Narendra Modi’s Visit 9-30-2015

30, September 2015                        Narendra Modi’s Visit

It’s puzzling why the Indian media has devoted so much newsprint to Narendra Modi’s visit. Largely forgotten is the uncomfortable truth that successive US governments barred him from visiting the United States over his role in anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat while he was chief minister. Modi has never apologized or even explained his reasons why he allowed 3 days to elapse while the killings took place. More than 100 academics in the U.S. wrote a letter protesting Modi’s visit to Silicon Valley, warning tech giants of the dangers of doing business with a government that has "demonstrated its disregard for human rights and civil liberties, as well as the autonomy of educational and cultural institutions."  Modi certainly seems to have a penchant for fancy clothes and foreign travel and seems averse to getting tied down to the minutiae of governing.  Everywhere he goes he gives himself an air of royalty. Meanwhile, his cabinet has been running roughshod against civil libertarians and other dissenters, especially Teesta Setalvad. A climate of fear has gripped human rights activists who are determined to hold Modi’s feet to the fire and hold him accountable for the pogrom in Gujarat in 2002. Soring food prices have imposed tremendous hardship on the poor, but has largely been ignored by Modi’s BJP. The pro-business agenda is very much in display in Modi’s Digital India idea. Facebook has created a web portal called Internet.org, linked up with a major Indian multinational, Reliance. Modi claims that this would allow the poor access to the Internet. The problem is that both Facebook and Reliance have made deregulation and development a major theme of their partnership which would surely be the death knell of net-neutrality and fast internet access only affordable to the rich. Privacy advocates have also sounded alarm bells on the potential for surveillance and government overreach. If Modi is serious about alleviating poverty he should turn his attention the poorest of the poor, the Untouchables or Dalits. There are 200 million Dalits, in India. According to the country’s National Crime Records Bureau, four Dalit women are raped, two Dalits are murdered, and two Dalit homes are torched every day. Dalits are the modern slaves of India who suffer enormous indignities in their daily lives. Deeply entreated Brahminized religious institutions have perpetuated this system of injustice. Not a single religious or modern day politician has voiced concern for their welfare and demanded an end Dalit discrimination. I urge readers to see the documentary film #Dalitwomenfight. Asha Kowtal, the general secretary of the All India Dalit Women’s Rights Forum, was highly critical of the rise in power of Hindu extremists groups following the election of Modi. She expressed concern for the erosion of free speech, freedom of assembly, and organizing and demanding justice – the hallmark of a functioning democracy. Perhaps, it’s time to usher ‘a ‘Dalits lives matter’ to bring much needed public awareness on this hideous system of caste apartheid.

Pope Francis’s Visit 9-29-2015

29, September 2015                        Pope Francis’s Visit

The non-stop media coverage and the unprecedented access granted to Pope Francis to address Congress sets up a troubling precedent in a nation that claims to separate church and state. Will the same access be granted to members of other faiths? Francis’s central message was one of inclusion and an accurate reflection of Jesus’ teachings with one major exception – the canonization of Junipera Serra who was the quintessential anti-Christ, responsible for the genocide of tens of thousands of native Indians.  Sadly, it appears that Pope Francis is more concerned about perpetuating a favorable image of the Catholic Crusader than confronting the uncomfortable truth.

Francis’s lavish praise of bishops for their handling of the American sexual abuse was another major aberration; his promise to hold the guilty accountable seems doubtful. His endorsement of President Obama’s environmental agenda is a welcome commitment.  What was glaringly missing was his refusal to allow the ordination of women which is both irrational and not rooted in Biblical scripture. Also absent were Vatican guidelines on doctor-assisted suicide and same-sex marriage.


Renowned Biblical scholar, Gary Wills, dispels some of the gross distortions propagated by Paul and endorsed by Pope Francis (sin, guilt, celibacy, and, the subordinate role of women) in his book ‘What Paul Meant’—a companion volume to ‘What Jesus Meant’. The supernatural stories of the resurrection and the Trinity appear to be a religious marketing effort by Paul to elevate Christianity above other competing religious belief systems.

