke an immediate crisis with the Pakistani military, which has been known to make coups. He said as much last week while in Washington during a meeting with Bush. His Pakistan People's Party has been reluctant to see Musharraf impeached, since de facto party leader Asaf Ali Zardari – Benazir Bhutto’s widower – has been corrupt in the past and would be at risk for some of the same charges levelled at Musharraf.

How much of the $10-billion in aid Bush and Cheney gave to Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf after 9/11 ended up being used to kill US, NATO and Afghan troops in Afghanistan?

Now do two things right here: Spread the word about this and Barack’s position and, two, show up at a local McCain “town hall” armed with this information and confront him with it. Help derail the so-called “straight talk express.”

End the hypocrisy

free333 — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:49:38 EDT

1. Yes, Obama stick to your policies towards terrorism in Afghanistan and also towards those countries which sponsor terrorism, like Pakistan. Its common sense that US in the past have been quite soft towards Pakistan, and it’s high time to change such hypocrisy. The world needs to be united to annihilate terrorism wherever it exists on this earth.

2. If the world is helpless in annihilating terrorism in North-Western province of Pakistan, then let it raise hand, but no hypocrisy; no double-standard please! It’s true that Pakistan is a nuclear powered country; it’s also true that ISI (The Intelligence agency of Pakistan) is sponsoring terrorism. The organisation which supports and sponsors terrorism should be equally considered as terrorist out-fits.

Will Obama dare to bring ISI (The Intelligence agency of Pakistan) to justice? Can America bring ISI (The Intelligence agency of Pakistan) to justice, as it is bringing the Al-Qaida leaders to justice and as it had brought Saddam Hussein to justice?

3. We’ve (India) been fighting cross-border terrorism for years. Sometimes it seems we are helpless; there is no body on this earth to stop ISI from such dastardly acts.

Let’s expect to see a new hope in Obama. Let’s hope that the world community will be able to annihilate terrorism from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

4. If Obama will win, it’s not because of President Bush, as many believe, but because, the former is honest and truthful and has a mind which is open.

Tim Kaine in 'Serious' Talks with Obama

jgabriel — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:38:54 EDT

Tim Kaine, the governor of Virginia, is supposedly in 'serious' talks to become Barack Obama's running mate. The other two most serious candidates are Evan Bayh and Joe Biden.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/28/AR2008072802041_2.html

Obama meets with the new Pakistani prime minister today, as well as with House Democrats.

"Obama is My Slave", McCain thinks Iraq and Pakistan share a border

jgabriel — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:05:37 EDT

A rather ugly and disturbing story, from the Huffington Post. Seems this guy in New York is selling "Obama is My Slave" t-shirts:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earnest-harris/obama-ugly-slave-tee-but_b_114235.html

In other news, did you hear that McCain erroneously believed that Iraq and Pakistan share a border? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/22/politics/politico/main4281173.shtml

Iran? No! Pakistan? Yes! Forgotten Conflict Soon To Expand and Escalate Dangerously!

Jim — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:45:07 EDT

I was going to post a followup to a recent post I had done referencing some disturbing news, but suspected, out of Afganistan. That post, a few days ago, followed the extremely sad news about the loss of the nine soldiers, fifteen injured, in a battle at a small fire base they held by Afgan insurgents. This U.S. Abandons Site of Afghan Attack is a recent report on that and as the title says the American forces abandoned the base. It was than apparently retaken by the Afgan Insurgents as well as the little town near it, and control of the territory well around the town and base.

Frozen provincial minds and their missiles

Sheldon from Doylestown — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:40:31 EDT

