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OV Newsflash (11/25/2009): As Zero Hour Is Upon Us in Afghanistan..

November 25th 2009 07:17
: Wow!!!!


I have been listening to an explosive interview with Jeremy Schaill. Although some may question the source, the fact remains that the war is being privatized. The fact that mercenaries are being hired to execute the war is absolutely scary. It is indeed an eye opener and should give all a reason for pause.



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OV Week-End Notes (10/31/2009): What a Busy Day!!!

November 1st 2009 05:49
: Never a Dull Moment!!!!


Saturday was quite a day!!! The useless Karzai refused to accomodate Dr. Abdullah, his main challenger as the country is gearing up for a second round. There have been stories throughout the day that Dr. Abdullah will withdraw from the second round. I even saw a New York Times report that Dr. Abdullah will in fact withdraw.


What I found disappointing was Secretary Clinton's reaction when asked about the potential withdrawal of Dr. Abdullah. She noted that President Karzai's acceptance of the second round signifed legitimacy already, not withstanding whether Dr. Abdullah will stand or not. The problem is that Karzai has no crediblity at all. If he was running for election in the United States, he would be crucified. Yet, the Adminstration has decided to stand by this man while the country is being ravaged by an increasingly vibrant and hostile insurgency. What the Adminstration should have said to America's man was that he should not be afraid to do the right thing. Karzai's man was in charge while the fraud happened. Does anyone blame Dr. Abdullah for not trusting this guy? It is like putting the fox in charge of the chicken. The Fox will see to it that the chicken are eaten alive. Yet, Karzai does not want to accomodate the changes and the Adminstration is going to let it ride. Unfortunately, it is the wrong move at the wrong time as America is at a crossroads--as the Economist's KAL so eloquently said two weeks ago.

The Secretary was also in the Middle East trying to revive the peace process. The Adminstration, it appears, is backing off the pressure it has put the Israelis on to stop settlement activity. The Israelis are continuing on. Now, the Secretary is trying to get the Palestinians to come to the negotiating table. The Secretary's view is that the Israelis have made unprecendented moves. I respectfully disagree with the position of the Israelis, especially when they are continuing their settlement activities and will end up creating Bantustan-Like enclaves while continuing to encircle Gaza--the world's biggest prison. The Israelis, of course, have a different point of view on this. The Israelis have already taken Jersuleam off the table. So, with all due respect to the Secretary, I am trying to figure out what this "unprecedented" committment by the Israeli side is? As it stands, I regard it as a dead-end unless something drastic changes.

Now, back in the United States, it is election time again!!! Although I am a bit election-weary, the races in New Jersey and Virginia are interseting. But, the one that I have found especially hillarious is the race in upstate New York. The "Official" Republican Candidate withdrew due to the fact that the conservative party's candidate's full court press had just gotten too much. Sarah Palin, Fred Thompson and other "conservative" luminaries have come out behind the Conservative Party candidate. Newt Gingrich was right when he noted that at 20%, you have a great movement. But, to govern, you have to have a 50 1 margin. The conservatives seem not to listen to the old rebel himself--who probably wants to run for President.

The world will know in a few hours the fateful decision by Dr Abdullah. The question will be then, what now?

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The President is On his Way to the Middle East....

June 3rd 2009 03:56
: The Battle for the Hearts and Minds is in Full Swing
The battle for the hearts and minds of the Muslim World is something that has to be done. Part of America's moral authority is its' belief in its' ideals and being the hope and beacon for the world. Barack Obama, I believe, is trying to make sure the world understands that. This was lacking in a big way during the Bush Years.

I have been frankly disappointed in some of the debates I have seen about those who question whether Obama is a Muslim. As Colin Powell so eloquently put it, so what is he a Muslim. Barack Obama reminded the world during a BBC interview that more Muslims live in America than in many Muslim Countries. Those who seem to dismiss Islam seem to forget that.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the World. Islam, at its' heart, is a religion of peace and tranquility. All religions have had their dark histories. This includes the Mormons. Mitt Romney had to contend with during the 2008 campaign. I have the good fortune to count Mormons, Catholics, Protestants and Muslims as my friends. The essential idea of Religion is brotherhood and a belief in the fundemental right of humans. We have to remember the power of our ideals as a nation.

