President's Message Gives Clear Direction to Real Development

The Republic Day message, given by Indian President Pratibha Patil, carries a special message for the people. The message assumes significance not only for being a formal and traditional message that the president delivers on the eve of every republic day to the people of the country but is also indicative can also serve as a beacon to reach the goals of construction of a new India.

Development and Progress
Expressing grave concern at the spiraling price rise, she stressed the need of another green revolution in the country to ensure availability of food grains. In fact, the painful sky rocketing prices of essential commodities, particularly of food articles, have cast its shadow on the jubilations of the republic day. That pain is being felt by the president of the Republic of India also because she represents the country. There is no gainsaying that ensuring availability of food articles, poses a huge challenge to the country. To face it, we can no longer depend on the sweet will of nature and seasons. To meet the challenge, there indeed, is the need for another green revolution as she has suggested. Clearly, until effective initiatives are made at the official level, the thought expressed by the president cannot be translated into a reality.
Maintaining that the next ten years would be very decisive for the country, the president said that every Indian would have to show complete responsibility, discipline, and wholeheartedly work with the great spirit of cooperation and with a sense of purpose. In fact, we have set our target to become a developed nation by 2020 and have also identified some goals to achieve the target. She referred to the same.

Employment Opportunities
India has come out of the global economic meltdown courageously and creditably. The international community, too, has lauded India for its endeavor. The fact remains that in spite of the worse-ever situation, employment opportunities in the IT sector have increased in India. As against it, unemployment has become rampant in the United States and hundreds of banks there continue to go bankrupt. However, in the midst of progress, many of our weaknesses, too, have come to the fore.
We have failed to reach expected local of development despite having expertise and skills. We have failed to eradicate corruption, which is eating into the vitals of the country like a malignancy. Even more tragic is that corruption that is rampant in the government administration, is fast spreading into the corporate sector as well. A survey conducted recently revealed that 83.4 percent of the management at the lower level in the corporate sector and 90.1 percent at higher level indulge in irregularities and corruption.
There is no need to explain what role the corporate sector plays in industrial and economic progress of the country. Similarly, the responsibilities devolving on the bureaucracy for this purpose are quite clear. Also, it is well known what significance the political leadership has in taking the country along the path of progress and development. If germs of corruption get embedded into these vital sectors, it would adversely affect the graph of the progress indeed. Since we have failed to achieve the desired standards of progress as yet, we need to pay greater attention to it during the next ten years and we would have to work with the dedication and sense of responsibility that the president has called for.

Line of Action
President Pratibha Patil has rightly asserted that we would have to work hard to carry India to the peak of development and progress clearly, and that task remains unfulfilled until the common man living even in far-flung areas of the country become a partner and a receiver of that progress. The fruit of development should reach the lowly of the lowliest and the poorest of the poor. She has also stressed the need of developing the standard of research. In this connection, if we take a look at Europe and the United States, it becomes clear that those countries have achieved progress by attaching greater importance to the research sector. It is one of the reasons behind the brain drain from our country while other countries are befitting. To improve the standard of our research, we would have to utilize the skills and brains of these people, and become a developed country.On the whole, the presidential address does not only set the line of action for the government, but is also a message to all sectors of human endeavors and all fields of national development. There is need to understand the message and act upon it by every citizen.

Coup Plotted in Thailand

Two major political events have happened recently. First, the red-shirt people continued their rallies after they were buoyed by the success in their campaign to evict Privy Councilor Surayut Chulanon from Khao Yai Thiang. In the second event, two major coalition partners bypassed the coalition-leader Democrat Party to push for charter amendments.
The rallies by the red-shirt people and the attempts, led by Chat Thai Phatthana Party de facto leader Banhan Sinlapa-acha to pressure the Democrat to support charter amendments, would not lead to House dissolution and a new election.

Uncertainty Inside Army
Most of all, a coup can be ruled out. There may be undercurrents and uncertainty inside the Army, but these things must be dealt with by the Army top brass themselves. Those, who dare to roll out tanks to the roads, will not only have to fight against their fellow soldiers but they will also face resistance from the people who love and cherish democracy.
No matter how the red-shirt movement denied it, its rallies were made definitely to make headlines before the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Office will make a ruling in the Bt76-billion assets seizure case against former Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat.
The red-shirt movement does not aim for House dissolution and a new election in the near future. Although the Phuea Thai Party feels that it has an advantage when contesting the next election and will have a chance to form and lead the next government, the party now has a major problem. That is, it is not sure whether it will be ready to contest the election or not.

Important Factor
To start with the Phuea Thai could not even be sure whether it would receive financial support from the same major supporter if the Bt76-billion assets were gone. But I think the most important factor is that the Phuea Thai lacks the real party leader. The party is in the similar situation with the red-shirt movement whose leaders are only sergeants. These sergeants could only wait to carry out orders from the boss.
And when these sergeants tried to initiate their own moves, they always made blunders, such as planning to rally at the Sirirat Hospital and demonstrate at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Thaksin is also far away to control the game and his family members lack enough clout to substitute his role.

The Repurcussion
Turmoil will definitely break out if the party has to set its election candidates in the next three or four months. Fights will definitely erupt between professional politicians, who have been working for the party for a long time, and former senior military officers, who recently joined the party. The former military officers would definitely not contest the constituency-based elections as they do not want to go out to beg from the people's support. So, the former military officers will fight for quota of party-list candidates and the current party-list MPs will definitely not give away their quota.
No one would easily give in and no one in the party has enough clout to make a decision that would be accepted by the two sides without causing rifts. So, the Phuea Thai could be broken apart just when the party is selecting its election candidates.
This is why I dare to say that the Phuea Thai does not want to contest an election now.
The coalition partners are now having some conflicts with the coalition-leader Democrat. In particular, leaders of coalition parties feel that Prime Minister Aphisit Wetchachiwa is too distant from them although they are in the same coalition government. Despite this situation, the coalition partners are still happy to be parts of the government and do not want to lose their MP status for now.
The coalition partners and the leader are like teeth and the lips when they have conflicts. The coalition partners will also feel the pain if they bite the lips too hard.

Red-Shirted Movement
It should be watched closely whether and how the red-shirted movement, which is the front army of the big boss from Dubai, will launch an attack early February. We should wait and see what the next order from Dubai will be.
February could be the last chance for Thaksin to try to win back his power and assets. After February ends, the political situation as well as the red-shirt movement itself will completely change.

Rising Unemployment Forcing US To Make Outsourcing Costly

In order to save his country from the aftereffects of recession, US President Barack Obama has promised not to give tax benefits to companies that outsource jobs. The worst to be affected by this announcement are IT and BPO companies. They have both overcome the effects of depression only recently. Their total business is to the tune of $71.7 billion, with the United States contributing to half of the same.

Gross Domestic Product
The contribution of the IT field to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the year 2008-09 was 5.8 percent. By the end of this year, i.e. 2009-10, India will have control over 10 percent of the world's BPO business. It must also be taken into account that although the worst phase of recession is over, the United States is still suffering from its adverse effects. Every 10th person is unemployed there. Almost seven million people have become unemployed due to recession in the last two years. Many companies have also closed down. The United States will still take a few more years to overcome this crisis.

New Employment Law
It is apprehended that 3.3 million jobs will be outsourced by the United States by 2015 if Obama does not formulate a new employment law. It is a bitter reality that the United States occupies the number one position today thanks to Indians and Chinese. Yet, it is facing a severe challenge from these countries. As a result, it is afraid of losing its top position.
China is growing at a fast rate. If it maintains this speed, it will become the world's most powerful economy by 2020. The United States owes its number one position to the skill, intelligence, and labor of Indians and Chinese. Taking advantage of these talents, US companies get better quality works done at lower costs by these companies to keep their cost of production low. Their gain, however, deprives the country of job opportunities.

The Benefit
This is also inevitable since low cost of production cannot ensure increased job opportunities. Drawing attention of students of his country to the formula of India and China in this connection, the US President advised them to concentrate more on science and mathematics.
Science is the key to progress. The secret to successful development is to combine it with hard labor.

