Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Gadhafi's lesson

In March 2006 Muammar al-Gadhafi for the first time after several
years visited some western countries where he became an immediate
celebrity or almost.
Given verbatem is a report published in The Times of India, Lucknow edition.

Gadhafi's lesson for West Asia on TV


New York: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, in a rare moment of
self-criticism, lashed out at what he described as "backward" socities
in the Middle East, arguing that government heavy-handedness in
dealing with political opposition stemmed from the violent nature of
that dissent. "You ask us, `Why do you oppress oposition in the Middle
East?'" Gadhafi told attendees at a Columbia University panel
discussion on democracy, on Thursday, speaking in Arabic during a live
video appearance.
"Opposition in the Middle East is quite different from opposition in
advanced countries. In our countries, the opposition takes the form of
explosions, assassinations, killing." "Because opposition in our
country is different from opposition in your country. Our opposition
resorts to bombs, assassinations, explosions, subversive acts -- in
some cases before 9/11 events, said Gadhafi. AP

Thursday, June 18, 2009

The Whistleblower

June 19, 2009.
The fact, that the US allowed Pakistan to acquire n-technology and manufacture nuclear weapons without informing Congress, is an issue before a Congressional panel, makes one wonder how does it help questioning the whys and wherefores unless there's a remedy. But there is no going back.
Since then the US has had to contend with Iran and North Korea. Pongyang is going ahead with its missile testing, challenging anyone who dares to interfere. Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi has in recent years changed tact, I guess, much to the relief of Europe and America. Iraq has, however, suffered a great deal following the search for the non-existent WMDs. The big worry in the subcontinent is Pakistan's weapons falling into the wrong hands.
The shocking part is that the whistleblower, Richard Barlow, was fired and has been living in a trailer. The Congressional panel examining the issue was told by Daniella Brian, executive director, Project On Government Oversight (POGO) that Barlow is now destitute and living in a trailer. He was fired when he attempted to reveal what was happening.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Ambedkar memorial

The two domes of Ambedkar memorial, Gomtinagar, Lucknow