Close GITMO 9-28-2015

28, September 2015                  Close GITMO

Almost 14 years have elapsed since President George W. Bush opened the United States camp at Guantánamo Bay in a hasty response to the September 11 attacks. Most of those interned had nothing to do with terrorism but were swept up on orders from the White House to demonstrate that progress was being made in the nebulous ‘war on terror’. The writ of Habeas Corpus and the Geneva Conventions were suspended and our government engaged in hideous acts of brutality (renditions, torture, assassinations, .  .). No attempt to exercise due process was attempted. Afghan tribal disputes were settled by convincing the American military that their enemies were Taliban fighters in exchange for bundles of money.

Many prisoners were force fed when they went on hunger strike, with the help of health professions who oversaw much of the abuse, but chose to remain silent. There is little doubt that the prison has radicalized many of the Afghan people and has severely tarnished our country’s claim to be a nation of laws, squandering more than $5.2 billion. 

President Obama made closing Guantánamo a major commitment during his first term in office but his promise remains unfilled.

It is time to release the 53 men cleared for release and bring  charges on the remaining 52 who have never been charged with a recognizable crime failing which they  should be released immediately. Finally, the prison should be closed and Guantánamo Bay returned to its rightful owner - Cuba.

ISIS 9-25-2015

25, September 2015                  ISIS

In what has become an all too familiar refrain, American military officials often provide false upbeat assessments of war efforts and belittle reporting that challenges the official narrative. Remember Robert McNamara, the secretary of Defense and General Westmorland who inflated war successes in Vietnam and  Dick Cheney who gushed ‘we have the Taliban on the run’ in Afghanistan or the ‘mother of all grandiose claims’, President George Bush claiming the Iraq War over dressed in battle fatigues? The latest fiasco is Obama’s assessments of the war against the Islamic State.  The American Central Command periodically releases photographs showing buildings being blown up but what is glaringly omitted is the number of civilians being killed which appears to have radicalized the local population. 

Inflated successes have often replaced actual numbers and the report reaching the president’s desk seems to undergo a thorough filtering process to present a misleading rosy scenario.

Gen Lloyd Austin, commander of Centcom, recently presented a most unconvincing assessment of battleground successes before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator John McCain called the military’s assessment of progress ”divorced from reality” and described the status quo in Syria as “an abject failure.”

Congress has also failed in its responsibility to issue a formal declaration of war  against the Islamic State. This has resulted in a muddled escalation of the military campaign with no guidance or oversight.

Response to NYT Op Ed re: Visit of Pope Francis 9-24-2015

24, September 2015   Response to NYT Op Ed re: Visit of Pope Francis

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/24/opinion/nicholas-kristof-a-pope-for-all-species.html?comments#permid=16179018

Pope Francis’s humility and words of love and compassion are certainly welcome. But his decision to honor the 18th century Spanish missionary, Junípero Serra, remains a mystery.

According to historian Alvin Josephy, thousands of native Indians perished after the missionaries arrived on what he described as genocide. Soldiers were employed to kidnap children and when their parents came looking for them they too were captured and used as slaves. Escapees would be severely punished. Fathers and mothers would be separated from their children. The women were separately housed and used as sex slaves by the soldiers. Living conditions were appalling and an epidemic of disease would result in the death of thousands. Over150,000 California Indians died under the system that Junípero Serra developed.

Serra justified the savage beatings as a small price to pay for the joy of moving Indians out of their ‘dark past’ to become ‘enlightened Christians’.

To canonize Junípero Serra, would be an affront to native Indians and a terrible stain on Pope Francis’s legacy. In keeping with his laudable messages of love and compassion, Pope Francis should assuage the sentiments of native Indians by seeking their forgiveness for the appalling crimes committed by Junípero Serra.

Junípero Serra 9-23-2015

23, September 2015                        Junípero Serra        

Pope Francis’ decision to canonize the 18th century Spanish missionary, Junípero Serra, has drawn strong protests from many indigenous groups.

According to historian Alvin Josephy, thousands of native Indians perished after the missionaries arrived on what he described as genocide. Soldiers were employed to kidnap children and when their parents came looking for them they too were captured and used as slaves. Escapees would be severely punished. Fathers and mothers would be separated from their children. The women were separately housed and used as sex slaves by the soldiers.  Living conditions were appalling and an epidemic of disease would result in the death of thousands. Over150,000 California Indians died under the system that Junípero Serra developed.

Serra justified the savage beatings as a small price to pay for the joy of moving Indians out of their ‘dark past’ to become ‘enlightened Christians’.


