Secret War Ramifications – U.S. Military Espionage and Directive for Global Operation

By Padmini Arhant

With reference to the preceding article May 30, 2010 titled U.S. Military Espionage - Directive for Global Operation:

It’s clear from the reports that the signed directive promoting espionage through troops deployment around the world would be an invasion of sovereign nations apart from undermining the intelligence agencies in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

The U.S. is officially engaged in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan and Yemen that has claimed millions of lives with the Afghan war surpassing Iraq in the U.S. troop casualty reaching 1000 mark.

Notwithstanding death toll of service members reportedly as part of “Operation Enduring Freedom,” in the Philippines, the Horn of Africa and the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
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Per AP report on May 29, 2010, titled U.S. records 1000th death in Afghan war by Robert H. Reid

“More have died in past 10 months than in first 5 years, the death toll for this month alone being 32 in 29 days with more expected in the aggressive campaign this summer.

In the past 10 months, at least 313 U.S. service members have been killed in the war – more than the 295 who died in the first five years of the conflict.

More than 430 of the U.S. dead were killed since January 2009.

The number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan has now surpassed the total in Iraq – roughly, 94,000 in Afghanistan compared with 92,000 in Iraq.

In 2008, the U.S. force in Afghanistan numbered about 30,000.”

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Padmini Arhant

U.S. Military Espionage – Directive for Global Operation

By Padmini Arhant

According to the latest news reports obtained from the defense officials and military documents, an extensive clandestine military operation is ordered by the Middle East top U.S. commander to intercept militant groups or threats in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and other African countries.

Courtesy - The New York Times report, May 25, 2010 - By Mark Mazzetti titled:

“U.S. Oks secret war on terror by military – Iran among likely targets of special operations order”

Washington -“The secret directive, signed in September by Gen.David Petraeus authorizes the sending of U.S. special operations troops to both friendly and hostile nations in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Horn of Africa to gather intelligence and build ties with local forces.

Officials said the order also permits reconnaissance that could pave the way for possible military strikes in Iran if tensions over its nuclear ambitions escalate.

While the Bush administration had approved some clandestine military activities far from designated war zones, the new order is intended to make such efforts more systematic and long term, officials said.

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Euro Crisis and Impact on Global Financial Markets

By Padmini Arhant

It originated in Iceland with the pervasive subprime mortgage factor and similarly affected other economies like Ireland, Greece, Portugal and Spain, referenced as PIGS.

Although, every nation in this category share the contaminated ‘derivative’ traded internationally, the lack of deficit control with the national budget exceeding the GDP growth also contributed to the meltdown and subsequently reflected in the poor credit rating.

More prominently, Greece identified with:

“Goldman Sachs between the years 1998-2009 has been reported to systematically helped the Greek government to mask its national true debt facts.

In September 2009 though, Goldman Sachs among others, created a special Credit Default Swap (CDS) index for the cover of high-risk national debt of Greece. This led the interest-rates of Greek national bonds to a very high level, leading the Greek economy very close to bankruptcy in March 2010.”

The culmination of internal and external mismanagement primarily led the Mediterranean economy to the brink of collapse forcing it to seek bailout from the European Central Bank (ECB), EU and IMF.

European Union was challenged with a predicament in the Greece bailout to either ignore the problem or address it to avert the contagion in Europe.

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Shades of Contemporary Politics

By Padmini Arhant

The last week Primary and Special elections in the United States delivered bittersweet outcome for both political parties.

Pennsylvania election results were particularly unique with the Democratic Primary nomination for the U.S. Senate seat won by a less known candidate, Joe Sestak against the long time Senator Arlen Specter and Democrat Mark Critz victory over Republican contender, Tim Burns to retain the deceased Rep. John Murtha’s seat in the House for the blue team.

Likewise, Kentucky picked the tea party favored candidate Rand Paul, while Arkansas led the incumbent to a run off in the respective primaries.

Although, there were insinuations attributed to political endorsements or the lack thereof for the losses in the elections, conventional wisdom beckons optimistic perspective and accept the mandate as a blessing in disguise for the electorates’ decision is based on their evaluation of the candidates’ profile in the race.

External intervention by embellishing the contenders’ or exaggerating the opponents’ performance seen during elections is an insult to the electorates’ intelligence with an inevitable backlash.

It’s always convenient to scapegoat others for failures by ignoring the fact that the candidates contesting on their own merit combined with a track record pledged to serve the people and not the special interests or political factions emerged winners.

