"An interview with Kalpana Kocchar, Chief Economist, World Bank, South Asia Region."
The Hindu : Opinion / Interview : ‘The U.S. has a dominant position in quota calculations'
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USA. Show all posts
20 Mar 2012
Afghanistan as "Lost Cause"
"The idea that liberal democracy is alien to the country, now being used to legitimise early western withdrawal, is racist libel."
The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Afghanistan as "Lost Cause": Powerful voices in western geo-strategic discourse had long railed against efforts to build a secular-democratic order in Afghanistan after 9/11. Now, the notion that liberal democracy is in some way alien to Afghanistan has become a pervasive meme. In order to legitimise early withdrawal, the anti-democratic politics of the Taliban is being marketed as an authentic voice of Afghan tradition. The ideological underpinnings of these ideas need extremely careful examination.
The Hindu : Opinion / Lead : Afghanistan as "Lost Cause": Powerful voices in western geo-strategic discourse had long railed against efforts to build a secular-democratic order in Afghanistan after 9/11. Now, the notion that liberal democracy is in some way alien to Afghanistan has become a pervasive meme. In order to legitimise early withdrawal, the anti-democratic politics of the Taliban is being marketed as an authentic voice of Afghan tradition. The ideological underpinnings of these ideas need extremely careful examination.
Feed the needy, not nuclear ambitions
"The crucial test for North Korea and the U.S. will be how the tussle over the DPRK's nuclear programme and the supply of food aid are resolved."
Just two weeks ago, an agreement had been reached between North Korea and the United States on the resumption of food aid in return for suspension of nuclear activities. The U.S., Britain, Japan and South Korea responded immediately, urging the North not to proceed as it would violate the United Nations ban on nuclear and missile activity.
19 Mar 2012
Losing hearts and minds
"The anger and bitterness millions of Afghans feel over the war's rising civilian death toll will not subdue by an American apology. There is simmering resentment over repeated episodes in which the conduct of NATO forces has been grossly offensive. The clear message is that Nato troops are above Afghan law, that the Afghan judicial process is not good enough to try them. This makes a nonsense of U.S. claims of respect for Afghan sovereignty.
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Losing hearts and minds: As the self-imposed deadline of 2014 for the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches, it is essential that Afghan sovereignty be strengthened and respected in word and deed. This means ensuring a greater role for the Afghan National Security Forces, particularly in combat operations, and zero tolerance towards acts by western troops which are an affront to Afghanistan's identity and sense of self-respect.
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Losing hearts and minds: As the self-imposed deadline of 2014 for the withdrawal of U.S. troops approaches, it is essential that Afghan sovereignty be strengthened and respected in word and deed. This means ensuring a greater role for the Afghan National Security Forces, particularly in combat operations, and zero tolerance towards acts by western troops which are an affront to Afghanistan's identity and sense of self-respect.
17 Feb 2012
A hearing on Balochistan that stirs up new tensions between U.S. and Pakistan
"Pakistan's restive Balochistan province has triggered new diplomatic tensions between Washington D.C. and Islamabad. "
The Pakistan government was using American weapons against the secular Baloch rebellion instead of using them against al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Islamabad had manipulated the “war on terror” to commit widespread human rights violations against its Baloch political opponents. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A hearing on Balochistan that stirs up new tensions between U.S. and Pakistan
Islamabad must be mindful of the fact that it can no longer commit human rights violations, curb basic freedoms and still remain unnoticed in the age of social media!
Balochistan is almost half of Pakistan's territory, but is its most backward province despite vast reservoirs of gas, gold, copper and a port in Gwadar. The Baloch have faced at least five deadly military operations by the Pakistani Army since what they describe as Balochistan's “illegal and forceful occupation” by Pakistan in 1948.
It was an "incontrovertible fact" that Balochistan was an "occupied territory which never acceded to Pakistan and now does not want to be a part of Pakistan. If a plebiscite or referendum is to be held tomorrow, Balochistan would vote to leave Pakistan."
16 Feb 2012
Iran issue needs diplomacy, not crude weapon
"India, Russia and China must work together to lower the temperature and stave off the confrontation which is looming large."
By imposing sanctions that aim to throttle Iran's oil industry and exports, the United States and Europe have embarked on a course of action that is likely to backfire on the West and the immediate region. The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Iran issue needs diplomacy, not crude weapon
Any disruption of oil supplies from the Gulf, whether as a result of conscious OPEC policy decision or due to closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will create untold problems not only for Western economies and the Gulf's oil suppliers but also for oil importing developing countries like India. Last time when oil embargo was imposed on the "west" it had a lasting impact on both oil prices and global inflation.
It is sad that the international community, fed by western propaganda, is looking at the Iran crisis as a bilateral issue of controlling Iran's nuclear ambitions, rather than at the larger consequences of the use of oil as a political weapon for the region and world.
What is required today is to stop the implementation of sanction measures the European Union (EU) has rashly announced. But oil sanctions have raised the temperature so much that a conflict by miscalculation has become a major threat.
Disengaging the weapon of oil from the dialogue required to deal with Iran's nuclear issue is the need of the hour.
Any disruption of oil supplies from the Gulf, whether as a result of conscious OPEC policy decision or due to closure of the Strait of Hormuz, will create untold problems not only for Western economies and the Gulf's oil suppliers but also for oil importing developing countries like India. Last time when oil embargo was imposed on the "west" it had a lasting impact on both oil prices and global inflation.
It is sad that the international community, fed by western propaganda, is looking at the Iran crisis as a bilateral issue of controlling Iran's nuclear ambitions, rather than at the larger consequences of the use of oil as a political weapon for the region and world.
What is required today is to stop the implementation of sanction measures the European Union (EU) has rashly announced. But oil sanctions have raised the temperature so much that a conflict by miscalculation has become a major threat.
Disengaging the weapon of oil from the dialogue required to deal with Iran's nuclear issue is the need of the hour.
31 Dec 2011
In Iran's shadow, U.S. sells jets to Saudi Arabia
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : In Iran's shadow, U.S. sells jets to Saudi Arabia
Fortifying one of its key allies in the Persian Gulf, the Obama administration announced a weapons deal with Saudi Arabia on Thursday, saying it had agreed to sell F-15 fighter jets valued at nearly $30 billion to the Royal Saudi Air Force.
Fortifying one of its key allies in the Persian Gulf, the Obama administration announced a weapons deal with Saudi Arabia on Thursday, saying it had agreed to sell F-15 fighter jets valued at nearly $30 billion to the Royal Saudi Air Force.
29 Dec 2011
The centre of detraction
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : The centre of detraction
"The U.S. Republicans are finding it hard to credibly attack an opponent who has adopted so many of their party's beliefs."
23 Dec 2011
Wrong call
The Hindu : Opinion / Editorial : Wrong call:
On the dynamics of protectionist measures supported by demagogues and the real measures needed to overcome recession and unemployment.
On the dynamics of protectionist measures supported by demagogues and the real measures needed to overcome recession and unemployment.
Iraqi Prime Minister puts power-sharing at risk
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : Iraqi Prime Minister puts power-sharing at risk
"The crisis is a challenge to the American premise that Iraq is a success and it is relatively stable and does not need U.S. troops to continue the move forward."
22 Dec 2011
A welcome appointment at a critical time
The Hindu : Opinion / Op-Ed : A welcome appointment at a critical time
"The next U.S. Ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, will need to address some long-running problems and keep the leadership on both sides personally engaged."
19 Dec 2011
Eroding civil liberties
On the National Defense Authorization Bill of USA
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2726662.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2726662.ece
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)