Barackface

Monday, May 18, 2009

Laloo Should Be Brought Back As Railway Minister

Lalu Prasad Yadav - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Laloo is never going to be Prime Minister. Now we know that. It is Manmohan, and then it will be Rahul's turn after Manmohan is done with it. And granted Laloo has only four MPs under his belt now from the 24 he used to have. But he was the best railway minister in the world. And he should be brought back as railway minister. And the UPA does not garner a majority on its own. And if ever the Congress might need to reach out to the Left down the line, Laloo would be the best middle man they could find. It was Laloo Yadav who saved the Manmohan Singh government when the Left threatened to pull away on the nuclear deal issue.

Laloo should be brought back as railway minister primarily for his stellar performance over the past five years as railway minister. That is the number one reason. But it also makes parliamentary arithmetic sense.

If Manmohan Singh was among the top five heads of state in the world over the last five years, Laloo was the very best railway minister in the world. That is reason enough to bring him back.

The BJP is still the Congress Party's number one rival, and there is no bigger opponent than Laloo that the BJP has. Noone else plays the game better.

Manmohan Gave China Like Growth To India

Coalition	Total	Party	Seats
United Progressive Alliance	262	Indian National Congress	206
		Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	18
		Nationalist Congress Party	9
		Jharkhand Mukti Morcha	2
		All India Trinamool Congress	19
		Republican Party of India (Athvale)	0
		Jammu and Kashmir National Conference	3
		Assam United Democratic Front	1
		Kerala Congress (M)	1
		Muslim League Kerala State Committee	2
		All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen	1
National Democratic Alliance	158	Bharatiya Janata Party	116
		Janata Dal (United)	20
		Shiv Sena	11
		Shiromani Akali Dal	4
		Indian National Lok Dal	0
		Asam Gana Parishad	1
		Rashtriya Lok Dal	5
		Nagaland People's Front	1
Third Front	76	Communist Party of India	4
		Communist Party of India (Marxist)	16
		Revolutionary Socialist Party	2
		All India Forward Bloc	2
		Bahujan Samaj Party	21
		AIADMK	9
		Biju Janata Dal	14
		Telugu Desam Party	6
		Telangana Rashtra Samithi	2
Fourth Front	27	Samajwadi Party	23
		Rashtriya Janata Dal	4
		Lok Jan Shakti Party	0
		Praja Rajyam Party	0
Main Other Parties	5	Pattali Makkal Katchi	0
		Janata Dal (Secular)	3
		Haryana Janahit Party	1
		Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam	1
		Janhit Congress Party	0

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Sri Lanka: Is The End Game Near?

Sri Lanka: 'What's happening there is another genocide like Rwanda'

Image via Wikipedia

The government in Sri Lanka is all set to announce its total military victory over the LTTE. There are those who will marvel at the military operation. And it perhaps will be a military victory. But at what price and to what end?

There can not be a military solution to a political problem. Sri Lanka can not continue to be a unitary state. Sri Lanka can not continue to be a country that treats its Tamil minority like second class citizens. That basic political problem if anything has only worsened.

I have never approved of LTTE violence. But for me that has not been an excuse to ignore the very real political issues of Sri Lanka's Tamil minority.

There is a very real danger that the ruling class in Sri Lanka will think of themselves as victors and find the military victory to be an excuse to further mistreat the Tamils. We already have the ugly stories from the internment camps.

Sinhala chauvinism goes along these lines:

The Tamils are not discriminated against.
Sri Lanka is too small for federalism.
But don't you know the Tamils are terrorists?

Bloodbath In Sri Lanka: Where Is The Outrage?
Genocide/Ethnic Cleansing Of Sri Lanka Tamils

In The News

Why Google and IBM Are Ahead of the Competition Time
Why Wal-Mart's First India Store Isn't A Wal-Mart
In India, a Dynastic Heir Strategizes the Election
Spectre of Mass Suicide as Tamil Tigers Face Final Battle the embattled separatist fighters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are not expected to allow themselves to be taken alive...... LTTE terrorists are preparing for a mass suicide ...... Prabhakaran and other commanders may be ringed by at least 100 Black Tigers ........ Soosai revealed that her husband remained inside the combat zone along with Prabhakaran and Pottu Amman, the LTTE intelligence chief and effective second in command ....... bombers mingling with escaping civilians before detonating their explosive belts ........ the stench of death permeates the area. ...... Fierce fighting has prevented Red Cross ships from reaching the area to evacuate the wounded and ferry in food since May 9. Pro-Tiger websites are also reported that the make-shift hospital operating in the combat zone is no longer able to function. ......... the military now within hours of destroying the long running insurgency ....... Before leaving Jordan, Rajapaksa announced, "I will return to Sri Lanka as a leader of a nation that vanquished terrorism."
The Tamil Tigers
Thousands of Civilians Escape as Sri Lanka Corners the Tamil Tigers
Sri Lanka: More Civilians Caught in Crossfire in Hospital
Ready for a Fight: Russia's New Security Policy

