Veterans Day – Remembering the War Victims and the Armed Forces Sacrifice

By Padmini Arhant

On this important day we remember the brave hearts who volunteered to sacrifice their precious life for their nation and humanity at large.

The cherished freedom would not be possible without the selfless dedication of the young men and women in uniform who willfully pledge their service for national and global security.

However, war should never be an option against peace and diplomacy. The simultaneous wars in different parts of the world today have claimed many innocent lives including casualties suffered by the duty bound armed forces in the battle grounds.

It has resulted in enormous pain, grief and agony for the victims’ families all around.

Besides, the economic liability from the relentless wars is exacerbating the national deficit for the U.S and the global economy.

Only if the funds were instead invested in social and economic development the terror recruitment would substantially decline allowing peace to dawn on the war torn regions.

Although many are reminiscent of the victories in the past and argue about the necessity to go to war for territorial conquest or in eliminating authoritarian rule,

They also forget that independence, civil rights and many humanitarian goals were achieved through peace and non-violence by the venerable leaders.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Iran Nuclear Program – U.S. NATO & Israel Military Strike - An Apocalyptic Mission

By Padmini Arhant

Nuclear proliferation is a global challenge in the twenty first century. The nuclear states hierarchy has contributed to non-cooperation in ratifying Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

The explicit nuclear threats exemplified by the prominent nuclear nations are largely responsible for the prolific nuclear quest.

Since the nuclear nations share equal responsibility in adherence to non-proliferation, the lack of fairness in the nuclear capability verification and the absence of universal treatment is the deterrent factor for the non-compliance among certain nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states.

Further, the ‘peaceful purpose’ concept through civilian program is a convenient avenue for some nations to advance their nuclear weaponization ignoring the inevitable serious ramifications.

Iran seeking nuclear status under such premise is a legitimate concern among the international community. Besides, Iran’s nuclear ambition could be detrimental for national and regional security.

In the increasingly insecure global environment, the nuclear threat is a potential cause for preemptive strikes and the opportunity readily available upon the Iranian nuclear weapon development.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

India and Pakistan Relations – Peace in the Indian Sub-Continent

By Padmini Arhant

In the last couple of days there have been many perspectives about India - predominantly expressing regrets, concerns and subliminal to scathing attacks for not embracing Gandhian principles in austerity and non-violence.

The specific reference was made against the rising Indian middle class and purported the Indian leaderships’ aspirations to be the leading economic and military power in the region.

The criticisms were largely directed at the hypothetical Indian Cold Talk and the alleged defense disposition presumably contributing to the nuclear neighbor Pakistan’s reluctance to withdraw troops from the Indian border for redeployment in the northwestern Pakistani territory to fight against the militancy.

Simultaneous statements supporting the critical assertions were issued by the U.S. military high command and the Pakistan-Afghanistan special envoy characterizing the non-existent Cold Talk as;

“A major threat undermining the US war in Afghanistan.”

These bizarre allegations deserve attention to dispel myths and widespread rumors intended to serve the divisive foreign policies facilitating relentless war and the arms race in the volatile region.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Mexico Massacre – Drug Warfare and Arms Trade

By Padmini Arhant

Mexico has been terrorized by the drug cartels with the civilian massacre rising by the day.

The drug warfare is taking toll on the innocent lives and draining the national economy.

The drug gangs target is not limited to the local population. As mentioned earlier the brutal killings of 72 migrant workers in late August at Tamaulipas state near the US border shocked the nation and escalated crossfire between the perpetrators and the security force.

Among the drug networks, the Zetas are considered the most notorious and ruthless having claimed responsibility for many gruesome atrocities across the country. They are also dreaded for the indiscriminate violence against the vulnerable population.

The Zetas are characterized as the renegade cartel wreaking havoc across the nation right now.

Their reputation in inflicting carnage and destruction ranks high in comparison to the splinter groups held responsible for similar crimes.

The Zetas have aroused interest and scrutiny leading to a new revelation.

According to the latest reports – the founders of the Zetas were extraordinaire Mexican troops and acquired training in the early 1990’s from Americas 7th Special Forces Group, also known as “snake eaters” at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Ecuador Failed Coup d’état – September 30, 2010

By Padmini Arhant

On September 30, 2010, yet another Latin American nation was targeted with a coup attempt by the police forces apparently not acting alone in the calculated operation fortunately resulting in a massive failure due to the brave civil society mobilization and the Ecuadorian security personnel prompt action.

Unlike the successful Honduran coup in June 2009 with the democratically elected leader Manuel Zelaya deposed against the republic will evidently involving Washington coup consultants and their liaison,

The Ecuadorian mission was a renewed political assault on its sovereignty testing the democratic strength that conveyed a defiant message to the perpetrators not to underestimate the people power.

According to the reports – the law on the spending cuts was falsely propagated as having direct impact on the police officers’ bonuses and job benefits despite no pay or perquisite reductions providing a pretext for the conspirators to instigate uprising in the capital city, Quito and the Guayquil harbor town.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

France Austerity through Pension Reform Bill

By Padmini Arhant

The French Senate passed the Pension Reform bill with 177-153 votes by adopting the single vote rule under the constitutional special provision.

The Senate bypassed the regular legislative process to avoid the U.S. equivalent filibuster reportedly rejecting a significant proportion of the 1000 amendments presented by the concerned elected representatives in the opposition.

Ever since the French President Nicolas Sarkozy declared the Pension Reform extending the retirement and full pension qualifying age from 60 to 62 and 65 to 67 respectively, the French labor force have carried out demonstrations in protest of the controversial bill.

The workers’ justified objection to the bill arise from the inherent financial burden upon them to fund the retirees’ pension, besides the anecdotal resolution resulting in the pension system default to deficit in 2018.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

Independent Palestine – End to Israeli Occupation and Jewish Settlements

By Padmini Arhant

The Israeli-Palestinian peace process had tremendous potential for development and the recent impasse is primarily due to the lack of political will in leading the authorities to the desirable outcome.

Although the moratorium expiry on settlement expansion has contributed to the friction with the building permit issued for an estimated 534 homes in the Palestinian territory - West Bank, the United States less enthusiastic efforts to dissuade the controversial incursion predominantly derailed the progress.

Lately, the legitimate questions were raised through the panel on Israeli-Palestinian peace process:

QUESTIONS From:

Sara Roy, Senior Research Scholar – Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies - Thank you.

In the continued absence of a political resolution to the conflict,

1. Why must occupation be the default position?

Response - Occupation will no longer be the default position. The Israeli authorities are being misguided by the real forces behind the Middle-Eastern quagmire.

Remaining article...contd.@www.padminiarhant.com

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant