Obama reaches out to Arab world

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

'I was misquoted on pub culture'

Zeenews Bureau

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.

Antony to stand in for PM in R-Day functions

IANS

First Published : 24 Jan 2009 12:46:45 PM IST

Last Updated : 24 Jan 2009 12:55:02 PM IST

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A.K. Antony will stand in for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is undergoing a bypass surgery, at the Republic Day function, the defence ministry said.

Antony will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti, the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, Monday morning, a defence ministry spokesperson said.

"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, India's guest of honour at the Republic Day parade, at Rajpath on Monday," Kar said.

Antony will also preside over the National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally Jan 28 and host a tea party for the NCC cadets and members of the Republic Day tableau at the lounge of Teen Murti Bhawan.

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

Dear Amitah Bachchan - on Slumdog Millionaire

Comment 476
• 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?

Shivalinga says:

January 24, 2009 at 10:07 am

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.

BJP tells UPA to rake up international consensus on Pakistan

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi, Jan 10: The BJP leadership on Saturday asked the ruling UPA government to mobilise support from the international community for exerting more pressure on Pakistan for its constant failure to contain terrorist outfits operating on its soil.

In view of Pakistan’s alleged links with the terrorist groups, the BJP leadership has also strongly criticised Islamabad for not fulfilling its promise in the fight against terrorism.

Taking a tough stance on terrorism, the party has also demanded that Pakistan’s premier spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) should be declared a terrorist organisation.

Islamabad has been in the denial mode ever since Indian investigators proved that Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist who attacked Mumbai, hails from Pakistan.

India has on several occasions alleged that Pakistan has become a safe haven for terrorists. The Mumbai attack left more than 250 dead and scores injured.

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 Pakistan, we would only be living in fool’s paradise. We have to solve our problems ourselves. We have to cut-off all relations with Pakistan and seek and destroy all Pakistani modules in India. Let us first make India Pakistan-free before getting on with the task of making Pakistan terrorist-free.

India has given Pak time till Dec 26: Stratfor report

New Delhi, Dec 24: India has given Pakistan time till December 26 for a crackdown on terror infrastructure, said a report of a leading publisher of geopolitical intelligence on Tuesday. The report from Stratfor says that after the November 26 Mumbai attacks, India relayed a message to Pakistan via the US that they would be given “30 days to carry out significant actions in cracking down on Islamist militant proxies operating on Pakistani soil that continue to threaten India”. Islamabad has been denying that the terrorists who attacked Mumbai killing at least 170 people were from Pakistan. “Pakistan's deadline, as far as we know, is December 26, making Indian military action against Pakistan a very real and near possibility. The Indians have had a month to prepare their military operations against Pakistan, and Indian defence sources have revealed that these plans are ready to go into effect,” the report said. “While India used the time to prepare its military forces, the US came down hard on Pakistan behind the scenes, making clear that Islamabad will have to deliver on India's demands or else Washington will not be able to stand in New Delhi's way if and when the time comes for India to act,” the report, based on intelligence reports, reads. The intelligence analysts observed that Pakistan has made a few arrests and raids targeting militant leaders and Pakistani intelligence operatives, but has done nothing that substantially reduced the militant threat to India from New Delhi's point of view. “And even if Pakistan was prepared to swallow the bitter pill of conceding to its main rival by cutting its militant ties, it can only go so far to placate India before it creates a domestic crisis in trying to avoid an international one,” Stratfor said. However, the report said, that it is still unclear how far India will take this military campaign and to what extent the US operations in Afghanistan will be affected. Discussions are taking place inside Indian defence circles over an escalatory military campaign, beginning with largely symbolic strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir against militant training camps and offices. Depending on Pakistan's ability to respond, pressure could then be ratcheted up with precision air strikes in Pakistan's urban areas - to include the capital - against intelligence facilities and militant leadership hideouts. The option of a naval blockade, which would cut off the US' main supply line into Afghanistan, has also been tossed around. While a blockade would put the already cash-strapped Pakistan in an economic choke, doing so would inevitably cause friction in India's relationship with Washington. The intelligence publisher reported that the US, knowing its “limitations” of the relationship with New Delhi, is already preparing for “a worst-case scenario”. “For the past month, the US military has been feverishly stockpiling supplies for its forces in Afghanistan in anticipation of a major interruption,” said the report. IANS

It is unlikely that India would have given Pakistan any deadline. Even if New Delhi’s patience runs out, war would not be an option. India might instead cut off diplomatic relations and put economic pressure on Pakistan. And go in for finishing off Pakistani elements in Kashmir.

Ajmal Kasab to confess live on TV

Report Zeenews Bureau New Delhi, Dec 24: Apparently looking to call off Pakistan’s bluff in front of the international community, investigators are now looking at the possibility of a worldwide live broadcast of Ajmal Kasab’s confession on his role in the Mumbai attacks and also reveal details about his antecedents.
What has precipitated thinking towards such a bold step, as claimed by leading English daily, is Pakistan’s continuous rejection of all concrete evidences provided by India about the complicity of Pak based groups in the recent terror attacks. Moreover, India has also revealed names of all the ten terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks. A high-level meeting was convened in New Delhi, yesterday, to look at the pros and cons of bringing Kasab live on TV and as per reports senior intelligence officials and home ministry officials are positively inclined towards the bold gambit. However, the final decision lies with the Centre and reports claim that it will announce the date –when Kasab will be live on TV- shortly. The development comes even as Kasab’s remand ends today and is due to be produced in court. Incidentally, he still has no lawyer as many of those who came forward to defend later though otherwise owing to the angry reactions from rightwing organisations. This would be first such move of its kind by any country in which the live confession of a terrorist will be broadcast live across the world. To make the confession comprehensible, Kasab’s confession will also have English subtitles. The move reflects Indian government’s frustration about the defiant attitude of Pakistan, even as India faced the worst ever terror strike. Moreover, the move also aims to further corner the Yousuf Raja Gilani government and prove before the international community that Pakistan has repeatedly failed to live up to its commitments against terrorism. Indian authorities have been providing substantial evidence about the nationality of those who attacked Mumbai and their masterminds but Pakistan has been categorically rejecting to acknowledge the fact that all those involved in the incident were actually its citizens, who were especially trained for the purpose by militant organisations operating from its soil.

Ace terrorist on live TV? Its risky. The fellow may, using the opportunity, turn tables on India by saying something unexpected. Instead, he should be interviewed by leading international reporters in camera, to be broadcast later if the chap was truthful.