Frozen provincial minds and their missiles

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/13/opinion/13kristof.html

Country With Peace and Dignity

Home Run — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 14:22:30 EDT

I will talk about foreign policy as well as domestic policy, economics and health care and plundering of a budget surplus under Clinton to trillion of dollars deficit by republican party and leaders who are ever so crafty to blame the democrats for their mismanagement of the economy.
Here are the themes:
1) Al Quaida, will be around for a long time with the financial and sanctuary help of our so called friendly countries, as John Kerry boldly claimed that this war on terror will not have end.
Why should it, to the leaders of Al Quaida and other terrorist groups, terror is a multi billion dollar corporation , why should they close it? They get their funding from blackmailing the timid governments of our Arab allies, who want to stay in power without having suicide bombers of terrorist groups to challenge their position, and this includes from Hosni Mubarak to the Emir of Bahrain and all the Persian gulf nations.
Add to that Pakistan, that supports Al Quaida by providing a sanctuary to their leaders and operational infrastructure and now helping and aiding Taliban's, as much as their inept government is afraid of cracking down on the terrorist for fear of getting their soldiers or worse the government leaders killed, they are very brave to stand up to USA and tell us not to go after terrorists in areas that is clearly not under the central so called Government of Pakistan.
It is no secret that should they interfere with terrorists regrouping, they will have mass demonstrations in the streets of Karachi and Rowelpandi and they will have the same fate as Benazir Bhutto and get killed themselves.
So what happened to George Bush's cry " If you are not with us , you are against us" well aside from on a bumper sticker, and the fact that never makes any sense, may be Mr.Obama can ask the George Bush the 3rd (John Mc Cain) that why is it that we pay Pakistan Billions of Dollars and call them our strong ally, when they should be on the terrorist nations list for doing a better protection of Al Quaida and Taliban leaders and infrastructure than Afghanistan was ever able to do?
And also ask him why we call them Terrorists instead of mass murderers, a terrorist has a goal and aims at the government and it's army, the mass murderer just finds a suicidal teenagers and straps a bomb on them to kill innocent women, children, old people, Etc. with a promise of paradise and cash pay off to their poor family.
Remember Israel dealt effectively with the leaders of these Murder Incorporations, and from daily suicide bombing, it has become a rarity in Israel.
Can Us do the same? May be if they try the mass murderers in a court and tie them to the killings that they so boldly order and hand them a death sentence and let commandos or mercenaries from other nations to carry them out for the price, so much as we put a bounty on their heads and proclaim " Dead or Alive". Are the bleeding heart members of our society or our European allies ready for that? I know that the Murder Corporations will threaten even the members of press or media to have them write and proclaim the practice as uncivilized, when killing innocent people is almost excused as an act of aggrieved ( Should say money Hungry) terror groups (Should say heads of Murdering corporations).
Simple solutions to a very complicated problem? may be, but if no one wants the Job of Being the leader of Murder Corporation, because their leadership is short lived, then what? no leadership no cash flow, how do you hire murder for hire and arm them and so on?
Talk to me, there are many other solutions out there, but seeing problem with every solution is easier than taking action, however turning Pakistan into pre 9/11 Afghanistan will prove to be lot more dangerous than any one can imagine.

Home Run Los Angeles

Amid U.S. Policy Disputes, Al Qaeda Grows in Pakistan

Mikeystyle — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:58:37 EDT

By MARK MAZZETTI and DAVID ROHDE

June 30, 2008, the New York Times

WASHINGTON — Late last year, top Bush administration officials decided to take a step they had long resisted. They drafted a secret plan to make it easier for the Pentagon’s Special Operations forces to launch missions into the snow-capped mountains of Pakistan to capture or kill top leaders of Al Qaeda.

Intelligence reports for more than a year had been streaming in about Osama bin Laden’s terrorism network rebuilding in the Pakistani tribal areas, a problem that had been exacerbated by years of missteps in Washington and the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, sharp policy disagreements, and turf battles between American counterterrorism agencies.

The new plan, outlined in a highly classified Pentagon order, was intended to eliminate some of those battles. And it was meant to pave a smoother path into the tribal areas for American commandos, who for years have bristled at what they see as Washington’s risk-averse attitude toward Special Operations missions inside Pakistan. They also argue that catching Mr. bin Laden will come only by capturing some of his senior lieutenants alive.

But more than six months later, the Special Operations forces are still waiting for the green light. The plan has been held up in Washington by the very disagreements it was meant to eliminate. A senior Defense Department official said there was “mounting frustration” in the Pentagon at the continued delay.

PREPARING THE BATTLEFIELD: The Bush Administration steps up its secret moves against Iran

Mikeystyle — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:44:36 EDT

by Seymour M. Hersh July 7, 2008

The New Yorker

Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership. The covert activities involve support of the minority Ahwazi Arab and Baluchi groups and other dissident organizations. They also include gathering intelligence about Iran’s suspected nuclear-weapons program.

Clandestine operations against Iran are not new. United States Special Operations Forces have been conducting cross-border operations from southern Iraq, with Presidential authorization, since last year. These have included seizing members of Al Quds, the commando arm of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and taking them to Iraq for interrogation, and the pursuit of “high-value targets” in the President’s war on terror, who may be captured or killed. But the scale and the scope of the operations in Iran, which involve the Central Intelligence Agency and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), have now been significantly expanded, according to the current and former officials. Many of these activities are not specified in the new Finding, and some congressional leaders have had serious questions about their nature.