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Iraq's Election Results Favor Secular Government by leader Ayad Allawi

By Padmini Arhant

On May 16, 2010, Iraq’s electoral commission affirmation of a Sunni backed bloc led by the secular, Shiite leader, Ayad Allawi victory over the former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is a clear public mandate in the democratic election held on March 7, 2010.

Further, the election commission ruled out the voter fraud charges by the Shiite leader and the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after recount in the districts suspected of the alleged inaccuracy.

Hence, the new government with the Prime Minister Ayad Allawi to resume power in office is the electorates’ final decision in the prolonged electoral process that has contributed to sectarian violence due to partisanship sought by the homogenous Shiite party under the then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

The political standoff by the previous administration refusing to accept the democratic will has claimed many innocent lives of the Shiites and Sunni population through militants’ orchestrated bombings and explosions until now.

People of Iraq deserve peace and normal existence in a secular society.

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Tragic Events

By Padmini Arhant

Heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families of the following events:

India - Air India plane crash in Mangalore, India on May 21, 2010 with more than 160 lives reported to have been lost and the few survivors seriously injured.

Afghanistan - Plane wreckage north of Kabul, from an Afghan commercial airliner with 44 people claimed to have succumbed to the fatal crash.

Insurgents attacks against NATO base in Afghanistan reportedly wounding coalition troops and civilian staff in the repeat assault on a major military installation.

Iraq - A Car bomb had killed 23 shoppers and wounded 50 in a crowded market in a Shiite town near Baghdad.

The loss of life from plane crash and the violent attacks in Afghanistan and Iraq are deeply regrettable.
Time is the best healer in overcoming grief and the victims memories remain as their legacy.

We pray for the departed souls to rest in peace and the injured for speedy recovery.

Philippines National Elections 2010

By Padmini Arhant

Congratulations! To President-elect Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III, the winner in the Philippines Presidential elections held on May 10, 2010.

The President-elect Benigno Aquino III, the Philippines Senator representing the Liberal Party appear to be the popular choice and being the son of the former President Corazon Aquino, known for ‘People Power,’ has contributed to the success against the experienced Political contenders.

Besides, Philippines politics has been mired by violence, corruption and military intervention in the governance notwithstanding the ‘democratic’ system more accessible to political dynasties or wealthy aspirants, leaving the average citizens with limited government representations.

Election related deaths are reportedly lower than the previous years, most recently the massacre involving 57 people in November 2009.

Regardless, any loss of life is regrettable and needs to be prevented at all costs.

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Padmini Arhant

Thailand’s Political Crisis and Peaceful Resolution

By Padmini Arhant

The Thai government’s political crackdown through military might against the Red-Shirt protesters representing the rural poor and the urban working class population is autocratic than democratic.

Thailand is a nation with a history of military coups and a constitutional monarchy as the ceremonial head of the state.

Accordingly, democracy finds itself between a rock and a hard place.

The National United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship aka UDD and their supporters known as the Red Shirts are the discontent mainstream population in the rural and urban areas of the country marginalized by the current government whose representatives are regarded the elitist least concerned about the populist plight.

Having experienced the effective economic policies that:

Reduced poverty by half within four years,

The country’s first universal health care program,

Education, energy and a controversial yet seemingly popular anti-drug campaign under the deposed Premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the political crisis has been looming since 2005.

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Iraq’s New Government – Imperative for National and Regional Stability

By Padmini Arhant

Following the article titled “Iraq’s Political Stalemate – Solution to a Promising Future,” published on the website May 14, 2010,

The topic is continued to lay emphasis on the serious ramifications for a nation without the republic approved political power in office.

According to the latest reports, the Iraqi election results declare the secular Shiite leader – Ayad Allawi, the winner with strong Sunni and other minority party support for having secured the most parliament seats.

The former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s undemocratic stance by excluding the Sunnis and forming a coalition with religious Shiites to challenge the electoral outcome is worthy of condemnation.

Further, the election commission has confirmed in response to vote verification demand for inaccuracy that:

“A full recount in Baghdad province showed no fraud or major irregularities.”

Thus invalidating the ex- Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki’s claim against the winning party on voter fraud.

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Padmini Arhant

Iraq’s Political Stalemate and Solution to a Promising Future

By Padmini Arhant

It has been over two months for the parliamentary elections in Iraq and the nation is without a new government thus far.

Since there is no absolute majority winner, the political parties have been scrambling to form a coalition unsuccessfully.

