Midterm Election 2010 is an opportunity to rebuild the great nation – the United States of America.

From the latest developments it’s clear that Washington is broken and desperately requires citizens’ involvement in governance to restore the renowned American values that remains the basis in attracting many across the globe.

United States is resilient, resourceful and admirably courageous in dealing with any crisis.

It is evident in this great nation’s history for it has weathered the fierce storms and survived even the “Great Depression.”

The people representing the stars and stripes have come forward as one nation and contributed their unique skills in building the United States as the economic engine and a model democracy.

United States is the beacon of light for the entire world and the leadership will continue to provide the necessary guidance to those seeking political, economic and social progress in their domain.

The fall election is crucial to implement the changes that Washington has been deprived due to partisanship and special interests dominance in the legislation.

The political majority and the minority that prioritizes public interest and delivers the campaign promise are worth re-electing.

It predominantly rests with the American electorate in their choice of candidates as their representatives in Washington.

The combined forces such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce influencing the Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited cash flow in the election campaign together with the political architects determined to distract the electorate through distortion and negative attacks render the democratic elections irrelevant.

Whenever a candidate with no established record or substantive policies to move the nation forward is dependent upon the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and smear campaign, that candidate is unequivocally pledged to the sources behind them and not their constituents.

Their name might be on the ballot but only in theory for the real candidates are the big industries devising the policy and the strategists with the political ideology.

Voter discernment in electing the candidates with proven record and service against those without solutions to any problems could make the desirable change possible.

Congressional Democrats in the House and the Senate have worked extremely hard and are committed to improve the American lives. The selective few Republican members share the credit for their bipartisanship that enabled the recent reforms.

The policies related to ongoing wars contributing to the brave armed forces’ death toll and, the national deficit from the disproportionate defense expenditure with no accountability and transparency have been largely accepted without subjecting the claims to due process.

Public concern and views are disregarded and democracy undermined through propaganda subverting facts to promote the specific agenda.

The abuse of power with little or no respect for the constitutional law and democracy, reckless decisions that led to a bankrupt economy, chaos, death and destruction are minor details as compared to the serious ramifications on the office of Presidency – setting a dangerous precedence for history to repeat itself citing the predecessor’s exemption from law in the land of justice.

Ignoring the warnings on 9/11 attacks and conspicuously neglecting the constitutional duty to protect American lives is a colossal Presidential failure.

Above all, granting immunity to the status is rejecting the constitution set up to safeguard the national interest and the democratic principles that guarantees equal justice.

Accordingly, the nation particularly the United States Congress is obligatory to the 9/11 victims and their families in initiating a thorough investigation in public view with appropriate findings against all those implicated regardless of stature.

Democracy is threatened when the lawmakers become the lawbreakers and decline action against unethical conduct exemplifying discriminatory practice with law being applicable only to the law abiding ordinary citizens but not the powerful absconding the law.

These are truly the trying times for democracy and their representatives in presenting unwavering justice to preserve national security and the rule of law reflecting the fact that no one is above the law.

Massive voter turnout exceeding the 2008 statistics is paramount to overhaul Washington.

Please vote for the democrats so that they can cast their vote in return on legislation addressing the average citizens’ plight.

At the same time, the Republican members have invariably cast ‘Nay’ votes on ‘regular citizens’ issues while some of their colleagues choose abstinence to facilitate special interests victory.

Voting is the basic right denied to a significant population in some parts of the world and the citizens in a democratic society have tremendous chance to reshape the political landscape.

Hence ‘rally America’ to the midterm elections is an important call for all citizens.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Today the nation and the world remembers the victims of the earth shattering attack on American soil nine years ago.

September 11 created fears, mistrust and global anxiety followed by terrorism in other parts of the world.

Besides death and destruction in the United States and worldwide, it also became the premise to launch an illegal invasion in Iraq, prolong the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan with expansion in other Islamic countries like Yemen, Sudan and Somalia.

The persisting warfare in Islamic nations foment fundamentalism enabling recruits for the
terror networks. It’s a vicious cycle with no end in sight.

Further it deprives the impoverished population from the economic and social development due to corrupt inefficient governments placed by the powerful democracies such as the United States as seen in Afghanistan and now pursued in Iraq through ill recommendations made against the democratic will.

Where the political solutions are achievable, procrastination and undemocratic choices are
preferred leading to chaos and perpetual political turmoil facilitating smooth operation for Al-Qaeda and splinter terror networks thereby promoting continuous warfare.