To canonize Junípero Serra,  would be an affront to native Indians and a terrible stain on Pope Francis’s legacy. In keeping with his laudable messages of love and compassion, Pope Francis should assuage the sentiments of native Indians by seeking their forgiveness for the appalling crimes committed by Junípero Serra.

GM "crimes without criminals" 9-22-2015

22, September 2015            GM "crimes without criminals"

In another case of white collar crime, Federal prosecutors have agreed to settle a criminal probe into General Motors for concealing an ignition switch defect linked to at least 124 deaths. Under the deal, General Motors agreed to pay $900 million as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, but no GM executives will be prosecuted for covering up the deadly defect. The fine is a pittance – a small blip in their earnings. The deal has been roundly criticized by consumer advocates and the families who lost loved ones. Clarence Ditlow, head of the Center for Auto Safety, said, "GM killed over 100 people by knowingly putting a defective ignition switch into over 1 million vehicles. Today, thanks to its lobbyists, GM officials walk off scot-free while its customers are six feet under." One of the mother’s, Laura Christian, who lost her 16 year old daughter expressed outrage over the Justice Department’s deal. The settlement is the latest in a string of deferred prosecution agreements between the Obama administration and corporations accused of criminal activity.


Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate, was also incensed at the deal and stated “it’s an absurd settlement. It doesn’t deter future behavior by General Motors. Nobody went to jail, nobody is indicted. The company wasn’t indicted. The Justice Department under Attorney General Loretta Lynch and the Obama administration have created a new doctrine. It’s called "crimes without criminals."”

Bobby Jindal & Planned Parenthood 9-20-2015

20, September 2015            Bobby Jindal & Planned Parenthood

A desperate un-hyphenated Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is lobbing verbal grenades at Donald Trump and Planned Parenthood hoping to attract media attention – with few results.

Jindal and the House Freedom Caucus are threatening to shut down the government if its members fail to defund Planned Parenthood of $500 million in annual federal grants. So what services does Planned Parenthood offer which have stirred the wrath of so many Republicans?  Besides family planning, it offers everything from breast exams to screening for sexually transmitted infections. There has been virtually no pushback from Americans desperately needing such services because most of its patients live in poor or rural areas.

Responding to pressure from his Republican base, Jindal cut $730,000 in Medicaid reimbursements to his state’s two Planned Parenthood clinics, neither of which offers abortion services – a hot button issue with Republicans.

Bad things often happen when Planned Parenthood clinics are forced to shut down or driven out of state.  When an Indiana county drove out Planned Parenthood in 2013, there was a huge spike in H.I.V. cases prompting the governor to announce “a public health emergency.”

Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, observed that when Texas blocked Planned Parenthood grants it resulted in a dramatic rise in unwanted pregnancies.

The Second Republican Debate 9-19-2015

19, September 2015            The Second Republican Debate

Eleven presidential candidates had three prime-time hours on the national stage to offer their vision for their country.  What followed was extremely disappointing bordering on the surreal – no effort to adhere to the truth, perhaps a new game of no truth, no consequences! It was a pity CNN who seem very adept at slick visuals, didn’t offer a fact check for viewers.  The issues glaringly omitted were income inequality and race relations. A recent Gallup poll ranked these two issues high on Americans concerns. Police brutality has soured relations among blacks and Hispanics. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul was right in accusing former Florida Governor Jeb Bush of hypocrisy in his position on marijuana legalization. Jeb Bush admitted taking marijuana but escaped punishment because of his privileged position and appeared to be quite content letting poor people languish in jail for the same crime. Paul correctly stated that far too many poor in our inner cities are jailed for relatively minor drug related offenses and called for rehabilitation and less incarceration.

For the record, Trump was right when he accused Cary Fiorina of grossly mismanaging both Lucent and Hewlett Packard. In the same vein, Fortune magazine rated Trump’s companies at close to the bottom by every category as measured against 500 large companies.

Following the debate, at a town hall meeting, Trump got into hot water by failing to challenge a racist spectator who ‘wanted to rid the US of Muslims’.