Under federal law, a Presidential Finding, which is highly classified, must be issued when a covert intelligence operation gets under way and, at a minimum, must be made known to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and the Senate and to the ranking members of their respective intelligence committees—the so-called Gang of Eight. Money for the operation can then be reprogrammed from previous appropriations, as needed, by the relevant congressional committees, which also can be briefed.

Mature way of addressing Extremism in America and abroad

Sahil — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:04:39 EDT

I have recently written a letter to Senator Obama suggesting a way to address fanaticism or extremism taking roots in Muslims in America. I am a Muslim. I think this will help the Obama campaign show its ability to deal creatively and in a mature and peaceful way with the growing problem of Extremism all around the world. Please read the letter and provide your feedback.

Return to Self-determination for all nations

smffy — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:55:58 EDT

The Bush/Cheney/McCain plans to "help stabilize" Pakistan again have no grounds - any more than Iraq did. The Pakistians are fighting this battle on their own.

They have made progress in retaking the cities that once had been lost to the Taliban and Alkeda. There's no moral reason we should be there. Why should we make another country a place for our military bases to protect us from whom? China? Hardly. The Soviet Union? Not a chance.

So who is the enemy we're really fighting the Bush/McCain alliance should look in the mirror.

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/29/has-pakistan-gotten-serious-about-terrorism/

Pakistan: Security and Human Rights

Hope4Unity — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:16:40 EDT

Pakistan is situated in the western part of the Indian subcontinent, with Afghanistan and Iran on the west, India on the east, and the Arabian Sea on the south. The name Pakistan is derived from the Urdu words Pak (meaning pure) and stan (meaning country). It is nearly twice the size of California.

Principal languages: Urdu 8%, English (both official); Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, Burushaski, and others 8%

Ethnicity/race: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India and their descendants)

Religions: Islam 97% (Sunni 77%, Shiite 20%); Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

Pakistan was one of the two original successor states to British India, which was partitioned along religious lines in 1947. For almost 25 years following independence, it consisted of two separate regions, East and West Pakistan, but now it is made up only of the western sector. Both India and Pakistan have laid claim to the Kashmir region; this territorial dispute led to war in 1949, 1965, 1971, and 1999, and remains unresolved today. Source: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107861.html
"Pakistan wants to assure the world that it is committed to the cause of non-proliferation," said a statement issued by the national security adviser to the Prime Minister.The statement came against the backdrop of a number of views and comments made by some scholars in the United States at a US Senate Committee hearing on Pak-US strategic relationship on June 12. The statement said that unfortunately, only selective views were reported in the media. -- Source: The Asia Times, 6/19/08

Excerpts from Senator Obama on International Issues, Diplomacy, and Ending Terrorism:

As President, I would make the hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional, and I would make our conditions clear: Pakistan must make substantial progress in closing down the training camps, evicting foreign fighters, and preventing the Taliban from using Pakistan as a staging area for attacks in Afghanistan.

I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges. But let me make this clear. There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again. It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will.

And Pakistan needs more than F-16s to combat extremism. As the Pakistani government increases investment in secular education to counter radical madrasas, my Administration will increase America's commitment. We must help Pakistan invest in the provinces along the Afghan border, so that the extremists' program of hate is met with one of hope. And we must not turn a blind eye to elections that are neither free nor fair -- our goal is not simply an ally in Pakistan, it is a democratic ally.

Beyond Pakistan, there is a core of terrorists -- probably in the tens of thousands -- who have made their choice to attack America. So the second step in my strategy will be to build our capacity and our partnerships to track down, capture or kill terrorists around the world, and to deny them the world's most dangerous weapons. http://www.barackobama.com

4 Marines die in Afghanistan; 870 inmates escape

Abe — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:04:43 EDT

"The bombing comes one day after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told his counterparts in Europe that for the first time, the monthly total of American and allied combat deaths in Afghanistan exceeded the toll in Iraq during May."

We need to realize that the real war is still in Afghanistan and Pakistan where the terrorists are trained, educated, and mobilized. As Barack Obama believes, we need to focus in Afghanistan and Pakistan and bring our troops back from Iraq. Iraq war shouldn't be be waged in the first place!

Maybe it is time to visit Afghanistan instead of Iraq to see the situation from close!

