US To Reconsider Anti-Terror Policy After Osama's Death

In the aftermath of the killing of Al-Qaida chief Osama Bin Laden well inside Pakistan, this country would find it very difficult to answer several queries. Pakistan's sincerity in taking action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attack, in particular, remains a significant question in India. Pakistan had denied Usama's presence on its soil, but when it joined the global war against terrorism by putting everything at stake, the international community was left with no doubt about the sincerity of its army and Inter-Services Intelligence.
Campaign for US Presidential Elections
The US military has killed Osama Bin Laden close to Pakistan's capital in an area considered to be extremely safe and secure. This extremely secret action is being termed a major success. US President Barack Obama announced that the most dreaded terrorist of the world has been killed. This may serve him very well in his election campaign for the second term. Yet, one should take note of the worry behind his announcement, whether following Usama's killing the terrorist network spread far and wide would be wiped out.
Following the 11 September 2001 attack on the United States, the country took the extreme measure by carrying out an invasion on Afghanistan and turning it into a heap of ruins. At that time, in December 2001, the United States had announced that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Tora Bora hillocks in Afghanistan. Later, former US President George Bush and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf repeatedly claimed that Usama had been killed in similar actions. With the latest announcement of Usama's death and jubilation over it by Americans, the lid on the secret is off. The entire world dreaded Usama extremely.
Concerted Campaign Against Osama
It was the United States that had launched a concerted campaign against Usama, who was considered to be a hero in the Islamic world. Yet, terrorism continued to raise its head in different forms. A conscientious group in the world regards US military actions as the greatest acts of terrorism. Al-Qaida or Osama Bin Laden had carried out actions to teach a lesson to the West only, which spread terrorism in the name of Al-Qaida or Usama. In anti-terrorist actions, it appeared that the United States has earned a license to sacrifice human lives. It is on the basis of this license that it carried out actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Islamic countries.
Yet, the silence of those who call themselves to be champions of humanity is surprising indeed. It is also meaningful. The very same world, which justifies Israeli terrorism in Palestine and the latest acts of terrorism indulged in Libya by the United States and its allies, is now heaving a sigh of great relief after Osama Bin Laden's killing. This relief may not last long for the United States and its allies. This is because those who raise their voice against oppression, tyranny, and excesses, are never alone. The United States believes that by killing just one individual, Osama Bin Laden, it has achieved its goal, and is jumping and springing in jubilation. Should that jubilation remain, the world may get the message of peace. But it is necessary to assess the might of those forces that spread the network of Al-Qaida so that the jubilation at Usama's killing may not turn into a major tragedy.

Peace and Stability
US President, Barack Obama has got the credit of killing the most wanted person, Osama Bin Laden, during his presidency. At the same time, he should take note of the factors that helped Al-Qaida network to emerge with a bang. Undoubtedly, the number of those who were attracted by the ideology of Usama and Al-Qaida has largely declined in the world. Even in the Islamic Arab world, people no longer raise the slogan of 'Long Live Usama' and carry his photographs with the same enthusiasm as they earlier used to show. Yet, the strength of those who shout 'Death to the United States' has not dwindled either.
Obama need to seriously ponder why some groups who want peace and stability in the world hate the United States and raise the slogan 'Down with the United States.' It is also his moral duty to condole the deaths of those who have lost their lives at US hands. All peace-loving people in the world, including those in the United States, who had committed the blunder to raise and strengthen a formidable force of Taliban in Afghanistan during the 1990s against the former Soviet Union should also ponder over this. The opinion gaining ground about Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence or Taliban at the international level has been further fortified by Osama Bin Laden's killing. India's stand has also got a fillip with regard to the Mumbai terror attacks. There is need that the United States and its allies should give up their partial line of action in eliminating terrorism.

Whither Al-Qa'ida After Osama?

US President Barack Obama announced to the nation and the world that Al-Qa'ida leader Osama Bin Ladin was killed in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad by US special force called Navy Seals and his remains were buried at sea. On 2 May evening, addressing his nation and the world, Obama said that today is a historic day for the United States. Referring to Osama as the guilty party in the 11 September 2001 attacks, he said that justice had been done.
US Mission Fulfilled
Again Obama said that the United States was not against Islam. In his statement telecast all over the world, Obama said: "Osama, for over two decades, has been the visible face of Al-Qa'ida. To defeat Al-Qa'ida, the death of Osama was very important for us."
After the destruction of the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9 September 2001, it took nearly 10 years to finish Osama. When Obama was addressing the nation outside the White House, the crowd was jubilant, waving the US flag and chanting "America, America!" After the WTC incident, Osama managed to flee the Tora Bora caves in the mountains and there was speculation that he was hiding in Pakistan. Obama said that the US special force had taken out Osama in a targeted killing and have taken possession of his body. He said that he had spoken to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari about the matter who said that this is a great achievement for the United States and Pakistan.
Impact of Osama's Death
Now that the US President himself has confirmed Osama's death, the question that arises is whether Al-Qa'ida is gong to be influenced by his death. Most probably this answer will be given in the negative, for after the attack on Afghanistan for practically 10 years Osama has been in hiding and as far as his video tapes are concerned that used to appear from time to time as the occasion demanded, the guiding force of Al-Qa'ida had become its No 2 leader Ayman-al Zawahiri. Therefore, there should be no two opinions about the efficacy of Al-Qa'ida continuing. Even Obama has expressed his apprehensions about it.
After his first term, former US President George W. Bush started provoking Afghanistan that had formed a government on Islamic lines. It should be kept in mind that Mullah Omar presented a model of a government on Islamic lines. Bush then immediately termed the destruction of the WTC a "crusade" (jihad) and without collecting any proof blamed Al-Qa'ida for the destruction and peremptorily asked the Afghan Government to hand over Osama in an aggressive manner without giving any proof and then started a reign of destruction in Afghanistan in the guise of wiping out Osama that still continues.
Here the question arises why the United States did not investigate the WTC destruction. And if it did so, why did not the United States reveal the proof. That is why the needle of suspicion points toward the United States, that it in the guise of fighting terrorism has actually declared war on Islam. It was during Bush's time that the United States turned its sights on Islam in the guise of fighting terrorism and actually declared a war on Islam. It was during Bush's tenure that the whole world started looking at Islam and Muslims with suspicion. Bush kept repeating that the United States was not against Islam but regardless of what he said the United States is very involved in a war with Islam. The scheme is to isolate Muslims in all parts of the world. Now that Osama has been killed, the purpose of the war has been served and it should announce its departure from Afghanistan, because the war it started was ostensibly for the purpose of handing over Osama. Now that Osama is dead it should have no concern with Afghanistan. But nothing of the sort will happen.
US, Western World's Domination
The United States and its allied Western nations want to dominate the world. This is their agenda. After the break-up of the Soviet Union and the wiping out of Communism from Eastern Europe, it is the Muslim countries that are in their sights. If Muslim leaders do not learn to dance to the US tune, there is no guarantee for their survival. What is the connection between Al-Qa'ida and terrorism? Leaders of Muslim countries should think about the matter long and hard, so that the campaign against Muslims in the guise of fighting terrorism comes to an end and the propaganda against Muslims stops.

