Windows to Russia

The two countries have quietly been building a mutual relationship for the last few years through bilateral as well as multilateral contacts at the highest levels. Pakistan’s status as an observer state in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has provided it with an important opportunity to have interaction with the top Russian leadership.

In June 2009, President Asif Ali Zardari participated in the SCO Summit in Yaketerinburg and met the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The Russian leader was reported to have expressed a strong desire to develop closer relations with Pakistan in all important areas, including defense, investment and energy.

The establishment of close contacts between the top leadership of Pakistan and Russia and the two sides readiness to open a new chapter in their relationship is not only in the interests of the two countries, it will also serve the interests of peace, security and regional integration in two of the world’  s important regions of Central Asia and South Asia.

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Despite being geographically contiguous, Pakistan and Russia had remained politically distant from each other during the last six decades. The framework of the Cold War and the East-West confrontation defined the relations between the two countries during that period.

Another factor that obstructed the development of close and friendly relations between Pakistan and Russia was the latter’s insistence on looking at South Asia only through Indian eyes, ignoring Pakistan’s vital national security concerns. But the post-Cold War transformation of global politics and fast changing Geo-political situation in the region following 9/11 have created new and strong imperatives for the two to come closer and enter into productive bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and security areas.

This reality was manifestly recognized in the statements by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a joint press talk in Islamabad earlier this month. “We are longing for better ties with Pakistan,” said Mr Lavrov; while Ms Khar termed the current millennium as “the millennium of (Pakistan’s) relations with Russia.” The visit of the Russian foreign minister has brought the relationship of the two countries to a new and historic threshold.

Pakistan has achieved significant diplomatic success by securing the Russian endorsement of its position on the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. The Russian foreign minister, while talking to the media in Islamabad, had categorically said that his country was against any solution of the Afghanistan problem that is imposed from outside and is not Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven. Instead, Russia would back an indigenous peace and reconciliation process owned and led by the people of Afghanistan. Similarly, the Russian condemnation of drone attacks has strengthened Pakistan’s hands in ensuring the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Russian position on Afghanistan as articulated by Foreign Minister Lavrov during his recent visit to Pakistan is clear evidence of the greater Geo-strategic convergence between Pakistan and Russia on regional issues.

The two countries have quietly been building a mutual relationship for the last few years through bilateral as well as multilateral contacts at the highest levels. Pakistan’s status as an observer state in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has provided it with an important opportunity to have interaction with the top Russian leadership.

With the induction of a democratic government in Pakistan following the 2008 elections, the process gained momentum and the two sides took important initiatives to promote bilateral trade, economic cooperation and regional connectivity through multilateral frameworks. In June 2009, President Asif Ali Zardari participated in the SCO Summit in Yaketerinburg and met the then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The Russian leader was reported to have expressed a strong desire to develop closer relations with Pakistan in all important areas, including defense, investment and energy. According to some sources, Pakistan and Russia were contemplating entering into a commercial defence agreement enabling Pakistan to purchase Russian arms and weapons.

There is vast potential for the growth of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in a wide range of areas. Since the two sides have shown a keen desire to explore new areas and strengthen already existing cooperation in multiple fields, the coming years if not months are certain to witness an expansion of cooperation between the two countries. The areas of energy, regional connectivity, infrastructure and trade are going to be the focus of these endeavors.

However, while discussing the future prospects of Pakistan-Russia cooperation in economic and other non-political areas, the political and strategic fallout of the newly-found Russia-Pakistan friendship should also be taken into consideration, particularly by Pakistan, which has to date followed a foreign policy based on a narrow regional and global perspective.

Russia, which is a successor state to a former superpower, has its own worldview. For example, despite the establishment of a strategic partnership between India and the United States symbolized by their deal on civil nuclear cooperation, and robust Sino-India trade and economic relations, Moscow still values New Delhi as a close friend and Russian relations with Pakistan will not be at the cost of the former’s relations with India. As a big stakeholder in peace and tranquility in South Asia, the growth of the Pakistan-Russia relationship will be a further incentive for Pakistan to pursue peace and normalization with its eastern neighbor.

The Russians have their own perspective on issues relating to militancy, terrorism and regional peace and security. They are concerned about the prospects of Afghanistan again coming under the rule of the Taliban. Although, as the statement of the Russian foreign minister in Islamabad indicated, the Russians are opposed to the permanent military presence of the United States in Afghanistan; they are frightened on the prospects of NATO failure in Afghanistan as that would lead to serious anarchy and chaos in the country. This is why they are helping ISAF in Afghanistan by allowing their supplies through Russian territory. The Russians are also very worried about the security and law and order situation in Pakistan, particularly, the presence of a large number of foreign militants from Central Asia and Chechnya. During the meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit at Yaketerinburg in June 2009 between President Zardari and President Medvedev, the latter was reported to have called for the elimination of safe havens of terrorists in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

The establishment of close contacts between the top leadership of Pakistan and Russia and the two sides’ readiness to open a new chapter in their relationship is not only in the interests of the two countries, it will also serve the interests of peace, security and regional integration in two of the world’s important regions of Central Asia and South Asia.

The writer is a professor of International Relations at Sargodha University…

Windows to Russia…

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English: Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Pavel Astakhov. Русский: Москва, 2 февраля 2010 года. Уполномоченный при Президенте по правам ребёнка Павел Астахов. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am not sure what the whole story is about, but Russia is in a hissy and it has to do with adoptions again…

“Russia’s Children’s Rights Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov called on Monday for a ban on foreign foster families, including those from the United States, adopting Russian children.”

Oh well and all I have to say is, “Good and keep the kids in Russia! Better for them and safer…”

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

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In Russia:  “In the eight months of 2012, a total of 129,121 major traffic accidents were registered. A total of 17,058 people were killed in these accidents, and some 16,000 people were injured.”

Interesting and this goes along with what I have written before about Russians and driving. That is over 538 major accidents a day all over Russia and believe you me most of those are in Moscow. Just wait until Russians all have cars, right now most Russians do not have a car…

You should see how many accidents total are around this country? Minor accidents are a dime a dozen here in Russia…

Kyle Keeton
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Now this is an interesting switch of events…

MOSCOW, October 22 (Itar-Tass) —— The State Duma will hold hearings this Monday to discuss human rights problems of the United States.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the Foreign Ministry’s human rights commissioner Konstantin Dolgov, commissioner for children’s rights Pavel Astakhov and Central Election Commission head Vladimir Churov will participate in the meeting together with deputies and senators. Foreign diplomats, human rights activists from public organizations and representatives from scientific and educational institutions are also invited.

The head of the Duma Committee on International Affairs, Alexei Pushkov, told Itar-Tass that such hearings would be held for the first time in the State Duma’s history. Under discussion will be the observance of human rights in the United States, including the rights of people from Russia, and the compliance of U.S. actions with the international laws and obligations in the American foreign policy. The initiators proceed from the necessity of the establishment of human rights as universal values, the legislator noted. The theme must not be monopolized by only one group of states, he added.

I like this and what with China and India having been doing the same thing, it looks like the world is stepping to a different tune and America has fallen off the bandwagon…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

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 “…blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood,with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen”

According to a 2010 census conducted by the Association of  Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, there are 150 million Americans who believe in some form of myth worship (religion) ranging from mainline Christianity to Tao.

There are some 76 million protestants of various stripes, 59 million or so Catholics, 6.3 million Mormons (Church of Latter Day Saints of varying orthodoxy) and 6.5 million Jews. One in three Mormon’s live in Utah and the Mormons are increasing their numbers along with Muslims. Eastern Orthodox religions are on the rise as well.

All the myths are peculiar in their own way. It’s alright to make fun of Jesus  but do not take the Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) name in vain. No problem funnin’ with the Bible, God and Yahweh over at the Brick Testament. Even the United States Air Force Academy has recognized the Wiccans and Druids and have provided a place for their followers to worship nature.

