Mutiny in Pakistan

By Padmini Arhant

The terror networks scattered around Pakistan have joined forces with Al-Qaida and Pakistani Talibans to challenge the fragile central power in Islamabad. October has been the bloodiest month with a spate of suicide bombings and explosions in different cities including the audacious attacks against the military headquarters heightened by a hostage crisis.

Major cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Islamabad have been the fair game for the militants seeking vengeance towards the Pakistani military operation against the domiciled Talibans in the South Waziristan, the lawless region controlled by the terror groups.

When the country’s military and the intelligence that is constitutionally limited to national defense expand their role in civilian affairs through military coups, aiding and abetting in the assassinations of Political candidates, orchestrating terrorist activities in foreign nations, the backlash is accordingly serious and consequential. Naturally, the monsters raised by the Pakistani ISI and the ‘esteemed’ military are now giving them the run for the money.

In a newly awakened moment, the Pakistani military is grappling to contain the pre-meditated and the impromptu domestic terrorisms originally nurtured by the institutions with the central government turning a blind eye to the flames that has evolved into an inferno at the present time.

The conspiracy base for a significant terror attacks suffered and averted around the world by most democracies are unequivocally linked to the Pakistani networks. In fact, the recent hostage situation at the Pakistani military compound reportedly (Source- Pakistani media) had three defense personnel full-fledged involvement in the hostile takeover.

Unfortunately, the innocent civilians endure the human and economic losses from the senseless violence regardless of the sources being either home-grown or external. The widespread terror activities across the nuclear nation are symbolic of the notorious organizations’ objective to undermine the government that is historically replaced by the military coups in Pakistan.

It’s rather intriguing that the Pakistani intelligence, noted as the reliable agency within the country’s political hierarchy, has sharply declined in the entrusted intelligence services to protect the nation and prevent any harm to the neighbors in Iran, Afghanistan, India or the farther away United States.

On the other hand, although the latest Pakistani aggressive military action in the Swat Valley against the local tribal forces representing the Pakistani Talibans claimed to be effective, the mass population has been displaced with a unique ‘refugee’ status in their homeland. The populace frustrations are justified with comments such as “when the American dollar trickles in, the Pakistani military stunt is displayed to charm the foreign donor.”

Any drastic measures viz. the drone attacks and continuous shelling pursued by the local and the foreign governments against the terror networks producing immense civilian casualties…alternatively, the chaos from the lack of humanitarian provisions is likely to facilitate a fertile ground for terror recruitments of the desolate victims.

Likewise, the Saudi Arabia financed ‘Madrassas,’ the schools attended by the children of the poorer segment have been highly controversial especially in Pakistan due to the dominance in the form of Deobandi, Wahhabi and Salafi Islamic elements.

Madrassas, – A generic Arabic/Urdu term for ‘schools’ in the Islamic nations around the world have maintained the reputation of a ‘regular’ school, teaching educational and vocational skills to the disadvantaged as well as the secular minorities in the society.

Nevertheless, the madrassas run by the extreme religious authorities mainly in Pakistan has become the bone of contention after September 11, 2001.

The reports indicate that since independence in 1947, the madrassas in Pakistan have risen from 200 to over an estimated 40,000, with the unofficial madrassas in the country anywhere between 10,000 and 13,000 comprising approximately 2.0 million students.

Further, in the 1980’s – the Pakistani government deployed militants in Kashmir and Afghanistan believed to have attended the madrassas inculcating fundamentalism in the curriculum. A sizeable proportion of students in these institutions were the neglected local and refugee population from the Soviet era Afghanistan and neighboring Baluchistan.

On a broader aspect, the madrassas appear to be serving the deserving population with the required basic education and religious/cultural appreciation. Appropriately, the Zardari-Gilani administration could establish uniformity in the madrassas resembling the national public/private educational system.

What is the reason behind Pakistan’s mutiny?

Two sources are predominantly responsible for the political instability in Pakistan. They are the Western intervention in Pakistan’s political system and the joint opposition to the Western intrusion by the Pakistani military and the intelligence alike. As a result, the real stakeholders, the people in the society are subject to systemic abuse of power in the inherently fractured political gamut.

The Western powers admire and search for the political candidates in awe with western ideology. Hence, they cherry pick those individuals as the preferred heads of the government in these regions, in spite of their nominees’ past failures, political scandals and most relevantly the paradoxical personal background revealing them as the Western proxies in the nation with an overwhelming majority in abject poverty, inadequate literacy and illiteracy.

Moreover, the Western selection criteria based on their candidates’ foreign affiliations viz. a U.S. or Western educated, failing that a longtime resident with Western work experience etc. for political successions in the diametrically different cultures is perceived by the locals as the dismissal or invalidation of their society.

On the flipside – the Pakistani military, the ISI and the local political factions in abhorrence to the Western choices constantly attempt to sabotage the ‘so-called’ democratic elections. If the Western appointed political candidates survive the electoral processes, then the listed oppositions ensure the limited life span of such governments not barring the restricted authority on foreign policy and nuclear site management.

The people in Pakistan clearly understand that the elections in their country are a mere charade with an inevitable political casualty resulting from the western backed candidates’ insincere declaration to reform the fundamentally corrupt political structure.

It’s important to highlight that the moral and ethical degradation are not necessarily exclusive to Kabul, Islamabad, Middle East, Africa…the contemporary world politics is plagued by corruption, cronyism and power clenching with an utter disregard for the people’s plight that is conspicuous in the policy decisions at the state, national and international level.

Politics is a game where the key players i.e. the people are used and abused for political gains. When it’s not convenient, they are considered to be a threat to the political status and financial security by some elected officials in their unconstitutional and unconscionable commitment to derail progress.

The United States health care fiasco serves as a good example in this context.

Pakistan’s current mayhem is self-inflicted precisely from the military and the intelligence reigning control over the U.S and other Western democracy backed puppet governments. When the national intelligence in cohort with the various terror networks are implicated for terror activities in foreign soil and the authorities ‘supposedly’ in power grant immunity to every imaginable terror group, criminal elements, terror masterminds, then the outcome is bound to backfire.

The matter worsened when the supreme court justices were fired by the former President Parvez Musharraf clarifying the above point that, the political figures do not hesitate to violate the constitution in order to remain in power. Under the same presidency, the world’s most wanted Osama Bin Laden was provided the medical treatment while the nuclear arsenal dealer A.Q.Khan, revered as the ‘Father of the Nuclear Pakistan,’ sheltered in a ‘Royal comfort’ to satisfy the minimal legality for a monumental criminal activity.

United States in return rewarded the Musharraf government with billions of dollars in aid and greeted the President as the strongest ‘ally’ in the newly invented ‘war on terror.’ When the ally, for most part chose to remain oblivious in the grand mission to capture the 9/11 terror chief or eradicate the terror movements around the country as they were not obligatory to account for the ten billion dollars and more in financial compensation by the American tax payers.

That raises the question against the U.S. intelligence and their ingenuity in the contentious issue of global terrorism when the American public was repeatedly alerted with the various terrifying color codes during the Bush-Cheney administration that stood by and let the dwarf develop into a giant. Meanwhile, the pleasantries and medal of honor bestowed upon each other in Washington for masquerading the facts as fiction.