As a result, the warring factions are forced to commit to enormous defense expenditure that is currently advocated by the high profile cabinet appointees in the U.S. State and Defense departments.

There are lot of questions that are being asked by the mainstream public and media only to be ignored or misled on various issues.

Where is Osama Bin Laden?

Will the U.S. and NATO ever find the terror mastermind having been groomed as a Mujahideen by the CIA against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan ?

Why did the then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld along with President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney make an unconscionable decision against capturing Osama Bin Laden in Tora Bora on December 14, 2001 upon the U.S. armed personnel order request?

The details confirmed by the Senate Foreign Relations committee in 2009 through the media without any appetite for investigation.

While the spiritual leaders of different religions are placed in spotlight with visuals from 2001 replayed to refresh the audience memory stirring anti-racial and religious sentiments, the architects behind the massive relentless warfare claiming millions of civilian lives and thousands of young men and women in uniform until now – are granted permanent immunity with no accountability or transparency in the decade old military operation.

The increasing public interest arising from war fatigue and economic downturn deserves truthful response on the continuation of Bush-Cheney administration policy in the Afghan war,

Iraq political choice resembling Afghanistan in 2009 i.e. allowing the unpopular polarizing incumbent Prime Minister Nouri-Al-Maliki to remain in power despite existing insurgency on the ground leaning towards sectarian violence and most disturbingly the leader’s strong ties with Iran – a position that is detrimental to U.S. strong ally Israel and the economic partner Saudi Arabia.

Notwithstanding the strategic threats in the Middle East region from such proposals.

Similarly, in matter related to torture, renditions, Guantanamo Bay prisoners – the highly criticized Bush doctrine is yet to be phased out. It was reflected in the Justice department reluctance to probe the Bush-Cheney legal counsel on torture techniques or the federal prosecutors firing implicating the former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

Reverting to Afghanistan war, according to the latest CIA report there are meager 100 Al-Qaeda members left in the Pakistan territory. The Afghan war was initially presented as retaliation to September 11 attacks in addition to involving Osama Bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri and the Taliban leader Mullah Omar apprehension.

It is past nine years for the Afghan war with several thousand U.S. and NATO casualties at a staggering economic cost and yet the reasons for the ongoing conflict has not changed.

Even now the hunt for Osama Bin Laden is claimed to be in progress.

In fact, Osama Bin Laden will never be found because the terror mastermind has been long dead as per the statement from the Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto during her exclusive interview with the renowned and reputable British Television Host Sir David Frost.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. The interview is presented below in the website’s featured video.

The controversy surrounding the Lower Manhattan Interfaith center demanding the funding source for the construction is contentious.

Perhaps, those individuals seeking funding details from Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf who has volunteered to share the entire information with the American public, could shed light on the visual content included in the featured video about the ex-President George W. Bush family ties with Osama Bin Laden family and the administration handing over the oval office to the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar.

All of which leads to the missed opportunity and conscientious negligence on 9/11 attack warnings.

Poignantly raising the questions about 9/11.

Business is conducted as usual. Life goes on with death toll rising in the killing fields as warfare is declared no longer a public affair.

Power is powerless when the defenseless are left to fend for themselves with truth becoming inconvenient in contemporary politics.

Democracy is meaningful when the government of the people is run by the people and for the people.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Australia – Welcomes the first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard after the political stalemate Down Under yielded victory to the ruling Labor Party in coalition with Green Party Independent members to form a government.

The Australian federal election held on August 21, 2010 produced a hung parliament with the incumbent Labor party and the opposition Liberal party (conservatives in political ideology) winning 72 seats short of 76 required in the 150 seats House of Representatives elected to the Parliament.

Australian Green Party as the name suggests is renowned for environmental cause and increasingly becoming prominent in Australian politics dominant with two major parties i.e. Labor, the Democrats equivalent and the Liberal being the conservatives.

The two independent members’ conditional alignment with the Labor Party was reportedly related to climate change legislation and expansion of the fastest and sophisticated Internet broadband networks in the country.

Green Party proposals in the environmental and technological fronts are praiseworthy.

However, there is a greater need for the environmental groups and their legislators to review Australia’s role as the leading coal exporter to China and a competitive bidder in uranium supply to India – the two emerging economic powers with a huge energy demand could be encouraged to abandon fossil fuel and nuclear power for clean renewable energy sources.