The Republican Debate 9-17-2015

17, September 2015            The Republican Debate

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina emerged as a fierce hawk on foreign policy issues. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul denounced U.S. interventionist policies abroad, which have largely proven to be major foreign policy debacles (Iraq, Libya to name just a few). Fiorina promised to avoid all communication with ‘big bad wolf, Vladimir Putin and would resurrect Reagan’s disastrous Missile Defense System. It is a pity that Fiorina and her ilk, who habitually fawn over Reagan’s legacy, ignore the fact that he negotiated the INF treaty with the former Soviet Union. Trump received too much airtime and said very little of substance. Jeb Bush made the preposterous claim that his brother, President George Bush, should receive credit ‘for keeping American safe’, ignoring the inconvenient truth that 911 occurred on his watch. Scott Walker claimed that trashing the union workers in Wisconsin offered conclusive proof that he would make a great President.

Although Rand Paul lacks charisma and failed to deliver a knockout punch he was the only speaker who offered sensible ideas on domestic and foreign policy issues resisting the ‘trash Obama’ rhetoric of the other speakers. He was one the few senators who opposed the Iraq war. Trump scrupulously offered no details how he would organize a posse and round up 11 million illegals. Many women would be aghast that the speakers planned to defund Planned Parenthood, perpetuating the myth that they were selling fetal tissue for profit relying on a highly deceptive, edited video.

Response to Phil Smaller 9-16-2015

16, September 2015                        Response to Phil Smaller

Phil Smaller’s anti-Arab diatribe (Post 14 Sept.) is full of inaccuracies. The Jews fleeing anti-Semitism and the Arabs fleeing conflict zones differs by an order of magnitude. Smaller makes the preposterous claim that the land of the former Ottoman Empire was barren and offered to the Jews by the former British Empire. How nice? The land was not barren but occupied by the indigenous population, the Palestinians. According to Phyllis Bennis, a recognized authority on Israel and its founding, by 1947 Jews comprised only about 30 percent of the population but then launched a pogrom expelling 750,000 Palestinians many of whom are still languishing in refugee camps in neighboring Arab countries.

From its early inception, Israel launched terror and mayhem against the British and Palestinians. Perhaps Smaller is unaware of the early history of Israel, when the clandestine enforcers – Hagana, Irgun and the dreaded Stern Gang terror squads drove out the Palestinians from their ancestral lands. According to British records, hundreds of violent and terrorist incidents occurred against British and Palestinians between 1939 and 1948. These included bombings, kidnappings, bank robberies, murders, torture of prisoners and assassinations of police and British officials.

This travesty was the basis for the official founding of the Israeli state in 1948. 

Dead Man Walking 9-15-2015

15, September 2015                        Dead Man Walking

The case against Richard Glossip has received world-wide attention, including Amnesty International. The facts are as follows: on the night of January 1997, Glossip was working as a manager at the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City. Sometime during the night his boss, Barry Van Tresse was murdered. A maintenance worker, Justin Sneed, confessed to the crime. Sneed claimed that Glossip hired him to kill his boss for money. The case rests solely on Sneed’s testimony which he provided supposedly to avoid the death penalty which was granted in a plea bargain deal. In a damning letter sent to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, Sneed’s daughter confessed that her father had falsely implicated Glossip to avoid the death penalty. Glossip has long maintained his innocence.

Many famous celebrities have voiced outrage over Glossip imminent execution including Sister Helen Prejean, who is played by actress Susan Sarandon in the film Dead Man Walking. This case speaks volumes of a broken system in which a confessed killer is in a medium security prison while in all probability an innocent man has been incarcerated for 22 years and now waits his imminent death. The defense team has called for a new trial which would reveal gross police and prosecutorial misconduct and very likely exonerate Glossip. I request concerned readers email Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board, (email contact.us@ppb.ok.gov) and demand a stay of execution pending a new trial.  

EcoSikh 9-14-2015

14, September 2015               EcoSikh

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the Sikhs, the 5^th largest religion in the world, are at the forefront of eco-friendly responses to climate change guided by the teachings of the Sikh Gurus. But first a short history of the Sikhs and how they emerged to be such a powerful tour de force in India and abroad.