Recently, the Congress approved 1.5 billion dollars each year over the next five years in financial aid to curb terrorism in Pakistan created a pandemonium in the Pakistani political circuit expressing the stipulations in the bill as an insult to Pakistani sovereignty.

Interestingly, the political forces’ objection was anchored on the meaningful requirement to alienate the military operation from the ‘democratically’ elected government role essentially strengthening the sovereignty and empowering the people in the nation governance.

The heated debates and the subsequent Pakistani dignitaries’ visit to Washington to discuss against the legitimate legislative conditions confirm the reality on the Pakistan military dominance in the government. Furthermore, the recipients’ demand to make the substantial donations with no strings attached has been a dangerous precedence in the terror related policy between the U.S and Pakistan.

Pakistan’s relations with the neighbors all around have been extremely volatile, tensions have escalated along the borders with Iran, and Afghanistan compared to the relatively calmer Kashmir front. Not surprisingly, the critics were swift in their finger pointing at the arch nemesis India and the benefactor United States, held responsible for Pakistan’s status quo when the people of both nations have been the victims of brutal terror attacks and continuous plotting against the respective national interests.

Is there hope for Pakistan to emerge from the present quagmire?

Absolutely. It’s only achievable through the active participation of the ‘moderates’ in the society that is prevalent in the economic activities…however, not visible in the political or social reform. Pakistan has tremendous intellectual talent and leadership skills at its disposal. The reason for its obscurity is the deprivation of equal opportunities to people across the diverse socio-economic spectrum, due to the western influence and military interference in the frail democratic system.

Pakistan’s salvage rests in the hands of the far sighted and reasonable minds seeking harmony and not acrimony with its neighbors and the international community. The peaceful convergence of the moderate thinkers and the youth population brimming with ideas can be an indomitable force in dealing with the humongous problems facing the nation and lead the country towards a credible democracy.

The leadership in Pakistan can ease the burden on the society by softening the rhetoric towards nations eternally viewed as ‘political rivals,’ particularly India, a strategy created by the vengeful ‘British Raj’ (British rule) as a token gift to the Indian sub-continent upon being ousted from the region.

Pakistan and India would not be independent if not for the iron will of the single entity, Mahatma Gandhi to free the region from the burgeoning colonial occupation and relentless effort to unite the sparring Hindu and Muslim factions that ultimately ended in the leader sacrificing his life for the cause.

Sadly, the terror attacks launched against civilians around the globe yielded fatalities among people of Islamic faith as well. India being the second largest Muslim nation in the world, the impact is even greater when one Muslim vows to destroy the life of another across the border.

After gaining independence on August 14, 1947, Is Pakistan really a free nation today?

A country mired with incessant violence and political turmoil needs to pause and reflect on the course of actions that has led to the regrettable carnage and devastation with no end in sight thus far.

Therefore, it’s poignant for the Pakistani society at the crossroads to disavow divisiveness and embrace solidarity within and around itself.

The only beneficiaries from Pakistan’s disintegration threatening the national and global security are the despots of the terror organizations and the profit oriented military industry complex.

Pakistan can rise and shine again with the solemn oath to pursue peace and resurrect the due progress it is entitled to in the twenty first century.

I convey my best wishes to the people of Pakistan and pray for their peaceful existence.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

New Afghan Strategy

By Padmini Arhant

In the past weeks, the additional troops request from the U.S. Commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal in the 10,000 to 80,000 range and then reportedly cut back to the median 40,000 troop level is attention worthy due to the flurry of comments, rhetoric and insinuations from the quarters responsible for the status quo.

The U.S. troops presence including the recently approved contingency expected to arrive in December 2009 stands at 68,000 along with the participation of 28 nations in the form of NATO alliance further boosting the military representation in one nation – Afghanistan, to deal with the combined insurgency from the Afghan Talibans and the Al-Qaida in the northern regions.

Interestingly, the argument is steered towards the strategy to win the war in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the relevant questions raised by the concerned citizens and the representatives in the Congress regarding the military role, operational term and the costs are evaded through partisan politics and the suppression of facts.

The U.S. led war against Afghanistan began in October 2001 under the Bush-Cheney administration. It has been more than eight years for the U.S. and NATO occupancy in that region with substantial troops surge up until now. Although, the initial military attack on the ground enhanced with the deployment of sophisticated artilleries and technological devices presumably yielded the desired outcome i.e. the temporary expulsion of Talibans from the regional shelters, it also produced massive casualties on all sides with the Afghan civilians enduring the sizeable proportion.

As a result, the opposition to the foreign troops occupation is widespread in Afghanistan and around the world particularly with the U.S./NATO aggressive pursuit of the militants in the absence of specificity such as the occupancy duration, clear objectives and success formulas inflicting considerable damages to the civilian existence rather than containing the pervasive crisis.

In fact, the high command’s inefficiency in the implementation of the traditional military policy to win at all costs subsequently contributed to the Taliban re-emergence facilitating easy recruitment of local and foreign militants as the formidable insurgents in the prolonged military intervention.

Like stated earlier in the blogpost titled “Afghan War, the Additional Troops Request and the Election Analysis,” dated September 29, 2009 published under International Politics on this website www.padminiarhant.com ,

The cost-benefit ratio in the invasion and occupation of both Afghanistan and Iraq neither accurately evaluated nor presented to the American public financing the two wars since 2001. Amidst intense propaganda and misinformation, the proponents of the indefinite military aggression continue to demand for the increase in troops supply against the will of the local population in Afghanistan and the United States, despite the strategic failures of the overwhelming military engagement.

Again, the scenario is similar to the various economic stimulus packages and the controversial bailouts in trillions of dollars passed since 2008 with a significant portion held in reserve, instead of the entire investments in the allocated areas to derive the comprehensive economic impact. It’s been followed by a strong recommendation for additional stimulus funds prior to achieving the targeted goals.

The interests payable on the bailout borrowings is greater than the interest or dividends earned from the bailout beneficiaries, the financial institutions. Further, the bailout recipients are yet to comply with the legislative stipulations in terms of stimulating the economy through liquidity flow, affordable financial charges specifically the credit card interest rates worsened to an abominable APR 29.99% in defiance of the stimulus requirement.

However, there is still a distinction between the vast troops deployment and an isolated stimulus investment of $787 billion approved earlier this year with the latter providing the gradual economic revival and salvation of the global economic collapse, in spite of the meager investment of the legislated amount.

The Pentagon has not considered the importance of checks and balances in the ethical and economic aspects in their haphazard missions in Iraq and Afghanistan not to mention the numerous U.S. military bases in various parts of the world.

Ironically, the myopic view of the ‘Nay’ Sayers in the contentious health care reform against the disproportionate defense budget attributing to the enlarged national deficit is fanning the fire to the cauldron.

The ‘so-called’ fiscal conservatives from both sides of the political aisles, appear to be comfortable with the unaccounted military spending yielding economic losses and human fatalities while remaining vehemently opposed to the costs and life saving health care legislation.