Reverse Counting of US Exploitation

Before looking forward at the 21st century, we have to look at the 20th century. The question is who is the conqueror of the 20th century? The answer is Emperor United States. Will the conqueror of the 21st century again be Emperor United States? Time will decide!

However, before proceeding further, we have to review the factors that made the United States the conqueror of the 20th century after becoming a superpower in 1945. Prior to the United States, the sun of the British Empire never set. Its entire colonies got mutated to the United States.

Big Achievements
There are three big achievements because of which the United States became the conqueror of the 20th century:

1. Inventing nuclear bomb and annunciating the phenomenon of its superpower by bombing innocent citizens of Japan.

2. Devising the new method of enslaving people of the world discreetly, instead of openly, and by sloganeering peace, independence, and democracy. The concept of secret or clandestine slavery was devised with utmost shrewdness. Through this method, people's conscience was enslaved to ransack and plunder resources of nations. One can imagine the power of this discreet slavery that in the First World War (1914 to 1917), Germany had to face defeat. Despite this, in 20 years' time, Germany became a superpower and in 1939, it ravaged the entire world. The reason was that in those times, the technique of discreet slavery was not prevalent.

The conquerors of discreet slavery are so inclement that after facing defeat in the Second World War and passing of 65 years, Germany is still a US colony. What to talk of Third World and Muslim nations, prime ministers of developed countries like Japan and Britain first became the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents, and then took the oath of prime ministership. The French president first became an agent, and then took the oath of presidentship. European countries barring France and Britain, in spite of being developed countries, cannot make nuclear weapons since there is no permission. The job of these developed countries is to assist and support the United States on global platform. The biggest US enemy in the Third World is Muslim countries. Despite making them its slaves, the United States always remains worried for any probable threat of voice for independence. Despite this persecution and slavery, in the 20th century, revolutionaries like Gamal Abdel Nasser, Sukarno, Muammur Gaddafi, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Ayatollah Khomeini stood up to challenge this tyrant. Anyhow, we will not talk much about the 20th century as our topic is the 21st century.

In December 1979, the Soviet Union captured Afghanistan. The United States did not have courage to face the Soviet Union. Therefore, it put across its slaves or puppets of Muslim countries. This Cold War slowly converted into the Third World War, culminating in the Soviet Union's defeat at the hands of Muslim slaves, and master United States.

Order of Nature
The Soviet Union was later disintegrated into 16 divisions. This incident made the United States the conqueror of the 20th century. The United States could have contented on this conquest, and would have freed the suffering masses of the world from the clutches of exploitation, tyranny, injustice, and miseries.

On contrary, the United States opted to become the emperor of the 21st century. It engaged its think tank's entire machinery on this project. With this, the first step was to disintegrate Muslim countries through its enslaved agents, for which the fall of the World Trade Tower in New York was used. The United States invaded Iraq, and then Afghanistan, but in the meantime, Iran's president announced his nuclear power, which created trepidation and fuss in CIA cadres. This was the order of nature aimed to make Muslims the conqueror of the 21st century.

Mysterious Domain
Although this decision is in mysterious domain, but the clairvoyant can visualize it. The life of the United States is hidde n in the parrot of Israel. This parrot is now under target from all directions. The height of US demerit can be measured from the fact that a handful of Hezbollah cadres debunked and thrashed Israel, and the Emperor United States was a silent spectator, along with its technology and satellite capabilities. Now, the question is whether the discreet slavery will continue in the 21st century? For this, we see two groups face-to-face. On one side are the oppressors, and on the other side are the oppressed classes.

We can imagine that the US end will be worse than that of Soviet Union, but we have to see things practically. The United States accumulated wealth through devastation and plunder, which is not a sign of stability. Russian warships getting rusted at sea are indicating that military power is aimless. By 2050, the US fate will reach its logical conclusion. In the 21st century, each country will possess nuclear power, not to terrorize others but to safeguard themselves. There will be no superpower to loot and plunder, and people's dignity and independence will prevail.