But first a short history of the Sikhs:

Sikhism was founded in Punjab by Guru Nanak in the 15th Century and is a monotheistic religion. Sikhs believe religion should be practiced by living in the world and coping with life's everyday problems. The origins of the faith may be traced back to a part of Punjab which is located in modern day Pakistan. Guru Nanak began to challenge the myriad of rituals which were prevalent at the time and indeed continue in modern day India. He spent countless hours in deep meditation to seek guidance from the divine. After many such long periods of meditation he came to the realization that, contrary to the prevailing belief system, there is only ONE GOD. He assigned the name TRUTH to this universal entity. Guru Nanak lived at a time when superstition and myth was commonly practiced. He excoriated the caste system as inherently unjust and evil and idol worship as totally misguided. When coming of age he refused to participate in the coming of age Hindu thread tying ceremony. Although he was born a Hindu, he established a close relationship with a Muslim bard, Mardana, whose poetry goes deep into Sikhism's origins. This may partially explain why Hindus and Muslims both revere Guru Nanak.

The three basic tenets of the Sikh Faith and Fundamental Principles are:

1. Naam japna, remembering God through meditation:
2. Kirat karo, earning an honest living:
3. Vand chakko, selflessly serving others, especially the poor and disadvantaged and donating

part (a minimum of 10% - 15%) to charitable causes.

This includes SEVA, serving others as epitomized by the langar (food served in all Sikh temples throughout the world). Volunteers perform all the menial work in Sikh temples and serve free meals. 

Sikhism preaches complete gender equality.

The five evils that human’s must resist are:

Kam – lust  Krodh – anger, wrath    Lobh – greed  Moh – attachment      

Ahankar – ego,pride

Conversely, Five Virtues are:

Sat – Truth, Santokh – Contentment,  Daya – Compassion,  Nimrata – Humility,

Pyare – Love

Following the death of Guru Nanak, nine other Gurus followed with the realization that such radical social changes in Indian society could not be accomplished in a single generation. The tenth Guru assigned the identifying uniform, the 5-K’s, which set Sikhs apart from the Mughal invaders who were determined to convert Hindus to Muslims by the power of the sword. The most notable of these symbols is the unshorn hair and turban.

This concludes the basic tenets of Sikhism.

A brief description of EcoSikh follows.

EcoSikh was founded in response to climate change and a profound concern for the survival of the planet and all its inhabitants.

EcoSikh connects Sikh values, beliefs, and institutions to the most important environmental issues facing our world. They draw on the rich tradition of the ten Sikh Gurus to shape the behavior and outlook of Sikhs and the world, ensuring that their deep reverence for all creation remains a central part of the Sikh way of life.

First a short quotation from the holy book of the Sikhs, The Guru Granth Sahib.

…Please bless me with the rice of truth and self-restraint, the wheat of compassion, and the leaf-plate of meditation. Bless me with the milk of good karma, and the clarified butter, the ghee, of compassion. Such are the gifts I beg of You, Lord…”

The Gurus encouraged Sikhs to develop our relationship with God by engaging in the world around us. By taking care of the environment we learn more about our Gurus’ relationship with the natural world, and reconnect with a part of the Sikh spiritual identity that the first embodiment of Divine Light, Guru Nanak laid the foundation for.the Sikh religion.

Eak Bageecha:  is a compilation of shabads (poetry) sung to music which enjoins its followers to care for God’s beautiful earth and ensure its survival for all future generations. It’s a stark testimony on the visionary nature of the Sikh Gurus and offers a poetic blueprint for our daily activities, namely we at all cost be must responsible custodians of mother earth and all its inhabitants.

A stanza from the fifth Guru translated by Albel Singh.

This poetry is set to musical measure by the fifth Guru, Arjun Dev Ji (Ji is usually appended to all the Guru’s names as a mark of respect and reverence)

There is a garden.
It has so many plants created within it.
And each bears the sweet-neutered
Naam as its fruit.

Consider this, O wise one,
In this garden you may seek the means by which to attain eternal bliss.
O brothers and sisters of Destiny,
This garden has dark pools of poison here and there,
But it also contains the ambrosial nectar within it.

There is only one gardener who tends it.
He takes care of every leaf and branch.
He brought all these plants and planted them there.
They all bear fruit – none is without fruit.
The one who receives the ambrosial fruit of the Naam
From the Guru – O Nanak,
Such a servant has a way to pass over the ocean of illusion

NOTE: The ocean of illusion denotes the physical world meaning the only reality is that which is timeless unbound by time and space, that is GOD.