With respect to the commotion on the military expansion in Afghanistan, the U.S. defense should justify the urgency on the troops dispense of the great magnitude (current 68,000 + possible 40,000 to 80,000), considering the enormous U.S./NATO consolidated military existence and the negative ramifications overriding the opportunities to prevail in the ‘apparent’ war on terror.

The factions favoring the military industrial complex demand are uninhibited in their criticisms of the deliberations sought in the life and death matter and the self-proclamation as the savior of the young men and women in harm’s way when their proposal could precisely escalate the death toll.

In the backdrop of severe local oppositions, economic liabilities, irreplaceable loss of human lives, political instability awaiting reconciliation on Afghan governance, the unrealistic troop requisition from the highest military command confirms the protracted war on terror waged for militaristic purpose than the humanitarian cause.

Those who argue on the national security basis must realize that terrorism cannot be eliminated unless and until the fundamental issues such as freedom, basic human rights, economic and social development are addressed through viable and credible political establishments in the regions infiltrated by the terror networks and organizations.

Whenever there is a conspicuous political fragmentation, the society is vulnerable to the military coups like in Pakistan and Latin America or a chosen destination for the anti-progress radical elements viz. the Al-Qaida and the Taliban forces.

Therefore, it is imperative for the political contenders in Afghanistan to prioritize the national interest and security over their personal aspirations by forming a coalition government to enforce the desperately needed law and order in the state.

It’s extremely disappointing to witness the incumbent President Hamid Karzai’s unrepentant conduct in light of the recent fraudulent election mired with violence, fictitious ballots…ignored for the sake of retaining power that has essentially weakened Afghanistan and emboldened the Taliban insurgency threatening to disrupt the democratic electoral process once again.

The Afghan and the worldwide opinion of the Karzai administration in the past five years is conclusively one that has miserably failed to restore normalcy leave alone democracy that is perceived to be a tall order in the overtly corrupt bureaucracy.

Hence, it is appropriate for the President Hamid Karzai to step down gracefully and acknowledge the reality at home by allowing his opponent DR. Abdullah Abdullah to assume office as the 13th President of Afghanistan in the immediate future as the runoff election is unlikely to deliver any positive solutions.

If the religious belief among the two political contenders are intact then it is for them to know that “Man proposes and God disposes,” otherwise “Wahi Hoga Jo Manzoorén Khudah Hoga.”

Finally, the Afghan war without an exit strategy is a replica of the Iraq war experiencing the relentless insurgency through explosions and suicide bombings irrespective of the definitive U.S. timeline for troop withdrawal. The military should be preparing for the troop contraction and not a permanent occupation in Afghanistan as detailed in the cited reports on the blogpost mentioned above. If the intention is to occupy under the pretext of the war on terror, then the United States agenda is no different from the former Soviet rule forced out with the 120,000 troops on land.

Violence only begets violence and war is the classic example that the end does not justify the means.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Afghan Election Quagmire

By Padmini Arhant

As detailed in the blogpost titled

‘U.S. Dilemma on Afghanistan’ published on the website

www.padminiarhant.com, September 1, 2009 – in the ‘International Politics’ category,

The flawed Afghan election results in favor of the current President Hamid Karzai appropriately rejected by the U.N. backed investigators with the runoff election scheduled for November 7, 2009.

Afghanistan heading for yet another election within two weeks is a tall order given the recent turmoil in the electoral process that led to the annulment of the results. Modern democracy is not devoid of voter fraud, corruption and unscrupulous tactics by the respective campaigns representing the political candidates.

However, the Afghan election is complex due to the extremism ranging from physical threats, ballots stuffing, violence that mars the democratic protocol and worsened now with the August election declared ‘flawed,’ by the United Nations panel and the other international authorities.

Again as suggested earlier in the cited blogposts –

Source: www.padminiarhant.com – International Politics

U.S. Dilemma on Afghanistan under the heading – ‘Political stalemate in the national election’ – September 1, 2009

Afghanistan War and Election – August 21, 2009

“In light of the above perspective, Afghanistan would be better off with a coalition government of the two contenders – President Hamid Karzai and DR. Abdullah Abdullah exchanging ideas, sharing the intellect and experience in a concerted effort to move the war torn nation forward to the twenty first century. In addition, the fractured society would benefit from the collective talent and experience of the consolidated government, besides maintaining checks and balances on the activities hindering the democratic functions.”

The prudent option for the incumbent President Hamid Karzai and the opponent DR. Abdullah Abdullah is to prioritize the national crisis demanding political stability, economic and social development, law and order…that would eventually steer the war ravaged Afghanistan towards a plausible democracy.

Considering the contentious political battle during the August election, both leaders share the burden of responsibility to alleviate the Afghan population suffering until now through a strong coalition. Moreover, the combined effort in addressing the great many challenges would expedite the birth of progressive and peaceful Afghanistan.

It’s absolutely important for both leaders with international stature to acknowledge the enormous anomalies in every aspect contributing to the status quo, not to mention the Afghanistan’s future dependent upon a solemn and a unified political structure dedicated to nation governance.

Needless to state that after a bitter political scuffle, it might be hard to swallow the pride and forge an alliance for a coalition government. Nevertheless, any leadership’s shining moment ascends when the common cause is recognized and the national interest upheld in sheer solidarity.

Afghanistan’s resources are scare at present and the runoff election is an additional economic and a political liability without a definite positive outcome. Further, the voter turnout is highly arbitrary and expected to be exacerbated by the approaching winter, Taliban interference and the prevalent U.S./NATO operations against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban forces along the borders. In addition, it’s also a huge drain on the international resources that could be made available in the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

Although, power sharing is never an easy option, the two leaders and their able representatives should abandon the political sentiments while embracing the deep sense of patriotism to rebuild the nation yearning for a breath of fresh air in the form of harmony, hard work and honest government.

DR. Abdullah Abdullah, having held the cabinet position as the Foreign Minister under President Karzai’s administration, is not a stranger to this recommended union. Whatever issues there are or might be, it’s best to resolve through direct dialogue and forthright communication without compromising diplomacy.

Both leaders possess the relevant experience and knowledge to execute the power sharing vital for enforcing the desperate national security.

President Hamid Karzai has held the office since December 7, 2004.

Therefore, in a democratic setting it would be appropriate for –

DR. Abdullah Abdullah to assume the title as the 13th President of Afghanistan,

With the incumbent President Karzai overseeing the administrative affairs as a Senior Aide and a Political Liaison in the new administration.

Worldwide, there are many opportunities available to serve the nation and humanity. One can make a difference in any capacity provided there is an earnest desire to promote goodness, peace and unity.

Often, selfless leaders without an official post in politics such as Mahatma Gandhi, DR. Martin Luther King Jr., in recent memory have left an indelible mark in their incredible service to mankind.

The people of Afghanistan deserve a break from the perpetual unrest, chaos and catastrophe. It entirely rests in the hands of the two leaders President Hamid Karzai and DR. Abdullah Abdullah to reconcile their differences, identify the commonalities essential to relieve the exhausted population and let democracy prevail from now onwards.