Rajapakse's Victory and India's Interests

Sri Lanka, a small island country in the Indian Ocean held its presidential elections recently. President Mahinda Rajapakse once again succeeded in emerging victorious. He effectively replied to his opponents by scoring a triumph with a big majority. His rival, former Army General Sarath Fonseka, had to face defeat.

Suppression of Tamils
Fonseka is a person who, by winning the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the recent past, emerged as a war hero in the eyes of his countrymen. The bulk of Sri Lankan population is constituted by Sinhalese-speaking people whereas Tamils are in minority. Because of the predominance of the LTTE in the LTTE-occupied regions over the past 30 years, Sri Lanka was a weak country to a great extent. For the interests of the neighboring nation India was linked to the LTTE and it hesitated to extend support to the LTTE, whereas even the troops sent by India against the LTTE faced a crushing defeat and had to retreat soon.
War-hit Tamils, even in Tamil majority areas, favored Rajapakse to Fonseka. The main reason for this was that Tamils recognize Fonseka as a dictator general and they found their interests secure in the hands of Rajapakse who, initially crushed the LTTE, but later spoke about the welfare of Tamils and he launched relief plans for them under the world pressure. Not only that, Fonseka favors suppression of Tamils, as against Rajapakse, being a politician cannot do so to avoid the charges of human rights violation in the wake of the war.
In truth, Fonseka had been under the illusion of his victory under any circumstances. Earlier, toward the final phase of the war against the LTTE, Fonseka had turned so much arbitrary that he ignored event the existence of the Sri Lankan Government. At one stage, he was preparing to stage a coup to come into power. But Rajapakse came to learn of Fonseka's intentions, and he replaced Fonseka by appointing someone else as the military chief.

Policies and Advice of India
Fonseka was projected as a gallant person, and a victim of the official persecution. So far so that even to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, it seemed that she could capture power indirectly by extending support to Fonseka. But that was not to be, because Sri Lankans favor the LTTE's end, but not suppression of Tamils. The Sinhalese majority population still is in favor of settling Tamils in the country, but is not willing to concede Tamils' demand for a separate country.
President Rajapakse had perceived the wish of the Sri Lankan public. That is why he focused on rehabilitation of Tamils after the war was over. He did not favor that Tamils should quit in any circumstances. Considered as pro-India, Rajapakse gained from the policies and advice of India. Even as Tamils feel extremely irked and hapless over the Indian approach, yet they feel that they can bank upon India not only at present, but in the future as well, for there still exists in South India a vast majority of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Benefit of Rajapakse's Victory
Another benefit of Rajapakse's victory is that Sri Lanka will continue to pursue its traditional policies. Had General Fonseka won and reversed Sri Lankan policies, in such an eventuality Sri Lanka could have witnessed a civil war once again or even could faced an attack from India. Recognized as pro-China, Fonseka had been aspiring to see Sri Lanka as a colony of China.
He wished to see Sri Lanka emerge as a strong military power with China's military support. If this were so, Sri Lanka, a victim of separatist violence, would have proved an irritant in the eyes of neighboring countries, including India, and its future could be questioned.

Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act

The Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Act, 2008, which provides for sweeping changes in the criminal justice delivery system, has recently come into effect. The Act, which gives protection to rape victims, got President Pratibha Patil’s assent in January last year, but was kept in abeyance for about a year.
Significantly, the amended law not only gives protection to rape victims but also provides for completing trials in sexual offences within two months. This should be seen in the context of the infamous Ruchika Girhotra molestation case in which the accused, former Director-General of Police S.P.S. Rathore, after 19 years of trial, got away with a minor punishment of six months in jail. Ruchika, unable to see the torture perpetrated on her and her family, committed suicide. The case is now being re-opened following a public outcry and media pressure.
The latest data from the National Crimes Records Bureau shows how only three out of 10 rape and dowry deaths are probed within the same year. Admittedly, delayed investigation not only frustrates the victim but also provides an opportunity to the accused to use his clout in influencing the investigation as is evident in the Ruchika case.

Law Commission Recommendations
It incorporates the recommendations of the Law Commission, the Justice Malimath Committee’s report and the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court to prevent overcrowding of jails with undertrials. Lawyers stoutly opposed the amendments relating to arrest, notice of appearance before a police office and adjournments, and urged the government not to notify the amended law. So the Centre has decided not to notify Sections 5, 6 and 21 (b).
With the permission of court, a rape victim can engage an advocate to help the prosecution. Any victim’s statement will have to be recorded at the victim’s home or in a safe place or a place of her choice. As far as practicable, the statement should be recorded by a woman police officer in the presence of the victim’s parents or guardian or near relatives or social worker of the locality.
Under the new law, statements can be recorded through audio/video or other electronic means. Investigation of rape/child sex abuse must be completed in three months from the date when information was recorded by the officer in charge of the police station.
The law provides for in camera trials and protection of the victim’s identity, maintaining the confidentiality of the name and address of the parties and conduct of trials by a woman magistrate. It will enable the victim to go on appeal against any order passed by the court acquitting the accused or convicting him of a lesser offence, or awarding inadequate compensation. Such appeal shall be made in the court where an appeal is ordinarily made against the order of conviction.

Interests of Accused
The Act mandates the police officer making an arrest to bear his identification badge or tag. A memorandum of arrest shall be prepared, witnessed and countersigned. The person arrested shall be told that he/she has the right to inform a relative or friend. To protect the interests of the accused, it stipulates that an arrested person be examined immediately by a medical officer.
It mandates the State governments to establish police control rooms at the State and district levels and display on notice boards kept outside the control rooms the names and addresses of the persons arrested, and the names and designations of the police officers who made the arrests.

Compensation to Victims
The law provides for compensation to victims for illegal arrest and police harassment. In coordination with the Centre, every State should prepare a scheme for providing funds for compensation to the victim or his/her dependants who suffered loss or injury as a result of the crime and who require rehabilitation.
Whenever a recommendation is made by a court for compensation, the District Legal Service Authority or the State Legal Service Authority shall decide the quantum of compensation. If the trial court is satisfied that the compensation awarded under Section 357 of the Cr. PC is not adequate, or the cases end in acquittal or discharge or the victim has to be rehabilitated, it may recommend compensation.
The victim can go on appeal against a court order acquitting the accused or convicting him of a lesser offence or awarding inadequate compensation. While all these provisions are well intended, their efficacy and usefulness will depend on the degree of implementation by the law enforcement agencies.

Creation of South-Central Asian Economic Bloc

Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a joint statement recently in Islamabad. The statement is a good omen as all three countries have agreed not to interfere in each other's internal matters, and have expressed their resolve that neither country will let their respective territories to be used against each other.
Foreign ministers of the three countries released the joint statement at a press conference in Islamabad. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki, and the Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta further announced that the second trilateral summit would be held in Islamabad during the current year. In addition, meetings of interior ministers will be held in Islamabad, finance ministers in Kabul, and the intelligence chiefs in Teheran.

Joint Decision
The foreign ministers' conference also decided that the scope of the alliance would be expanded to another three neighboring countries and in this regard, foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will meet in Tehran. The intellectuals say that everything sans geography of a country can be changed in the world. Similarly, every material blessing in the world can be purchased, but a neighbor is such a blessing that cannot be purchased. The geography of your country will continue to exist and you will have to accept your country's neighbor.
It has been Pakistan's bad luck that relations with its neighboring countries never improved. The Kashmir issue was waged with India in 1947; four wars were fought; one of them bifurcated the county, and one wing of Pakistan became Bangladesh. The Pashtunistan imbroglio with Afghanistan started in the same year, 1947. However, this issue has never led to any war. However, relations with Afghanistan remained cold until 1975. Then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto extended a hand of friendship toward Afghanistan (President Sardar Muhammad Daud). Sardar Daud and Bhutto had agreed to form an economic bloc for regional cooperation between the two countries. Both of them met the same fate they were killed.
After 1978, Afghanistan and Pakistan were trapped in a war that has been underway for the last 31 years. From 1978 until 1990, this was a war actually between the United States and former Soviet Union, but after 1990, it turned into a war of US occupation over Afghanistan. In this war, Pakistan was declared the frontline state and is being used as a "sand bag."
Until monarchy remained in vogue in Iran, the Shah (king Raza) ruled the country. The Iranian emperor was considered to be a US agent. Until then, good relations existed between Pakistan and Iran. The US interest in the region was that both the countries remain committed to peaceful coexistence and jointly abide by the US dictates.
In 1979, a revolution took place and democracy was established in Iran. It hurt the US interests and the United States started using neighboring countries including Pakistan against Iran. Washington united Iraq, Kuwait, and other Arab states in the world and manipulated a war against Iran that lasted for eight long years. The United States also created a rift in relations between Pakistan and Iran.
China is also our neighboring country. It is the only country in the world that has helped Pakistan against all odds. The United States repeatedly perpetrated terrorism in China and attempted to shift its blame on Pakistan.
Russia is also our neighboring country. During the Cold War era, a wrong decision by then Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan turned Pakistan into a US ally against the former Soviet Union. Then, the United States used Pakistani territory against the Soviet Union. The Russian leadership is still suspicious of Pakistan and does not trust the same.
Since 1999, Pakistan has been isolated on an international level. General (retired) Pervez Musharraf's regime is known as a period of frequent failures of Pakistan on the foreign policy front. Even during the period of the incumbent democratic government, no heed has been paid to Pakistani ministers on the international level, which means that Pakistan is still confronted with international isolation.