The Future of America

SITALCES — Sat, 31 May 2008 14:07:48 EDT

The disgusting spectacle of an American president groveling before a foreign parliament (Israel's Knesset) like a whimpering serf before his lord is a sign that America is not really as free as we would like to believe. A truly free people will not tolerate lies, deceit, mass murder of innocents, outright theft, assassinations, and all the other rogue activities their government instigates. It is therefore, obvious to me and many other people that America has been taken over by forces which seek to irreversibly destroy all that it stood for, and what was passed on by several American generations from the Founders. I tend to believe that these forces are also responsible for the horrors that America inflicts on other nations and peoples such as torture without charges or trials, invasions and occupations of sovereign states based on fabricated evidence, the contravention of international law, and the confiscation of other peoples resources in the name of freedom and democracy. Under this alien influence, America has never stooped so low in all its history as to be distrusted and reviled by the majority of nations on our planet.Because of the ignorance of the leaders we have elected, and their refusal to face the realities of our age, the United States will continue to entangle itself in one foreign debacle after another and in the next four years will have bancrupt its treasury and exhausted its capacity to borrow money. At that point America will follow in the footsteps of the Romans and withdraw its forces to its home soil, in order to quell internal revolts initiated by desperate citizens. Naive politicians, like John McCain, cannot grasp that the days of occupation and colonization of foreign lands are over. He does not understand that the excuse of "bringing democracy and freedom" is an outdated message that people are no longer falling for. As American and NATO armies continue to bleed in Iraq and Afghanistan, it will become abundantly clear even to the most "patriotic" American that we were suckered into expensive unwinnable wars by Israel and its plan to survive at all cost (to us). Ask yourselves why our leaders keep us in the dark by being very careful not to tell us the real reasons for our involvement in adventures that seem to fail big time. John McCain recently admitted, perhaps by error, that the war in Iraq was for oil. George Bush keeps telling us that he is convinced we are doing the right thing, but he gives us all the wrong reasons. Whatever the reasons behind this mystery one thing is certain: The war abroad and the curtailment of our freedoms here at home are not in our best interest and that is why we are kept in the dark so far. But are we in total darkness or do we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Friends, after six years of observation one must be uninterested not to see what's go on. The present situation is about oil, but not the oil that's under Iraq alone. Vast amounts of oil that worth at least 100 trillion dollars are yet to be discovered and piped to friendly ports. Let us take a look at Unocal. Unocal was one of the key players in the CentGas consortium that attempted to build the trans-Afghanistan Pipeline to run from the Caspian sea, through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean. One of the consultants to Unocal at that time was Zalmay Khalilzad, former US ambassador to Afghanistan then to Iraq and currently to the UN. The present occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and the tight control of Turkey, not to mention the mobilization of Islam to defeat the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s are reflections for the wars for oil we have seen in the last quarter of a century. But greatly ambitious plans such as the control of the world's oil resources are not cheap to implement. Such plans generate powerful coalitions of enemies that if they fail, they can haunt their creator for a long time to come. At this time incompetence and delays have created powerful enemies that would be almost impossible for us to challenge in an open conflict, and therefore, the Caspian oil stays where it is for the time being, underground. These enemies are not only the Muslims, but also the Chinese and the Russians and in many aspects our own European allies.

In my opinion, it is a matter of time before a Muslim radical gets his hands on some nuclear weapons and gives the United States what it has long sought, deep within its subconscious: a genuine, long-range threat to its soil and security. Not the phoney threat concocted by Israelite agents to spook Americans into clobbering other nations for Israel, but something real to worry about. The most likely place these weapons can come from is Pakistan, not Iran as many are lead to believe. Pakistan is a country ready to enter into a civil war, the beginning of which was foretold by Benazir Bhutto's assassination. In a civil war scenario it is anybodys guess as to who will wind up with that country's nuclear weapons. Our Pentagon has some contingency plans for securing those nukes in the event of a civil war; however, the best laid plans can go awry in a Muslim dominated country. The United States and its Israelite advisers have made a bloody mess of the Middle East. No matter what America does in the next year with regard to Iraq---stay or withdraw---the sectarian conflicts there will intensify and spread, affecting the supply of existing oil to the rest of the world. Economically, we are skating on very thin ice, and not only because of Iraq, thanks to the irresponsible twits who populate our Congress and White House. The other danger lurking silently is China. China is a global power that wields considerable influence over our economic well-being. Should China encounter a couple more disasters like the recent earthquake which rattled its economy, it could very well start to unload substantial quantities of its dollar holdings, in order to import more food and other provisions for its citizens. That kind of move could trigger a stampede of foreign dollar holders for the exits, giving birth to an inflationary tsunami and the skyrocketing of oil and gold prices.