The situation has created a void in the absence of ruling government allowing the insurgency to re-emerge that claimed 119 civilian lives on Monday 10, 2010.

Further, the U.S. troop withdrawal with August 31 deadline and the complete pull out from Iraq by the end of 2011 is contingent on the political stability.

The military perspective is “to hold as many forces on the ground until the need to redeploy them.”

Even though, the security agreement between Iraq and the United States requires the U.S. exit by the end of 2011, that now appears to be improbable from the military officials’ statements.

If this is not a wake up call to the elected officials in Iraq, then nothing can revive democracy in the war torn nation.

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U.K. New Prime Minister

By Padmini Arhant

Congratulations! To the Conservative Party leader, David Cameron upon being sworn in as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

The new P.M.’s decision to form a coalition with the liberal democrats for majority rule is a positive approach in the absence of viable democratic alternatives.

Although, the alliance is a political choice, the public confidence rests on the leaderships’ ability to work together in national interest.

Often, the political merger is predicted dysfunctional based on the precedence by the present and the past coalition governments worldwide.

Regardless, the contemporary politics is challenged with partisanship even among the majority and attributed to the electorates distrust against any political power in delivering their campaign promise.

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U.K.Elections and the Political Dilemma

By Padmini Arhant

The last week General Election results in the United Kingdom generated political confusion.

With the conservatives aka the Tory Right led by the leader, David Cameron as the front runner and the incumbent Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown trailing behind, the liberal democrats’ leader Nick Clegg is the ‘kingmaker,’ in the hung Parliament.

In the absence of a clear majority, the political parties are attempting unconventional alliances to form a government raising anxiety among the observers at the domestic and international front.

According to the reports, the Tory Right members are advising their leader David Cameron to function as the minority government daring the opposition majority in the Parliamentary affairs.

Unfortunately, it’s an ill advice for the majority could render the minority redundant in the legislative voting process and turn the tide against them in the next possible election.

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The Political Game

By Padmini Arhant

Politics is universally known for facts subversion.

Any fair perspective on national issues and campaign promise reminders are perceived as unconventional and thwarted with false accusations.

There were assaults regarding the concerns raised on the past and pending legislation.

It’s important to dispel the myths surrounding the open communication to the authorities in power through this website.

Since the 2008 Presidential campaign and up until now, the communication channel allows the authorities in power to submit their various demands to me but prohibits my response to them.

My communication to them is possible only via the website.

I’ve never had direct communication access during the election campaign and it continues to date.

Information sent earlier has been either rejected or redirected to ‘Auto response.’

As such, every communication sent and received by me has been published on this website periodically.

Upon being approached by the authority in power on several occasions lately with the routine message:

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Padmini Arhant

Reconciliation for a New Beginning

Honorable. President Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for the opportunity to clarify the position for a new beginning.

With deep appreciation for democracy, free speech and ethics, I reiterate the facts presented on this website.

I remain steadfast in my commitment to work for the people and serve our great country as well as the citizens across the globe.

Since my responsibilities are towards humanitarian peace and progress, besides environmental protection, I pledge unequivocal support to promote the daunting, yet noble cause in every aspect.

I do not have any doubts in reaching the milestones by working together with a common goal in the domestic and international matter.

However, I’m disappointed with the special interests’ control over the hard fought legislations against the democratic principles and consequently,

The electorate deprived of immediate and long lasting benefits.

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Environment – The Green Revolution

By Padmini Arhant

The two major disasters in the energy fields viz. the West Virginia coal mine explosion killing at least 25 miners and the gulf oil spill with 11 workers presumed dead is a great tragedy for the victims’ family,

Notwithstanding the catastrophic impact on the environment along with the economic costs involved in rescue operation of the species and the cleaning required in protecting life and livelihood.

As stated earlier through numerous environment articles on this website, no matter how vigorously the energy independence is debated claiming the “offshore drilling,” “clean coal technology,” and “nuclear power,” as the reliable energy resources,

The inherent danger to the workforce and the habitat from these sources cannot be underestimated for it is repeatedly proved through these horrific mishaps.

The catchphrase – ‘Drill baby drill,’ ‘drill now – offshore,’ and every other area with liquid gold, regardless of the consequences is the myopic view driving the global energy quest endangering life on planet.

Already the several accidents in the related sectors have been responsible for the irreversible outcome producing loss of human life and rare species extinction.

In addition, it has created huge environmental hazards as well as economic liabilities that are shared nationally.

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Padmini Arhant