Painstaking Task
The only panacea to bring Pakistan out of international isolation is to improve its image and credibility on a regional level. The blemish of being a US ally on Pakistan must be removed. Pakistan's entity as an independent and sovereign country must be established. This is a very painstaking task. However, an alliance comprising of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan can make positive headway in this direction.
Until 2009, the Pakistani people used to complain that the United States was using the Afghan territory against their country. The people of Iran and Afghanistan also had the same complaint that the Untied States was using the Pakistani territory against the same.
A trilateral summit of these countries (Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan) was held in Teheran in 2009, in which the said issues discussed. The foreign ministers of all three countries, during their meeting in Islamabad, pledged that they would not allow any one to use their territories against each other.

Economic Development
The Afghan Parliament by rejecting the pro-US nominees for the new cabinet of President Hamid Karzai twice has proved that Afghanistan has wakened up. Similarly, in camera session in 2009, the Pakistani parliament also raised an effective voice against the US interference. Last week, the parliamentary committee on national security released a draft memorandum, in which flaws in the foreign policy were highlighted and a halt to the US steps against the territorial integrity and security of Pakistan was demanded.
The latest Pakistan-Iran-Afghanistan trilateral statement is a good omen, as it recommends the inclusion of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan into the fold of regional cooperation. It is imperative that that this trilateral alliance is turned into a regional bloc involving China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan also. It will help isolate the duo of India and the United States, and prevent their hegemony from being established in the region. It would also usher in a new era of development in the region. China has emerged as a role model of economic development in the new century.

Assessment
By adopting this model, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other neighboring countries can get rid of the West's hegemony and slavery and can also touch new heights of economic development. This is how the energy crisis in Pakistan can be overcome. It is time that the media, civil society, political parties and the Pakistani people consider to move forward "minus the United States" that is without relying on the US assistance. This sole option will guarantee the stability, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and Pakistan's internal security.

Resolve North Korean Nuclear Weapon Issue Should Begin With US

International mainstream media feel that the main cause of the Korean nuclear weapon problem is because North Korea wants to develop and own nuclear weapons. They say it is the fault of North Korea. Therefore, they feel the primary focus should be on solving North Korean's own domestic issues. It is time for us to change such perception.

Main Cause of North Korea's Nuclear Weapon Problem
The root reason why North Korea would want to develop nuclear weapons is due to its insecurity. First, the United States lists North Korea as one of the world three axis of evils. From time to time, the United States attacked the North Korean leader publicly. The United States tries to destabilize the North Korean regime either overly or covertly. Second, the United States maintains military alliance with Japan and South Korea military alliance.
There are tens of thousands of US troops station in South Korea and Japan. They hold regular joint military exercises aimed at North Korea. This is in addition to the fact that the United States has promised to cover Japan and South Korea with the US nuclear shield. Third, on argument of processing nuclear weapons and deserting of nuclear weapons, the use of pragmatism by the United States holds duel, triple or even quadruple standards.

US Nuke Policies
The US nuclear weapon policies toward North Korea and Israel are entirely different. The US nuclear weapon policies between Afghanistan and Pakistan also show obvious different. As such, in order to protect its national security, and in order to obtain equal status in the international community, the need for North Korea to develop nuclear weapon does posses a certain degree of rationality.
Along North Korea's nuclear weapon development path, North Korean's position on its nuclear weapon development has been uncertain and thus leading to the country drifting further away on not wanting to give up nuclear weapon development. This naturally is the ill-rational side of North Koreas and its leader. However, without any doubt, the wrong North Korean policy implemented by the United States, Japan and South Korea have also enhanced North Korean leader's risk-taking mentality. It has also led to the repeated broken off the North Korean Six-party Negotiation talks. On the other hand, Pyongyang's nuclear weapon policy also has its share of difficulties period. At one time, the denuclearization threshold for North Korea to walk through was just a stone's throw away as well. In 2008, North Korea even blew up the Yongbyon cooling tower, showing its denuclearization posture to the world. However, all effort did by North Korea did not gain the US fundamental change on its North Korean policy. The United States did not make reciprocal concessions. When the Pyongyang leader hoped that with the change of leadership in the United States, President Obama could make drastic change in the way the United States treats North Korea; however, in the end it was empty hope for North Korea again.
In theory, the Six Party Nuclear Weapon Talks should be a collective diplomatic effort from respective country representatives to negotiate for the end of North Korea's nuclear weapon development plan. The representatives should look into the 'cause' and 'end result" of North Korea's nuclear weapon development. But unfortunately, the Six Party Talks focused basically on wanting North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapon development plan, which is the 'end result' of the 'cause.' They have totally avoided or ignored the "cause" of it. In other words, the reality is that North Korea's nuclear weapon plan was the result of the US hegemonic policy. The United States has forced North Korea to walk the nuclear weapon path.