No question about America’s religious tolerance. Hell, there is even the Landover Baptist Church where no religion is spared a humor attack. Latest headlines there include Landover Ladies Discover Depraved Cult in Utah and “Baptist Congregation Stripped Naked in Mormon Underwear Bust!

Seriously though, what is the gig with the Mormon religion? Do they have a sense of humor when it comes to the Prophet Smith being gunned down in a jail in Illinois in 1844?  It seems strange thinking about a Prophet being thwacked in a jail and that the State of Illinois is damned because of the murder. But so goes religion and worship.

So what matters to the Mormons? And is Romney typical of Mormons in his own way?

Show Me the Money!

It is money that matters of course. The Mormon church is a cash machine. They really do Trust in God. And they would feel better about the 47 to 99 percent of Americans who are freeloaders if they joined the Mormon Corporate Church.

According to Bloomberg Business Week’s very insightful How the Mormon’s Make Money (July 2012) the Mormon Church built and owns a $2 billion shopping mall in Utah named the City Creek Center.

But that is literally the tip of the iceberg.

“Mormons make up only 1.4 percent of the U.S. population, but the church’s holdings are vast. First among its for-profit enterprises is DMC, which reaps estimated annual revenue of $1.2 billion from six subsidiaries, according to the business information and analysis firm Hoovers. Those subsidiaries run a newspaper, 11 radio stations, a TV station, a publishing and distribution company, a digital media company, a hospitality business, and an insurance business with assets worth $3.3 billion….

AgReserves, another for-profit Mormon umbrella company, together with other church-run agricultural affiliates, reportedly owns about 1 million acres in the continental US, on which the church has farms, hunting preserves, orchards, and ranches. These include the $1 billion, 290,000-acre Deseret Ranches in Florida, which, in addition to keeping 44,000 cows and 1,300 bulls, also has citrus, sod, and timber operations. Outside the US, AgReserves operates in Britain, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. Its Australian property, valued at $61 million in 1997, has estimated annual sales of $276 million, according to Dun & Bradstreet….As a religious organization, the LDS Church enjoys several tax advantages. Like other churches, it is often exempt from paying taxes on the real estate properties it leases out, even to commercial entities…

The church also doesn’t pay taxes on donated funds and holdings. Mitt Romney and others at Bain Capital, the private equity firm he co-founded in 1984, gave the Mormon Church millions’ worth of stock holdings obtained through Bain deals, according to Reuters. Between 1997 and 2009, these included $2 million in Burger King and $1 million in Domino’s Pizza shares. Under U.S. law, churches can legally turn around and sell donated stock without paying capital-gains taxes, a clear advantage for both donor and receiver. The church also makes money through various investment vehicles, including a trust company and an investment fund called Ensign Peak Advisors, which employs managers who specialize in international equities, cash management, fixed income, quantitative investment, and emerging markets…”

No wonder the finance and banking industries like the Mormon buy in Romney. According to Open Secrets, Romney’s largest organizational contributors (see definition at the link) are: Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase and Credit Suisse Group.

Obama’s are the paltry University of California, Microsoft, Google, Harvard and the US Government. Of note is the lineup that Ron Paul came in with: the US Army, US Navy, US Air Force, Google, and the US Department of Defense (Paul wanted the US out of Iraq and Afghanistan, took a no-war/sanction position with Iran and, well, the rest will be history in a couple of weeks). What does the military know that US voters don’t?

President George W, Bush was once asked who his favorite philosopher was? His response was Jesus Christ.

What would Romney’s response to such a question be?  Joseph Smith the Prophet? Hyrum Smith the Patriarch? Where in the Book of Mormon or the Doctrines and Covenants would Romney turn to for guidance, inspiration or action?