Afghanistan-Russia Cooperation

Afghan President Hamid Karzai had gone to Russia recently leading a high-ranking delegation on a formal invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. During his two-day visit to Russia, Afghan President Karzai met Russian President Medvedev at the Kremlin House. Both presidents took part in a joint news conference after the meeting.

Welcoming his Afghan counterpart Karzai at the news conference, the Russian president expressed the determination that Russian would extend its cooperation with Afghanistan in trade and economic sector, and the trade transaction would be increased from last year's estimated $500 million.

Referring to strengthening of economic cooperation with Afghanistan, Medvedev said that in addition to modernizing the Naghlu power dam, central wind projects, factories of chemical fertilizers, and reconstruction of the Salang tunnel, Russia will also initiate power production projects in other provinces of the country, which will resolve problems of Afghanistan regarding power.

Boosting Defense Relations
The Russian president said at the news conference that in addition to cooperation with Afghanistan in the civil sector, his country will also continue providing support in the military sectors, which will start from extending the training of the National Army and the National Police of the country.

Similarly, he added that Russia would also increase the number of its experts in civil as well as military sectors in Afghanistan.

Referring to provision of academic scholarships to Afghan youths in Russia, Medvedev said: 'In the field of promoting and strengthening education in Afghanistan, we will continue our cooperation with the country, so that its youths receive higher education in Russia. Just now a number of students of Afghanistan are engaged in study in different fields in Russia.'

Medvedev announced the support of his country to the peace and national reconciliation process in Afghanistan, saying Russia would increase its support and cooperation in strengthening security foundations for establishing peace and stability in the country so that Afghanistan being an independent country gets strong national foundations and it can independently protect its land after withdrawal of international forces, and achieve considerable progress in different sectors with each passing year.

Fight Against Terrorism
Pointing to the international fight against terrorism, the Russian president said: 'Russia is cooperating in the field of providing transit facilities to international forces for establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region, so that these forces are able to further extend and make effective the joint struggle against terrorism.'

Medvedev said that Russian and Afghanistan had ancient relations, and termed Karzai's visit to Russian opening of a new chapter in the relations between the two countries. He said that strengthening and promoting the relations could further protect national interests of the two countries.

At the news conference, Afghan President Karzai thanked the Russian president and the people of the country for the better hospitality, and termed his visit to Russia very fruitful and successful in political and economic sector.

Referring to the ancient relations between Afghanistan and Russia, Karzai said: 'We have been having ties with each other for a long time, and now we are trying to have further close and deep relations.'

He acknowledged the support of Russia with Afghanistan in different sectors during the past 10 years, and hoped that this support would be further enhanced and extended in future.
During the news conference, the Afghan president sought the Russian president's cooperation in timely completion of the process of transferring responsibility of security from international forces to the Afghan forces.

He added: 'We demand of Russia to provide every kind of support in the field of training the National Army and the National Police of Afghanistan so that the Afghan forces are able to independently defend their land after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.'
Similarly, Karzai sought President Medvedev's support and cooperation in provision of scholarships to Afghan students and, similarly, reconstruction of projects carried out by the Soviet Union of the time in Afghanistan, and completion of a number of other projects, which have been left incomplete long ago.

At the news conference, Karzai invited Russian President Medvedev to visit Afghanistan at a suitable time, which he accepted.

Answering a question that United States is not repeating the mistake of the Soviet Union of the time in Afghanistan, the Russian president said that Russia was closely observing the mission of international forces in Afghanistan. He said: 'We want that their mission is successfully completed; that is why we are continuing our cooperation with them in the transit sector. Russia wants establishment of peace in the country and the region. International forces should not commit strategic mistakes that can become the reason for their failure.'

Russia is supporting Afghanistan so that its forces can protect their land themselves, and the international forces can leave Afghanistan one day with pride after completing their mission.
Replying to a question at the news conference regarding opening of a new chapter of relations between Afghanistan and Russia, Karzai said: 'Russia has very old relations with Afghanistan, the two countries understand each other well, and our relations have improved since 2002, and further promotion and strengthening of the relations is in the interest of both countries and the region.'

Similarly, Afghan President Karzai, and Russian President Medvedev also signed before the media a joint declaration of cooperation in different sectors between the two countries.

Similarly, before the press conference, Afghanistan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmay Rasool and Russian Economic Development Minister Livonia signed a trade and economic cooperation agreement in the presence of the presidents of the two countries, under which a number of projects will be initiated in the power production sector in different provinces of Afghanistan, including reconstruction of the Salang tunnel and central wind projects.

Afghan President Karzai met Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 20 January. At the meeting held at the residence of the Russian prime minister, both sides stressed further promotion of political, economic, trade and cultural relations between the two countries.

Putin expressed the determination that his country would extend cooperation with Afghanistan in different sectors, saying: Russia is ready to provide support to Afghanistan in those fields where it needed the most.

On the second day of his visit to the Russia, Afghan President Karzai said in his address to students of the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: 'As a great political and economic country, Russia is capable of supporting not only Afghanistan but also other countries of the world in different fields.'

The president said: 'Afghanistan and Russia have had mutual relations for a century. The said relations are very old and everlasting, and Afghanistan is among those countries which the Soviet Union of the time has helped in different fields and has completed many projects in this country.'