US-Japan-South Korea Military Alliance Obsolete
At present, the main thought for the international community to resolve North Korea's nuclear weapon development issue is still focused on how they should make North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. They advocate that it is only when Pyongyang is willing to abandon its nuclear weapon program first before they can give them financial aid. They say that in order to allow North Korea to have normal ties with other countries, the prerequisite is for North Korea to discard its nuclear weapon development plan. In the past five or six years, the North Korean Six Party Nuclear Weapon talks were indeed allowing this thought to turn around. However, in the end, the result of these talks was fruitless. Therefore, if we really want to solve the North Korean nuclear weapon issue we must first break away from this cycle of unreasonable approach. The "contradiction theory" of Mao Zedong is useful to resolve this issue. Since the main contradiction of North Korea comes from the United States. We must resolve North Korea's nuclear weapon issue from the US end. The first reasonable thing for the United States to do is to adjust and abandon its outdated US-Japan-South Korean military alliance pack.
The Cold War has long ended. However, the United States, Japan and South Korea have continued to strengthen their alliance pack formed during the Cold War in conservative manner. This military pack among the three nations has fallen behind the current security situation in East Asia. This is among the reasons North Korea would want to process nuclear weapons for self-defense. North Korea can have the justification to do just that. Although President Obama has kept saying he would want to create change and reform the world, but unfortunately, the basic Asia Pacific military strategy of the United States under the Obama administration has remain unchanged. If the United States is unwilling to change this military strategy in Asia-Pacific, it will be difficult for the United States to settle the North Korean nuclear weapon issue.
In order to give North Korea the security assurance it needs, it is crucial for the United States to discard its Cold War mentality totally. This is because the obsolete US-Japan-South Korean military pact cannot catch up with the US military deployment in East Asia. The United States must stop military rehearsals with Japan and South Korea. The United States must also withdraw its obligation to provide nuclear defense shields for Japan and South Korea. The United States must revamp the current US-Japan-South Korea military agreement to give it a new meaning. When things become obsolete it must be thrown away. The world has witnessed the fall of Berlin Wall and the fall of former USSR. In making new adjustment toward East Asian development, the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Yokohama has the intention to relax and change the position of Japan in the US-Japan alliance status. If President Obama has the determination to change the world, then he must begin to make change through the elimination of US-Japan-South Korea military pack. The United States can work on the US troops now stationed in Japan and South Korea. President Obama can hold on to his Nobel Peace Prize's honor this way.
U.S. columnist Bill Carlson recently published an article advocating the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il to the United States in order to improve US-North Korean ties. While we first heard about, it seemed like an Arabic Nights tale, but as we think it through, this might well be one of the best choices to resolve the US-North Korean issue.
It so happened that fifty years (1959 years) ago, former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev also acted in a similar way like today's Kim Jong Il brandishing nuclear weapons and threatening the blockade West Berlin. The stiff US-USSR relationship then was quite similar to today's US-North Korean ties. During that period, former US President Eisenhower took a surprise gesture by inviting Russian leader Khrushchev to visit the United States and to do a study tour of the United States. During that visit, in the end, Khrushchev and Eisenhower shook hands and celebrated their friendship with toast at Camp David. Khrushchev's trip to the United States achieved "miraculous" result. The visit by a Russian leader changed Khrushchev's perception and attitude about the United States. After Khrushchev retuned from the United States, he immediately decided to disarmament 1.2 million people from military force.
In fact, Kim Jong-Il's feeling toward the United States today is a lot more intense than that of Khrushchev's. If the United States then could invite Khrushchev to the United States and change a Russian leader's mind and perception about the United States, we trust the United States can do the same for North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il.
The North Korean nuclear issue has turned an impasse. Some observers described the condition as a "crashed computer" While no party has suggested that they should stage war against North Korea, the sanction acts taken by the relevant countries also yielded very little success. The Six Party Nuclear Weapon Talks seem to reach a dead end. In the author's opinion, inviting Kim Jong Il to visit the United States can be an icebreaking move. It might eventually turn the crashed computer into an active and workable one again. It is worth trying it.
Besides, the visit of Kim Jong Il to the United States can also trigger some special results that no other means can achieve. First, it can satisfy the North Koreans' pride and dignity that the people in North Korea are on equal footing with the people of the United States. This visit can also meet Kim Jong Il's desire to consolidate his political and personal prestige. If the visit of Kim Jong Il can be materialized, Kim knows that his name will be glorified and known to the world and that his three wishes can be achieved. Kim's wishes include getting economic aid, assurance of security and building diplomatic ties with the United States. History has shown that many international disputes that have been struggling for years can often be easily be resolved through the contacts and meeting between the top leaders of two nations.
People can clearly recall that before Obama became the US President, he did say he would want to have personal dialogue with the North Korea national leader. Obama also said he hoped to see the normalization of diplomatic ties with North Korea and the establishment of harmonious relationship with North Korea before the end of 2012. This is the time for President Obama to fulfill this international promise.

Convening Nuclear Weapon Safety Conference Early
Not long ago, President Obama proposed the idea of establishing a nuclear-free world, and planned that within a year he would host the World Summit on worldwide nuclear safety. This idea is no doubt a major adjustment of the US nuclear weapon strategy from the strategy formed during the former Bush administration. China should fully affirm President Obama's proposal and help to promote this world peace idea. It is of course not easy for President Obama to make such major strategic adjustments and put the changes into effect. But as long as the United States can take the lead to abandon its nuclear monopoly and hegemony policy, we trust President Obama's advocate for a nuclear free world can receive the support from majority of countries. With support and cooperation from the international community what President Obama intends to do to create a nuclear free world can indeed be achieved.
President Obama's new nuclear strategy will make North Korea losing its basic stand of processing nuclear weapons. North Korea has been reluctant to abandon its nuclear weapon program because it has the fear that the United States might use its nuclear threat against North Korea. North Korea also feels that the United States is using double standards in dealing with its nuclear weapon program. If the United States can take the lead to discard nuclear weapons, there is no reason why small country like North Korea will not abandon its pursuit for nuclear weapon ability. The key is that if the United States really wants to push forward a nuclear free world and not just putting its nuclear-free idea out on paper, the United States must at least make the following strategic choices:
First, the United States should take the lead to greatly reduce and finally give up its stocks on nuclear arsenals. Second, the United States must discard its double and multiple standards when dealing with the world's nuclear weapon processing countries. Third, the United States must develop a set of complete reduction of nuclear and nuclear plans with specific procedures to follow. If the United States can implement the above-mentioned suggestions, we believe effort taken by the United States to reduce world nuclear weapons can receive unexpected positive results.
Since the United States led by President Obama is bold enough to take the lead to push forward a nuclear free world and to abandon the US nuclear monopoly and hegemony, as long as the United States can take the lead in the abandonment of nuclear weapons we do not see why North Korea cannot change its stubborn stance.

UN Report on Himalayan Glaciers

After protracted debate, UN inter-governmental panel on climate change (IPCC) chairman R.K. Pachauri has admitted that the claim that was made in the panel's report on Himalayan glaciers disappearing by the year 2035 was based merely on estimates and there was no scientific basis for it. This belated admission by Pachauri has come on the eve of the meeting of BASIC countries (India, China, Brazil, and South Africa) in Delhi on the Copenhagen climate change conference.

Exert Pressure on India
Pachauri has tried to brush it under the carpet by calling it human error. The panel is now getting ready to withdraw that report. But this was such a dreadful mistake that unnecessarily made the countrymen concerned and scared. It has put a question mark on the credibility of reports of other UN committees with inter-governmental panels. Are those scientific estimates in accordance with the UN standards? It has now become clear that, no formal research was conducted in this regard and the report calling the situation as horrible was released in the name of scientists. It seems that such report was deliberately prepared to exert pressure on India to save the environment.

Disastrous Consequences
Indian scientists have never conducted any research on Himalayan glaciers, then how was it claimed that all glaciers are melting rapidly and would disappear within 25 years? Why Pachauri's scientific talent could not notice the mistake?
Now, this fact has also come to the fore that none of the scientists who prepared the report on glaciers was an expert on the subject. It is a matter of serious concern. Any scientific study is based on facts. Any mistake in it could have disastrous consequences. Caution should be observed in such matters so that such serious mistake is not repeated in the future.

India, Pakistan To Desist From Provocation in Troubled Time

It is either a misfortune or the uncontrollable emotions of think tanks in India and Pakistan, which have entangled them in a competition of uttering rhetorics. Tension between the two countries has thus increased. The happenings, which have knowingly or unwillingly occurred, are adding to it. Violation of ceasefire on the borders and failure to bid for Pakistan cricketers for the Indian Premier League (IPL) for cricket are among such incidents.
At a time when there is no sign of bitterness in bilateral relations being reduced, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani issued a highly irresponsible statement. He refused to guarantee that there would be no further Mumbai-type terrorist attacks in India. What is surprising is that he said this to the US Defense Secretary Roberts Gates. That the latter gave him a patient hearing is even more surprising. This implies that he did not go to Pakistan in order to bring it on the right track.

Rise in Terrorism
In the midst of this tense atmosphere in the two countries comes the bad news about the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba conspiring a major attack on the Republic Day (26 January). This causes no sensation because ever since the Mumbai attack, reports about such conspiracies being hatched across the border have been pouring in. This is enough to prove that Pakistan is least interested in controlling the terrorist organizations which are flourishing on its soil and whose sole intention is to continue attaching India. In the midst of news that the Lashkar is planning another major attack on India, Defense Minister A.K. Antony issued a statement confirming that India was ready to face such attacks.
It is difficult to understand the implication of this speech. Why are such inciting statements being made to increase tension when it is quite clear that the Lashkar and other terrorist organizations are trying to push the two countries to a war through their anti India activities?

Creating Internal Security Challenges
The atmosphere caused by these statements is favorable to terrorists. India should at least refrain from issuing statements which will make Pakistan become frenzied. The same gesture can also be expected from Pakistan, but in the present circumstances its leaders are perhaps unwilling to think of their own good. If this had not been true, Pakistan would never have ignored the Lashkar threat looming large before it and described India the foremost enemy. Since Pakistan seems to be disinclined to undergo self-analysis, it has itself become a victim of terror. At the same time, it is creating internal security challenges for India.