On that note, Best Wishes to the leaderships of DR. Abdullah Abdullah as the new President of Afghanistan alongside the leader Hamid Karzai for a successful democratic government and a peaceful, prosperous Afghanistan.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Greece Legislative Election – 2009

By Padmini Arhant

On October 4, 2009, the people of the Hellenic Republic went to the polls and unanimously elected the Panhellenic Socialist Movement leader, George Papandreou as the next Prime Minister for a four-year term office.

The Prime Minister-elect initially disregarded as a non-viable candidate in the electoral race, despite the candidate’s strong political lineage. Nevertheless, the republic decided to offer the Socialist Party an overwhelming victory against the center-right political party – New Democracy, represented by the incumbent Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis in the recent election.

Greece is no exception to the political and economic woes of the contemporary world. The electoral mandate is clearly a rejection of the common elements dominant in every national system i.e. corruption, lack of trust and accountability, incompetence contributing to the rising unemployment, stagnant economy and the last but not the least,

The persisting political tensions on the Cyprus dispute involving the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots is yet another unresolved political dilemma for the United Nations Security Council.

With the dynamic shift in the legislative power moving from the center-right to the center-left, the newly elected Socialist government resolve would be subject to scrutiny by the Greek electorate as well as the center-right EU leadership.

As a member of the European Union, OECD and NATO, the contribution by Greece is significant and the new government policy could possibly expedite the positive outcome on many global issues ranging from the economy, energy, environment and the contentious war in Afghanistan.

Congratulations! to the Prime Minister-elect George Papandreou and the people of the culturally enriched Greece on their investment towards more progressive, democratic and prosperous future.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Afghan War, the Additional Troops Request and the Election – Analysis

Analysis: By Padmini Arhant

From the earlier data, it is conclusive that since the inception of the Afghan war, the constant flow of funding and the troops surge has remained the routine build up in the ill-conceived ‘so-called’ war on terror. The long fought war in the past eight years and previously against the Soviets should provide the U.S. defense a concise idea about the Afghan terrains, terrorists’ hideouts and other relevant operational tactics by the Talibans and the Al-Qaida forces.

Considering the earlier Taliban generation were trained as the Mujahedeens by the CIA against the Soviets and instrumental in driving the Soviet Army from the Afghan land, it’s reasonable to ask the question,

When success was then possible with the limited financial and military contingency, why is it not feasible now with the exceptional assets at the defense forces disposal?

The Congressional approval of excess funding via discretionary channel to circumvent the constitutional limitations and the increasing troop deployment at the highest military hierarchy behest with no accountability for the monetary or combat forces investment in the evolved operation raises a serious credibility issue leading to an appropriate investigation.

Oddly, the Afghan situation possesses an uncanny resemblance to the financial sector bailout in the absence of checks and balances against the oligarchs responsible for the world economic crisis.

The irony is, the U.S. and NATO resources are superfluous against the insurgents’ outdated and conventional stockpiles purchased from the tribal warlords in control of the narcotic industry. Despite the United States extensive prior knowledge of the mountainous regions and enhanced weaponry including the state of the art technology, the U.S. and NATO command continue to claim the insurgency by the Taliban and Al-Qaida operatives as ‘uncontainable.’ Somehow, it doesn’t fit in with the rationality.

Then the trio forces represented by Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States declare the combatants, ‘a force to reckon with,’ when Pakistan and Afghanistan must be familiar with the respective demography in the northwestern Pakistan, the eastern Afghanistan apart from the southern provinces of the Kandahar district. Again, the status acknowledged by the U.S. and NATO highest command in a statement that “Talibans are emboldened more than ever and dangerously widespread making Afghanistan a possible failed state.”

Is it a real concern or a proposition for a permanent military base evidenced in the topic’s prequel?

Another poignant matter is Pakistan’s role in aiding and abetting the Talibans following the U.S abandonment and the Soviet departure. During the Bush administration, the Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf received substantial financial aid and arms supply as an “important” ally of the apparent war on terror.

Evidently, the disclosed $10 billion dollars and more was not spent for the desired purpose, instead Pakistan ventured into replenishing stocks targeting the eternal rival and neighbor India.

In spite of the U.S. royal treatment of the former military regime under President Musharraf, the nuclear technology trader A.Q. Khan was protected and the U.S. intelligence forces were denied access to the entity by the regime. Today’s nuclear proliferation among North Korea and Iran stem from A.Q. Khan’s illicit dealings in trading WMD secret programs.

The trend continues with the financial aid being tripled combined with more arsenal supply ‘supposedly’ to extinguish the fire set by the Pakistani ISI and the military in cohort with the Talibans and the Al-Qaida elements in Waziristan and other parts of the north western region up until recently. It’s not a concocted theory when the independent Pakistani and other international journalists reported that the world’s most wanted terror leader Osama Bin Laden received medical treatment in Pakistan during the Musharraf Presidency.

The military agents actively promote the Kashmir issue between the two nuclear neighbors to see the snoring lion turn into a roaring beast. Meanwhile, distracting the world from the compounded problems within Pakistan – the people of Pakistan deprived of the genuine freedom and democracy not to mention the chaos and mayhem caused with frequent suicide bombings and explosions.

In fact, the situation in the two Islamic nations has been perpetually meddled with excessive foreign policy interventions doing more harm than any good until date. The constant turmoil and warfare has crippled the economies leaving the populations at the mercy of the oil rich Saudi Arabia and the Western control.

The bright and the educated middle class to the poorest of the Pakistani population are subject to the dynasty rule disguised as democracy with the Pakistani military having an upper hand in the major governance.

Diverting attention homeward;

The legitimate question for the American taxpayers engaged in the health care battle of the century is –
How do the so-called fiscal conservatives from both sides of the aisle justify the enrage at the hypothetical costs of providing universal health care, while seemingly comfortable with the Fiscal Year 2009, defense spending amount to 4.7% of GDP?

The military industrial complex dominance with strong hawkish representations in the Defense and the State Departments in the current administration is conspicuous with the irrational winning streak calculations in the misguided missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The tragic truth revealed in the casualties endured by the families of the U.S. military and the ally forces along with the scores of civilian deaths callously dismissed as the ‘collateral’ damages in the warfare.

Regarding the permanent military base in Afghanistan, the published reports confirm the former Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s complicity to the occupation of his homeland by foreign forces, questioning the President’s loyalty to the nation, he is expected to govern.

Then the subsequent crowning of the controversial ex-President Hamid Karzai amidst election fraud and widely exposed scandals by the secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton and other NATO diplomats clearly indicates the entities following specific directions of the military industrial complex defining the role for the executive members in the sprawling scheme.

Since when the Secretary of State and other NATO foreign ministers overtly assigned the duty to select the head of the foreign government smeared with corruption charges and voter fraud allegations, against the will of the population yearning for real democracy?

Isn’t the role of the U.S. military and NATO in Afghanistan restricted to eliminating terror, and refrain from any intervention in the electoral decisions?

When the U.S and NATO forces indulge in the appointments of the heads of the foreign governments, they not only threaten the democratic opportunities for the subject nations but also undermine the democracy they represent.

The Defense Forces’ high commands testify to the elected representatives in a democracy, the Congress, by repeatedly urging that “the troops and discretionary funding requirement is essential to succeed in the escalating war on terror” with the reality being otherwise.