Prophet Smith

How would Romney’s Mormonism affect his decision making duties as President of the USA? The revered Prophet Joseph Smith was shot to death in Carthage, Illinois in 1844. Would Romney seek revenge in some form?  According to Section 135, Doctrines and Covenants:

“Hyrum Smith was forty-four years old in February, 1844, and Joseph Smith was thirty-eight in December, 1843; and henceforward their names will be classed among the martyrs of religion; and the reader in every nation will be reminded that the Book of Mormon, and this book of Doctrine and Covenants of the church, cost the best blood of the nineteenth century to bring them forth for the salvation of a ruined world; and that if the fire can scathe a green tree for the glory of God, how easy it will burn up the dry trees to purify the vineyard of corruption. They lived for glory; they died for glory; and glory is their eternal reward. From age to age shall their names go down to posterity as gems for the sanctified.

They were innocent of any crime, as they had often been proved before, and were only confined in jail by the conspiracy of traitors and wicked men; and their innocent blood on the floor of Carthage jail is a broad seal affixed to “Mormonism” that cannot be rejected by any court on earth, and their innocent blood on the escutcheon of the State of Illinois, with the broken faith of the State as pledged by the governor, is a witness to the truth of the everlasting gospel that all the world cannot impeach; and their innocent blood on the banner of liberty, and on the magna charta of the United States, is an ambassador for the religion of Jesus Christ, that will touch the hearts of honest men among all nations; and their innocent blood,with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the altar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.”

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in national security. Reach him at cioran123@yahoo.com

Baluchistan and Pakistan Army

Brigadier Nadir Mir

Author of the book “Gwadar on the Global Chessboard”

Blog: Pakistan and Geopolitics

The enemy in Baluchistan is neither the Baloch nor the Pakistan Army, but foreign hostile forces and their allies. The problem in Baluchistan is local sense of deprivation, alienation, grievances; cycle of violence, under development of a sparse demography spread over vast spaces and of course Geopolitics. Many Baloch claim to be fighting for their rights, a mini minority is either backed by foreign powers or seek their intervention.

The six points enunciated by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, need not be compared with Sheikh Mujeeb’s infamous six points. The environment in Baluchistan is pragmatically different from the tragedy of East Pakistan. Pakistan has come to stay much to the chagrin of its enemies. In fact, Pakistan will rise as a great nation. Those predicting Pakistan’s balkanization must be rebutted vigorously. By the same token, irate and aggrieved Baloch must be welcomed back into national mainstream. The COAS has aptly and timely supported the political process (within constitution) for achieving peace in Baluchistan. The Pakistan Army and ISI while bravely defending Pakistan are keen to stabilize Baluchistan. The Army has launched and supported numerous economic developmental and educational programmes for Baluchistan which are creating a positive environment. Still the Baluchistan solution will involve other political forces as well.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Nawab Talal Bugti and other Baloch leaders have toured the country to muster support for their cause. Nawab Talal Bugti has repeatedly stressed on the loyalty of Baloch to Pakistan. Major political parties PML (N), PTI, JI and others have wisely embraced the Baloch Brothers. These are happy tidings and can help creating an environment leading to a remedy for the malaise in beautiful Baluchistan. The Supreme Court has to an extent accepted the Baloch petitions as an aggrieved party. Baloch grievances should be heard and resolved in Pakistan rather than in foreign courts and hostile lands.

The time has come to end the blame game and usher in tranquility in turbulent Baluchistan.  Nawab Talal Bugti, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other veteran Baloch leaders must be supported in a national reconciliation effort.

 Baluchistan Geopolitics

Sinister forces appeared at work to sever Pakistani and Iranian Baluchistan (called Seistan). This balkanization agenda is part of a larger Geopolitical design. An appropriate West Asian Strategy is being chiseled by hegemonic powers. Reportedly Nurudin Mengal from Pakistan and Naseer Balodi from Iran in a three day session recently briefed the EU Parliament. Both launched a tirade against Pakistan and Iran, plus pleaded for foreign intervention, (A La Libya, NATO style intervention?) Before that US Congress had introduced a bill to sever Baluchistan from Pakistan. Coming on its heels a UN mission on Baluchistan had even suggested disciplinary action against military officers for alleged excesses. These may be the contours of a foreign intervention case.