Planet sustenance is dependent upon collective environmental goals. The industrialized nations have better opportunities and resources to promote clean energy options on their shores and abroad.

Although each nation bears individual responsibility in protecting the environment, their economic outlook on trading fossil fuel and nuclear technology would render the domestic efforts redundant.

Tsunami in the Indian Ocean could directly affect Western Australia sharing the coastal region with South East Asia. An environmental disaster in one part of the planet could be potentially devastating for the rest of the inhabitants.

Australian economic performance despite global recession is impressive. The GDP growth at 3.3% with 5.3% unemployment in July is a boost for the Labor government and now the political mandate for further progress across the economic and social spectrum will determine the coalition strength.

Congratulations and Best Wishes! To Prime Minister Julia Gillard of the Labor Party and the coalition partners for a successful term and a bright future to all Australians.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

With less than eight weeks for the mid-term elections, the speculations are the GOP will claim the House and the House majority leader will be John Boehner. Similarly, the speculators believe the GOP has a slim chance of taking over the U.S. Senate.

In view of the optimistic Republican forecast as potential majority House members it’s essential to review the GOP plans for the nation.

Currently, the GOP mantra is the economy they successfully transformed into near ‘Great Depression,’ during their majority rule in the House and Senate under the Republican administration of the former President George W. Bush and the Vice President Dick Cheney.

The Republicans might fervently argue that the Democrats controlled the House and the Senate since 2006.

Although it’s a valid argument, the Republican members always gain control over legislation regardless of them being the majority or the minority due to their allegiance to the special interests devising the bills in Capitol Hill.

Moreover, the former President George W. Bush vowed to veto the bills passed by the Congressional Democrats on every issue and the veto record exemplifies the oath.

Per the leading conservative talk show host complimenting on the previous Republican administration – “President George W. Bush was not the lame duck for the agendas were pushed against the Democrats will.”

The comment is accurate in that respect – prominently the Iraq war, financial deregulation, blank check to Wall Street and tax exemptions to the wealthy by letting the middle class America disappear with the lower income families in poverty were all the Republican achievements that drove the surplus economy into skyrocketing deficit mostly blown away in the illegal warfare.

The GOP economic plan is none and their winning strategy in the coming elections,

According to Wall Street Journal, September 2, 2010 – By David Wessel – Thank you.

“Republican rhetoric offers little help. To the quiet discomfort of a few GOP politicians and several who advise Republicans on economics, this year’s campaign, so far, has little of the substance that accompanied the 1994 Republican renaissance with then-House leader Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America.

The only sure thing is that if President Barack Obama is for it, Republicans are against it.

Comments by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell a few weeks ago are typical:

If a bill doesn’t kill jobs or make it harder to create them, they’re not interested. It’s time for a different approach.”

This may be smart politics. Why be specific and give the other side a target, when you’re winning by riding a wave of voter frustration: Don’t like the Obama economy? Vote for us.

The closest Republicans come to a public economic agenda are speeches by their House leader, John Boehner, who promises more detail later this month to blunt Democratic efforts to paint Republicans as the “Party of No.”

For now, a few themes are evident.

One is that the spending-heavy Obama is a failure, often extrapolated into arguing that government spending is inherently bad.

“The common logic among Washington Democrats is that government spending creates jobs when that money is used to build a hiking trail or a playground,” Mr. Boehner said, disapprovingly, during an Aug. 24 speech in Cleveland.

Adds GOP Rep. Paul Ryan: “We are not Keynesians. We don’t believe in demand-side stimulus. We’re going to stop the spending spree.”

That’s easier to promise than do. Even spending foes, once in office, tend to spend.

“Prior to the Democrats’ takeover of the Congress and the White House in 2008, the Republicans ushered in the largest expansion of federal spending since the heydays of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society in the 1960s,” says Alaska’s Joe Miller, who beat incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the Republican primary.

“You’re going to have a whole bunch of people coming here who aren’t going to want to vote for any spending bill—maybe defense? Maybe not?—to fund the government,” predicts Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman. That could force GOP leaders to rely on Democratic votes for spending bills to keep the government running, hardly a recipe for curbing spending.

The leadership’s avowed interest in promoting free-trade pacts, for instance, may not be shared by the populist Republicans who are winning primaries.

The absence of a coherent Republican agenda reflects more than the usual lack of consensus. The gap between current congressional leaders and tea-party activists is huge.”