But not anymore. This time, it’s incumbent on the Pentagon to face the nation and lay the facts as the permanent military base in Afghanistan or elsewhere is an act of treason against the nation, not barring the crime against humanity with the notion to enslave the innocent population trusting the organization to protect and liberate them from the tyranny and oppression.

When the defense budget funds are misappropriated for destructive reasons of the never ending warfare, illegal arms race i.e. both conventional and nuclear arsenal in the open markets, then the military institution loses the trust and respect of the national population. It’s equivalent to the betrayal of the parents declining to protect the children and instead endanger their lives.

If the military institutions confine to the honorable duty to defend the sovereignty of the nation, safeguard the pledge of allegiance to the flag and regard the life of another like their own, then the battle grounds would no longer be the killing fields.

Those who engage in invasion, occupation, pillage, ruin of other nations have engulfed in the self ignited flames, while others eventually come to the realization that in the laws of nature, there is no state of permanence. History witnessed the emperors like Napoleon Bonaparte, Alexander the Great and the likes succumb to the crumbling of their greatness, regarding themselves once as invincible.

The wisdom serves that mortals brought nothing into the world and hence take nothing back with them and no one is a permanent resident on the planet irrespective of status. Life is a journey and travelers leave when their travel ends with their activities evaluated and judged accordingly.

Wars can’t go on forever and must eventually ceasefire.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Federal Republic of Germany – Bundestag Election

By Padmini Arhant

Congratulations! to the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and the FDP leader Guido Westerwelle on the re-election of CDU-CSU (Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union) in grand coalition with the Free Democratic Party in the 17th German Federal election on September 27, 2009.

As a major economic power and the largest exporter as well as the second largest importer of goods, Germany is significant to the global economy and the international progress. The export-oriented nation has been drastically affected from the global economic crisis. It experiences the common woes like the financial market failure leading to the government bailouts; massive job loss in the manufacturing sector especially the automobiles and heavy industrial equipments…having a ripple effect on other sectors in the economy.

However, Germany has contained the crisis from further deterioration due to the various government run programs viz.

The comprehensive system of social security, universal health care established in 1883 – now comprising 77% government funded and 23% privately funded health care system, public or affordable housing in suburban settings providing decent dwelling for the lower income originally created in the early twentieth century by the Social Democrats to curtail visible poverty.

The recent victory by the conservative coalition attributed to the poor voter turnout with the sizable electorate not having confidence in the major or minor political parties, although the ‘Green’ party focused on vigorous environmental policies gained impressive margin against others.

It would be interesting to monitor the measures adopted by the winning coalition in the economic recovery, given the FDP’s economic policy subscribed to the government involvement ‘as extensive as necessary’ and ‘as limited as possible.’ Otherwise, the party embraces the free market structure with privatizations, deregulations, restraining public subsidies – the predominant source of the present global economic meltdown, while maintaining the strong unionized work force and the vast government social infrastructure. Perhaps, the platform contributed to the surprise emergence of the once minority party successfully eliminating the Socialist Democrats that took a severe blow in the latest election.

With the rising unemployment causing much frustration among the population, the coalition has a tough balancing act to leverage the situation in the four-year term offered by the German electorate as a second chance to transform the campaign promise into a reality.

Regarding other issues of national concern, the electorate appears to be less enthusiastic in their country’s involvement as a NATO member in the eight-year old Afghanistan war. This is despite the relatively minimal troops’ presence in the region proving the unpopularity of the Afghanistan war.

Germany like the rest of the world is confronted with the economic, social and environmental issues and the industrialized nation’s rapid revival is crucial for the global economy as a member of OECD, G8 that is appropriately the present G20, besides being the biggest development aid in the world.

I take the opportunity to wish the leaderships and the people of Germany lasting peace and prosperity to share with the rest of the humanity.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

The Media Hypocrisy

By Padmini Arhant

The Sly Fox

Old fables have many animal characters to teach moral lessons to the human species presumed ‘intellectually superior’ than others in the animal kingdom. One of the reasons for such categorization is the apparent ‘discriminative power’ of humans over other living species.

Among many interesting legends, the ‘bushy tail’ Fox has an unparallel reputation to be cunning and conniving in conduct blended with aggression against its targets. The distinctive characteristics is symbolic of the cowardice and malice towards the ‘King of the Jungle,’ the gracious and the Majestic Lion as well as those sharing the general good values.

The Fox portrayed as never affable to the surroundings and constantly engaged in wicked behavior to be the center of the universe.

In most fairy tales, the Fox approaches the jungle inhabitants as the savior or a problem solver, although incapable of being neither due to the innate abhorrence to accept anyone except oneself. Alas, a fox being a fox is unable to stay long in ‘sheep’s’ clothing, revealed despite the convincing act to mesmerize the spectators.

The favorite prey for the Fox is the tiny chickens tripping on the trail while following the mother hen. When the Fox confronted by the intellect of the Rabbit, the Owl or His Majesty, the Lion it retreats to the ‘Bushes’ as it finds the thickets a safe haven for its own survival suggesting,

Birds of a feather flock together.

How does the Fox fair among the characters in the imaginary world?

Awful. Since its mere existence is to ambush the innocent beings in the environment through vicious plots and despicable means carried out with vengeance, only to be later mortified with the exclusive title – the ‘Sly Fox’ proving the end justifies the means.

To shed light on the human superiority complex from the possession of the ‘so-called’ discriminative power, it is conspicuous in none other than politics and certain media focused on the truth assassination. A popular tactic that exploits the ‘discriminative quality’ in self-defense and protest against the inner voice from within called the ‘conscience.’ They usually aim at the truth and the truth seekers as they perform the hatchet job for the groups hiring them.

Nevertheless, the ‘Truth’ like the man’s moustache and the woman’s pregnancy cannot remain an indefinite secret. Although, some have temporarily prevailed in the burial of the immortal ethical element through abusive power and false propaganda in the communications media, the gory findings on the earth’s surface beckon attention and appropriate action.

A specific news media obsession to slander, character defamation and determination to eliminate people and organizations deserve a fair analysis. The selective scapegoats deceitfully projected as the potential threat to the society and vilifying them beyond reparation in the name of journalism more aptly adapting to the fundamentalism of the worst feared organization and networks in the global security.

As for those following the norm in typecasting to signify unanimity while ignoring objectivity, reflect the lack of caliber in the mass media supposedly the essence of democracy.

Lately, the news network renowned to be the epicenter for clichéd controversies unveiled the scandal involving the long darted community organization ACORN. According to the contrived and calculated video release by the disguised agents unethically presenting them as the bait to the organizations’ ill-experienced staff members in few locations created pandemonium, forcing the lawmakers, otherwise the conscientious legislators deeply concerned about morality and justice to withdraw funding to the organization that has primarily dedicated the lifetime service to humanity.

ACORN is not new to the media witch-hunt as it was initially tied to the alleged fraudulent ‘voter registrations’ during the 2008 Presidential election campaign.