It is my guess that whoever wins in November, whether McCain or Obama, the U.S. will choose to retain its troops in the Middle East and continue to meddle in other peoples affairs. The U.S. will have to rely more and more on its air power in future conflicts, because our ground troops and equipment are worn out, and incapable of conducting large scale ground operations, like those mounted in Iraq and Afghanistan. This means that a military draft is in our future, regardless of what the politicians tell us. This means that you can expect more of your children to be utilized as cannon fodder in these expanded wars on terror. With McCain in the White House, that is practically a guarantee, because he owes much to the Israeli Lobby. It was this Lobby, and its front-man, Joe Lieberman, that resurrected his campaign when it was on the ropes a few months ago, so he'll have a bill to pay as soon as he lands in the White House. His promise to win the war in Iraq, and bring stability to that nation, is not to be taken seriously. I believe that, before four years have passed, history will show that the Iraq invasion was one of the worst military blunders ever, and our country will have been reduced to Third World status because of it. The last eight years have been fraught with lessons for our people, but the one over-riding lesson was this: With the wrong people at the helm of government, entire populations can be lulled into the approval of ghastly deeds. There can be no greater example of this than the blind support of the American people for the Bush-Neocon-Israelite wars, and the horrors perpetrated by those criminals upon other human beings in the name of freedom and democracy. To this very day, the majority of Americans believe that the American army is in Iraq to defend their freedom, and will make a big to-do about yellow ribbons, military parades, and supporting our troops. It is pure Orwellian fantasy. Such appalling ignorance has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocents on both sides of these wars, maimed many thousands more, made refugees of over two million souls, and brought misery to countless others. And still they cannot understand why America is so hated by the Muslim world. What is wrong with those towelheads anyway? It must be their horrid Muslim religion, which teaches them to hate Christians and Jews. Propaganda, in the hands of evil people, is a terrible weaponfar more destructive than any hydrogen bomb, or plague virus. It can destroy our lives, our civilization, and our planet.

The other lesson that was drilled into the brain of every thinking citizen is this: because of our inherent tendency to trust government, and have not taken the time to monitor its activities, as good citizens should, we have allowed it to squander our wealth in the pursuit of dubious objectives, which have benefitted a small elite, but robbed the working class of its nest egg. Baby-boomers are going to be in for a shock in two years or so, when it begins to dawn on them that their retirement has been spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. They will come to understand that, by paying for yet another elite-sponsored conflict, based on lies and deceit, their government squandered any chance it ever had of fixing Social Security or Medicare. In fact, it will not surprise me at all to see those same protesters of the 1960's and 1970's back on the streets again, old and gray, but still able to throw rocks at police. It is not a scenario any of us wants to witness, but such scenarios are inevitable unless we opt out of the corrupt 2-party system this November and install a true patriot in the White House, who will put an end to our foreign meddling, and set us on a path of fiscal responsibility.Our governments have become tyrannical over the years because we allowed ourselves to become distracted from our primary purpose as citizens, which is to preserve those freedoms enshrined in the constitution for future generations. Instead, we have allowed the absurd to embrace us. As an example: people paint their faces up, scream violently at football games, cry when their team loses, and then go on and on for hours about how they have been let down. If they cared about their freedom as much as they do about football, our nation would neither be on its economic knees, nor at the mercy of a criminal elite.It is important for those of us who are beginning to wake up to the gravity of our situation to understand that what underwrites Americas steadily deteriorating condition is the appalling quality of its educational system. In essence, Americas destiny lies in the hands of a dumbed down citizenry that cannot pinpoint the location of either Iraq or Afghanistan on a world map. Much less do they understand why their armies are bogged down in those two countries, or why trillions of their tax dollars are being spent to keep those armies there. Since government took over the running of the American School System, the job of the schools has been, not necessarily to educate, but to indoctrinate. Their overall mission is to produce obedient little statists, who will embrace the existing order, and get with the program, not educated, self-sufficient folk who can think for themselves, and can challenge the system. And if the graduates cannot read, write, or converse intelligently, so much the better. Such functional illiterates will, sooner or later, wind up in Congress, and become willing pawns of the elite. With few exceptions, they will be socialistic in outlook, and firm believers in the power of the state. They will also be far removed from the traditional concepts of liberty, self-sufficiency, free enterprise, and individual rights. This type of re-engineering of society lays the foundation for the Orwellian state that our Controllers have been seeking for America. It will ensure their continued rule for a long time to come.