A part of the so called liberal media (foreign funded) in Pakistan and liberal puppets living on foreign dole are already blaming the Pakistani State. These Trojan Horse tactics in the information age smack of shaping the battle field. They aim to demonize Army, ISI, divide the people of Pakistan, create political confusion, galvanize terrorists so that mayhem abounds leading to a paralysis of state. After defaming and psychologically isolating the Army, ISI; the stage would be set for a Unilateral Declaration of Independence by a few foreign sponsored Baloch. Foreign forces could then be employed in intervention of Baluchistan.  

The Pakistan Army supported by all patriotic citizens must become pro-active for resolution of Baluchistan’s predicament.

Baluchistan Solution

A holistic solution for Baluchistan must include the following:

• ·         National Unity. The need of the hour is national unity and pragmatic solution for Baluchistan. Baloch leaders, major political parties, Supreme Court, Armed Forces, political government, media and civil society have to combine their efforts for a peaceful and prosperous Baluchistan. Pakistan and Baluchistan belong to all Pakistanis. All are responsible and accountable.
• ·         Reconciliation. Pakistan Army must take initiative along with Government efforts to accommodate the livid and afflict among the Baloch. PML (N) under the leadership of Mian Nawaz Shrif is most well placed to placate Baloch leaders. This scribe had suggested the same to Mian Nawaz Sharif in Gwadar Conference 2012.
• ·         Baloch Aspirations. The Baloch sense of injustice needs to be removed. All Baloch leaders and others in Pakistan seek justice for Nawab Akbar Bugti’s killing. The perception of injustice must be eradicated. The Baloch youth needs a special national package of free education and employment.
• ·         Economic Cycle. Baluchistan has numerous treasures which should benefit first the people of Baluchistan and then the rest of Pakistan. The greatest potential is in Gwadar concept amply highlighted in my book ‘Gwadar on the Global Chessboard’. This can bring prosperity and can change the destiny of the Baloch and all Pakistanis.
• ·         Security. The first act is to freeze the cycle of violence. An understanding based on reconciliation is the basis of security. While the army remains in its garrisons, the FC should be more biased towards the Western Borders. A new internal security force for Baluchistan may be considered with the bulk from Baloch areas.
• ·         Information Warfare. Pakistani media can help positively resolve Baluchistan by encouraging reconciliation with Baloch and discouraging foreign interference. The Pakistan Army can also further augment its information warfare capabilities. The ISPR has recently become more effective in projecting the army view point. It should concentrate more on Baluchistan solution with army’s positive contribution. The ISI while brilliantly guarding Pakistan needs to expose the foreign agendas and hostile agencies fishing in Baluchistan’s troubled waters. A serious effort to retrieve missing persons in Baluchistan must be well projected and presented.   
• ·         Blocking Foreign Interference. The Pakistan Army and the Foreign Office under the Government of Pakistan must present a unified case for blocking foreign interference in Baluchistan. All forms of foreign interference in Baluchistan to include propaganda, funding, training, arming of insurgents or succor for their leaders abroad etc must be dealt with firmly.

Even while blocking foreign interference in Baluchistan through all elements of national power, the key to peace in Baluchistan lies in national unity and reconciliation. All the Baloch have to be on board for prosperity and stability in the province. Baluchistan is as much part of Pakistan as Punjab or any other province. The Pakistan Army supported by the entire Pakistani Nation will defend Baluchistan like the rest of Pakistan.

Windows to Russia!