The past week highlight was on another incident related to etiquettes in the public arena. The media buzz attracted to the decoy by the attention seeking rapper artist Kanye West in his immature and unprofessional display on stage undermining the special moment of the country musician and star, Taylor Swift, offered the momentous glory to the artist at the center of the entertainment climax.

Again, those who failed to join the national media frenzy on this unfortunate gimmick spotted and branded as a ‘racist’ and ‘biased’ against country musicians. It didn’t end there.

The callousness by the moral ethicists rose to the occasion –

When the event related to the atrocities against foreign students exclusively reported on the website in the absence of any interest by the sprawling news media and networks, it was concluded as the author’s nationalist view associated with ethnicity. Incidentally the majority victims happened to be Indian Nationals allowing the ‘ethnic’ connotation with the website www.padminiarhant.com author, editor and publisher for the desperate critics. Meanwhile forgetting self-hypocrisy in the alienation of the author as an American.

Regardless of the severity of the incident in the nation down under, Australia upheld as the ‘industrialized FIRST WORLD’ order –

Where the people of BROWN and BLACK COLOR in the twenty first century hunted down by the certain hooligan youth population motivated by hate crimes attacking victims traveling by public transport and in the privacy of their homes with petrol bombs and other life threatening arsenals marginalized by the provocative cable network as “BIG DEAL.” Slighting the serious schoolyard bullying and racial harassment in the rebuttal to the Kanye West charade.

When the media hype on issues varies based on commercial ratings, the journalism reaches the lowest ebb.

By the way, the victims have not seen the end of the racial attacks in Australia as it persists until date having permeated to other fields such as medicine. This time reportedly the incident involved a doctor from Mainland China along with the Nigerian Male Nurse invited by the unruly elements mature enough to understand the facts of life but ignorant on humanitarian values, brutally hurt when called on to attend to a fake emergency at a wild house party.

Should the victims’ families dismiss the crime as a ‘NO BIG DEAL’ incident in accordance with the specific cable media professional civic rule?

Somehow, the critics failed to observe that the vigilant website also did not report on the International Bollywood Star Sharukh Khan’s humiliating experience with airport security at the International Airport, Newark, New Jersey during the star’s visit to the United States that was widely covered by the national, international media and the cyberspace.

Does it mean that I do not like Sharukh Khan’s movies or think any less of the internationally acclaimed artist?

Celebrities in politics and the entertainment field have media hovering over them to report on activities pertaining to every moment of their private and public life. However, the unknown average citizen plight is newsworthy dependent on the demography, geography and commercial value.

If the cable network dominant in partisan politics and polarizing views discard the racial atrocity in Australia and the ridicule of the International Super Star, Sharukh Kahn, they are discerning in the coverage omission. The network with subsidiary “Star Plus” raking profits in millions of dollars from the affluent and expanding middle-income Indian population can chose to be discriminatory irrespective of the financial gains from the Indian market.

Nevertheless, it is unacceptable when one of their targets stick with the rare self-imposed ideals to lend a voice to the voiceless. The Indian viewers are surely getting the respect and gratitude for their business by the Parent Company with such hypocrisy.

The irony is, the cable network relentless disparaging remarks against the President of the United States and the endless criticisms to the extent of inciting violence towards individuals standing up against injustice, tyranny and undemocratic principles accepted as a normal media entertainment, while the alternative source such as the website dedicated to humanitarian cause placed on radar for incendiary assaults.

The dangerous intimidation techniques by the network masquerading the past eight years phenomenal humanitarian crimes ominously visible in the list of casualties succumbed to the media instigated action viz.

The tragic shooting of DR. George Tiller repeatedly referred to as ‘DR. Baby Killer’ by the irresponsible news anchor. On May 31, 2009 DR. George Tiller shot dead…WICHITA, Kansas.

Then the resignation by the bright and the articulate Van Jones, the White House appointee for Green Jobs and,

Now the genuine community organization ACORN’s forty years exemplary record in helping the poor and the needy unethically substituted with the isolated inappropriate business practices.

Contrarily, events worse than ACORN scandals were a routine with the private contractors and the major corporations such as Halliburton and KBR hired during the Iraq and Afghanistan war by the previous administration. They are no longer an ethical issue even though the widespread scandals continue to be a national embarrassment until date.

As for the voter registration fraud by ACORN, the media, the networks and the legislators’ amnesia in this respect is prominent when the democratic election in 2000 ended being a proclamation by the highest court on the land demonstrating political favors to the candidate of their choice. Likewise, the 2004 Ohio results manipulated and recalibrated by the then winning party’s political machine owned by DEBOLT, recently acquired by the company’s competitor.

The treatment of ACORN by the venerable network and alliances suggests that what happened then with the stolen elections in the year 2000 and 2004 are a spectacular ingenuity qualifying for the Nobel Prize equivalent in excellence. Simultaneously, the overzealous ACORN volunteers alleged fraudulent voter registration statistics by far negligible in comparison to the undermining of democracy in the previous eight long years, reverberates in the airwaves and talk shows as an epic to remember in the future.

The difference being, ACORN has fired the employees responsible for the scandals and Kanye West apologized three times during his appearance on the late night show hosted by Jay Leno.

Whereas, the nation and the families of the victims of illegal Iraq war, the torture chamber captives held indefinitely with no evidence of crimes and the list continues…are still waiting for an apology and due moral and monetary compensation from the illicit operatives in the past eight years.

Interestingly, the uproar to write off ACORN as a scandalous organization not worthy of taxpayer contribution and Kanye West’ misstep never missed in the monologues or ‘Pinhead’ profiles.

At the same time, the taxpayers bankruptcy from the financial bailouts to AIG and oligarchs preceded by the decorated unscrupulous practices by the Bush administration in the national issues ranging from economic, political to international warfare elegantly forgiven and forgotten for the sake of “One Nation” not under God but ruling demagoguery. This is just a mere sample of the gross injustice in the land of justice.

The above references are a few of the First amendment vehement abuse by the exalted network. Regrettably, the cable network prolific vitriol against other members in the society accepted as the ‘normal entertainment’ confirmed by the network’s hyperbolic ratings in their showdown with the counterparts.

Finally, the website www.padminiarhant.com , is pledged towards local and world events never reported or under reported by the profit oriented commercial media and networks. The website resiliently and proudly remains committed to defend the defenseless on the planet.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

International Affairs

BY Padmini Arhant

Japan’s General Election

Congratulations! to the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) leader, and the recently sworn in Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of Japan.

The DPJ’s landslide victory in the general election held on August 30, 2009 is an auspicious beginning for the land of the rising sun in breaking the long political tradition held with the LDP, the Liberal Democratic Party due to its failure on both the political stability and economic growth.

Japan‘s economic revival is crucial for the global economy and the new administration’s economic policy to stimulate the national economy is yet to be presented. The new government’s effort to address the social-economic issue in the agriculture and manufacturing is progressive. Nevertheless, Japan being one of the largest Capital economy and having suffered major setbacks in the finance sector shares the common economic woes i.e. the economic contraction and a relatively higher unemployment rate.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s political strategy to clean up the familiar bureaucratic ties between the government and the private sector largely responsible for the lack of accountability factor experienced in market economies bolstered the opportunity to win the general election.