President Obama Needs To Put Economic Issue as Priority

This year is the US midterm election year. However, before the congressional election can begin, the Democratic Party has already lost the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Senator Edward Kennedy in this important state held by the Democratic Party for the past 47 years. The defeat of Democratic Party in this Senate bi-election is without doubt, a blow to President Obama who has put high hope to push forward the health care medical plan during his term as US President. The defeat in Massachusetts has also served a warning for him in the implementation of national policies.
The main reason why the Democratic Party could lose this stronghold Massachusetts's senate seat to the relatively unknown Republican candidate by the name Brown can be attributed to the fact that the independent voters and those non-partisan voters who used to support Obama during the presidential election have turned away from the Democratic Party. They have become unhappy over the huge spending plans of the Obama government.

Important Issues
In this regard, US voters' inspired hope and enthusiasm for reform stirred by President Obama during the presidential election campaign period have also faded due to the political cruelty. On foreign and environmental affairs, President Obama has produced a number of achievements. On domestic affairs, he has also prevented the US banking system from collapse. However, since June 2009, President Obama has devoted too much political capital to make sure that his health reform bill could sail through the Congress. He has neglected the two important issues that are most important to the voters. These two include having secure job and stable family life.
In the past year, what the voters saw was economic winter with no sign of recovery. Besides, there was also the scary figure of ten percent unemployment rate. Two months ago, the Democrat has already lost the governor posts in New Jersey and Virginia to the Republican. Such defeats have already revealed the political reality that the independent and Democratic voters were dissatisfied with Obama Government's policies. The defeated bi-election battle in Massachusetts was a whack on the Democratic Party's face.

Reform Wagon
The House and Senate have passed the health care reform bill. What required next is for both the House and senate health care bill to combine and come out with a final version of the act. However, the by-election result of the Massachusetts Senate seat has now caused grave uneasiness to the moderate Democratic congressional representatives seeking re-election at the November congressional election. Some Democrat congressional representatives might just jump down from President Obama's reform wagon in order to save their respective congressional seats.
The present situation of President Obama is like 'burning candle at both ends.' In order to allow the combined senate and house health care medical bill to get through, Obama might have to trim the bill to the 'core content.' At the same time, in order for the congressional representatives from the Democratic Party to continue supporting his reform agenda, the most important issue for President Obama to do is to resolve the pending economic issue, which is of direct bearing to the voters' benefits.

Pakistani Player's Non-Inclusion in IPL To Worry

No Pakistani player has been selected this time around for inclusion in the Indian Premiere League (IPL) cricket matches organized by the Board of Control Cricket in India (BCCI). The teams selected for the IPL tournament are constituted by the IPL franchise clubs. No bidder wanted to buy any Pakistani cricketer in the open auction held by the IPL recently. A major controversy has been triggered between India and Pakistan over the matter.

Issue of National Prestige
The Pakistani Government alleged that no Pakistani player has been bought because of the intervention of the Indian Government. Pakistan is linking the issue to its national prestige. Pakistan has taken certain steps in retaliation that can lead to tension in the region.
The Pakistani Government has directed all TV channels not to put out the IPL matches in the county. It also brings pressure on the Pakistani Government to sever ties with India. The entire Pakistani media network is also trying to play up the issue on a large scale.

Functioning of BCCI
The Indian Government has isolated itself from the issue. It maintains that it has nothing to do with the functioning of BCCI. An official statement has been issued that the government has not given any advisory for the IPL in connection with the purchase of the players. Doubtless, it is a widely recognized fact that the BCCI is an autonomous body. Yet, it cannot be admitted that there is no government's intervention. It is no secret that all officials of the body are linked to the government and the party in power, in some way or the other.
Although the government does not interfere in the day-to-day working of the BCCI, the fact remains that the decisions related to policy matters can't be at variance with the official approach. The government does not need any within approval of the board to impose its will on the BCCI. The government can do so through verbal directions also. Though there is no documentary proof, it is construed that in the midst of the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan it has been deemed fit that Pakistani cricketers should not be included in the IPL.

Political Objectives
The owners of franchises of all the teams perceive such a will of the government. In this context, the plea put forward was that if Pakistani players are included in the IPL then there can be an element of risk to the country's security. The organizers of some of the teams have started issuing such statement.
It is distressing to note that sports are also being used for political objectives. It would be in mutual interests of the two countries that sport and cultural affairs are treated as such. A good signal would have been sent around among the people had the players participated in the IPL.
Pakistani cricketers are in no way less than the Indian players. Viewed from the commercial aspect the purchase of the Pakistani players was not a losing bargain. The Indian Government should amend the mistake forthwith and intervene for the participation of certain Pakistani players. No private or non-official organizations should be allowed to create conditions of animosity between the neighboring countries. Pakistan also should exercise some restraint and patience on the issue. It would be better if the two countries settle the issue across the table.

China To Face Mounting Foreign Trade Pressures From US, EU

China saw a 16 percent decline in its foreign trade volume in 2009. This is the greatest drop in three decades. The main reason is the shrinking demand in the international market, followed by the increase of international trade barriers, making some Chinese products facing all kinds of import restrictions.

China's Share in Global Trade
However, if we compare China's trade with other big trading nations horizontally, China's foreign trade situation in 2009 reminded outstanding. According to an official from China's Ministry of Commerce, China's share in global trade in 2009 was likely to exceed 2008 and break through the 9 percent mark. At the same time, on the export field, China is likely to replace Germany as the world's largest exporter.
The above two illustrated cases point to a basic truth. This truth is that in general, although all economies were subject to global financial crisis, the counter trade balance among different economies will continue. In other words, in relation to developed countries' economies, although China's economic growth has slow down, but the China's trade volume still indicates that it is catching up from behind.

Economic Growth
For China, this is the reason for the nation to look forward to its future development trend optimistically. China has great market potential as a late comer in development. Even if China's economic growth has slowed down, but compared to the vast majority of countries, China's economic growth rate is still something other countries cannot attain. China's National Bureau of Statistics has recently amended the country's 2008 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate. It raised the original 9 percent of GDP to 9.6 percent GDP.
China's total GDP value of about $460 billion is almost equal to the world's second largest economy, Japan. For international investors, the inherent temptation of China's investment potential can be difficult to resist.

External Pressure and Resistance
However, from another perspective, this situation will also increase China's external pressure and resistance. This fits the Chinese saying: "big tree can suffer severe wind blow." Over the past years, the size of China's economy has kept growing. One after another, the size of China's economy superseded the Group of Seven. The next round is to catch up with that of the United States. This type of economic momentum would be intimidating to other nations.
Moreover, when the major economies were not doing too good except the rapid growth of China's economy, the criticism and accusation of these economies over their various suspicions on China also increase with time. The external pressure in trying to alter China's certain policies have also rolled bigger and bigger. In recent months, the reason why the trade frictions between China and its major trading partners have increased drastically can attribute to such a factor.
The focus of criticism and accusation on China seems to concentrate in two main areas. The first area is the position and value of China's currency Renminbi (RMB). The United States and European Union countries have been accusing China of manipulating the RMB exchange rate deliberately to a low value. They said such action has resulted in these countries suffering from large financial deficits when they trade with China.