The views of the above author are not strictly only the views of Windows to Russia. They are an independent view from an outside source that brings a better light on the world in general and Windows to Russia is very pleased to have Nadir Mir’s thoughts on its pages today and in the future. So take a look at his site and read a few articles. – Kyle Keeton

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As Sveta and I travel, we have come to the understanding that the best countries to travel to are the ones that understand about the pocketbook. A pocketbook of money that is…

When you pay to go vacation somewhere, then in essence you are paying their bills and in essence you are their boss…

Now Russia is a country that fails in the tourist business and as much as I would like to talk good about the “Russian Tourist Industry.” I just can not do that and not be lying, but Russia has money coming in from fossil fuels and that is that…

I am talking about countries that have discovered that people who travel have money and those people will spend that money on just about anything. I also am talking about countries that make it easy to cross their borders and not treat you like a common criminal when you do try to cross their borders. The boarder crossing is the beginning and end of any successful trip to any particular country and that my friend is the maker and breaker of a vacation…

Russia has brownie points on the border crossing and starts people out pretty good, especially compared to the Western worlds border crossings. I cross Russian borders all the time and find the experience amongst the best in the world. Then from that great start, “The Snowball rolls downhill and gets bigger all the way to the bottom!” I am perplexed as to why Russia has great border crossings, but everything in between sucks as far as a tourist standpoint is concerned? Visas are not part of this article and that is a whole other story…

Final word on Russia (As this article is not about Russia!). Russia is a great place to travel a la carte and do try to get away from Moscow, if you desire to see the real Russia…

I am talking about a country like Georgia. Tunisia and Turkey to name a few. They understand that a tourist is a paying customer and pays the bills. I will mention that Georgia is a tad more authoritarian than most, but it is easy to get around and have fun…

So as I sit in Tunisia and look around at how they treat the outsiders. I realize how many rules they bend for us outsiders to be here and enjoy life. Even as we flagrantly break their rules left and right. I mean social, moral and legal rules that their people have to follow…

I will say that it is strange to see women in a full burgq, along side women in string bikinis. That is a daily sight here and it is a daily sight within the hotel also. Now to be fair the hijab is by far the most used female head covering and in most cases is very attractive…

Sveta talks about a girl that came to do step aerobics and she was in her hijab! Sveta said she was so cute and was so hard working, that she was amazed. Sveta talked for days about this gal and I can tell Sveta was impressed…

The Tunisian people accept us heathens from the West and do not say a word…

I understand that they are silent, because of the almighty Euro! They want those Euros converted into Dinars and then converted into cash flow in the country. Money talks and I find that money breaks all barriers, especially when things political are left out of the equation… (Hint – Hint – Hint!)

Actually I was impressed by the tolerance that is shown by the Tunisians. They sometimes show by their facial expressions what they are thinking, but they are very polite and calm…

I guess money talks…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

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American teacher: Who are you going to vote for?

American student #1: (male–18 year old eligible to vote): I am voting for Romney.

American teacher: What is your rationale?

American student #1: It is unfair for Obama and people [sic] to pick on the upper class just because they are wealthy. I listen to my parents about these things.

American teacher: Alright, that’s a reason. Do you know anything about national security and how it affects you? What do you think about Iran? What about the decay of many of our cities and towns in our country? How about the unemployed? What about those military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan? I mean there are a lot of issues that you should consider when casting your vote whether it be for Romney or Obama. You can’t rely solely on the easiest sources of information.

American student #1: Well, for unemployment, we can bring all the jobs back into the United States that were outsourced.

American teacher: Why would corporate shareholders want to pay more in labor costs? It does not make sense.

American student #1: Well, look, I am voting for Romney because it will be something new.

American student #2 (female—18 year old eligible to vote): I am voting for Obama because Romney wants to cut funding for the arts. Abortion is a matter for each woman to decide. Romney is not focused on our country’s problems. I don’t like his attitude. I do not know all the issues or much about the Iran situation except that it is not good. Really, they are not that much different. But Obama is my choice. Voting ‘just for something new’ is crazy.

Above is a record of a conversation with two eighteen year old Americans who will be casting their votes in the presidential election of 2012. A third student, just shy of her eighteenth birthday, was asked the same questions to which she said that Romney would be her selection because “it would be something new.” All three students were sincere and passionate about their responses. So in this three person poll, Romney wins it 2-1. All three indicated that there was not much difference between the two of them.

