Benazir Bhutto felled by The American Kiss of Death

The tragedy of Benazir's assassination could be attributed to the American desire to impose a Fast-paced democracy on Pakistan. They got tired of supporting Musharaff and struck a deal with Benazir to be their person in Pakistan. But the American Embrace and Kiss are always a Kiss of Death for anyone in a country like Pakistan.

America has been a player for too long there, propping up an Army Despot and alienating the ordinary people and the revolutionaries. Poor Benazir, she did not read the signs on the streets properly and might have thought that she could resurrect her image with American help and money. But it played out in a more deadly way for her.

It appears that Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the assassination, but they also may be taking advantage of an act they wish they had done. The real perps may be hiding in the Army, who knows.

I have a feeling that Benazir's assassination was an opportunity seized by the gunman. He was positioned there but Benazir gave him the chance when she stuck her neck out of the sun-roof. The real terrorist event planned and executed might have been the bomb-explosion. The gun-man might have taken the chance and shot Benazir when she stood up and presented an easy target. The assassination probably was not pre-planned. The bomb-explosion a few feet away did not hurt anyone else in Benazir's van or her alternative van behind. Out of the people in these important vehicles, only Benazir was killed, that too because she stood up.

All that is now left is for America to contemplate one more failed Foreign Policy Initiative for which Benazir had to sacrifice her life. Musharaff may have all the reasons now to postpone the elections. And it may be right to have a cooling-off period to let the emotions and hatred settle down a bit.

And the Lesson here is Stop listening to America and don't do things to suit American needs. Pakistanis are capable of sorting out the mess themselves without Western assistance. If at all any outside help is required they can take it from the Muslim Community of Middle East.

Americans are not Friends in need or Friends indeed.

Meanwhile the Army may have an internal coup and Musharaff could be removed and replaced by another General, more civil and acceptable. Then everyone, including USA first, will fall behind the new leader.

Putin and Modi - Victory in Adversity

It is interesting to see how Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi both have come out victoriously and on top of their respective worlds recently.

Putin is now Time Magazine's Person of the Year, because of his part in bringing Respect and Glory back to Russia and its citizens. Putin is not loved by the West and is depicted to be Undemocratic and at times even Autocratic. But he has done enough to restore Russsia to a lofty place in the world order. He has re-ignited a sense of Pride in the Russian Citizen. After the end of Cold War, USA was supposed to be the sole remaining Super Power. But George Bush lost it all in a unjustifibale war and the American Economy and Declining Dollor are not helping the American Cause. Putin wisely took advantage of these, the high price of Oil particularly and also silently increased Russia's influence among the Nations disenchanted with the Americans. He has tightened his hold on the Russian Politics and has finally come out ahead.

Narendra Modi in Gujarat was vilified by everyone for his anti-Muslim practices. But the other side of the coin was he too instilled a sense of Pride among the Hindus of Gujarat and made them realise that being Hindu is not a shame. He led by example with a simple life, uncorrupt policies and moved heaven and earth to develop his state of Gujarat. Witness the industrialisation that is proceeding there at breakneck pace and general increase in wealth. This must have trickled down to many oridinary residents in the state, including Muslims. Modi was steadfast in his path and actions and has been rewarded by the electorate. Against a massive campaign by the Opposition parties and the Media, Modi has prevailed.

I think the reason for both Putin and Modi's tirumph is they have worked for their people.

Leaders should not forget that People come first and Power will follow.

Pouring Oil on Troubled Banks

George Bush's misguided war in Iraq and the sub-prime fiasco have pushed USA into a record decline. The net result is the astronomical increase in oil prices, which is going to the Middle Eastern Oil Producers making them wealthy beyond imagination/expectation.

The surplus funds in their hands are being used to buy plum American Banks and Companies. The poor losers are the American Public who pay higher taxes, see a decline in the value of their homes, face increasing gas prices at the pumps and see their dear dollor lose all value, putting a dent in their holiday plans.

There is no point in decrying the economic effects of wrong decisions by the American Government and Banks.

USA is a great advocate of free markets and sometimes the markets work against them and they have to face the consequences.The sub-prime crisis will play itself out soon and the Banks will go back to their merry lending ways. The market will correct itself when demand and supply positions balance out.

Americans should realise that a great recycling of wealth and influence is taking place in the world and there is not much they can do about it.If they want to act against anyone it is George Bush.Time to impeach him and put a stop to the war in Iraq.

Till then Americans should drive less and consume less.

Obama and Oprah-Made for the Media ?

I THINK it is a desparate measure by Barack Obama to get Oprah to campaign for him. He was losing his mojo and did not really become a great hit on issues. He also saw Hillary getting ahead inthe polls with a broad-based support including from many Blacks, thanks to Bill Clinton's goodwill among the Blacks.

So Obama had to get his own Black Celebrity to endorse him. It has great entertainment value for the American Media that Oprah is out there campaigning. But it is only that,mere entertainment and a means to make more money from a gullible public. The Media must be laughing all the way to the Bank. And Oprah is getting her name and image more out there.

Poor Obama is relegated to the background, just mouthing the same old stuff about how Experience is not equal to Better Judgement and all those punchlines about New Vision, etc.

But when it comes to Administration, experience really counts, and there are going to be some bad calls, but experience is all about learning from the mistakes. Obama has not made any mistakes to learn from and the country is not going to risk him to do that now, especially as President.

I believe when it comes to the crunch, Americans will go for a good adminstrative background and will elect Rudy Giuliani, nothwithstanding his personal iamge issues