The new Prime Minister’s vision for Japan is promising and utilizing the substantial political capital is vital for the expected economic recovery besides being relevant in addressing the universal matters viz. energy, environment and peace.

In terms of the persistent threat from the North Korean leadership, the Japanese population concerns against national security are justified. It leads towards the urgency to expand the United Nations Security Council’s permanent membership as suggested earlier from P5 to P11 during the general debate scheduled later this week at the 64th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. The measure is prudent to contain the lingering dangers on international security with nuclear proliferation, global terrorism and escalation of wars in the vulnerable regions.

Further, the United Nation Security Council expansion will provide additional leaderships required to confront the global requirements that are not limited to the economy. Such action is a step in the right direction and yields flexibility in resolving multitude international issues presently differed due to the lack of necessary support from within the existing memberships.

On that note, Best Wishes offered to the new Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama for a successful term and even more prosperous Japan.

From: Padmini Arhant
————————————————————————————————–

Re-Election of the European Union President

Congratulations! to the President José Manuel Barroso initially representing the Portuguese Republic on the re-election to the EU Commission.

The appointment of José Manuel Barroso as President of the European Commission for the second five-year term signifies the Commission President’s popularity and confidence in the center-right leadership among the EU members.

Hopefully, the drive to center-right agenda apart from the European political integration will also include accountability, trade partnerships with the other EU members and the outside world, notwithstanding the social, peaceful and democratic policies essential for the invitees’ lateral advancement in the united Europe.

Although, the EU President Barroso welcoming other nations to become EU members is honorable, the eastern bloc countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria and others in that region deserve equal attention and opportunity in trade relationships, economic ties, political stability and regional security to ensure each and every nation’s significance in the world performance.

President Barroso’s invitation to nations all over Europe to join the European Union is a magnanimous gesture and a symbolic movement to solidify Europe, an important ally to the rest of the world.

Since the formation of the European Union, the EU progress has been substantial in all major fronts from the regional economy, the environment to the cross border security in the least respect. Given the EU potential in different dynamics, its full-fledged participation for global peace and economic prosperity is pertinent to expedite the positive transformation in the impoverished regions of the world.

The European Union together with the United States and other economic powers in Asia and Latin America can consolidate efforts, work towards the common goal of improving the lives of millions living below the poverty line, and assist the vast population deprived of freedom and basic human rights.

Even though, the NATO involvement in Afghanistan in spite of considerable casualties is praiseworthy, the present disproportionate economic and defense burden on the United States to restore law and order, otherwise normalcy in Afghanistan could be equally shared by all EU members not in a combative format, but rather through logistic support and financial aid to the war ravaged Afghanistan.

However, the EU role in the current controversial Afghan election has been tremendous and the findings reflect the fair and non-partisan decision by the panel conforming to the United Nations and other international political watchdog groups’ report on the election outcome.

The latest report on the Europe’s economic recovery is refreshing despite the gloomy global unemployment forecast rising from 8.6% to a possible 10% in the immediate future. In addition, the strengthening of the Euro currency against the U.S. dollar has exacerbated the problems for export-oriented nations like Germany, France and Italy in the large-scale production of consumer goods and other demands. A robust stimulus economic policy addressing the synonymous issues faced by the United States in the financial, housing and manufacturing sectors should resuscitate the ailing components in the economy.

Finally, Europe’s solidarity shared with the remaining global members would ease the economic costs and increase the viability in meeting the enormous challenges for humanity.

I wish the European Union peace and success in all endeavors to benefit mankind.

Thank you.

Padmini “Arhant

The Noise Pollution

By Padmini Arhant

The blogpost on the “Aftermath of 9/11 including the global economy and international security’ rescheduled for publication. Meanwhile, the news media and press coverage with incendiary remarks and vitriolic comments by certain entities against the specific target as the ‘truthers’ and the ‘blogger in anonymity’ urgently required to be placed in true perspective.

It’s obvious from the news articles that the preachers do not necessarily practice their doctrine on morality, equality, civility and decency to say the least. While demanding decorum from the victim of gender, race, religion and ethnicity biased attacks, these oligarchs brandishing the swords not to slain the truth tellers but indeed the truth itself.

The venom spewed in the local and major newspaper articles need dissection, because it is nothing but a concoction of personal theories layered with bizarre and intellectually lacking assumptions suggesting their own poor representations of the topic and personnel. Surprisingly, one among them ruthlessly accusing the ’10 percent vocal minority’ for the unfamiliar and unpopular self owned obscure websites and its miserable failure to attract traffic among the billion surfers on the cyberspace.

The objectionable content from the authors strongly indicate their characteristics and i.e. When things don’t fare well for them, rather than addressing the self-deficiencies they find a scapegoat preferably the diametrically opposite character to camouflage their fictional work. It is no surprise to view the isolation of the individual they aim at and their preposterous justification in demanding the ousting of personalities displaying courage to unveil the public related facts.

It’s time to shed light on the contentious issues highlighted in these articles.

The assertions by one of the leading daily columnist, also a contributor to a major cable news network that specializes in character defamation of the public with different political views, are:

The former administration falsely accused of being responsible for the 9/11 tragedy and framing the subject to have disgracefully ignored the plight of the 9/11 victims and their families. Hence, the author using the prerogative to disdain the accused with distortions of the blog post material regarding –

‘The previous administration taking the nation to war on false pretences’ when the particular reference was to the Iraq war, as globally known in the absence of any Weapons of Mass destruction,.’

What did the author, the news anchor and some talk show hosts of the specific cable news network do on the particular day of posting the blogpost, i.e. Friday September 11, 2009?

They cleverly distracted the American public by connecting the comment to the 9/11 event despite no mention of September 11, 2009 in that statement.

Furthermore, the author makes use of the citation of the Industrial contamination by the multinational companies such as the Union Carbide poisonous gas leakage disaster in Bhopal, India in the blogpost titled ‘Capitalism alias Communism’ and steer in the direction implicating the accused of polarizing the society playing the race card.

Last but not the least; the author proudly classifies the victim of political propaganda in the category of ‘Holocaust Denier” and a nonsympathizer of the September 11, event.

The irony in this instance is ominously revealing…

The author in the grand slandering of the victim blatantly accuses the subject to be the denier of the two most horrific crimes against humanity with no shred of evidence in any material presented thus far on the website.

Simultaneously the author reserves the right to the slight and dismissal of the worst Industrial genocide with irrecoverable consequences in human history that took place in Bhopal, India as an environmental incident in the ‘Third World.’

In addition, the utter disregard for the ‘Holocaust’ taking place by the hour in Sudan, Palestine in the form of oppression and illegal settlements, Iraq through illegal invasion and Afghanistan as the major failure warfare clearly suggests the author’s stance that the loss of lives from these atrocities are just and dispensable. Again conveniently forgetting that the world events affect the United States as it’s not in a parallel universe but instead a part of the planet.

When these entities overwhelmed with arrogance, discriminate between human lives based on race, religion and creed they fail to recognize that their ideology is no different from the terrorists’ fundamentalism.