Global Financial Crisis
Before the outbreak of the global financial crisis, the former Bush administration has been trying to apply diplomatic pressure and domestic legislation to force China's RMB to appreciate. When the Obama administration took office, the US government's attitude on this issue is more moderate. However, when faced with domestic trade protectionism pressure, the US government under Obama finally could not avoid making issues out of it. Moreover, Washington also began to impose anti-dumping duties on a variety of Chinese products imported to the United States. On the European Union front, China has also endured the same criticism and accusation. China has indeed been stricken from both sides.
China also faced accusations and pressured derived from the climate change issue. Before the global financial crisis, the climate warming issue was a less complicated environmental issue. However, after going through the global financial crisis, climate change issue has now openly linked with international trade.
A more representative event to illustrate the link of climate change issue with trade issue can be viewed from certain actions taken by the US Congress. Using the accuse that China has released more greenhouse gases than required, the US Congress said it would want to enact law to impose a form of carbon dioxide tax on certain Chinese products on the US market. There is a trend for country to turn climate change issue into political issue. Such development in the United States has triggered high alert from the Chinese authority.
China felt that the United States has the intention to use climate change issue as an excuse to suppress the development of China. With such perception formed, subsequently, at the UN Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, China began to adopt a tough stand to deal with the United States. Such a change in attitude by Chinese officials at the Copenhagen Conference can directly be attributed to China's perception of what the United States was trying to do to China. Similar to the issue of RMB, China also received pressure from EU nations on issues relating to climate change.
At the recently held China-EU summit, for the first time, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao publicly accused the United States and Europe for attempting to contain China's development by calling the appreciation of RMB on one hand but on the other hand, practicing trade protectionism. Few days ago, at an exclusive interview with Xinhua news agency, Wen Jiabao again made similar counter attack by stressing that on the issue of China's RMB, China would not bow to external pressure. As we refer back to the attitude of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao's hard-line stance at the Copenhagen Conference, we can see that in such a major bearing on self-development issues, the greater the external pressure China encounters, the greater resistance China will face the same.

Increasing Trade Friction
We can foresee that for a long period in the future, China's trade surplus with Europe and the United States will continue to exist. Therefore, the argument between China and the United States and EU countries over RMB will continue to exist. This currency issue will continue to bring all kinds of accusations and pressure to China. In addition, with the emergence of carbon tariffs issue, the problems faced by China can even be more complex and the increasing trade friction between China and the United States as well as with other EU countries will become inevitable.
However, China will not bow to external pressure. That is for sure. But in the end, there is a need for China to turn these pressures into the expansion of its domestic demands for the good of the people. This should fulfill China's driving force for economic transformation.

Union Government's Failure To Check Pric

It is more shocking than the rising prices of essential commodities that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says that his government's performance in the matter of price management is much better than that of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. If this is management, the country would want to know what mismanagement is. Such statements by the central authority are like adding insult to injury.

Objectionable and Regrettable Measures
It seems that the central government is still under the illusion that the prices have risen by just a little. It is no surprise that for this very reason the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and its Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar are doing nothing about it. It is not only objectionable but also regrettable that instead of taking measures to bring down the prices, they are busy issuing such statements that would make the common man feel helpless.
Now he is doing the job of scaring people by his statements. Would somebody tell him that his job is not to inform about shortage of essential commodities, but to take concrete steps for their availability? It is unfortunate that Sharad Pawar is unable even to create the impression that he is concerned by the price rise.

Prevailing Situation
He has done so badly as the Agriculture and Food Minister that he should not remain in that post for a minute more. But, the irony is that the Congress party leading the federal government is hesitating even to name him.
This situation prevails when people are coming to the conclusion that Sharad Pawar is more concerned about profiteers than the common man. No matter what kind of claims the federal government makes, if anybody is benefiting from the kindness of Sharad Pawar it is the hoarders and black-marketers.

Curbing Price Hike
It is difficult to disagree with fierce attack Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has launched against him over his irresponsible behavior. After all, why do we need such Agriculture and Food Minister who refuses even to show common sympathy in the situation created because of growing price rise?
It is also the country's misfortune that the opposition is also showing the same kind of uselessness as the central government in the matter of curbing price hike. It seems that like the ruling party, the opposition has also forgotten its duty. Looking at the kind of crisis price rise has created for the common man, the opposition should have taken the ruling party to task, but it is restricted to mere formal criticism.

Rise in Food Grain Prices
The federal government's behavior regarding price rise is indecent because it is making false statements instead of dealing with the situation. It is an utter lie that the benefit of rise in food grain prices has gone to farmers. It is nothing like it. The fact is that the rural population is as troubled by the price rise as the urban population.
The argument of the UPA government that the state governments are responsible for price rise is also not completely right because, had it been so, the conditions in the Congress party-ruled states would have been different. One can understand some rise in prices, but it has taken on monstrous proportions. More atrocious is that the central government is refusing to accept price rise as a serious problem.

US Call For India's Initiative To Improve Ties With Pakistan

The Jihadists (crusaders) who were sponsored by the United States to fight and defeat the Soviet Union in the mountainous Hindu Kush state of Afghanistan are today themselves threatening the United States as its enemies. The devastation caused by terrorists under the patronage of Osama Bin Laden, once a major ally of the United States, through the 9/11 attack has proved an unforgettable tragedy for it until today.

Gates' India Visit
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates' recent India visit should be viewed in the context of this stark reality. No one can disagree with his observation that if Pakistan and terrorists active under its patronage launched another Mumbai-like attack, then India can feel compelled to carry out a military operation in retaliation. He has also categorically stated that in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attack India exercised great restraint. All Indians on that occasion were extremely estranged and demanded the government to take a retaliatory action.
In addition to the United States, Pakistani rulers themselves had to admit that the 10 terrorists who attacked Mumbai were trained by the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and sent to India under a well-concerted plan. Now, the United States itself has arrested its national David Headley and Canadian citizen, Tahhwar Husayn, both linked to the Mumbai episode.
CBI Charge Sheet
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has framed a charge against both of them wherein they have been clearly stated to have been linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba. It was at the behest of its organizers that they frequented Mumbai prior to the attack. They received funds from it to carry out the attack. The charge further states that a nexus has been forged between the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba and Al-Qa'ida. They are gearing up to cause anarchy and instability not only in South Asia but across the entire world by carrying out terrorist activities.
Pakistan assured India and the world community, particularly its patron like the United States, it will go whole way to destroy the existing terror structure in its country, but it has failed to do so as promised. Gates, who held the post of CIA director before becoming US defense secretary has admitted that the United States and the NATO forces have failed to foil the Taliban offensive because they have set up bases in tribal areas bordering Pakistan, particularly in Waziristan. Things have come to such a pass that a holy nexus has been forged between the Lashkar-e-Taiyiba, Al-Qai'da, and the Taliban.

Taliban Factor
The primary objective of Gates' observations seems to be that the United States failed to fully achieve the Pakistani concurrence to initiate all-out action against terrorists. Neither the elected government led by Asif Ali Zardari nor the Pakistani military is sincere in this regard. The Pakistani intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has been maintaining its ties with the Taliban and the Lashkar-e Taiyiba as in the past. It is still preoccupied with serving its own diplomatic interests through use of their good offices.
The actual motive of Gates' India tour appears to be that India should come forward to improve its relations with Pakistan even under such circumstances and agree to bilateral defense agreements with the United States, but India can ill-afford to agree to it.

Tripartite Conference on Afghanistan

Recently, an urgent conference was held between foreign ministers of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. The conference recognized the important role of these three countries in establishing peace, stability, and development of the war-torn Afghanistan. It was also stressed that only those countries should participate in the conferences who are the immediate neighbors of Afghanistan. The foreign ministers of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan agreed on the expansion of this tripartite conference and stressed on the need for the inclusion of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan¸ Tajikistan and Peoples Republic of China.

Handling Osama
If this conference is viewed in the background of the international conference held in the United Kingdom earlier this month, this conference is taking place to exclude India from this group. This enjoys the support of the Western powers and it is probable that China is also supporting this move. This step should have been taken prior to launching the attack on Afghanistan, when George W. Bush was asking for handing over Osama Bin Laden. He had rejected the Taliban offer of handing over Osama Bin Laden to a neutral country. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan had cut off their diplomatic ties with the Taliban, although these countries had recognized the Taliban government earlier. In this regard, the oppressive Pervez Musharraf violated the international law laid down in the Vienna Convention of 1961 and 1963, by handing over the ambassador of Afghanistan, Mullah Zaeef, to the United States.
The US security officials slapped him while taking him into custody. He fell on the ground as a result of the slap. Later his beard was shaved and put in the Guantanamo Bay prison. No crime was proved against him and he was later released. This act is so shameful that if any other country does the same act with a US ambassador, the United States will have no right to object to that. Since, this is a tradition of international diplomacy, that if any nation misbehaves with an ambassador of a country, that country has the right to misbehave with the country's ambassador in the same manner.
Since the 9/11, Afghanistan is on the international radar. It has been occupied by 42 countries, including the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members. They have been authorized by the UNSC to capture Afghanistan under the garb of establishing security in the country. Russia and China are not part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), so this whole solely US drama. The other countries in this drama have no more value than the pawns of the chessboard. At present, 68,000 US forces are present in Afghanistan and during the current year additional troops will be arriving at regular intervals. As a result, the total strength of the US forces will reach the 0.1 million mark.

