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: 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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: Will It End? At What Price?
I am right now monitoring a live report from Pakistan. There has been a major blast in the City of Peshawar, in the heart of the tribal areas of Waziristan. This is happening as Secretary Clinton has arrived for talks in Islamabad. Buildings have collapsed and are being reported to be on fire.

The Taliban are making their presence known. The scenes are horrific. I just saw a bloodied child being carried out. Just as what the Taliban pulled off in Kabul, what these guys have pulled off is spectacular in its impact. The Government can increase security and it can close schools and universities. These so-called measures are failing. What else can the Government do? When people feel that they are not safe anymore, then all bets are off.
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The Terrorist Attack In Iran

May 29th 2009 05:22
: Why would anyone do this?
Why?


It was a sad day in Iran yesterday. There was an attack on a Mosque in the City of Zahedan in Southeastern Iran, near the border with Pakistan. 19 people died while attending Friday prayers to commemorate a major religious event . According to the dispatch I reviewed from the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the wounded included a 4 year old child


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Pakistan On Fire: A Brief Update

May 23rd 2009 18:20
: Is There Hope?
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: 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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: 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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: 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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: Another Insightful analysis Worth Listening You...
I consider Ahmad Rashid, along with Tariq Ali, as one of the most perceptive South Asia Analysts today. US policymakers should take the time to listen such men. This is an interview Ahmad Rashid did about the historical stance between the Afghans and the Pakistanis. This underscores how we have paid a heavy price for ignorance:

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: ..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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Mumbai: Observations on the Aftermath

December 3rd 2008 01:45
: Will anyone have some sense?
The aftermath of the fingerpointing and the cover-up is continuing. The Mumbai Police Chief is saying that he had no specific warnings. Pakistan continues to be under pressure. As I have commented before, they have to answer for LT and other fringe organizations operating on their soil. They were the instigators and it appears to consume them as well. The slick Zardari is trying to calm tensions. But, why are they not apprehending the Mumbai Underworld Don who is hanging out in Karachi?

On another note, I think someone has to straighten out the Kerala Chief Minister. His insult to one of the fallen officers families is something that should not be tolerated. The Communist Party of India (the Kerala Chief Minister's Party) issued an apology. But, the idiot is not backing down. His view was that the man's father was "mentally disturbed". I can't understand how a man in his position can possibly say such a thing. Guys like him give politicans a bad name all around the world. I hope his party will eventually sack him


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Tariq Ali On Pakistan & the United States

September 19th 2008 23:42
: We Must Not Sweep This under the Carpet....
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


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