Some individuals behold themselves above the human category to the extent of being invincible and stretch to any length in the character assassination of the noble souls defiant to any form of undemocratic and unethical oppression in the society.

Interestingly, these demagogues having prevailed in the past with the behavioral pattern remain frozen in time in terms of historic events and the general environment. Their knowledge often insular and limited as they refuse to look beyond their enclave and therefore paralyzed to the pain and suffering endured by the vast inhabitants on the planet stemming from their complicity to humanitarian crimes and criminal conduct.

It’s important for these overzealous defense counsels to realize that the verbal assaults against the genuinely concerned voices would reverberate making their effort futile and counterproductive.
Another noteworthy factor in that article was – the highlighting of the eligibility to the ‘White House’ high profile position, which is not only presumptuous but also elevating thyself as the ‘Supreme authority’ in the universe. Amazingly, these entities flex muscles regardless of them being in power or not.

As for the article written to presumably protecting the ‘Internet from blogger anonymity.’ the suggestions vary from internet censorship to condemnation of the ‘vocal minority’ squarely blamed for the suppression of the ‘apparently’ outstanding 90 percent majority. The article calls the blogger’s position hateful, cowardly…and squarely blames the blogger for the ‘minority’ dominance over the asserted ‘majority.’

Such character defamation is ‘hypocritical.’ By referring to the blogger as a ‘minority’ multiple times, the ignorance combined with the exceeding idiosyncrasy reflected in the article.

First, the blogger being the member of the human race, the term ‘minority’ deflects the reference.

Second, the female gender perceived as the ‘minority’ by the narrow minds voided by the planetary equal gender ratio, an act of Mother Nature to curb the superiority among the human race and lastly,

If the ‘minority’ remark laced with ethnicity or religious denomination, then the second most populous nation on earth India has at least one billion Hindus on the planet, which by no measure is a minority.

With respect to the ‘hateful’ and ‘cowardly’ characterizations, the appropriate response is ‘look within and find yourself.’ In the finger pointing, it’s not uncommon to overlook the remaining fingers’ direction.

A demand to reveal the identity responded to earlier on. Besides, it confirms the authors’ belligerence towards anyone not sharing the contemptuous outlook. That must explain the unpopularity of the complainant’s website.

Since, the birth certificate demanded of the ‘President of the United States,’ other ‘minority’ members in the society are a fair game to the charade.

Sadly, those who voluntarily submit to denigrate the ‘minority’ humanitarians are the ones posing to be the problems instead of being the solutions in the society.

No political threats, maneuvers and manipulations will alter the positions of those who stand firm against injustice, inequalities and irrationality. Humanitarians are never afraid to hold an unpopular position, if that is what is necessary. None other than the history is testimony to this effect.

Truth and Honesty, oxymoron in politics are the prime casualties during the war and election.

The nation that takes pride in the Bill of Rights, denial of the First Amendment to all via internet censorship or other communication media is a direct violation of the constitutional right and justifiably makes the propagandists place themselves as ‘Communists’ or “Militia” advocates by default.

The noise pollution is the least concern of the ‘self-proclaimed’ moralists who flagrantly look for flaws
in those dedicated to cleaning the environment.

Finally, the quote from the genius mind aptly summarize the ‘minority subject’s’ purpose.

FROM THE VENERABLE Albert Einstein –

“Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others…for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.”

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Ethics, Featured, United States | Leave a Comment 

U.S. Dilemma on Afghanistan

September 1, 2009

By Padmini Arhant

Subsequent to the comprehensive layout on Afghanistan’s Status quo on this site, titled ‘Afghanistan War and Election,’ August 21, 2009 under Politics – International section, the situation reported to be deteriorating in two different aspects, the war and the controversial election results.

With respect to the eight-year-old war – the insurgency is the calculated guerilla warfare, the page taken from Vietnam era and the terrorist tactic to stymie the Western forces equipped with modern weaponry.

The recruits comprising the natives and foreigners vulnerable to terrorists’ fundamentalism carefully chosen to endure the extreme conditions…serve as a huge advantage for the insurgency against the U.S. and NATO alliance.

Furthermore, the volatile political environment from the recent Afghan elections fraught with widespread corruption and voter fraud creating uncertainties and exacerbating the Western backed government’s credibility, again likely favorable to the Taliban militants.

Amidst chaos and carnage, the civilian populations are the victims and potential targets for the militants’ disingenuous appeasement, exploiting the turmoil to their political and militaristic gains.

Solutions: The ideal strategy for the U.S. and NATO to turn the situation around in the long embroiled battle is to focus exclusively on combat operation with the existing troop level.

It is important to remember that the war in Afghanistan is no longer a unilateral commitment by the United States. Despite the NATO involvement in the on-going military conflict and suffering immense casualties along with the United States, the international community must realize that the rise of Taliban and Al Qaeda’s refuge in that region will continue to remain the biggest threat to global security.

In light of the dynamic shift in the ceaseless war, the rest of the world has equal responsibility in restoring the embattled nation towards ‘normalcy’ with a generous financial contribution and logistic support. It’s rather unreasonable to burden the United States with the constant supply of resources in the form of troops and financial investments.

Any additional troops requirement should be supplemented with the globally represented U.N. Peacekeeping force brought to the region to protect civilian lives and interests. The deployment should also be the oversight for construction and repair of infrastructure, schools, hospitals, community centers with global aid directly invested in the civilian welfare.

In this context, it’s best to recognize that the U.N. peace keeping force would be more effective with army personnel sharing and not contrasting the socioeconomic backgrounds to overcome language and cultural barriers when dealing with the local populace in the villages and remote corners of the nation.

Under no circumstances, it should be outsourced to private enterprise such as the notorious Blackwater, now operating as Xe “pronounced like the letter ‘z,’” marred with civilian killings in Iraq and disturbing accounts in Afghanistan. In fact, such recruits have been a major threat to the locals and proven a liability to the United States in Iraq and now in Afghanistan.

Political stalemate in the national election: Although, the incumbent President Hamid Karzai is reportedly leading in the highly contested national election, the reality confirms otherwise. According to the international political watchdog groups and other reliable sources, the election results do not reflect the democratic process due to excessive power abuse by the government seeking re-election against the political challengers.

The people of Afghanistan like their fellow global citizens, deserve free and fair elections. Although, such notion widely scorned for personal motive by the demographically complex social hierarchy, the demand is justified to begin the end of the corrupt bureaucracy and the political structure.

Hence, the false victory by the ruling political faction and the head of the government not legitimized as the democratically elected leadership. Since, Afghanistan needs to invest the scarce resources in the reconstruction and economic development, the runoff election is not a prudent choice.

Therefore, the unity between the two major political candidates President Hamid Karzai and DR. Abdullah Abdullah for a coalition government is paramount to move the war torn nation forward into the twenty first century goals. Ignoring the society’s plight for political aspirations would be detrimental to any kind of progress, personal and public.

When leadership stands the test of time against all odds, it enhances the nation’s fortitude. Leaving the thought behind, the expectation from the Afghan political leaders is to prioritize the national peace, prosperity and future above all.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Written by Padmini Arhant · Filed Under Featured, International Politics, Politics | Leave a Comment 

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