——————————————————————————————————
GOP Economic Plan Overview – By Padmini Arhant

There is no economic plan upon Rep. John Boehner assuming House leadership and likewise in the Senate.

Except for extending the 2000 – 2008 President Bush and Vice President Cheney’s failed economic policy.

1. Renewing all the Bush tax cuts is a top GOP priority.

2. Business friendly tax cuts enabling massive Wall Street CEO Bonuses.

3. A big corporate tax overhaul that cuts rates now – Inevitably depriving revenue for the nation, besides widening the national deficit to an alarming proportion – precedence set by the Republican administration with unique expertise in this regard.

Ironically, it’s also the GOP’s main criticism against President Barack Obama even though the President has diligently set up bipartisan committee on deficit control.

4. Promoting free trade pacts – outsourcing 90% American jobs overseas enlarging the unemployment indefinitely and facilitating,

5. Small businesses, Retail and Wholesale industry collapse from the lack of consumer spending.

On the contrary, the Congressional House Democrats under the efficient and result oriented Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed the following legislation – swiftly and favorably to all Americans including the Small Businesses and Corporations to promote job growth.

Ref: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/d?d111:0:./list/bss/d111HR.lst:

1. H.R.1: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – keeping 750,000 and more Americans employed with a significant rise in the immediate future upon complete investment.

2. H.R.2 : Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009

3. H.R.11: Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 – Guarantees equal pay for women that were denied by the Conservative Supreme Court votes followed by the Republican Senate coherence to the equal rights denial to women. The bill was passed through Democrats votes.

4. H.R.12: Paycheck Fairness Act – Subsequent to Republican Senate ‘Nay’ votes for equal pay to women, the matter was introduced through a new bill and passed with the Democrats votes.

5. H.R.13: TEACH for Our Future Act of 2009 – Focused on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness. Referred to the Subcommittee related to Higher Education…

6. H.R.14: Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 – Referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology.

7. H.R.78: Stop Mortgage Fraud Act – Latest Major Action: 4/1/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

8. H.R.83: Homeowners Insurance Protection Act of 2009 – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

9. H.R.84: Veterans Timely Access to Health Care Act – Latest Major Action: 3/25/2010 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

10. H.R.74: Financial Oversight Commission Act of 2009 – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

11. H.R.58: Green Schools Act – Latest Major Action: 3/16/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

12. . H.R.52: Tropical Forest and Coral Conservation Act – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

13. H.R.49: American Energy Independence and Price Reduction Act – Latest Major Action: 2/4/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

14. H.R.47: Expand and Preserve Home Ownership through Counseling Act – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

15. H.R.46: Family Self-Sufficiency Act of 2009 – Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

16. H.R.43: Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act of 2009 – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

17. H.R.21: Ocean Conservation, Education, and National Strategy for the 21st Century Act – Latest Major Action: 6/18/2009 House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

18. H.R.16: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent the deduction of State and local general sales taxes – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

19. H.R.15: National Health Insurance Act – Latest Major Action: 1/6/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

20. Economic bills to stimulate job growth, Financial Reform, Health Care law, Unemployment Benefits extension and energy bill are the hallmark of Speaker Nancy Pelosi leadership.

Together with the extremely hardworking Democrat legislators alongside selective few Republican members votes made the historic legislation possible.

The choices are clear. American jobs, economy, education, health care, environment and energy independence are the Democrats priority.

Whereas the Republican leadership under John Boehner is clueless evidenced in the Wall Street Journal report and the minority leader’s interviews.

Why would the American electorate reject a bright future with Democrats under the leaderships of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in the House, Senate Democrats majority and President Barack Obama?

When they are all constantly engaged in improving American lives.

Quoting from the cited Wall Street Journal report –

“Many Republicans are running on “anger.” That may win the election; it’s hard to turn into a legislative agenda.”

Further, the Republican election winning strategy is to create a wedge between the solid Democrats working towards economic recovery and social progress. Usually it’s premised on distortion, false propaganda and negative attacks considering there is no specific economic or other proposals from them to move the nation forward.

GOP might have won in the past on divide and rule, polarization tactics. However, disregarding the reality on their track record that will be clarified and presented loud and clear to protect the American electorate from being misled in the coming weeks nearing election – is underestimating voter decision power.

After all, actions speak louder than rhetoric.

American voters’ prospects are assured under Democrats rule in the House, Senate and the White House.