A Gurbani Compilation on the Environment: The Gurus encouraged us to develop our relationship with Waheguru (God) by engaging in the world around us. By taking care of the environment we learn more about our Gurus’ relationship with the natural world, and reconnect with a part of the Sikh spiritual identity that the first embodiment of Divine Light, as espoused by the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak

Planned Parenthood 9-13-2015

13, September 2015                        Planned Parenthood

The bogus attacks on Planned Parenthood based on heavily edited, highly deceptive videos falsely claimed it illegally sold fetal tissue for profit. This fabrication has reverberated in Congress who have threatened to not only defund Planned Parenthood but also fetal tissue research. Concerns for the safety of their staff have prompted several Planned Parenthood centers to suspend their fetal tissue donation program. Largely unreported is the simple fact  that they only accepted small fees to cover storage and transportation costs.  Elective abortions are only offered at two centers providing women fewer choices to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

Bereft of more important issues, the cast of GOP hopefuls are already competing with each other with promises of how they will defund and otherwise attack Planned Parenthood. Fetal tissue research has a long history dating back to the 1930s which has contributed enormously to major advances in medicine. It was the patron saint of Republican orthodoxy, Ronald Reagan, who halted important scientific research and turned it into a hot political issue, masquerading as a moral crusade.

In his second term Reagan imposed a moratorium on federal funding for fetal tissue research. He made the preposterous assertion that many pregnant women were seeking abortions and selling the fetal tissues as a money making scheme. Unless efforts are made to save Planned Parenthood, women’s choices will be severely curtailed and critical fetal tissue research will be left to our competitors, to the detriment of American medical research. This would be a travesty.  

Refugees 9-11-2015

11, September 2015                       Refugees

Pope Francis, Angela Merkel, and the Austrian government have shown real leadership in extending a warm welcome to refugees escaping conflict zones.  Many ordinary Germans and Austrian Good Samaritan families have demonstrated enormous compassion for those seeking refuge. Thus far, the US. has admitted only 1,500 Syrian refugees. There is a real danger that economic refugees seeking a better life might join the exodos creating a stampede that is likely to overwhelm Western Nations generating compassion fatigue or outright hostility. What has largely been ignored is Saudi Arab’s deafening silence.  They have a common religion, and enormous wealth which would allow easy access to absorb a million refugees.

What can be done to slow down the exodus?

Hundreds of women in Syria are calling for a cease-fire, international protection and evacuation of the wounded.  At a minimum, a no-fly zone should be created in the south of Syria to halt the devastating impact of barrel-bombs. This could be enforced by U.S. Naval ships in the Mediterranean. The no-fly zone would create pressure on the Syrian regime to negotiate. “If they can’t use their aircraft, they will know they can’t survive, and that will bring them to the negotiating table,” said Reza Afshar, a former British diplomat.

Under pressure from Putin, Assad has reluctantly agreed on power sharing. However unpalatable, the U.S. should accept Russia’s role in bringing about a cease fire which could lead to an end to hostilities.

Trump’s strange bed-fellows 9-9-2015

9, September 2015              Trump’s strange bed-fellows

The actions of Donald Trump become curiousor and curiouser much like Alice in Wonderland. In an act of desperation to shore up his lack of foreign policy experience Trump invited a motley crew of human rights violators to Trump Tower for a photo-op.

He held a press conference and waxed lyrical about his important guests unaware of their sordid pasts. His star guests were Indonesian government officials headed by Deputy Speaker of the House Fadli Zon. Zon was the right-hand man of the U.S.-trained Prabowo Subianto. Gen. Prabowo has been under investigation for extensive human rights abuses that took place in the 1990s when he was head of the country’s Special Forces. He was fired from the army in 1998 following revelations that he was responsible for the abduction and torture of activists which eventually led to the dismissal of US backed dictator, Suharto. Suharto was responsible for the death of as many as a million civilians. Prabowo was the son-in-law of Suharto.

Another of the invitees from Indonesia was Setya Novanto, who has been mired in corruption for decades.

The Grand Imam of the Indonesian mosque in New York City accused Trump of hypocrisy, racism and Islamophobia. I wonder what next the pope of pomposity has in store for his adoring public. I can hardly wait. 

