Mike Pouraryan
OV Week-End (7/11/2010): OV's Third Year, FIFA, Af-Pak & Other Thoughts
:
..and now!?!?!?
As the Third Year of "Outsiders" unfolds, I continue to remain hopeful. I continue to believe that we have to embrace change in its' every instance. I believe in true consesus building ideas so that we can all emerge stronger and more vibrant. There needs to be a sense of history and realization of what is at hand.
Just like many others, I was following the World Cup with great interest. As I write this, Spain has won the FIFA World Cup 2010. They were the underdogs and have confounded all skeptics--including myself who routed for the Dutch that the Spaniards defeated. I also congratulate South Africa for what it was able to achieve despite all that was stacked against it. I was glad to see Nelson Mandela sharing in the greatest moment during the final match. The question is how South Africa will be able to continue to transform itself as a result of this experience. The rift between the rich and the poor, Crime and a sense of hopelessness will continue to be the challenges faced by the South African Government.
As I was enjoying the partying in South Africa, my thought turned to the World. Life continues on. Afghanistan has a new Commander, but without a radical shift in policy. The past few days has seen more soldiers die as General Casey, the Former Iraq War Commander and current Army Chief of Staff, told the Aspen Ideas Conference of a minimum 10-year committment of war by the United States. What is clear is that this idea of a withdrawal is frankly a fiction to score political points. In the meantime, people continue to die while a very tiny minority continues to become ever more richer. What I find sickening is how the useless Karzai is held in such high esteem.
Afghanistan's problems are truly bothersome to me. I have to wonder when will the power brokers wake up to how bad things are? The problem is that there seems to be no one else to replace him. Also, what's the difference between the Good Taliban and the bad Taliban? One also has to truly ask what has been happening to the Civilian Side? How many schools have been built? How many hospitals have been built? As for the Afghan Army and Police, do we truly know how many of these guys can actually be counted on? I wonder.
Moving on to Pakistan, the war is continuing on in the tribal areas. I was horrified when I saw the reports of over 100 people being killed at a recent suicide bombing. The Pakistan Army took the flight to the Taliban and yet somehow elements within Pakistan support the Laskhar-e-Taybai and the Haqqani Network. Pakistan has been the creator and chief backer of the Taliban, yet some of the very Taliban did turn against Pakistan. While Pakistan continues the war, the Pakistani Main Street continues to suffer ever more. There is hardly an education system. The Economy is close to collapse. The Political Class continues to be ever more in the pocket of the United States while the Country continues to somehow be held together through sheer repression.
Moving on to the Americas, there is Haiti. I warned about Haiti falling off the World's radar screen--and they have. One has to really dig to see what's going on in Haiti now. Haiti is now relegated to the CNN Television newsticker. Over the past 24 hours, I have seen reports of Child Slavery and rape being on the rise. Haiti is basically a country in name only. I am quite pleased to see that the Bush Haiti Relief Fund is still operating and hope that it continues on. Here is the link: Really Long Link
There is of course the continued debate over Climate Change. The Eastern Part of the United States has been burning. Things got so bad in Iran that the Government ordered all Government offices closed for two days!!! This is as California has seen some rather peculiar weather--inclunding Rain in July!!! I regard it as a welcome development especially after two years of horrendous fires. Just the past couple of weeks has to give even the most sceptical of sceptics a moment of pause.
The week ahead will be quite busy. President Obama has been hitting the campaign trial, the Gulf of Mexico continues to die before our eyes, States continues to deal with profound budget challenges, California continues to operate without a budget and the Republicans are continuing their Jihad against big government. What is clear is that Republican are succeeding in their messaging so far. People are worried about jobs and the scenes of people on street corners holding up signs seems to be ever more commonplace.
There is one thing that is for sure: The show goes on ......
Just like many others, I was following the World Cup with great interest. As I write this, Spain has won the FIFA World Cup 2010. They were the underdogs and have confounded all skeptics--including myself who routed for the Dutch that the Spaniards defeated. I also congratulate South Africa for what it was able to achieve despite all that was stacked against it. I was glad to see Nelson Mandela sharing in the greatest moment during the final match. The question is how South Africa will be able to continue to transform itself as a result of this experience. The rift between the rich and the poor, Crime and a sense of hopelessness will continue to be the challenges faced by the South African Government.
As I was enjoying the partying in South Africa, my thought turned to the World. Life continues on. Afghanistan has a new Commander, but without a radical shift in policy. The past few days has seen more soldiers die as General Casey, the Former Iraq War Commander and current Army Chief of Staff, told the Aspen Ideas Conference of a minimum 10-year committment of war by the United States. What is clear is that this idea of a withdrawal is frankly a fiction to score political points. In the meantime, people continue to die while a very tiny minority continues to become ever more richer. What I find sickening is how the useless Karzai is held in such high esteem.
Afghanistan's problems are truly bothersome to me. I have to wonder when will the power brokers wake up to how bad things are? The problem is that there seems to be no one else to replace him. Also, what's the difference between the Good Taliban and the bad Taliban? One also has to truly ask what has been happening to the Civilian Side? How many schools have been built? How many hospitals have been built? As for the Afghan Army and Police, do we truly know how many of these guys can actually be counted on? I wonder.
Moving on to Pakistan, the war is continuing on in the tribal areas. I was horrified when I saw the reports of over 100 people being killed at a recent suicide bombing. The Pakistan Army took the flight to the Taliban and yet somehow elements within Pakistan support the Laskhar-e-Taybai and the Haqqani Network. Pakistan has been the creator and chief backer of the Taliban, yet some of the very Taliban did turn against Pakistan. While Pakistan continues the war, the Pakistani Main Street continues to suffer ever more. There is hardly an education system. The Economy is close to collapse. The Political Class continues to be ever more in the pocket of the United States while the Country continues to somehow be held together through sheer repression.
Moving on to the Americas, there is Haiti. I warned about Haiti falling off the World's radar screen--and they have. One has to really dig to see what's going on in Haiti now. Haiti is now relegated to the CNN Television newsticker. Over the past 24 hours, I have seen reports of Child Slavery and rape being on the rise. Haiti is basically a country in name only. I am quite pleased to see that the Bush Haiti Relief Fund is still operating and hope that it continues on. Here is the link: Really Long Link
There is of course the continued debate over Climate Change. The Eastern Part of the United States has been burning. Things got so bad in Iran that the Government ordered all Government offices closed for two days!!! This is as California has seen some rather peculiar weather--inclunding Rain in July!!! I regard it as a welcome development especially after two years of horrendous fires. Just the past couple of weeks has to give even the most sceptical of sceptics a moment of pause.
The week ahead will be quite busy. President Obama has been hitting the campaign trial, the Gulf of Mexico continues to die before our eyes, States continues to deal with profound budget challenges, California continues to operate without a budget and the Republicans are continuing their Jihad against big government. What is clear is that Republican are succeeding in their messaging so far. People are worried about jobs and the scenes of people on street corners holding up signs seems to be ever more commonplace.
There is one thing that is for sure: The show goes on ......
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