The Republican action thus far has been protesting every legislation – particularly the jobs bill, economic revival such as unemployment extension, tax credits for consumer spending, payroll tax exemption to small businesses and corporations, $30 billion to community banks for small business lending…and,

Importantly they were against Wall Street reform and everything to do with national interest.

Republican candidates are hopeful in November 2010 to win the elections through their relentless support to Wall Street and the special interests’ campaign financing.

Unlike the Democrats accomplishments and future commitments towards American families and businesses that confirm their candidacy.

Please safeguard and secure your own, your family and the next generation’s prosperity by granting the Democrats a super majority status in the House and the Senate.

It’s well known that the Republican balance of power consistently produce “Washington gridlock,” – rewarding the special interests at the average American plight.

Allowing that to happen would be devastating for the national and global economy with slow and steady growth.

Notwithstanding history repeating itself reminiscent to 2000 – 2008 – President Bush and Vice President Cheney era.

Please visit the websites – www.dcccc.org, www.dscc.org. www.dnc.org and www.dga.org with your generous and affordable donations to help all Democratic contenders win the congressional election in November 2010.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

There is potential for a breakthrough in the ongoing Palestinian and Israeli meeting in Washington D.C.

The issue has received worldwide attention with several mediation attempts by the U.S. Presidents, European leaders and humanitarians from different nations in the past six decades.

People on both sides have suffered enormous casualties –

The rocket firing, suicide bombings including the recent killing of the Jewish settlers in Hebron, West Bank and,

On the other side – The military intervention with heavy artillery shelling against the Palestinians in Gaza, while the West Bank and East Jerusalem citizens denied normal existence through check posts, strong defense presence and above all the contentious settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories.

These actions inflicting pain and agony on each other are deeply regrettable with innocent civilians being the victims in the quagmire.

After years of unsuccessful negotiations, Palestinian and Israeli authorities’ willingness to recognize the two states solution is encouraging.

Although there are justified grievances on the prevalent attacks and disruption in daily life, the mainstream population in the respective states desire peaceful co-existence with mutual respect for sovereignty and national security.

In fact, the forces in opposition to peace are essentially against their own people and the nation they represent. The parallel provocation through violence and settlements promotes the proponents’ personal ideology and hinder the pragmatic course for peace.

Palestinians have been seeking independence for more than half a century and were not effectively led by the PLO in the initial phase due to the ‘intifadas,’ premised on ‘armed struggle,’ rather than peace and diplomacy. However, it was acknowledged later and now vigorously pursued by Fatah in the West Bank under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and President Mahmoud Abbas leaderships.

On the Israeli side, the political leaderships’ earnest decisions for reconciliation thwarted by the hard liners’ overwhelming influence to embrace aggression and expand settlements that is proved detrimental largely affecting Israel’s image and credibility as a viable peace partner.

The violent retaliations became the bedrock for terrorism and enabled the peace opponents to gain political power in Gaza. As a result the beleaguered Gazans are currently held hostage in the political dilemma.

Considering the preconditions on both sides, the issues deserve fair evaluation.

Palestinian expectations apart from an independent state is predominantly focused on settlement freeze, Israeli troop withdrawal, border demarcation, Palestinian expatriates’ right to return and East Jerusalem as the state capital.

It’s in Israel’s best interest to accommodate the Palestinian requests and relinquish the territories held since 1967. Israel can then invest the resources for national growth and the armed personnel to safeguard its own borders.

Further, Israeli policies on the Palestinians right to return and Jewish settlements in West Bank, East Jerusalem would ultimately impact the settlers as the inevitable minorities given the evolving demography.

For instance, the documented population figure for 2005 in Golan Heights was 38,900 (in the Israeli-occupied part) 79,000 (in the Syrian- controlled part) and likely to be exponentially higher in 2010.

Even the one state proposal through settlement occupation would render Israeli citizens the minority status in the near future for similar reasons.

Therefore, Israel’s sovereignty and the majority rights are intact in Israel’s land prior to 1967 invasion.

With respect to Gaza, Israel’s concerns are understandable. Again the stark contrast in economic progress between West Bank at an impressive 11% growth in the last quarter and the lack luster Gaza economy under Hamas would lead the Gaza residents to a political transformation in the upcoming elections.

Palestinians in Gaza could democratically bring about the change for their own economic prosperity and political freedom. The choice is clear for them to renounce the militant statehood under Hamas and adopt the Fayyad-Abbas governance prospering on the democratic principles by maintaining peaceful relationship with Israel.

