We are living in an ever-changing world which continues to be as fascinating as ever. This is the forum for me to report, to comment and to reflect. Thank you for visiting my forum and your support of this lifelong project.
The reports from Somalia note that a large Saudi Tanker with 100 Million Dollars in Oil destined for the U.S. has been hijacked. As I continue to see the reports, the first thing that came to my mind was all that went on in the 1700's and 1800's. I thought about the Barbary Pirates that prompted the first deployment by the United States off the coast of Africa. One would think that somehow this has gone away. Fat chance!!!
The French have resorted to do something about it. I am glad to see that:
This is very much part of the struggle against terrorism. I continue to be amazed as to where the pirates are getting the arms to do this. Military escorts is just a bandaid. Maybe if the Union of Islamic Courts actually takes over Somalia and whips these folks into shape will such actions stop. But, then, fundementalism will be the order of the day which presents a whole host of other problems and challenges. What does the future hold? There is no clear answer.
I wrote earlier about the useless Karzai offering to meet w/Mullah Omar. I actually tracked down and listened to his entire comment. To paraphase the fool, he said that if the foreign powers did not like his proposal, they can remove him. He just admitted that he is just a simple stooge and has no moral basis to occupy the position. Because of this, I hope the Foreign Powers who have kept him as a nominal figurehead will in fact remove the idiot. All of us have committed our treasure and our blood for Afghanistan. So far, nothing has happened. It broke my heart when walking around the local memorial to the fallen erected at Mission Viejo City Hall in Mission Viejo, California. The men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice were from all walks of life. They were fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daugthers who were forever lost to all us. Yet, we have to continue to prop up a useless fool who readily admits that he has lost all crediblity. I do take comfort in Barack Obama having noted that there are problems with the people in charge in Afghanistan. This really proved to me why the Taliban has gained as it has. It is not because NATO has not tried. It is because NATO can't do it alone.
January 20th cannot arrive fast enough so that we can hopefully see some movement. TIme is of the essence. Barack Obama seems to realize that.
Karzai wants to see Mullah Omar!! My first reaction when I see the dispatches was, so what???? The man has no crediblity and no mandate. Mullah Omar cotrols 80% of Afghanistan. Why would Mullah Omar want to talk to Karzai? karzai is a useless, corrupt fool who is a stooge. The Taliban are not a solution, either. But, the Afghan Government exists in name only. The Taliban, to me, need to be also have a battle for the hearts and minds. If they truly want to be an alterative, they have to work on building schools, creating a stable environment, elevate the rights of women and not go around destroying schools. They are not a viable alternative. But, what is there now is not working either. All that is happening is that innocent civilians and poor soldiers are dying to no avail. I would be quite interested to see what the reaction of the Taliban is.
I have been fascinated by Louis Farakhan. The Nation of Islam Leader sure has had his share of controversy over the years. I briefly commented on his sermon to his congregation this past Sunday. I found him to be reasoned and reminding his congregation of the need to make sure that African Americans do their part to overcome. He was not angry. He also was not angry when he talked to Ritz Khan. Maybe his bout with cancer changed him. Maybe, the election of Barack Obama changed him. Maybe he wants to leave a legacy that overcomes all the misconceptions he has had. Here is the interview (courtesy of Al Jazeera):
I can't help but be worried. As I continue to write about our world, I want to remain hopeful. But, the bad news continues coming in. The Dow lost over 300 points on Friday. As America continues to be in the midst of a Presidential Campaign, the world seems to be falling apart. BBC is reporting on a very disturbing development in Colombia threatens to undermine all that seems to have been achieved in the so-called war on drugs. A number of Army colonels have been sacked because they apparently kidnapped homeless men and then killed them to secure body counts and in turn promotions. Colombia was the same country, of course, that pulled off the release of Ingrid Betancourt and others using the emblems of the International commitee for the Red Cross. I view it as a bothersome development because it will undermine the very perilous nature of achievements made in the war on drugs that the world seems to be losing. Look at what is going on in Mexico. I regard Uribe as the ultimate teflon, though. I think he would muddle through as he has through other crisis.
The more worrisome development, though, is the killing of foreigners in the center of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Afghanistan is on fire. Karzai is useless and is a lost case. I am heartened by Joe Klein's comments on Time.com about Barack Obama's views. According to Klein, Barack Obama (and General Petreaus) are in favor of negotiations with the Taliban. I would be interested in any alternative anyone could offer. Right now, I see none.
There is of course the continued bloodbath in equity markets. In California, the public employee retirement system (CalPers) has lost over 40 billion dollars. Overall, 16.3 Trillion Dollars has been lost in equity markets. Although Governor Palin's 150,000 wardrobe, 22,000/Month charge for a makeup artist and the "fight" among the so-called McCain factions is news in some circles, this kind of news really does not help to find jobs and put food on people's tables.