Prevailing Situation
It is evident from this that the United States wants to remain occupied in this region. However, Barack Obama because of the public pressure had announced a conditional troop withdrawal by 2011. Moreover, the US generals and other officials have been constantly saying that they cannot give a fixed deadline for the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. The US special ambassador to Afghanistan and Pakistan has said that the withdrawal will be equivalent to surrender. Therefore, the US forces in Afghanistan cannot be called back. This is dependent on the situation prevalent in the country.
These are the ground realities. Afghanistan is an occupied country and Hamid Karazi is a puppet president of the occupied forces. The present Pakistani Government is also subservient to the United States. They are not even able to stop the drone attacks on their own soil as accepted by Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar. As far as Iran is concerned, it in spite of being against the United States has accepted and is actively supporting the pro-US Afghan and Iraqi Governments. Iran did not oppose the US attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq. Let alone this, it has also been supportive of these attack because of its open rivalry with the governments of the Taliban and the Ba'ath Party. The Khatami government, in particular, openly supported the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. The United States also had the support of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for attack on Afghanistan. On 16 May 2001, US General Tommy Frank went to Dushanbe and offered special military aid for Tajikistan because of its strategic position. The dictator ruler of that country agreed to join NATO "for the sake of peace."
At present, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have operational US Army bases and provide other facilities. In all these affairs, Russia is also included and has allowed transit facility for the nonmilitary equipment to the occupying forces in Afghanistan. As far as Pakistan is concerned, they are fighting the US war for the sake of the $1.5 billion aid. It is also raising a loud hue and cry for more aid because their economy has been destroyed because of this antiterrorism campaign. However, China is a silent spectator in this scenario and is watching this scene. It has only raised concerns about the presence of such a large US and NATO forces close to its border, but nothing more than that.

Development of Afghanistan
The conference highlighted all states involved in the theatre of war taking place in Central and South Asia, so that it becomes evident on the readers that except for China there is no neutral state. Although India is not close to this region, the Western powers are trying to involve India into this conflict. India gained the maximum from the fall of the Taliban government. It seems as if they have taken the contract for the development of Afghanistan. They are involved in making roads, bridges, dams. In addition, they are training the Afghan Police.
Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta and Abdallah Abdallah are both pro India as is evident from their anti-Pakistan planning and policies. Then, how can anybody talk about the exit of the Indians from Afghanistan. No doubt, Shah Mahmood Qureshi can call such numerous conferences, but the opportunity to solve this problem has been lost by the Pakistani rulers when it could be sorted between the regional states. As far as Americans are concerned, as previously stated, they along with their European allies and puppet rulers of the developing countries launched an offensive against Afghanistan. In addition, they by involving the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) have made this problem an international issue. Now, when the United States is feeling that it is unable to defeat the freedom fighters, it has asked its counterpart, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, to arrange a carnival. Naturally, the London Conference is going to be an international affair rather than a regional one since all countries involved in the Afghan crisis, the United States, France, and Germany are not part of the regional states. All these countries have come from a long distance to loot this country. Their mere presence in the region is the reason behind chaos, uncertainty, restlessness and terrorism in the region.

Establishing Consensus
The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) had a dominant role in this area but that also has become ineffective like the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Afghanistan was the NAM fundamental member, but now when it is facing a difficult situation, NAM is not paying any attention to the same. When Russia assaulted Afghanistan, NAM had passed a resolution for the withdrawal of foreign security forces and armed militants from Afghanistan and establishing a consensus government in Afghanistan. As a result, then Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev did pull back his army from there, but the United States is worse colonial power than Russia. It wants the control of oil wealth of Iraq and by occupying Afghanistan, the United States wants to stop the supply of gas from the Central Asian states to South Asian states.
I fail to understand the Russian policies as to why it does not openly oppose the US aggression and occupation in Afghanistan. Although the United States is expanding and establishing its military bases in the Central Asian states. It is also trying to get into Ukraine and Georgia. In addition, it wants to have a puppet regime like that of Karzai and to include these countries in NATO. On contrary, Russia has failed to counter the US aggression in Georgia and the West.

Assessment
If a conference is held of the regional countries regarding Afghanistan, it will be known as a US drama because of the participants mentioned in the above lines are all partial and want to strengthen the Karzai government. Now, Karzai does not have even the confidence of his parliament. How can the Taliban have confidence on those countries that have been supporters of the Northern Alliance and are still supporting them? Therefore, this issue can only be sorted out by a war for freedom, which it has been carrying out for the last nine years.

Bleak State of Education in India's Rural Areas

India has certainly touched several new highs in the field of education, especially technical education, for which UNESCO and Barack Obama has also praised Indian students and has asked students of his country to learn the lesson of devotion and hard work from Indian students.
This is not the only truth about education, its system, and condition in the country. There is another aspect, which has been revealed by a non-governmental organization "Pratham."
HRD Report 2009
The Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has recently released its annual report for the year 2009. The contents of the report may come as a surprise for UNESCO, Obama, and those Indian politicians and bureaucrats who decide policy and direction of its implementation, sitting in their air-conditioned chambers. But even urban people who have seen rural schools and their standard of education in Indian villages, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra would not be surprised by this report.
Yes, they could certainly shed tears over the picture that has emerged if they are sensitive enough. Only office-bearers of Pratham would know how much time it actually took them to prepare this report, but the gist of it is that though a village student is declared passed, he has still failed.

Adoption of Indian Constitution
The question that arises is even after six decades of adoption of the Indian Constitution, why does this situation prevail where a student who has passed fifth standard in a village school cannot read a book of second standard? Only 44 percent children of the first standard know the English alphabets.
Most students cannot add and subtract even small numbers. Even in rural areas, the tendency to get tuition is being encouraged instead of learning through the traditional method. Is it not indicative of people losing their faith in our educational system?

Hope of Change
But what could these children and their parents do? There is neither adequate number of teachers nor enough educational material in any school.
And teachers that are there can teach children only when they get free from their work, or from politics or Panchayat. This situation prevails because of unequal educational systems in our country and there is no hope of any change in it at the moment.

China Explores Position in Straits of Malacca With Fleet Visits

China's guided missile frigates Zhoushan (FFG-529) and Xuzhou (FFG-530) paid visit to Malaysia and Singapore respectively in December 2009. While frigate Zhoshan would visit Singapore, frigate Xuzhou would visit Malaysia. The visit of Chinese frigate to Malaysia gave people a subtle meaning as if China wanted to ascertain the existence of the Straits of Malacca. This would be China's first fleet visit to Malaysia after a break of nine years. The last Chinese navy fleet visit to Malaysia was in July 2000. It was the Shenzhen destroyer (code name 167).
Foreign diplomats told China Press that it was unusual for China to split its frigates from the same third naval fleet escort team to visit Singapore and Malaysia separately. They said that in a subtle way China intended to explore the actual condition in Straits of Malacca. They said such an arrangement for two fleets to visiting two different localities was not very common.
Some diplomats from Tokyo also remarked that "The visit of Chinese fleet to Malaysia was very interesting!" This was because when Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Malaysia on 11 November 2009, he had made a special request to visit Malacca and to look at the Straits of Malacca. When President Hu Jintao concluded his 'look' at the Straits of Malacca, he left with this remarks, "When we see it, we will believe it." During that period, this remark by President Hu has stirred up considerable imaginary space of many observers.
"Zhoushan" and "Xuzhou" warships belong to the third Chinese naval escort fleet on its return journey after carrying out an escort mission against pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The third escort fleet team also has a supply ship called "Qiandaohu." All the three fleets belong to China navy's East Sea Fleet team.