He said that the relations between Afghanistan and Russia had grown stronger during the past 10 years and Russia was among those first countries whose heads he had met in 2002.
About the economic and trade relations between Russia and Afghanistan and similarly the military support, Karzai said that the approximation of the annual transaction between the two countries now reached $500 million and Russia was the country that did have economic and trade cooperation with Afghanistan and also supported them in training the National Army and the National Police.

Referring to the presence of international community in Afghanistan, the president said: 'In a situation when Afghanistan has relations with the United States, NATO and many other countries in different fields, it also holds very good bilateral relations with Russia; each of which is worth significance in its own place and no one can take the place of other.'

Referring to the better terms and conditions for investment in Afghanistan, the president said: 'Now Afghanistan is offering better terms and conditions for Russian investors, which will enable them to expand their projects by investing in Afghanistan.'

New Phase of Ties
About the fight against narcotics, Karzai said: 'The fight against this menace requires wide global efforts. Afghanistan is unable to fight against this phenomenon alone because the international mafia is involved in producing and transporting narcotics. We all should launch a strong and wide struggle for eliminating this menace.'

President Karzai met the head and members of the Russian Trade House and a number of traders of the country at the hall of the Trade House of the said country on 21 January.
Referring to trade relations between Afghanistan and Russia at the meeting, the Afghan president said that trade relations between the two countries existed for a long time, even before the formation of the Soviet Union, an example of which is the purchase of 50,000 tons of raisin from Afghanistan during the period of the Soviet Union. Construction of the Salang tunnel had also start during that time.

Pointing to the new phase of relations between Russia and Afghanistan, Karzai said that Afghanistan and Russia had entered into a new phase of their relations since 2002 and the approximation of transaction between the two countries reached $500 million per annum, now.

Free Trade Economy
Karzai added: 'Keeping in view that Afghanistan and Russia are situated in the same region, this feature can prepare ground for investment for traders of the two countries. He informed that Afghanistan welcomed the initiatives and presence of Russian investors in the country.'
He said: 'At present, Afghanistan has made quick progress in the telephonic service sector, and this country depended on free trade economy, its laws have also been formed on this basis.'
Similarly, about the performance of both Afghan and foreign joint companies in Afghanistan, the president said that the aforementioned companies were making good profits. He added that the economy of Afghanistan was improving; our country had $180 million in its coffers in 2002 which has now reached approximately $5 billion.

Similarly, pointing to natural reserves of Afghanistan, the president said: 'The natural reserves of Afghanistan are much richer than estimated in the past. According to initial studies, Afghanistan had natural reserves worth $3 trillion. On the basis of this study, I invite you to take advantage from the opportunities and sources available in Afghanistan, and invest in the country.

During the meeting, the Russian investors showed willingness to make investment in Afghanistan in different fields and demanded to functionalize the ports of Hairatan and Torghandi for the facilitation of trade between Afghanistan and Russia. Similarly, they showed their willingness in reconstruction of power production factories, mono-technique institutes and the Kabul Polytechnic, which were established at the time of the former Soviet Union.

Russia-Norway Sign Breakthrough Agreement

Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev has recently paid a state visit to Norway। The Russian president's visit was marked by signing of the Joint Declaration on Issues in the Demarcation of Maritime Spaces and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean by Medvedev and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. Heralding the end of a dispute that has lasted over 30 years, the deal, which remains to be ratified by the Russian and Norwegian parliaments, opens the way for both countries to exploit the oil, gas, and fish resources in an area of some 175,000 sq. km. It could also have broader strategic significance.

Maritime Border Dispute
Russia and Norway have settled their dispute over their maritime border, which has prevented cooperation between the two countries for over 30 years। This could mean that the Norwegians' former tactic of having a common position with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries in talks with Russia has changed.

The parties have divided the disputed section, rich in fish, oil, and natural gas, 'in half,' although exactly how is as yet unknown।

During a visit to Oslo, Dmitriy Medvedev and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg signed a "Joint Declaration on Issues in the Demarcation of Maritime Spaces and Cooperation in the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean।" This declaration defines the principles of the settlement of a dispute that has clouded relations between the two countries since 1976.

Changeable International Law
Up until now, Norway and Russia have defined their borders in the Barents Sea differently। Back in 1926 Russia (or rather, the Soviet Union) drew a straight line from the end of its land border on the Kola Peninsula to the North Pole. This is the so-called sectoral principle because the borders define the Russian sector in the Arctic.

No one has either recognized or disputed the Russian border। Only in 1976, on the basis of new norms of international law, Norway drew an uneven center line across the sea equidistant from the largest islands: Norway's Spitsbergen and Russia's Novaya Zemlya. The result was a disputed area of 175,000 sq km full of promising oil and gas deposits.

Oil Prices Helped Reach Pact
For decades Norway and Russia were unable to reach agreement on a new maritime border। This prevented starting full-scale development of the disputed deposits on the shelf. The growing demand for oil and gas, as well as high fuel prices, encouraged the politicians to hurry up and reopen the new oil and gas province, whose reserves could near billions of metric tons. True, these are merely preliminary estimates. No one has drilled a single well here.

Late last century, once-poor Norway was transformed into one of the world's most prosperous states thanks to the discovery of oil and gas on the North Sea shelf. However, these deposits are close to being tapped out, therefore, the country needs a speedy start to work in the 'disputed' section. The United States and countries of Western Europe, the largest importers of energy, also have an interest in the speedy settlement of the dispute between Norway and Russia, since this would help reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

China's Globalization: Changing International World Order

Everyone is amazed to witness the growth of China, which has become a new model for development in the world. The Chinese model is different from the process of modernization that Western countries underwent through the stages of colonialism and imperialism in the last century. In the context of regionalization, free trade and 60 years of bilateral China-Indonesia relations, China is suddenly like the elephant in the room.