As the week-end begins in the United States. I wanted to find "something" to end this pessimistic note on. All I can say to Mr. Colbert is, "....Right on!!!!".
I had the good fortune to attend a ceremony at my local City Council meeting earlier tonight. It was to celebrate scouting. The innvocation was conducted by a local minister who began with the Prayer of St. Francis. It truly moved me. The lessons of the prayer is so true as the world is undergoing a profound sense of change:
General Powell went on the record earlier on U.S. National Television. He has endorsed Barack Obama for President. I found his near repudiation of the right-wing shift of the Republican Party especially pointed. Senator McCain's judgement was the key question, as I saw it. As I listened to General Powell, what especially drove me was how General Powell addressed the question on Muslims on in America:
Ahmadinejad, the Iranian Clerk-President, spoke in New York at the UN General Assembly. The man, to me, has no shame. I caught glimpses and pieces of the speech, because even looking at him drives me nuts.
Ahmadinejad has presided over an economic collapse in Iran. The people are suffering. He wants to be President, again. If a free and fair vote was held, he would be defeated without a doubt. Ahmadinejad (or stupidnejad) is a joke, a clown and an idiot. When will the world recognize it
I just got word through the Commitee to Protect Bloggers that Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been sent to jail for two years under Malaysia's Internal Security Act. For a country that is supposedly a bastion of Democracy, I don't understand why such voices are silenced. The world ought to put pressure on Abdullah Badawi to explain what he is afraid of. If Anwar Ibrahim is able to in fact topple Abdullah Badawi, I wonder if he will get any better.
There is a story on CNN's political ticker about Sarah Palin and Hamid Karzai meeting during the UN General Assembly meeting this coming week. I guess the idea is to "bolster" Governor Palin's foreign policy credentials. When I read this, I laughed.
If the intent of the McCain campaign is to pump up Sarah Palin's Foreign Policy Credentials, they ought to have picked someone else. Karzai is the problem. He has no control over his country. He can't even control Kabul. He can't even control his own family. The Taliban have sway over 80% of the country. She can look "Presidential" all she wants. At least I would have hoped that the McCain Campaign would have the sense to choose someone else
Pakistan's Capital saw an attack in the heart of the City. Suicide Bombers blew up the Marriott. This was near the center of the City and near the Parliament Building as Asif Ali Zardari was speaking to Parliament. If this is not a wakeup call to underscore how tough a situation Pakistan is in, I don't know what is. As I write this, the fire is still burning. The building may collapse. It is a horrific scene. The human toll continues to rise.
According to the reports, this is probably one of the most secure areas in Pakistan. What is the joke is that Pakistani Firefighters are having to withdraw to go back and refuel with water. On top of this disaster, the ability to deal with it is even worst. The world must be concerned. There are enough failed states without having to add a nuclear-armed one to it
The polls are starting to show that Governor Palin's star is fading. The Gallup Daily Poll taken on September 19 shows a 5 point lead by Senator Obama. He has continued to gain as the U.S. and the World has undergone an economic implosion that has been unprecedented and is probably indeed the biggest challenge since the Great Depression. The markets were up when Hank Paulson annouced the basics of the plan taking on all "bad debt" off the balance sheets. The markets liked it and they rallied worldwide.
But, the politics of the day still played itself out. There was a story in the September 18, 2008 edition of the Los Angeles Times. The report was on Governor Palin saying "yes to a road to nowhere". She changed her mind on the bridge to no where that has been the central tenant of her stump speeches. But, as folks have continued to investigate her record, the truth is starting to come out. So, the fiction that somehow she is "clean" is starting to unravel. Of course, the McCain-Palin campaign's standard line has been that it is the "elite media" that has been digging things under the guise of democratic operatives. Governor Palin pushed this "fiction" when she noted that organizers of an anti-Iran rally in New York pulled an invite from her under pressure from Democratic Operatives. Interestingly enough, Fox News also reported that Governor Palin will be at a Monday Reception hosted by President Bush. My assumption is that all candidates will be there to be "introduced" to other world leaders as well
Tariq Ali's new book "Duel" on Pakistan is interesting reading. I agree with him in that no one truly understands Pakistan today. No one seems to want to understand. That's why I wrote about the advise he had for Barack Obama. I am confident that the team advising Senator Obama is quite aware of this. Incursions into Pakistan, though, will not solve the problem. It will make matters worst.