As I was assessing the "lay of the land" on the speech, I found this analysis to be quite insightful on Fox News::



Elliot Abrams was wrong in dismissing the venue for the speech. Cairo is the leading city for Modern Islamic Thinking. It is the spiritual heart of Sunni Islam. Over 80% of Muslims are Sunni. Within Islam, there is no distrinction between Arabs and Non Arabs. It is mind-boggling that Elliot Abrams was responsible for the Middle East within the National Security Council during the Bush Years and has no clue about the Muslim World. But, still, I think this interaction provided a perspective on both sides of the poiltical spectrum regarding the speech.

We're in a batte for the hearts and minds. I eagerly await the President's Speech and the aftermath. There is never a dull moment in our world--that's for sure!!!
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The Storm Around Nancy Pelosi

May 16th 2009 01:14
: So What????
I have been assessing what has been going around Nancy Pelosi since her news conference yesterday. What is sad about this argument is how much of a diversion this has all become as we are faced with more of the same in Afghanistan.

I saw an archive of the news conference that led to so much over the last day or so. She was clearly unprepared and was not on top of her game. For such a savvy political player, blaming the CIA was also wrong. She played right into the hand of the punditry. Joe Scarbarough was brutal this morning on Morning Joe. She made herself into a laughing stock


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The Laurel and Hardy of South Asia Speak!!!

May 10th 2009 22:20
: Should we believe them?
Zardari and Karzai, the Laurel and Hardy of South Asia, have spoken on the predicament faced by their countries. Zardari was quite forceful and eloquent in laying out the stark choices. He is asking for more help:


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Obama & the AfPak Dynamic Duo

May 7th 2009 03:38
: How low can we go?
The Image
What a Beautiful Scene

The useless Karzai and the playboy Zardari have seen President Obama. I am sure that the President read the riot act to both of them. When I saw the President's statement, everyone was happy and gong-ho. I am still trying to understand why the United States supports such men who have been nothing but a disaster for their countries


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The Continued Happy Talk About Iraq & Afghanistan

May 1st 2009 09:51
: And the Truth???????????!!!!!!??????
I caught the program, Empire, that Al Jazeera's Marwan Bishara hosts talking about U.S. Foreign Policy and the future. The analysis done is chilling. The session he hosted had Seymour Hersch, Lakhmar Brahimi and Tariq Ali. Tariq Ali and Seymour Hersch are considered "lefties" by the Conservative Community. But, sometimes lefites have words of wisdom that should be listened to.

In Iraq, there is some consesus that there is reasonable security. Hannity, in his radio interview on Thursday with Governor Rendell of Pennsylvania, said that the United States won the Iraq war. My reaction was, really? How? The fact is that Suicide bombers are back in fashion as America begins to withdraw. If the United States did in fact win, then why do we still have 150,000 troops in that country? Why are people dying


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Continued Concerns About Sharia in SWAT

April 16th 2009 22:16
: What is Next?
There was a report attributed to a cleric named Sufi Mohammad, who is apparently the Cheif Taliban Cleric in SWAT. In the comments he made, he noted that any determinations that is hereby made by Sharia Courts in SWAT and then upheld by a proposed Darul qaza (highest Court) cannot be challenged in Civilian Pakistani Courts.

As I have contemplated the implications of this statement, I am ever more convinced that the decision Zardari made to accept Sharia Law in SWAT is a prelude to a nationwide implementation of SHARIA throughout Pakistan. This will mean that the secular institutions in Pakistan will be severely undermined. I wonder if Zardari and the Pakistan Political Elite truly thought this through when they decided to go down this path. It seems as if we are continuing on the road to no where in Pakistan. It is disturbing because there seems to be no viable solution in sight


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The Implementation of Sharia in SWAT

April 15th 2009 16:03
: What is next?
The Pakistani President has signed off the deal with the Taliban implementing Sharia Law in the SWAT. What is significant is that the SWAT is two hours away from the Capital Islamabad. This deal is supposed to guarantee peace in SWAT. I doubt it. I especially doubt it in light of the total lack of crediblity that Zardari has throughout Pakistan. The only support he seems to have is with the United States.