Not only that, but China is seen as a threat to just about everyone, including the US, which is suffering from the worst financial and economic crisis in the 21st century. It is certain that China will transform the world in a fundamental way with a greater force than any other world power in the past two hundred years.

Recent signals from China are that its leaders in Beijing want to see China rise in this century of information technology. They stress that their determination to do so will not result in a drastic change in the global system that up to now has been dominated by the West. However, slowly but surely, China's rise is beginning to shift the position that the West has always occupied.

Growth and Development
The developed countries seem not to admit to the existence of China as the elephant in the room. The West feels that the growth and development of globalization, which is currently being driven by China, must follow universal norms, including norms of ethics, humanitarianism, democracy, human rights, liberty and other liberal norms. The West considers it impossible that a platform of socialism-communism can be capable of changing the world system that has been built over the last two centuries.

But, without realizing it, there is now an extraordinary shift in the balance of global power that is happening "sotto voce," and, in fact, is invisible. The phenomenon indicates a significant difference between the rise of China and the rise of Germany or Japan during the two world wars. The rise of China is also different from the rise of the Soviet Union during the Cold War era.

Factory Floor
Since the beginning of the opening up and reform of China's economic and trade systems in 1978, it has struggled long and hard to be accepted by the international community and to accrue all the privileges and positions that go along with being a superpower. As a newly emerging power, China is being forced to change and to accept international norms.

However, many observers and politicians around the world are gradually beginning to see China as a hidden threat and are saying that the world is approaching what they call "the coming China wars," as in the title of a book by Peter Navarro published in 2008. Navarro sees China as slowly dominating one by one the strong countries, and emerging in the midst of globalization as the world's "factory floor." Its rise is happening through misleading international trade with the use of the slogan "made-in-China price", by pricing goods as relatively cheaper than those of any other country's.

The rapid growth of China's economy over the last two decades has been triggered by its exports. The question is whether by continuing to spur exports China can sustain and achieve continuous growth in the midst of a global recession that has dampened consumer demand.

The extremely rapid growth of China's economy has never been experienced by any other country on earth. China's performance is considered unjust by some who accuse it of practicing mercantilism, including subsidizing its exports, pirating intellectual property and various other practices that are considered the props of the cheap "made-in-China price."

The interesting thing is that in the midst of dampening consumer demand, China continues to actively look for opportunities to maintain its economic growth and to widen its market networks, including looking for new centers of cooperation to prop up its own internal demand, and especially finding new energy sources.

Dominant Power
It is understandable that fears of China have been cropping up everywhere, including Southeast Asia with the coming into force of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement. Many feel that it will be very difficult to compete and survive in trade and economic cooperation with China, which will tend to profit the most in that trade.

We need to understand that China will continue to have its own problems in the future, such as income inequality, sustainable development, environmental pollution, corruption and others that won't just go away. At the same time, there will be other critical points that threaten sources of fresh water or of imported oil that will force the leaders in China to come up with new ways of thinking to solve them.

China's regionalization in the Asia-Pacific region should provide interesting choices, including among them the idea put forward by Beijing of a new global currency that would de facto replace the US dollar as the international standard. China itself is actively seeking ways to gradually provide a role for the renminbi in the international arena.

Current Global Recession
It can not be avoided that China is a dominant power in the Southeast Asia region. This is the stage to make China a global power on the level of the United States. China has shown its ambitions to become the locomotive for regional growth. This is an approach to make China a market for countries in the region as well as a source of investment and technology.

Coincidentally, in the mid of the current global recession, the rise of China and the fall of the US as world powers are happening at the same time. This is causing a significant change in the balance of world economic power as well as a change in the relations between those two nations. We hope that a "changing of the guard" will not lead to a terrible shock that will endanger economic growth and trade everywhere.

Firm Friendship Between India and Russia

India's friendship with Russia is centuries old. It has withstood the test of time despite several stormy phases, successive governments coming in and going out of power, and aggravation and reestablishment of relations with neighbors. India's ties with Russia remained unaltered with the phase of the Soviet Union led by Communists coming to an end. A section of political quarters commented that the India-Russia friendship of the past probably would not be maintained.

Step Toward Furthering Ties
During the initial couple of years led by Boris Yeltsin, some uncertainty in relations with Russia was witnessed temporarily. Yet, for the past some time, warmth was felt. With Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin taking over the Russian president, the Indian-Russian ties were strengthened further. Ever since he became the Russia president, particularly during his recent India visit, he took a step toward furthering ties with India.

Putin held a series of meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After these meetings, 19 agreements were signed between the countries on a single day. Nonetheless, an issue has been hanging fire between India and Russia, relating to the purchase of the war fleet. The agreement was, however, finally reached after certain bargaining pertaining to the transaction and it was eventually signed. The deal for MIG-229 and for the purchase of a fresh consignment was also finalized. Another agreement related to the purchase of Sukhoi favorably competes with US friendships.

A nuclear bomb agreement was also reached with India that became a subject of debate but nothing positive emerged until hitherto. The deal was, however, finalized with an agreement with the visiting Russian prime minister under which 12 nuclear power houses will be set up in India. It will meet a big requirement of India. This was the only way out of the serious power crisis faced by the country in recent past. This has been made possible with the Russian support.