Israel’s sovereignty and security is the major factor – peace with independent Palestine would guarantee the global assurance in that regard. International support broadens the horizon for Israel in strengthening political and economic ties with nations other than the United States viz. Turkey, Arab neighbors and other democracies disappointed with the latest developments in Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Any threats to Israel or Palestine would constitute a regional security issue with an appropriate global response.

The coalition members in the Israeli political system might challenge the initiatives as seen earlier.

Israel upon reflection would realize that living in peace is bliss compared to the eternal warfare and the lingering insecurity over the piece of land that has caused immense misery all around.

Not to mention the generational decline particularly the youth population – Israel and Palestine’s hope for a new beginning.

What belongs to Israel will remain with Israel and likewise for Palestine i.e. West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, the Palestinian state capital. Extending the same strategy on Golan heights with Syria would place Israel in a favorable situation as a thriving democracy that honors legitimacy in territorial disputes.

Israel and Palestine can foster a good relationship built on trust and ability to set their differences aside for a long lasting peace and security.

There is tremendous opportunity to exchange resources facilitating trade and commerce between free Palestine and democratic Israel.

People in Israel and Palestine have endured traumatic experience from the conflict. It’s time to move forward and let peace dawn on the region with a pledge to a bright future for all.

Good Luck and Best Wishes to President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian leaderships – President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, President Hosni Mubarak and King Abdullah for a successful peace process.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

The decision on Iraq is poignant in the domestic front. The Iraq war investments could be directed towards our economic goals as it’s the legitimate priority for the struggling American families.

President’s speech was well poised on the importance of the Iraqi government formation that represents the secular society, precisely the electoral mandate delivered by the Iraqis in March 2010.

Iraqi security is the lingering concern among the citizens and the international community.

Again, political stability and governance that guarantees progress and protection to the entire nation would succeed against any threats within or outside the boundary.

Hopefully, the incumbent Iraqi administration would soon concede to the democratic choice favoring the all inclusive political party led by the former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and allow national diversity to prevail.

President Barack Obama – Thank you for keeping your campaign promise to the American electorate.

Mexico is in the middle of the worst battle against the drug cartels and human traffickers. The North American state is bogged down with horrendous crimes against the vulnerable population within and outside the country attempting to flee the economic, political and social quagmire.

Rather than substantial investments in economy, education, health care, energy and environmental issues,

The Mexican President Felipe Calderón government is forced to divest substantial national resources in targeting the criminals held responsible for the recent massacre, shootings, explosions and gang warfare.

According to the latest reports, the horrific execution of the 72 migrants from Central and South America near Texas border is a grim reality on the lawlessness prevailing in the clashes between the drug gangs and the federal forces.

The drug gang suspected to be involved in the migrant killings is identified as the ‘Zetas,’ ironically represented by the ex-police and military special force officers. Those individuals who were once trained to protect the citizens and the nation are now wreaking havoc through human smuggling and drug related activities.

Their expansive raid is seemingly indiscriminate and none are considered off-limit. They aim at prosecutors daring to bring them to justice, organize shooting spree near private schools attended by defenseless children.

Otherwise, their cowardly act see no boundaries and all are regarded a ‘fair game.’

Obviously there are two elements facilitating their massive operations or the successful heinous crimes and that being – drugs and guns.

These two deadly sources are proved to be potent arsenal used by warfare agents, whether they are drug gangs in Mexico or the terrorists in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen…

They are also the greatest threat to global peace and security.

During the Mexican President’s state visit to Washington, the epidemic violence was shared as the biggest concern among other issues. In that context, the requirement to address the drug and arms supply sources across the U.S and Mexican border was also expressed.

The lucrative arms trade from the United States to Mexico was even cited by the State Department at that time. The convenient exchange of drugs for ammunition between these networks is evolving into an international affair as witnessed in the migrants’ deaths.

Evidently, Mexico alone cannot combat the situation against the nexus operatives located in the regions along North and South Mexican borders.

Perhaps, the United States and other Mexican neighbors consolidated efforts in terminating the deals originating from their end would ease the burden on the Mexican government.

Besides, none are invincible and the drug suppliers together with the arms dealers are no exceptions to the fact. They could be easily dealt with by the combined federal forces in Mexico and the United States.

Essentially, eliminating the sources regardless of its origin is the preliminary step towards containing the spiraling violence that is reported to have claimed a staggering 28,000 lives since 2006.