Manmohan Gave China Like Growth To India

Image by London Summit via Flickr

And got rightly rewarded. This soft-spoken, unassuming man has done wonders as Prime Minister of India. Good governance delivers. Good governance is good politics. That is what he has proven.

Manmohan Singh is a Sikh. An American equivalent would be if an Asian, and Indian, someone like Bobby Jindal became President of the United States. (Independent For Bloomberg)

But Rahul Gandhi has emerged the biggest story out of this election. Suddenly he comes across as the person who will succeed Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minsiter of India.

Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and now Rahul Gandhi. That is one for the world history books. Which family has ruled a country as large as India for four generations? And that too in a rumbunctious democracy?

In The News

India's Congress Sweeps to Biggest Poll Win Since '91 Bloomberg
Rahul Gandhi Urged to Join India's Cabinet After Forging Election Victory “Rahul Gandhi has a shot at running this country for the next 15 years with the decimation of the BJP” ....... He addressed 120 rallies, compared with 68 for his mother and 21 for Singh..... Gandhi outdistanced all Indian politicians in campaign travel, flying 87,000 kilometers (54,000 miles) around the country to attend rallies...... Sonia Gandhi turned down the position of prime minister in 2004 ..... “We have won the elections under the visionary leadership of Sonia Gandhi and the youthful leadership of Rahul Gandhi,” Singh said, flanked by 62-year-old Sonia. ...... Uttar Pradesh, which elects 80 of the 543 members of parliament, Congress was on course to win 22 seats, up from nine...... Gandhi’s push over the past year to rebuild the party’s state and local organizations, and to urge greater internal democracy, helped win voters
India's Left Loses in Strongholds Wall Street Journal
White House says India's voting bolsters democracy The Associated Press
For India's Rupee, a New Identity Washington Post, United States
India's National Election Spreads Billions Around New York Times, United States
India's Bharti sees users doubling to 200 mln in 3 yrs Reuters
US senators ask India to reduce troops on Pak border Daily Times, Pakistan
Congress coalition wins overwhelming majority in Indian elections Daily Mail, UK
BJP routed in Rajasthan, Cong bags 19 seats Hindu, India
A Global Election, a Global Victory for India Wall Street Journal
Congress central body to meet on Sunday Economic Times, India
UPA won most seats from states of Third Front partners Economic Times, India
Rahul's magic floors UP for Congress Hindustan Times, India
Congress to stick to allies for government formation Economic Times, India
President skips legal consultations as UPA emerges on top Economic Times, India
UPA beats anti-incumbency factor, bounces back to power Hindustan Times, India
Singh, India's cerebral PM, glides to victory again AFP
Congress Win Sparks Reforms Hope Wall Street Journal
Cong, SP together would have wiped out BSP in UP: Amar Livemint, India
Congress comeback in Uttar Pradesh that no one predicted Economic Times, India

Monday, May 11, 2009

Bloodbath In Sri Lanka: Where Is The Outrage?

Genocide/Ethnic Cleansing Of Sri Lanka Tamils

More Than 1,000 Civilians Killed In Attacks On Sri Lanka Safe Zone Guardian more than 1,400 people were believed to have been killed in two days of air and artillery attacks. ..... said shells were continuing to fall on the area in which civilians were sheltering. "Still the shelling continues and the fighting is going on" ........ also been an attack by a Sri Lankan air force Kfir jet. ...... the UN said the bloodbath it had feared since the government launched its all-out campaign to destroy the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had now become a reality. ...... UN officials estimate that between 50,000 and 100,000 civilians could still be packed into a tiny three sq km pocket of land, but the Sri Lankan government has claimed that no more than 20,000 are left. ........... independent journalists are denied access to the area where the fighting is taking place. ......... The UN has been critical of the Sri Lankan use of artillery and air power in such a small area. ..... the UN security council was due to have another informal meeting on Sri Lanka in New York today, with the foreign ministers of Britain and France – who had a stormy visit to Sri Lanka at the end of April – both due to attend. ....... Both the US and Britain are pushing to secure a ceasefire, but Russia and China have opposed such a move. .......... many were believed to have died in an air strike yesterday morning. ....... the shelling began at 5pm and continued through until 9am. It appeared the shells were fired from government positions in Mullaitivu. ........ "The shells were landing about 300 metres from the hospital," he said. "All the time, we have casualties coming in. We don't have time to think." ........ the dead were being buried in large pits, with 30 or 40 bodies in each pit. ......... a report in which it was alleged that women were being subjected to sexual abuse in the internment camps set up to hold civilians fleeing the fighting.