Laudable Achievement
The most laudable achievement is that Russia has resolved to back India in its fight against terrorism. Putin again promised support to India in the context of the latest scenario relating to Afghanistan. He described terrorist activities within Pakistan as a great threat to India and the rest of the world. He clarified that these terrorist activities pose a serious threat to the peace in the entire region. He categorically stated that banned militant organizations are engaged in terror activities openly.

The world today finds itself at a crossroad of shifting power balance. Now, there no longer prevails the US predominance. The conditions today have undergone a vast change. A new global change is emerging in the economic sector. Its due notice is being taken by the United States also.

Time Ahead
In the circumstances, the vital fact that has emerged is not that 19 agreements have been signed between India and Russia on a single day, but instead it is that the Indian-Russian proximity has reemerged with a bang once again. Putin has clarified that Russia will not extend friendship toward any country at the cost of India.

Its clear implication is that unlike Yeltsin who stopped the supply of saprogenic engine to India at the US instance, the present Russian rulers will not do so now. We wish this firm friendship between India and Russia will continue to be strengthened further in the times ahead.

Restoration of Old Warmth Between India, Russia

Looking at the success of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's two-day India visit, it seems that India and Russia are bringing back the old warmth in their relations, which had been lost with the end of Cold War.

India and the former Soviet Union were very close friends, then and India would stand alongside the Soviet Union at international forums to face the might of the United States. After the fall of the Soviet Union and its disintegration, global conditions changed and distance between India and the United States narrowed, and their relationship touched its peak with the nuclear deal between India and the United States. Relations between India and Russia never became sour, but a kind of laxity had crept in, which had created an atmosphere of diplomatic lethargy.

Strategic and Trade Agreements
It has become clear from the strategic and trade agreements signed during Prime Minister Putin's visit that both countries understand each other's significance. It seemed in the last decade that the world was becoming unipolar under US supremacy, but the growing strength and pace of China and India's development have created a new Asian pole.

Countries like India and China along with Russia conceptualized the Shanghai cooperation. Russia emerged as an economic superpower breaking its own economic shackles, but its trade dependence is on Europe. Russia is looking for new markets to change that dependence, and India is a friend as well as an emerging center of trade.

The New Avenues
To balance the power of China and the United States, mutual cooperation between India and Russia would open up new avenues. It is being hoped that bilateral trade, which is currently worth $8 billion annually, would reach $20 billion in the next five years. There has been a big deal with Russia for military weapons and Russia is also prepared to supply necessary uranium fuel and reactors to India, which is in the new nuclear club. India needs energy and there is huge reserve of petroleum products in Russia.

The United States is India's new friend, but there is always a shadow of doubt over this friendship because of double-faced policies of Washington regarding Pakistan. At the same time, the manner in which China is tightening its strategic and economic grip around India, cooperation between India and Russia becomes inevitable for peace and power balance.

India-Pakistan Dispute and Mediation by Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is on a visit to the Saudi Arabia, but even prior to the details being made available on the visit, a statement made by Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has come into limelight that has received widespread condemnation. The delegation accompanying the prime minister includes Tharoor.

Addressing the media persons at Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, he stressed that the help of Saudi Arabia needs to be sought in settling the India-Pakistan dispute. This led to a ruckus in political circles in India.

Intervention of Third Party
All those political parties that are against any kind of mediation from a third country in the dispute between India and Pakistan geared up to attack Tharoor. During Holi when colors should be used, the game of mudslinging started. All these political leaders who, perhaps, continue to be present in the offices of TV channels immediately came before the cameras to spit venom against him.

They all began to condemn him, saying that to make Saudi Arabia a mediator in the India-Pakistan dispute has broken an age-old tradition. These leaders maintained that the intervention of a third party in the India-Pakistan disputes would harm India's interests.

Reason Behind Opposition
The main reason behind the opposition to Tharoor's suggestion is that all politicians in Pakistan continue to harp that some third country should mediate between the countries to get their dispute resolved. Saudi Arabia is the third country, after the United States and the United Kingdom, which would be greatly welcomed by Pakistani politicians if it dons the mantle of a mediator.

Readers may recall that in the wake of the India-Pakistan war 1965, the then Soviet Union played the role of a mediator and an agreement was reached between the then Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President General Ayub Khan at Tashkent (Shastri passed away within hours of signing the agreement).

After the 1971 war, India refused to accept the mediation from a third country. India asked the then Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to visit India to hold peace talks. Consequently, the Shimla Accord was signed. Since then politicians in Pakistan adopted the stand that whenever there was any dispute between the countries, they endeavored to get it resolved by bringing a third country as a mediator. Yet, India continued to maintain that there was no need of a third party to mediate between them. So much so Indians do not even like to hear such a thing from anyone. That is why when Tharoor was said to have maintained that Saudi Arabia should act as a mediator between India and Pakistan, guns were set against him and politicians enjoying Holi holidays forgot about the celebration and plunged into the political arena.

After the ruckus began to take an ugly overture, Tharoor wrote on Twitter that journalists could not grasp his English. Explaining, he said that he had used the word, "interlocutor" which is not the same as a "mediator." He added the word interlocutor stands for a person who conveys the message from one person to another.

He said that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are bosom friends and, therefore, Saudi Arabia can act as an effective interlocutor. The dictionary meaning of the interlocutor in the Urdu dictionary is a person who participate din question and answer while the English dictionary says that an interlocutor is a person who conveys the message from one government to the other and also the reply from that government to the former one. Clearly, it is no mediation. Indeed, it is a kind of a help under which the two governments concerned can easily comprehend each other.