Further, corruption within government and police forces in Mexico is another factor exacerbating the crisis. The innocent civilians in the urban and rural areas are in a dilemma while seeking protection from the criminals.

The Mexican law enforcement authorities could provide immunity to the suspects in their custody and have them assist the government in tracking down the masterminds behind the organized crime.

Often the gangs and terror groups seek the economically disadvantaged youths to serve their nefarious agendas. Their easy targets are commonly the population in abject poverty and the disoriented segments deprived of future and struggling to survive in the harsh economic environment.

Mexico jobs are on the rise with no improvement in the workers’ earnings and benefits.

Therefore, both urban and rural development boosting job growth with simultaneous increase in wages for better living standards would deter recruits in aligning with the drug cartels.

A unified community along with strong police security pledged to citizens’ safety could prohibit the relentless attacks and fatalities.

Educating the terrified residents and villagers on community support could strengthen the people resistance to drug traders and their allies.

The concerted private and public sector programs sponsoring social workers, religious leaders, political figures and news media can largely influence the society in defeating the forces behind the mayhem.

With the Mexican government commitment, citizens’ solidarity and the neighboring nations’ extended coordination in drug and guns crackdown, the prolific violence could be ended at its roots.

Mexico’s problem is a regional crisis and the law enforcement agencies’ formidable alliance is crucial in apprehending the perpetrators.

United States, Canada and Latin America bear equal responsibility in this regard.

Good Luck! To Mexico for peace and prosperity is on the horizon to relieve the people from their suffering.

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Despite the regional violent past leading to the U.N. military base as peacekeepers within 20 miles from these villages, the U.N. officials’ ambivalence on the peacekeepers’ knowledge about the horrific crime and the lack of intervention in protecting the victims is a tactical flaw.

It defeats the purpose of peace mission if the repeat violence is undeterred and escalating with no end in sight to the sexual attacks against women.

Reflecting on the history in the Central and eastern African nations – Rwanda, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola – There are many commonalities from the origin to the status quo.

All of these nations have endured the unspeakable crime against humanity during foreign power dominance and in the late twentieth century.

Accordingly, the basis of such atrocity emanates from the deliberate division in these societies created and fomented in the course of spreading religion by Western missionaries and their colonizers in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

1. The Democratic Republic of Congo:

Colonial Power – Congo Free State by the Monarchy King Leopold II of Belgium and the Belgian Congo by Belgium until 1960.

First Congo war – December 1996 – As per the reports then – Laurent-Désiré Kabila, a self-declared communist led the rebel forces ADFLC (Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo) against the ruling government.

Civilian Deaths – 60,000 (That comprised disappearances, torture and killings).

Second Congo War also known as the Africa World war – declared the deadliest war since World War II
War Period – August 1998 – July 2003

Civilian Deaths during war and aftermath – 5.4 million

2. Rwanda: Colonial Power – Germany and then Belgium until 1962.

Rwandan Genocide – Civil War – 1994

Civilian Deaths in mere 100 days – around 800,000 (believed to be 20% of the total population)

3. Burundi: Colonial Power – Germany and later Belgium until 1962 but officially ended in August 2005.

Civil war Period – 1993 – 2005

Civilian Deaths – 300,000

4. Angola –

Colonial Power – Portugal until 1975 – Gained freedom after the war of independence.

Civil War – 1975 – 1991 between communist, anti-communist and the separatist militant groups.

“The Angolan Civil War was one of the largest, longest, and most prominent armed conflicts of the Cold War. Both the Soviet Union and the U.S. considered it critical to the global balance of power and to the outcome of the Cold War.”

The Angolan civil war resumed again in 1992 – 1994 and 1998 – 2002.

Civilian Deaths – 500,000 in the 27 year war that officially ended in 2002.

While, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola wars are related to the political upheavals with external intrusion within Africa and the global powers at that time.

Rwanda and Burundi have been dealing with clashes between the once peaceful Hutu population and the Tutsi tribes that co-existed including intermix marriages until the European colonial powers upon their colonization assigned the Tutsis the superior status based on physical appearance against the traditional Hutu peasants.

Since then, the perpetual violence predominantly between these two groups had been widespread with the 1994 massacre appropriately recognized as the ‘Rwandan genocide,’ that resulted in roughly 500,000 – 1,000,000 fatalities by the Hutu militiamen under apparent foreign influence against the Tutsis preceded by the reversal killings in the latter part of twentieth century.