There is nothing wrong with listening to voices of reason. We must understand the country, reach out to the civil institutions and overcome the mistrust. The question is whether we have the will or not. Pakistan's challenges will not go away overnight--whether we have a "Prince Regent" now as the so-called President
Every day seems to be more exciting than the next. Earlier today, the U.S Embassy in Yemen was attacked. Al Jazeera right now is reporting that 16 people have died. At least, visa applicants had not lined up yet. Otherwise the the death toll would have been higher. On the business side, AIG was thrown a lifeline by the Federal Reserve. AIG was given a $ 85 BIllion Loan in exchange for a 79.9% stake in the business. This lifeline will allow AIG to continue to operate. There is also a claim by the Nigerian Delta Rebels of a oil pipeline being blown up in Nigeria.
The embassy attack is bothersome on several fronts. It shows that the fatalists within the Islamist movement seem to be as vibrant as ever. Yemen, of course, is not the safest country in the world. It has been a hotbead of insurrection for a very long time. The Yemeni Government has a lot of work to do. U.S. Embassies are fortified institutions. It will be quite tough to penetrate the compound itself. But, the brazen attack takes quite bit of planning which is worrisome
General Petraus is now the new commander of US Central Command. There is no doubt that he has had the vision and the leadership to make a difference. The General that Senator McCain called one of America's greatest General has said that he will never declare victory in Iraq. This is directly contradictory to all the rhetoric and positioning coming out of the Adminstration. There is of course, Afghanistan. Afghanistan is now a concern. Now, with the war being spread to Pakistan, it shows no signs of slowing down. The problem is the useless Karzai. Afghanistan has also never been "conquered". The British could not do it during the hayday of Empire. The Russians could not do it. Now, NATO is trying to defy history. Hopefully, General Petraus knows something the rest of us don't. At least, I commend him for being a lot more realistic that his Commander in Chief, President Bush.
Today is a solemn day. It was seven years since that terrible day when a bunch of creatures flew two planes into the twin towers and changed the world forever. This is a day where the world came together as one. As I remember that day, the shivers it sent through my spine continues unabatted.
I am right now watching Al Jazeera live as the inauguration of Asif Ali Zardari is taking place. His children are there, as well as other Pakistani lumanries. Now, as Zardari does begin his latest challenge, he has a chance to overcome. Where will Pakistan go from here? What will Zardari do?
I have been quite sceptical of him and the entire political process. Pakistan is a country wracked by insurgency, economic uncertainty and long-term challenge to its unity. There is of course the war in Afghanistan. Kamal Haidar of Al Jazeera is right when he says that Zardari has an historic opportunity
The story on Andrew McCain's resignation and subject failure of the bank he was a Director in is intriguing. Supposedly, it was first reported in Wall Street Journal's Online Edition (a Fox-owned newspaper). The younger McCain was on the board of a Arizona Bank that was bought out by Silverstreak. Now, why he all of a sudden resigned for personal reasons and the Feds subsequently seized it is interesting. I am sure there is nothing there. But, he is the CFO of his step-mom's company. He was a member of the audit committee. Is it a coincidence? I am not sure.
The Seven-Year Anniversary of 9/11 is before us. It is gratifying to see that the two leading U.S. Presidential Contenders will unite at the site of that terrible tragedy to remember. It changed lives and the world forever.
Al Qaeda, though, has been at it again. The terrorist Al Zahwari has headlined a video blasting Iran. Your text goes here It also dismissed Hezbollah's war against Israel. This is further proof that Al Qaeda 's supposed ties to Iran (something pushed by John McCain and his buddy Joe Lieberman) is pure fiction. The same peddlers of false history seem to forget that Iran almost went to war with the Taliban and Afghanistan because there is a fundemental disconnect and profound disagreement over the very nature of Islam that the Taliban and Al Qaeda espouse to
I wanted to tell the world that the world may have to put up with Mr. Ahmadinejad for four more years. Ahmadinejad has unqualified backing from the all-powerful Supreme Leader, Ali Khameini. Recently, one of the top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (the Pasdaran) which is the real Army in Iran, said that it is not adviseable for the government to change. I had written about others who may vie for the Presidency of Iran including Mohammad Khatami, the former President & Mehdi Kharoubi, the former Parliamentary Speaker and curent leading figure in the so-called opposition in Iran. The election is slated for June 19, 2009. Understanding Iran is critical and we must not lose sight of the leading players.
On a side note, there is still discussions about a potential Israeli strike on Iran. I find it impossible because Israel is in a political limbo due to the pending election of the new Kadima leader and a potential new general election. In addition, the facilities are spread throughout the country and it cannot be easily penetrated. It will not be as easy as one may think
Mubarak, the dictator of Egypt, has been in power for almost 30 years. He calls himself President. I don't understand why he even bothers. The vast majority of Egyptians suffer and suffer daily. I was heartbroken when I saw the scenes from Egypt:
Mike Pouraryan
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