Possible Help to Taliban
As far as Saudi Arabia is concerned, it is the second largest and major US ally, after Israel in the Middle East, while Pakistan is the major US ally in South Asia. Friendship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is very deep. It would, therefore, be more then happy to act as a messenger in the dialogue between India and Pakistan.

It is common knowledge that once Saudi Arabia extended all possible help to the Taliban. It was the first country in the world that recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan, yet the Taliban were sworn enemies of the United States. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Taliban turned sour and the Taliban began to target Saudi Arabia for terrorism. In the same way, Pakistan had also not only extended all help to the Taliban but also nurtured them. Now, the Taliban are Pakistan's deadliest enemy. The Taliban are India's enemies since their inception. That is why Saudi Arabia at least can extend some help to India in dealing with the threat from the Taliban.

Time Ahead
Tharoor has been a successful diplomat and has held the office of the UN under secretary general. He understands international issues very well. Therefore, instead of targeting him for his assertion, there is the need to test it on the criteria of international interests. Neither the External Affairs Ministry nor the prime minister office has reacted to it, yet.

Yet, news agencies have issued news items with reference to the prime minister office that the government is greatly surprised at the statement made by Tharoor. The situation may become clear only after the prime minister returns from Saudi Arabia or a statement issued after the conclusion of the visits. The prime minister may explain the issue to the media persons accompanying him.

Muslim World Needs Formation of Islamic Bloc

Jews have got a strong presence in the political, economic, and administrative positions of the world superpower, the United States. After the United States, the followers of the Jewish religion and Jewish bankers are moving quickly toward capturing Europe and taking it in their control. This has become evident in the elections in the European Union (EU) for the presidential and ministerial posts. The global agenda of Jews could not have been achieved with the help of one Western country. So, they planned to use the whole of Europe. The Jewish lobbies have an evil idea, which plans to convert the EU into an allied state like the former Soviet Union. In this regard, the Lisbon Treaty was also extended, so that the foreign and economic policy law and regulations come under the control of Jews. The elections of the EU took place in Brussels on 9 November, but the results shocked everyone. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was defeated by an unknown Belgian leader Rompuy in the EU presidential elections. The 27 leaders of the EU elected Rompuy for a two-year term. Tony Blair was considered an extremely strong candidate. He used to represent Britain in the different meetings of the EU.

Economic and Monetary Reforms
The defeat of Blair in the elections led to grief among the British people. This would have also happened that differences would have erupted between the United Kingdom and EU. So, in order to address this problem, the magicians of the EU gave the second most powerful post in the EU to the United Kingdom. The British woman political leader Ashton has been made the foreign minister of the EU. After winning the presidential race, Rompuy stated that if unity was our strength, difference within us was our money. Ashton stated that she was proud of her victory. Rompuy does not have any high political stature or profile in the world. He remained the Belgian prime minister for a short time. Corruption and money looting charges against him circulated in the media with great intensity during his tenure. The close associates of Rompuy stated that in order to lengthen his tenure he used to bribe his cabinet members. The economic and monetary reforms that took place in Belgium and other European small countries were spearheaded by Rompuy. The European people, although did not benefit from all these pacts or reforms, the Jewish bankers and investors were able to earn a windfall.
Rompuy is considered to be a reputable champion for making deals. He is considered to be the front man of the Jewish bankers and investors. According to the Jerusalem Post, the election of Rompuy for the presidential post was given tacit support by the Jewish lobby. Prior to the Lisbon treaty, the European leaders were actively participating in the election campaign, so that the whole of Europe backs the Soviet Union, which can work for the benefit of Europe in the world. After the extension of the Lisbon treaty, the president of the EU is the most powerful man in the continent. Before the approval of the Lisbon Treaty, the president of the EU was elected for a six-month period and had a mere rubber stamp status. Now, the president is the don of Europe and will have 5,000 employees working for him. In addition, he will have billions of dollars at his/her disposal.

Europe at International Scenario
The United States was hoping to see Tony Blair as the president, but Germany and France did not support Blair. Instead, Sarkozy and Merkel supported Rompuy for the president post. On the 20th year celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the victory of Rompuy was decided and he also stated that he was aware of his possible victory prior to the elections. The secretary of state of the EU, Lord Mendelson, has stated that the election of Rompuy has dented the honor of the EU.
According to the analysis by Al-Jazeera, the United States and other world leaders have criticized the European leaders for the election of Rompuy as the president. The head of the global policy institute took out his anger in a recent interview by stating that the EU presidential election was disappointing. Rompuy while stating his priorities presented this thought provoking statement that Europe is far superior area than the United States in the economic field. The Europeans in support of the Americans have played a role a dozen times, but there is no importance of Europe at the international scenario.

Demand of Situation
France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Geneva, and Britain pin the success of Sweden to a formal and structured banking system, which is owned by Jews. In the past, the Jewish lobby has been achieving its objectives in Europe by forcing the European countries. Now, the policymakers of Europe will all be Jews. It is also being said that instead of Russia and China facing the United States, it will Europe standing up against the United States in the future. The defeat of Blair is the product of global Jewish plans. This fact is also certain that the new safeguard of Jewish interests will be Europe. The elections of the EU serve as an example to emulate for the 57 Muslim countries.
If seven countries, which have been at loggerheads with each other for past centuries and have committed violence and murder against the citizens of their opposing countries, can forget their animosity to stand united on the platform of the EU. Then, why do the 57 Muslim countries feel a hindrance in uniting under the banner of an Islamic Union of the Muslim community. I should remember that until the time Muslims unite they will have to continue to face this oppression and tyranny. The Jews and the Christians, equipped with stinger missiles and high-tech weapons, would continue to kill thousands of people in Iraq.

