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OV Week-End II (6/20/2010): The Middle East Over the Past 24 Hrs

: Never a Dull Moment!!!
The Past 24 hours has been quite exciting throughout the MIddle East. In Iran, the terrorist Rigi was executed. He was leading a Sunni Splinter group in Southern Iran who had used Pakistan's Baluchestan Region to launch raids into Iran and provide safe passage for drug runners who have used the nearly lawless Southern Iran for drugs coming through Afghanistan. There are some who may say that he was one of the brave ones who took on the regime in Iran because his group was behind the assassination of a number of Senior Revolutionary Guard Commanders . What his biggest crime was to perpetuate the regime because he played into the hands of the regime.
This is exactly the kind of fight that the current regime is vying for to rally the country. They have done it repeatedly throughout the last thirty years.
Iran and the World are continuing their cat and mouse game, too:


Moving on to Israel, it has been quite busy again. Although I welcome the annoucement of the easing of the Gaza blockade, the sea blockade will continue to remain in effect. I am certain that the Israeli Prime Minister wants a prize for doing what the World has been asking for the longest time. I am yet to figure out how it is that chocolate, shaving cream and textbooks are a security risk. But, I guess the folks running Israeli Government Policy are a lot smarter and see things the rest of us don't see. Not withstanding this "development", the fact still remains that Gaza will continue to remain the World's biggest prison. At least Egypt had the courage to open up the Rafah crossing indefinitely. As for the West Bank, supposedly there is freedom of movement. But this was debunked when Norm Chomsky was denied entry to Bethlehem to speak at Bir Zeit University. The Israeli Prime Minister talks a good talk about "two people/two states". Yet, the actions of the Israeli Government betrays this very vision.

Moving on to Iraq and Afghanistan, the wars rage on. They have termporarilyl dropped off the radar screen simply because the Gulf Tragedy continues to dominate--and rightly so. There was just some scant attention made to the Foreign Policy challenges the United States faces. But the challenges are real. The fight is real as this clip indicates and I reported on it earlier when commenting on the "Trillion Dollar Bet":

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


The Political Leaders continue to remind us that it will get worst before it gets better. The question is what is defined as better? What is victory? I have read the Obama National Security Strategy and view it as fundementally flawed because it continues to perpetuate a vision originally pushed by George W. Bush. The question is what will happen now.
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OV Week-End (1/2/2010): Never Dull...

: Always Exciting!!!

The New Year celebrations is over. It is back to reality. I personally dread it but I am still very hopeful beyond words despite all the challenges at hand.

As I saw this ITN clip on the celebrations in Dubai, I knew that things were going to be OK. Dubai is in trouble, but it seems as if it has not lost its' luster, yet. There is of course the continued state of Flux in Iran that I have written on here and I think that for the first time there may well be light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that the regime still has a lot of fight in it and will not give in. Unfortunately, people will die. I view Moussavi's statement as quite significant. He has drawn a line in the sand and reminded the gang currently in charge of Khomeini's admonition that, "...as you kill us, we will grow stronger...". I have also been listening to Hashemi Rafsanjani's interview with France24. He deftly avoided the question on the domestic political turmoil. This is as the Official State Organs and the so called principlaists within the regime continue their cold war campaign against him and his family. Rafsanjani figures prominently in another prominent list of those who have profited handsomely from the Islamic Republic. Rafsanjani is reportedly worth around a Billion Dollars. That's Billion with a B!!!!

In the same "honor role" there is one more name that I wrote about a while back: Motjaba Khameini. He is the son of the Supreme Leader who had supposed designs to succeed his father. This is to introduce him to the world:

The "Crown Prince"


There are many others. I wonder how they can sleep at night knowing how they have stolen the billions that they have stolen in the name of Islam and have been the culprits behind such action:

Why?!??!?


Beyond that, there is of course Yemen. The US and the UK are talking about helping Yemen and Somalia. I wonder if throwing money at the problem is going to solve the problem. The only thing that the first decade taught us was that the old way of doing business simply will not work. Whether policy makers will actually understand and embrace this remains to be seen.




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OV Week-End: Wow!!!

: Truly Never a Dull Moment!!!
It has been a very busy week-end. There is of course Burma and the fact that Jim Webb got to see the Pro-Democracy Leader and the Chief Thug who runs Burma today. There is the burning debate over healthcare that dominated the airwaves over the week-end on U.S Sunday Talk Show Circuit. There was of course Afghanistan and the upcoming election. And last, but no tleast, there is of course Iran.

Here was a sampling of the debate over healthcare


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As The First Day of The Obama Adminstration Begins....

: I am not surprised at the Republicans...
A Day in the Life....
The President Arrives For His First Day....A Busy One too!!!


The first day of the Obama Adminstration has begun. The President began his day by attending the National Prayer Service and got down to work. I saw him when he met with the White House and signed off on the new Ethics Rules. He has also been meeting with the Economics and National Security Teams. They have hit the ground running. Unfortunately, the Senate has not done the job by confirming the nominees. At least three key members are yet to be confirmed. A new Era has truly begun


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Witness to History: An Historical Inauguration

: ..and now the real work begins......
History.....
A New Dawn Has Arrived


Barack Hussein Obama is now the 44th President of the United States. Throughout my lifetime, I have had the privilege to read on the traditions and was finally able to be a true witness to this momentous transfer of power due to the power of technology. I have continued to marvel at how someone with so much power gives it up so willingly because the people are truly sovereign in America. This was quite moving when the President and the First Lady escorted Former Mr. and Mrs. Bush


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