Feeling the intensity of their political passions, and being in the presence of the future that is current youth, it was difficult not to feel some sadness for them possessing the knowledge that war plans are afoot for a terrible kinetic assault on Iran by the US, UK, Israel, and some form of international military coalition involving Saudi Arabia. Already, economic sanctions are crushing the Iranian people and the Iranian television outlet Press TV is being knocked off the airwaves by the European Union. United States’ and Iranian leaders refuse to break out of their ideological fortresses.

The Iran matter coupled with record youth unemployment levels, debt (credit card, college), and a general feeling of boredom engendered by a non-substantive American culture, just adds to the gloominess of the times.

Why not vote for “something new”? It’s a crap shoot. The new face alone is identified with progress/change and provides the impetus/rationale for a decision/vote, not a critical look at what’s behind and below the face or the events/people driving the look of that face and the noises it makes.

Although making a decision based on appearance, gesture, voice and dress is a strong evolutionary trait, it is one that must be fought against mightily. The king makers/marketers are betting on a swift visceral evolutionary reaction that triggers a vote, not a critical assessment of the face, gestures and so on.

Monsters with Nice Faces

Slavoj Zizek speaks to this matter through the use a John Carpenter film. “When the hero of John Carpenter’s 1988 They Live puts on a pair of weird sunglasses that he has stumbled upon in an abandoned church, he notices a billboard that once invited us to a Hawaii beach holiday now simply displays the words: ‘MARRY AND REPRODUCE.’ Ad copy on another billboard – this one for a new color TV – says, ‘DON’T THINK, CONSUME!’ The glasses, then, function as a device for the critique of ideology. In other words, they enable him to see the real message lying beneath the glossy, colorful surface.”

With Zizek’s description in mind the socioeconomic and cultural symbols of the American human terrain—and the noises emanating from the faces of American leaders and news readers–are really saying something like this: Let’s kill and displace more young people, this time in Iran. A lot of our own young Americans have no future anyway and there is only so much we can get them to spend on clothes, travel and gadgets. So let’s put ‘em to work killing Iranian kids or converting them into American disciples. So what if Iraq and Afghanistan turned into hell holes. Iran will be different and we can combine that with a Syrian adventure.

Third time is a charm!

As the insanity for a kinetic war with Iran reaches a crescendo, and the justifications for failure in Iraq and Afghanistan reach their nadir, the International Crisis Group has already predicted the outcome of a war on Iran’s turf. Simply replace Afghan with Iranian in the following passage (and consider the notion that in some distant future, some invading country might write the same about the USA).

“Today in Afghanistan you do not have a national army. You do not have a national police. A factionalized government can only create a factionalized army and police. It is not a question of ethnic balance; it is a question of factional balance. People in the army and police are fighting for their factions, not the country…Assurances from NATO and U.S. military commander’s aside, there can be little doubt that levels of insecurity are likely to remain high, if not increase, ahead of the 2014 [Afghan] presidential election. With the majority of Afghan security forces unable to meet even the most basic operational benchmarks, particularly in the crucial areas of supply, logistics and air support, it seems highly improbable that they will be able to fill the gaps left by departing international forces by the time the campaign gets underway in earnest in late 2013.

Afghanistan’s political leaders have a maximum of eighteen months to prepare for an election and ensure a smooth transfer of presidential power. Many key tasks must be finished much earlier, particularly regarding electoral oversight. Resolving both the long crisis over electoral administration and related constitutional disputes could well be the key to determining whether the current political system will survive the 2014 NATO drawdown. Failure in either would be a crippling blow to chances to generate popular trust in a regime already regarded as highly corrupt. The international community must realize this is its last best chance to leave a viable state in Afghanistan and mobilize accordingly.”

And the outgoing head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan, Reto Stocker, had this to say upon his exit from Afghanistan. “I am filled with concern as I leave this country. Since I arrived here in 2005, local armed groups have proliferated, civilians have been caught between not just one but multiple front lines, and it has become increasingly difficult for ordinary Afghans to obtain health care…People are not just suffering the effects of the armed conflict. Hardship arising from the economic situation, or from severe weather or natural disaster, has become more widespread, and hopes for the future have been steadily declining.”