Whither Obama Promises to Islamic World?

That night of 20 January was the night to dream with open eyes, when the son of a black Muslim was seen in the historical function to take oath as the 44th President of the United States. That moment for the black US people was the realization of their dreams. However, the black and Muslim people of the entire world started having a new dream from that day. That dream was about good United States.
Now a question mark is being observed on the performance of Barack Obama after eight months and it is not asking from a single individual, rather from the history as to "what happened to that dream?" That dream, which faded out as soon as it was dreamt. Now ash of that dream is flying hither and thither in the shape of speeches on the global stage and its script writer is the US establishment.

Freedom of Palestine
Intellectuals of the world agreed on it that Obama would do nothing. However, there was a hope that the United States would correct its mistakes in the shape of Obama and would let the world win peace and freedom without which the word "civilization" is meaningless. However, the violence gripped this world after the break up of the Soviet Union and disintegration of the socialist block.
The nations of the world, which sacrificed three or four generations for freedom, their goal of freedom seemed a mirage to them. What is the answer the United States of Obama to this question as "what has happened to the freedom of Palestine?" Now Palestinians are not launching suicide attacks on the Jews and they are no more hijacking aircrafts. Why are they still under barbaric besiege of Israel?

Occupation of Iraq and Withdrawal from Afghanistan
The United States had a great opportunity in the shape of Obama to seek apology for the occupation of Iraq and to withdraw from Afghanistan. If it had sought guarantees from Islamic countries to do this, it would have obtained. However, it wasted the opportunity. Now the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan would be nothing more than a retreat. The reason is that it has been decided that the United States cannot stay in Afghanistan for long. It has to leave it. It would have been a lot better, if it had left it with honor.
As far as the prosperity of the world is concerned, people are leading life worse than before. All books of the capitalist world have turned into a heap of garbage, which described that the world once out of the threat of communism would become a paradise. Now communism is no more a threat. However, the world has become worse than before. Promises the United States pledged to the international community and the countries standing by it against the Soviet Union have not been honored. Pakistan is a sorrowful example of those broken promises. India supported the Soviet Union during the Cold War era. It did not support NATO countries. India did not support the United States or its allies from Afghanistan to Africa.

Bonhomie with India
However, the United States started bonhomie with India after the elimination of the Soviet Union and pushed Pakistan aside. India conducted nuclear tests and Pakistan paid it back in the same coin. However, both were subjected to sanctions. Then this shameful discrimination was exercised that the United States signed nuclear pact with India and announced that Pakistan should not expect such pacts. The United States used to request Pakistan for help during the Cold War era.
However, it started issuing aggressive threats in order to use Pakistan for its interests after the Cold War was over. Pakistan was subjected to discriminatory treatment regarding nuclear cooperation when Pakistan was either killing its friends of cold war era or it was handing them over to the United States, although they did not pose any threat to Pakistan. However, those best friends of Pakistan turned into the worst enemies because of the United States. Pakistan now stands alone in the war on terror, in which it was forcibly pushed into by the United States.
The United States is violating the sanctity of the Pakistani frontiers with its drone spy planes and the Indian intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has set up a large network in Afghanistan because of the United States. It has launched every kind of activities against Pakistan under the cover of aid to Afghanistan. The United States knows all this. Now its allies are also acknowledging this fact that India is using Afghan soil against Pakistan. However, the United States is calmly looking at this drama and doing nothing in this regard. If it is doing something, it is adding insult to Pakistan's injuries and that too with the US brand name. How is the United States playing its role in this regard?
The United States should realize this that the history of world does not stop. However, it happens that its pace is decreased through force, but its total stoppage is impossible. The anger against the United States is mounting and if the countries of the world do not form a front against the United States, people of the world could gather on a platform against the United States. The history is changed through the public role. If the countries of world do not devise policies to reflect the aspirations of the concerned public, the common people would come forward to play its role and the world would enter into a good and new era. The establishment of the world makes people subjugate the common people through technology. It exploits them.
However, the common people use the same technology to benefit them and the world establishment is rather flabbergasted over it. Now the anger in the entire world is emerging against the United States in a new way. The public realized the United States would change with the arrival of Obama. However, the common people are feeling sorry over its simplicity and innocence, which is transforming into revenge. The people of the world are feeling humiliated. A fire of revenge is burning in their hearts against the United States. The United States should fear this fire. It is the fire of the public, which has the courage and ability to change the history.
It is being proved from the recent statements of President Obama that white Bush is speaking in the guise of black president. He is still presenting Pakistan as Al-Qa'ida sanctuary. The United States is increasing the number of its troops in Afghanistan along with the number of drones that strikes missiles on the Pakistani borders. This drama is being staged during the government about which the US stand is that "We are strengthening democracy in the world."

Drone Attacks in Pakistan
Will drone attacks strengthen democracy in Pakistan? The difference between the United States of Obama and the United States of Bush, which emerged in the minds of people of the world ends when the dictator of the same (Pakistan) country visits the United States like a royal guest and holds political talks with George W. Bush.
The people of world would soon be disappointed from the change, which they attached to that US realization declaring Obama continuance of Bush. The important question in this regard is: Will the United States be able to bear the reaction of the disappointment of the people of the world?