Evidently, The Democratic Republic of Congo has its share of warfare and violence that continues until now. Among them, the distinctive Second Congo war August 1998 – July 2003, the Africa World War involving eight nations and 25 armed groups have caused the several million deaths not only in war, but an estimated 5.4 million documented to have died from disease and starvation by 2008.

Many have succumbed to preventable diseases and malnutrition with children being the major casualty.

The eastern part of Congo is considered the ethnic Hutu rebels stronghold for economic reasons with the spate of sexual violence callously carried out against the Congolese women.

Notably, these simultaneous civil wars occurred from 1992 to 2005 in the east and Central Africa with the world powers exacerbating the situation such as in Angola war and other times leaving the victims at the aggressors’ mercy not excluding military action made possible with the obvious arms supply to the warring factions.

Had peace been initiated or promoted vigorously the generational conflict heightened in the early 1990’s until 2008 could have potentially prevented the incredible loss of lives.

Unequivocally, the arms trade had flourished in the process rendering central and eastern African lives dispensable with history repeating itself in Darfur, Sudan.

On the bright side, Rwanda today is acknowledged as the vibrant and progressive nation with rapid economic growth, political stability highlighted with the national legislature represented by majority women.

That being the case, there is all the more reason for the Rwandan female legislators to condemn the violence by the Rwandan Hutu rebels against the Congolese women in the eastern Congo and exemplify their solidarity to the victims through strategic support in curbing the senseless act against the village communities in the neighboring eastern democratic republic of Congo.

“The rights of all are diminished when the rights of one are threatened. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” – By none other than the venerable Dr. Martin Luther King.Jr.

Africa – where life dawned on earth is owed by the rest of the world particularly those nations that have prospered from its abundant resources and subsequently benefited from the human capital in their respective domain.

It’s time for a new beginning in Africa long been mired with civil wars, corruption, disease, poverty and exploitation from within and foreign power.

Rwanda’s status as the developing nation is further enhanced in engendering peace with its neighbors by addressing the Rwandan Hutu rebels’ violence against the villagers in the eastern Congo.

African leaders across the continent could reshape the destiny by honoring the democratic rule in the politically vulnerable states and focus on providing economic opportunities for the people affected in the ceaseless conflicts.

It’s entirely in the hands of the leaders to restore Africa’s image as a resilient, resourceful and remarkable global partner in every aspect.

Wishing long lasting peace, progress and prosperity to the land of the sparkling jewel.

Thank you.

Congratulations! To President Barack Obama, the United States Military and the coalition forces in the decision on the estimated 50,000 troop withdrawal from combat position in Iraq.

The President fulfilling the campaign commitment on timeline troop withdrawal is praiseworthy with the remaining forces to be withdrawn at the end of the year 2011.

However, the Iraqi national security is directly related to the political stability that remains unresolved.

The incumbent Prime Minister Nouri-Al-Maliki refusal to honor the Iraqi electorates’ will is contributing to the perpetual violence claiming innocent lives and enabling the insurgents’ establishment in the exhausted and war torn Iraq.

Perhaps, if Prime Minister Maliki were to prioritize his country’s interest over personal political ambitions by allowing the electorate mandate to prevail and that being,

The secular government comprising the Shi‘ite, Sunni and other minorities representing Iraq led by Prime Minister-elect Ayad Allawi, then Iraq would be debating on the economic issues rather than dealing with incessant bombings and explosions.

The people of Iraq could initiate the immediate formation of the secular government they elected back in March 2010 by urging the Iraqi leadership to recognize the importance in having a functional government to address all national issues.

A failure would result in the Iraqi security forces taking much longer to maintain law and order without a nationally approved federal authority in power.

Prime Minister Nouri-Al-Maliki and the political faction are undermining the fragile democracy in Iraq obtained through sacrifices from Iraqis and the U.S. as well as coalition armed forces.

Meanwhile, the lack of evidence in U.S. and international pressure on the Iraqi political situation is exacerbating the national security.

The default is also promoting Iran’s influence and the militants’ operations in Iraq.

Troop withdrawal from Iraq is a tremendous relief to the U.S. economy and a welcome change in the defense strategy with the credit attributed to President Barack Obama and all others responsible for the action.

Iraq’s future is entirely dependent upon the elected representatives expediting the March 2010 political outcome and granting the long beleaguered nation a secular, sovereign status.

Best wishes to the people of Iraq in forming a viable democratic government committed to long lasting peace and economic progress for all citizens.

Thank you.