Hope for American Contractors in Iran, Africa, Russia, China? Hell! Everywhere!

Groan….Not again! It’s near Halloween. A magic spell is needed to make the Human Terrain System (HTS) vanish.

The US Army, TRADOC, HTS still manages to suck up millions. Some say it is really a pension program run by those who are trying to shore up bank accounts. Whatever the case if HTS is still around it means that there must be dozens of programs just like it.

“I have stopped believing that someone will start asking questions about the Human Terrain System. This is fraud on such a massive scale, it defies description. HTS is extending almost anyone in country who wants an extension. The next HTS class is scheduled to start on or about 22 October. Something just doesn’t seem right. HTS made it through the critical October 1st (new FY gate), and CGI got the $42 million contract. If they clear the January 2, 2013 automatic budget cuts, HTS will have eternal life, because [contractor] CGI will not let it die. There is a glut of people around, with no work, and none anticipated. There is nothing new HTS teams can learn in Afghanistan, but there are plenty of opportunities in Somalia, South Sudan, Turkey, Kenya, Guatemala, and the former Soviet Republics.

Personnel in the Human Terrain System have produced some graduate papers, a few scattered self-promoting articles in the Military Intelligence Bulletin, and a critical series of papers done by the American Anthropological Association. Other than that, HTS has been blessed to be able to fly well below the radar screen, despite its huge budget. There are a handful of publications floating around but they would probably have to be requested under the Freedom of Information Act. These include the HTS Command Climate Survey, March 2011; HTS Team Productivity Workbook, March 2012; HTS/CGI Contracting Specifications, August 2011; TRADOC HTS Audit Report, August 2011; and the HTS Budget FY 2011-2012

Some of the military commanders who made use of HTS have made some obligatory passing comments about how well their HTS team worked for them, but it is doubtful that they will show you anything useful their HTS teams actually did for them or any information that was generated by an HTS team that had any impact on any operation they conducted. That’s not to say that HTS teams can’t make a difference.”

They Live!

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in national security matters. Reach him at cioran123@yahoo.com

Post by Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

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Swedish furniture giant IKEA is to build around 20 small stores with a floorspace of up to 5,000 sq m across Moscow, as part of its strategy of reaching customers across the Russian capital, Izvestia daily reported on Tuesday…

I find this tidbit of information and it brings back memories of an article that I did on Windows to Russia. The article slammed IKEA for bad mouthing Russia and bringing up a issue that IKEA helped induce and that is bribery…

I said then, just like I will say now, “IKEA is going nowhere and will stay in the Russian market, because it is so damn lucrative. IKEA is a corrupt company and will undermine any and all legit countries, trying to get a better deal for themselves…”

IKEA is trash and Sveta and I, will not shop there…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Past WTR Article >>>

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The weather in Tunisia is delightful and the sun hot, but the shade is cool. I sat down at the computer after a long spell away from it and what do I get lambasted with by the news sites? Nobel Prize Awarded to the EU…

I figured that the Nobel Award would at least give the reward to someone that really cares about peace. I mean after the last award being given to Obama and what a joke that has been. They should at least give the award to, well to at least the “Little Old Lady From Pasadena!”

I know at least 100,000,000 people much more deserving for these rewards, just because they leave other people alone and that is a big step toward peace in the world…

Nobel committee chairman Thorbjørn Jagland added: “The stabilizing part played by the European Union has helped to transform a once torn Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.” Source >>>

The Western world is so in infatuated with itself that most will imagine this award a successfully given piece of a well deserved pat on the back…

But many people in the world will disagree and find the choice for the award an insult to humans all over the world, but alas we have all forgotten that, to name a few recent adventures – Libya still burns and Syria is on fire and Iran is next and this all is due to intervention of the EU participants and friends…

My grandma once told me, “People without friends have to pat their own back…”

The Western world is losing friends fast in this world…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…