The GOP & Reagan 9-8-2015

8, September 2015                   The GOP & Reagan The GOP presidential wannabees have taken a hard right turn from the sublime to the ridiculous – in a virtual twilight zone. The next debate will be held at the presidential library of Ronald Reagan, the much loved patron saint of Republican conservatism. Largely ignored is Reagan’s real legacy. Contrary to Grover Norquist’s much touted Americans for Tax Reform, the 40th president raised taxes eleven times in his eight years in office.  The federal workforce increased markedly and the debt skyrocketed from $700 billion to $3 trillion. He also massively expanded the Pentagon budget. Contrary to the anti-immigrant rhetoric of Trump and his cohorts, Reagan granted amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants, stating “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here for some time and may have entered illegally”. He opposed supporting federal initiatives to provide blacks with civil rights and pledged his opposition to the Civil Rights Acts of 1964. Finally, he raised the debt ceiling 18 times during his tenure Republican – a complete heresy in modern day Republican orthodoxy.

Migrants 9-7-2015

7, September                               Migrants There appears to be a serious disconnect between public statements and meaningful actions by many Persian Gulf States to mitigate the migrant crisis. The talk has all but morphed into a few tiny steps. The Gulf States have some of the highest percapita incomes in the world. Yet as millions of refugees risk life and limb to reach save havens, Gulf nations have grudgingly agreed to offer sanctuary to an insignificant few. After the Syrian toddler’s tragic death galvanized Europe, most notably Germany, humanitarian groups have accused Arab nations of inaction. To make matters worse, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have exacerbated the refugee crisis by bankrolling shadowy groups in Syria and supporting the demonic group ISIS who continue to commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of Islam without invoking even a whimper of outrage from mainstream Muslims. One of the most vehement critics of the Gulf states is Sarah Whison, executive director of Human Rights Watch, who stated “Burden sharing has no meaning in the Gulf, and the Saudi, Emirati and Qatari approach has been to sign a check and let everyone else deal with it.”   As one astute observer stated that most Muslims are unhappy in their own countries and wish to migrate to safe havens, but once settled, radical Imams attempt to sway them to adopt an anti-west narrative. Unless host counties integrate these migrants and avoid ghettoization, this trend may continue and compassion may quickly be replaced by outward hostility.

Guatemala 9-5-2015

5, September 2015              Guatemala

In a stunning victory for people power, Guatemala’s, President, Otto Pérez Molina was forced to resign and subsequently jailed on charges of corruption bowing to massive popular protests. Guatemala has been in a virtual lockdown for decades under a brutal military junta. Turning back the pages of history reveals a long struggle against tyranny by courageous activists led by Mayan Rigoberta Menchú whose lawsuits helped bring down former U.S.-backed dictator, Efraín Ríos Montt for his role in the killings of more than 1,700 Ixil Mayan people. Menchú lost her father, mother and two brothers during the Guatemalan genocide. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work on behalf of Guatemala’s indigenous population. Now Menchú is calling for Pérez Molina to be tried for his role in the massacres of thousands of civilians the El Quiché region in the 1980s. Using wire taps, a new and emerging independent judiciary has charged Molina with massive fraud pilfering tens of millions from the state treasury. For more than 50 years, ordinary citizens have been in mortal fear of the military especially members of the specialized forces called the Kaibiles, an elite corps whose mission was to stifle dissent. All of these Special Forces were trained at the US School of the Americas.  Another dark stain on US foreign policy going back many decades.  

IRAN EPILOGUE 9-3-2015

3, September 2015                 IRAN EPILOGUE Mercifully, Congress has pledged enough votes to support the nuclear deal with Iran. What is disturbing about this debate is the number of lawmakers who support Prime Minister Netanyahu against their own commander in chief.   Perhaps the free junket to Israel seized by many lawmakers may have persuaded some members of Congress to ‘switch sides.’ What is most striking about the demagoguery is the ostrich in the sand mentality to ignore historical precedents.  Negotiating with adversaries to create a more stable world has long been practiced by Republican presidents. Richard Nixon normalized relations with our nemesis, China. Ronald Reagan signed a landmark missile agreement with the Soviet Union. He even held secret negotiations with Iran, selling it arms in its war with Iraq, using the proceeds to arm Nicaragua’s contra rebels in defiance of Congress – an impeachable offence! President George Bush entered into an agreement with Iran establishing nuclear limits in 2006. The five major powers, the United Nations Security Council, most American nuclear experts and scores of leading American diplomats — have endorsed the pact as the best way to limit Iran’s nuclear bomb making capabilities. America projects strength when important national security decisions have bipartisan support. Sadly, none of this seems to matter to the accord’s opponents, who refuse to be deterred by the facts. Finally, shouldn’t the US negotiate with other nuclear powers, including Israel, to eliminate all these terrifying weapons?