For a preview of whats coming to America, keep one eye on Britain. Britain is on a faster track to this Orwellian nightmare than we are, and the re-engineering of English society is moving along at a much brisker pace. Mindless surveillance and state control will mark this New Order, and these things will spawn increased regimentation (what citizens can and cannot do), the carrying of identity papers, rationing of all sorts, more propaganda and squelching of free speech, and the manufacture of external enemies to keep the masses focused. Muslim terrorists will have a major role to play in this staged production for some time to come.I see no evidence that the British people are putting up a resistance to this creeping curtailment of their liberties. British journalist, Jennie Russell, underscored the danger of creeping fascism and the onset of tyranny by stealth when she wrote:

In a democracy, personal liberties are rarely diminished overnight. Rather, they are lost gradually, by acts of well-meaning people, with good intentions, and public approval. But the subtle loss of freedom is never recognized until the crisis is over, and we look back in horror. And then it is too late.It is instructive to note that the most powerful of our Controllers (i.e. the owners of the Federal Reserve and Bank of England) reside in the City of London, also known as Londons Financial District. That would be the epicenter, or eye, of the Illuminati-banker generated wave that is giving the world an Orwellian make-over, and perhaps that is why Britain is being quickened the most. For a sneak peek at the inside of this invisible empire outside of our visible Matrix, pick up a book titled Empire of the City by E.C. Knuth. I believe that this book was written in 1946, but you will find that little has changed since.If we want the kind of country that America was intended to be, we must find a way to get government out of the education business, and give that responsibility back to individual communities. Washington must also learn to leave other people alone, something it has not done since the Spanish-American War. More importantly, for prosperity to return to our land, bringing with it a robust and dynamic middle class, we require peace above all else. Resist, with all your might, the elite attempt to convert our nation into a full-time war economy by involving us in never-ending wars, using one pretext or another to do so. Remember that what doomed the Soviet Union, and relegated it to the trash heap of history, was its bloated, resource-consuming military. It ate up so much of the nations productive capacity, under the false pretense that it was protecting the people, that there was precious little left for the people to enjoy. The Soviet system was based on corruption, lies, incessant propaganda, hard labor for the common man, and a pampered elite. It literally drove the people to drink. Which is exactly where we are headed, folks.I should like to see this essay in the hands of every American who cares for this country, because time is perilously short, and because I have spent a goodly amount of time preparing it for others to read. If you believe that this essay has merit, and it strikes a chord within you, I will ask that you please pass it on. Feel free to e-mail me and let me know what you think, and if you wish to add anything to what I have already presented.

Gulag Afghanistan to be Expanded

smffy — Sat, 17 May 2008 07:52:16 EDT

As more prisoners are kept in Pakastan and Iraq, the Bush administration has decided to quit shipping acused terrorists to Guantanimo Bay and keep them in the Middle East in a facility about three times as large as Gitmo.

In the current containment center, prisoners are kept in wire cages with barbed razor wire. The new facillities will offer recreation, religious discussions, and vocational training. They will also have their own recreation facilities. Some democrats have praised the military effort to make conditions more human. It is an improvement.

However, prisoners are still held for years (some have been there for five years) without being charged. They have no access to lawyers to protest their imprisonment and will have very limited access to family.

The administration plan to expand the facilities significantly is a result of an increase of terrorism and the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan. One wonders if keeping them away from the watchful eye of Americans will silence the furror over denial of due process. The problems created by our invation in the Middle East continue to grow and will be a dismal inheritance for years to come if there is lack of a better solution.

Obama alone has the moral leadership to sort through this messy problem and effect progress toward a standard of ethical solutions to what has become an enormous problem costing millions of dollars and the potential for further abuse as we have seen in Guantanemo.

It is serious problems like this we need his leadership for. Sen. John McCain cannot be trusted as steward over this new program. He has not, to my knowledge, agreed to the planned closing of Gitmo. His ill concieved humor "Bomb, bomb, bomb - Bomb, bomb Iran) has already sparked protest from the Iranians and shows a lack of sensitivity to the very sensitve nature of Middle East relations. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/world/asia/17detain.html?th&emc=th