In The News

Britain "appalled" by civilian deaths in Sri Lanka Reuters
UN condemns Sri Lankan 'bloodbath' The Associated Press
Open IP Architectures Provide Way Forward in 'Zettabyte Era' WiMax.com
The effective super-fast Mobile Broadband 3 is the future Culture11
Abhiash not moving out of Jalsa Times of India
Swine flu hits China as global cases rise AFP
US reports third swine flu death BBC News
Microsoft says Windows 7 on track for holidays Reuters
Obama, industry leaders join to cut healthcare costs Los Angeles Times
Who will be India's PM? Reuters India
Welcome to Your Internet Future - Mobile Broadband Brought to You ... BusinessWeek

Sunday, May 10, 2009

30 Points Down In The Polls

Image by smallislander via Flickr

I am not talking about when Barack was 30 points down in the polls in Iowa, although that is the metaphor: I am talking about today.

Long Walk To Freedom: Just A Third World Guy Dazzled By The City April 2007
Long Walk To Freedom May 2007
Barack Has To Talk Much About His Mother
Barack's Mother Makes An Appearance
Give Me A Huge Rally In This City Before Summer Is Over September 2007
The Largest Rally In US Presidential Campaign History September 2007

His popularity is sky high, but he is the CEO of the American economy, and his Titanic is not exactly doing well right now. His ship is 30 points down in the polls and, by extension, so is he.

Globoeconomics: Name Of The Game
Pakistan Is Where The Fight Is, The Fight Is Not Military
Barack's 100 Days:Cool In The Face Of Big Challenges

I never doubted Barack would win: Jupiter And Obama. And I do not doubt for a moment that Barack will see the country through this crisis and put it back to a shape from where the tomorrows look better than the yesterdays. He is destined to be a transformational president - you don't get one of those every four years, if you are lucky, you get one of those every 40 years. He is destined for greatness.

I love the guy as much as ever.

In The News

Analysis: Obama charts active role in Mideast The Associated Press
Spell out Mideast policy, Obama told Inquirer.net
Hamas Claims US and Europe are Reaching Out TIME
Muslim Brotherhood: Obama's Egypt trip 'useless' The Associated Press
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood dismisses Obama speech Reuters
US President Obama to visit Middle East, Germany and France Deutsche Welle
Obama to revive Guantanamo trials: report Reuters
Supriya Jindal connects with students 2TheAdvocate
Clinton wants Iran presence at Afghan G8 meeting: Italian FM AFP
Clinton: US-Russian relations improving United Press International
Final political alignment only after May 16: Congress Hindustan Times
“Nitish trying to play both sides” Hindu
Are Taxpayers Bailing Out Troubled Banks Twice? ABC News
Obama Urges Credit-Card Reform Wall Street Journal
India's humble business king Times Online
Automotive: India's TATA plays brinkmanship with UK's Labour Party ChiefOfficers.Net
Jacob Zuma inaugurated as South Africa's president Los Angeles Times
Taiwan, China should consider exchanging offices, says MAC eTaiwan News
Acrimony between China and Taiwan gives way to business deals Economist
British journalists held in Sri Lanka after news report CNN
Sri Lankans arrest UK news team BBC News
Karzai in power-share move with extremist wanted by US Times Online
Google Chrome ads coming to TV CNET News
Obama's budget cuts take aim at 121 federal programs Boston Globe

Google's Latest Domination Reuters
Google Execs: Twitter-like Functionality Could Be Added to Search ReadWriteWeb
@Google - @Twitter To Start Indexing Links For Search Washington Post
Indian films bring people closer: Big B NDTV.com
Indian "Oscar" to be unveiled in Macao Xinhua
Dell: Working on an Android Netbook? BusinessWeek
Microsoft Faces European Antitrust Hearing in June PC World
'Resilience' by Elizabeth Edwards Los Angeles Times
Farrow ends Darfur protest fast BBC News

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