Yemen 9-2-2015

2, September                                    Yemen According to Human Rights Watch, dozens of civilians have been killed and many more wounded by Saudi Arabia using U.S. made cluster munition rockets in the Yemeni city of Hajjah. Following the attacks additional fatalities occurred when unexploded submunitions were picked up.  Ironically, the US, Saudi Arabia and Yemen have ratified the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit indiscriminate warfare. Cluster munitions are, by definition, indiscriminate and therefore all these countries are in complete violation of the Geneva Conventions. Each munition contains 200 submunitions which when released kills or maims anything in its path – men, women and children – totally indiscriminate in its execution. The US just signed a huge military contract with Saudi Arabia for the delivery of military weapons and jets – the largest deal in the world. The Obama’s administration much touted rhetoric on human rights and the rule of law is completely at odds with its indefensible policies of arming the greatest purveyor of terrorism in the world with billions in military hardware. Once again, maintaining the military juggernaut weapons industry always triumph concerns for human life. I urge concerned readers to contact their legislators and the White House and demand an outright ban on these hideous anti-personnel (cluster munitions and land mines) killing machines.

Response to op ed NYT What Should Obama Do Next on Iran? 9-1-2015

1, September 2015       Response to op ed NYT What Should Obama Do Next on Iran?

There appears to be seismic shift in the attitudes of American Jews and the American public who are speaking out in much larger numbers hailing the pending historic nuclear accord with Iran. Prime Minister, Netanyahu’s polarizing attitude and his determination to demonize our president has a lot to do with these changing attitudes. Supporters of the accord are no longer intimidated by the well-worn accusations of anti-Semitism.

Netanyahu has lost all credibility. He has spent decades claiming that Iran is moments away from acquiring nuclear bomb making capabilities – a rather clumsy fear-mongering campaign designed to distract the world from Israel’s appalling history of oppressing Palestinians of basic human rights.

While timid politicians, backed by AIPAC and other extreme-‘pro-Israel’ groups are only too eager to support Netanyahu, American Jews are growing increasingly disaffected. Polls show 49% now supports the accord. It’s time the American public demand that Israel dismantle its huge stockpile of nuclear weapons which pose an existential threat to its neighbors.

In spite of AIPAC’s deep pockets, its polar opposite JVP (Jewish Voices for Peace) has seen a huge surge in its membership. I urge Americans to join JVP which promotes diplomacy over perpetual war, universal human rights, and vigorously opposes the suffering occupation and dispossession of Palestinian land. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/02/opinion/what-should-obama-do-next-on-iran.html?comments#permid=15957444

IRAN 9-1-2015

1, September 2015                   IRAN There appears to be seismic shift in the attitudes of American Jews and the American public who are speaking out in much larger numbers hailing the pending historic nuclear accord with Iran. Prime Minister, Netanyahu’s polarizing attitude and his determination to demonize our president has a lot to do with these changing attitudes. Supporters of the accord are no longer intimidated by the well-worn accusations of anti-Semitism. Netanyahu has lost all credibility. He has spent decades claiming that Iran is moments away from acquiring nuclear bomb making capabilities – a rather clumsy fear-mongering campaign designed to distract the world from Israel’s appalling history of oppressing Palestinians of basic human rights. While timid politicians, backed by AIPAC and other extreme-‘pro-Israel’ groups are only too eager to support Netanyahu, American Jews are growing increasingly disaffected. Polls show 49% now supports the accord. It’s time the American public demand that Israel dismantle its huge stockpile of nuclear weapons which pose an existential threat to its neighbors. In spite of AIPAC’s deep pockets, its polar opposite JVP (Jewish Voices for Peace) has seen a huge surge in its membership. I urge Americans to join JVP which promotes diplomacy over perpetual war, universal human rights, and vigorously opposes the suffering occupation and dispossession of Palestinian land.