As Sharia is being implemented in the SWAT, I see disturbing signs of trouble in Punjab, Pakistan's Industrial Heartland. Poverty and the desparation it breeds is something that presents the perfect storm for radicalism. The kid on trial in India for the Mumbai attacks right now is an extreme example of this. I wonder whether more money is going to solve the problem. Zardari lobbied John Kerry when he met with him earlier


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An Insightful View of Afghanistan

April 9th 2009 16:25
: Why won't anyone listen?
Afghanistan has emerged as a central front because of all that has been going on. The new policy by the Obama Adminstration, in my view, will threaten to take the United States down the same misguided and lethal path that has led to eight years of failure. As I have written throughout the last number of months, the Taliban are winning.

One of the msot insightful analysis I have seen so far is this interview done by Paul Jay


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An Alternative View of Obama's Plan For Afghanistan

April 1st 2009 07:07
: Washington Ought To Listen....
I have continued to express reservations about Afghanistan and have profoundly concerned about the way ahead. I think Pepe Escobar's Report is as insightful as it gets:
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Khameini Speaks.....

March 22nd 2009 05:15
: And????
Khameini
Khameini: The Decider


Iran's Supreme Leader responded to President Obama's overture. Iran's Supreme Leader is the ultimate decider of all state matters in Iran. The Supreme Leader went to Mashad in Eastern Iran on the first day of the Iranian New Year to talk about this and other matters


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Continued Concerns About Pakistan

March 19th 2009 18:14
: What is the end game?
Pakistan is a country of 175 Million People. The United States has apparently considered expanding the Afghan War to go deep into Pakistan. Right now, Pakistan is on fire. I have continued to warn against the Afghan War, the plight of the ordinary Pakistanis and Afghans and the instability it represents.

Zardari the Crook has no crediblity whatsoever in Pakistan. Yet, it seems to me that the United States has thrown its' lot behind Zardari and the elites in Pakistan today. The U.S. seems to make the same mistake again and again. Pakistanis want what others want: to have the right to determine their own destiny, to have the right to a decent living and the future. I think the Chief Justice being restored is a cause for celebration. I had reservations about whether The Chief Justice would continue his efforts. I continue to do so


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Pashtunistan: A Sign of Things To Come

February 12th 2009 06:01
: Scary.....
The Financial Times has reported on some rather scary emerging trends in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I have written about Afghanistan. I have noted the challenges and the useless role the so-called President of Afghanistan has played. The nature of Governments in both Pakistan and Afghanistan has meant that the so-called Durand Line which separates the countries has seized to exist.

One of the many realities on the ground is the fact that both Pakistan and Afghanistan is on fire. It is clear that both governments only control their capital cities. What was especially distrubing to me was how the Taliban have penetrated all parts of Pakistan. The Governor of Sindh said that that the Karachi underworld is helping to finance the Taliban. How Richard Holbrooke can bring back these two failed states back from the brink will be a miracle. I was pleased to see that he was appointed because he pulled off a near-impossible in Bosnia. As such, I will give him the benefit of the doubt to see what he can do. He does not have much time left


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Witness to History: An Historical Inauguration

January 21st 2009 04:12
: ..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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Peshawar......A Sign of Things to Come....

December 7th 2008 17:52
: Worrisome....
I saw in horror as victims were being pulled from the bombing in Peshawar. To make matters worst, the supply depot for US and NATO Forces was attacked this morning:


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Governor Palin Saying Yes To Rod to No Where....and Other Tidbits on Her....

September 20th 2008 01:01
: What else is there?
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


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