Editorial - Los Angles Times
His appearance on an Arab channel as his first TV interview was a striking change in tone and a savvy diplomatic move.
January 28, 2009
» Discuss Article (10 Comments)
President Obama is not going to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, crush the Taliban, end Iran's nuclear intransigence, get Syria to stop interfering in Lebanon or end the fighting in Iraq overnight -- or next week, or possibly ever. Yet his interview Tuesday with the Al Arabiya satellite channel laid a foundation for better U.S. relations with the Arab world than we've had in many years.Obama's savvy diplomacy started before he even opened his mouth, with his selection of Al Arabiya to air the first official television interview he has granted since taking office. Not only did this signal a new level of involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, but it gave a boost to a Saudi-owned news channel founded in 2003 to present a more balanced view of regional conflicts than was being produced by the more Islamist-leaning Al Jazeera network. The latter has since become more objective in its coverage, possibly because it was losing viewers to Al Arabiya. Now it has even more incentive to play fair: the chance of landing the next Obama exclusive.
Obama offered few clues about specific changes in policy, but the interview presented a striking change in tone from the belligerence and neglect of the Bush administration to respectfulness and engagement. "The United States has a stake in the well-being of the Muslim world," he said. "The language we use has to be a language of respect." He reassured Muslim viewers that the United States was not their enemy, acknowledged that this country had made mistakes in the region by "dictating" rather than listening, and reiterated his commitment to negotiating with Iran.The Arab reaction seemed widely positive, though Obama doubtless will be judged more by his actions than his words. He already has made progress on that front too, sending his Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, on an eight-day tour of the region that started Tuesday in Egypt. Unlike President Bush, who waited until late in his second term to make a concerted push for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, Obama has directed his attention to the conflict within a week of taking office.Obama's efforts to negotiate with hostile regimes are sure to rile many in this country, and not just the wingnut crowd that thinks the president's middle name proves he's a secret Muslim. They fail to see that diplomacy is not the same as surrender, that disputes are unlikely to end if opponents don't talk to one another, and that sanctions alone have been ineffective in changing the behavior of leaders in Iran and Gaza. A new approach couldn't be more welcome.
Obama wants to have a better image of America in the "Muslim World". Good luck to him. However the Muslim world, largely controlled by unpopular cliques who are supported by the US, have large populations who look up to Islamic fanatics as alternative. Since most Muslim countries are neither democratic nor secular, the new President’s exercise might only end up offering America's friendship to dictatorial forces or Jihadi forces unless he simultaneously works towards a democratic and secular Muslim World.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-obama28-2009jan28,0,6754894.story
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Obama reaches out to Arab world
'I was misquoted on pub culture'
Jaipur, Jan 29: Facing criticism, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday backtracked on his comments slamming pub & mall culture by claiming that his comments were quoted out of context.
The clarification came from the Chief Minister's office, mentioning that Gehlot was quoted out of context.
"Every street and every city has big liquor shops with big signboards and there are shops close to schools and religious places. The previous BJP government had pushed youth towards pub culture and boys and girls roaming round in malls holding hands. I want to end this culture," he had told reporters yesterday.
Ghelot said the government wanted an end to the liquor culture that harmed social and cultural values and would not promote such a culture.
He said his Government's decision yesterday to shut down 800 liquor shops in urban areas was a move in this direction.
His remark on curbing youngsters mixing freely at pubs had not gone down well as it was taken as a moral policing attempt.
What must at all times be ensured if India is to remain a democratic and secular nation is that all sorts of freedom must be allowed so long as such freedom does not prove detrimental to harmony in society. What constitutes a detrimental act should be well clarified and written down in the statute books.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Antony to stand in for PM in R-Day functions
First Published : 24 Jan 2009 12:46:45 PM IST
Last Updated : 24 Jan 2009 12:55:02 PM IST
"These are defence ministry functions and it is normal for the defence minister to perform the role in the absence of the prime minister," ministry spokerperson Sitanshu Kar told IANS.
Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), will miss the Republic Day function this year.
"The defence minister will receive President Pratibha Patil and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev,
According to doctors, Singh likely to remain in hospital for a week after the bypass surgery. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is officiating in place of Manmohan Singh, till he fully recovers.
Comments
Is A.K.Anthony going to be the next Prime Minister of India? 
By K.Venugopal
1/26/2009 5:26:00 PM
when sick people like n.krishna and Vmehta are using internet, computers all invented by christians, what is wrong in Christian taking the honour. Dont use any of it idiots.
By Tony
1/25/2009 4:34:00 AM
AK ANTHONY WHO IS A CIA PRODUCT FROM KERAL WAS SEEN FAINTING EARLIER. MY QUESTION IS WHO WILL STAND IN FOR ANTHONY IF HE FAINTS AGAIN. MANY GOVT SPONSORED NEWS CAHNNELS HAVE BECOME SICK DICUSSION CHANNELS.
By n.kkrishna
1/24/2009 3:09:00 PM
http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Antony+to+stand+in+for+PM+in+R-Day+functions&artid=Yy116L5w4Xs%3d&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw%3d&MainSectionID=ngGbWGz5Z14%3d&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU%3d&SEO=AK+Antony.+Manmohan+sing%2c+PM%2c+India%2c+Ripublic+day
Monday, January 19, 2009
Dear Amitah Bachchan - on Slumdog Millionaire
• K.Venugopal says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
January 19, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Dear Mr. Amitabh Bhachchan,
You appear to have missed out on a greater audacity committed by Slumdog Millionaire than simply showing the underbelly of Mumbai. The movie has a Muslim hero who lost his mother in a communal riot shown as instigated by Hindus. Later on, among the questions posed to the hero in the quiz show is the question, “What are the weapons in Rama’s hands? The hero in a soliloquy comments, “If Rama was not born, my mother would have lived”. Is not having the hero say this an insult to Hindus?
Regards
K.Venugopal
venu1005@hotmail.com
http://bigb.bigadda.com/2009/01/16/day-267/#comment-271458
Shivalinga says:
January 19, 2009 at 11:55 pm
My God! I can’t believe this Taliban-style madness here. Some dialogue said something in a movie, and a silly hero surfaces out of nowhere to claim that it is an insult to Hinduism.
And another person is asking Amith to pardon the media….Gee! what is wrong with you people?
Lord Rama asked his wife to jump into a fire and commit suicide to prove that she was not had by Ravan……that too based on a gossip by an ordinary man. Not to mention, Rama shot a guy in the back and killed him. Talk about virtues! Gee! What a great guy! And Venugopal worships him.
#
moviemeh says:
January 21, 2009 at 9:59 pm
@Mr K.Venugopal (comment 476)
I believe the quote is:
“You think I don’t wake up every morning wishing I didn’t know the answer to that question? If it wasn’t for Ram and Allah, I would still have my mother. ”
So it appears more generalized anti-religion that anything else. However one of the premises of the movie is that his destiny is written, which raises the question, written by Whom?
Quote from Slum Dog Millionaire
“You think I don’t wake up every morning wishing I didn’t know the answer to that question? If it wasn’t for Ram and Allah, I would still have my mother. ”
hmmmmm! But Indians like Venugopal distort it deliberately to prove that this movie is anti Hinduism. Destructive fundamentalist muslims are bad, but Indians like Venugopal are equally bad.
Dear Amithji,
Please spank people like Venugopal.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
BJP tells UPA to rake up international consensus on Pakistan
Zeenews Bureau
In view of
Taking a tough stance on terrorism, the party has also demanded that
Zeenews Bureau
To use the word Musharaf used in the contest of India threatening to carry out surgical attacks against Pakistan, I would use the same word ‘rubbish’ to comment on BJP’s advising the UPA government to rake up international support vis-à-vis Pakistan. What help can the international community possibly give us? And if we expect the international community to take punitive action against