The Reasons

After China's fleet visit to Malaysia, some diplomats did come out with some questions of why China would suddenly pay attention to the Straits of Malacca. First, they want to know the factors that trigger China suddenly paying attention to the Straits of Malacca. This is because in the past, although China did pay attention to the Straits of Malacca but they did not carry out actual actions such as paying fleet visit to the littoral states. Second, after President Hu Jintao took a closer look at the Straits of Malacca and said," we see it, we believe it," they want to know what does President Hu believe in? What will be China's new position on the Straits of Malacca?
In fact, in response to all these questions, as early as in May 2009, a Beijing diplomat has already indicated to me that with the stabilization of cross-straits relations, what China wanted to pay attention was the development in the Straits of Malacca. To China, the situation in South China Sea has become secondary important. The informed source told me more than once about this new trend in China in more than one occasion when we met.
As such, the China fleet visit to the Malaysia and its sailing through the Straits of Malacca is a way China wanted to say to the region that the existence of Straits of Malacca is meaningful to China. President Hu Jintao's inspection of the Straits of Malacca at an arranged platform seems to tell the world community that the existence of the Straits of Malacca has practical value to China. If needs arise, China would take political action to assume its duty to protect the security of the Straits of Malacca. Such action would also be in line with China's belief in "advantage boundary."

Military Cooperation With Southeast Asian Nations
Indication shows that China is keen to strengthen military cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. China and Thailand have a plan to carry out military exercise in 2010 although the scale of this military cooperation is not very big. Besides, China's military equipment can also be found in East Timor. East Timor has introduced two Chinese 'Shanghai Class' military petrol vessels. Such development seems to confirm with the reality that "wherever there is strategic resource, there will always be a third force to export its military weapon there." East Timor's relationship with China can be similar to China's relationship with some African countries. This is because East Timor has oil reserves that China can use.
With China's guided missile frigates Zhoushan (FFG-529) and Xuzhou (FFG-530) paid officially visit to the littoral states of the Straits of Malacca, it serves to confirm that China indeed is now making effort to strengthen its military cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.
However, the question is, why did not China allow its Xuzhou navy fleet to participate in the LIMA (Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition) 2009 held in Langkawi Island from 1 to 5 December? Could it be that the time was not right? Could it be that China has deliberately tried to avoid its presence? Or could it be that China would want to use another platform for its fleet presence to the region in the coming days?

Implication of Hu Jintao's Statement
Moreover, during President Hu Jintao's official visit to Malaysia and as President Hu Jintao looked at the Straits of Malacca and told his official visiting team and other representatives that "seeing is believing," what could President Hu's statement mean? When a national leader from a big nation came out with such a statement publicly, it would certainly carry some significant meaning
"What made China paying more attention to the Straits of Malacca now? What did President Hu Jintao believe when he faced the Malacca Straits?"
At the LIMA 09 event, we shared views with foreign diplomats and strategist specialists of the implication of Hu's Malacca Straits statement. However, we could not come out with a solid conclusion. Perhaps the intention of Hu was to give the region an "imagination space." The first episode of this 'imagination space' was perhaps the visit of Chinese fleet Suzhou to the Malacca Straits. Nevertheless, if there is really a second episode of "imagination space" coming out from China about the Straits of Malacca, we hope this second episode of imaginary space is when China upholds its "maritime harmony" proposal to create a 'beautiful Straits of Malacca." Above all, we do not want to see the emergence of a new maritime power turning the region into a platform for military strategic game. This is because the control of Straits of Malacca affairs reminds in the hands of the littoral states that comprise of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.

Thaksin’s Assets Seizure Case

The Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions will hand down the verdict on the seizure of Police Lieutenant Colonel Thaksin Chinnawat's 76 billion baht assets plus interest on Friday, 26 February 2010.
Several people will keep an eye on the day which is the day of an important political changing point, whether or not the verdict will be in favor of Pol Lt Col Thaksin Chinnawat. It is believed that before the verdict day, political situation inside and outside the parliament will be increasingly intensified. The intensity will reach its peak after the judge panel in this assets seizure case finishes reading the verdict in the evening of that day. The judge in charge of preparing the verdict is Somsak Netmai.
For this reason, right now the government and armed force leaders have closely analysed political situation and prepared to handle political activities before or after 26 February 2010. For example, Thaworn Senniam, the deputy interior minister, has announced that the government is ready to handle mass rallies by red shirted people. He only hopes the mass rally to be carried out under the framework of the law. However, if the situation was to turn violent, the government might have to invoke the security act in a bid to be prepared for the situation.

Clarification on Progress
At the same time, looking at the moves by red-shirted people, the leaders and MPs of Phuea Thai Party have tried not to talk about the Supreme Court's verdict reading on 26 February 2010 that how the verdict would affect the red shirted people and Phuea Thai Party's political moves, ranging from the no-confidence debate to the red shirted people's mass rallies. They only talked about places that the red shirted people will hold rallies. For example, they will hold a rally at Khao Soidao Resort in Chanthaburi Province on 23 January 2010. They will gather in front of the Justice Ministry to demand the clarification on the progress of the petition for the royal pardon for Pol Lt Col Thaksin that they have submitted.
The reason that the red shirted people and the Phuea Thai Party have not shown their clear stance about the no-confidence debate and the mass rally might be that they did not want to be viewed that they were planning their moves for political effect on the asset seizure case, both before and after the verdict was read. It is a political strategy that is understandable.
However, what many people are watching is that before the Supreme Court reads the verdict on the assets seizure case, political pressure related to the voting by nine members on the judge panel is expected. The pressure could be in the form of the release of information that could confuse the public about the working process of the Supreme Court in this case. For example, a rumor might be released among people in politics that the judges have already made decision on the verdict in advance. Or, there might be rumors on lobbying attempts, which are all inappropriate. And there might be an attempt to forecast the court's verdict that is to be handed down despite the fact that members of the judge panel have not yet voted on the verdict.

Judicial Process
In this kind of attempts to discredit the judicial process, relevant people intend to discredit judges' working process and also to create political pressure on this case.
However, the public could be ensured that they could trust the court's ruling. This is because the ruling is a result of a working process which has been carried out neutrally and fairly according to the law and facts. The working process has not been politicized. The court has not treated the defendant with double standard as certain group of people has tried to mislead the public.
The verdict is a result of the hearing of relevant facts from all facets, from all witnesses of the plaintiff, which is the public prosecutor, and witnesses of the defendant, which is Pol Lt Col Thaksin; witnesses summoned by the court, and documents that are evidence in this case. For this reason, it is believed people who try to pressure the court in this asset seizure case would not be able to do what they want.

The United States: World's Biggest Polluter

The global conference on environment was recently held in Copenhagen, the capital city of Denmark. The conference discussed the issue of reducing the release of carbon dioxide and other such toxic gases that destroy the global environment. Today the world is confronting the major issue of environment. Some of the countries of the world have been blamed that they are producing a lot of material releasing carbon dioxide for their industrial development that is affecting the green house gases. This is causing an increase in global temperature. More than 1,500 envoys of the 192 countries participated in this conference. The importance of this issue could be judged from the fact that more than 100 head of states attended this conference. Similarly, more than 100,000 protesters were protesting against these hypocritical policies of the developed countries on streets. However, an important factor was not mentioned over there in the conference. How is it possible that the element responsible for spreading the environmental pollution could not be mentioned in the conference? This agency is playing havoc with the global environment by producing most of the carbon dioxide and other such toxic gases. This agency is US Defense Ministry or Pentagon. Pentagon is a geometrical shape having five sides. To the readers' interest, I must tell that as the US Defense Ministry building is of Pentagon shape, therefore, this building and the US Defense Ministry is called Pentagon.

Largest Oil Consumer
Pentagon is the world's largest oil consumer, its relevant materials and energy user in the world. Despite this fact, it is quite strange that the role of this agency has been shelved under the carpet in almost all global conferences on environment. The release of green house gases during war activities of Pentagon in Iraq and Afghanistan, its secret actions in Pakistan, the equipment used on its more than 1,000 bases spread all over the world, its 6,000 installations in the US, all NATO's operations, its huge aircraft carriers, jet fighters, tests and sales of weapons, sale of weapons and training of troops have never been attributed to the US Government. It has been proved through bulletin of 17 February 2007 that Pentagon is the largest oil consumer in the world. This bulletin contains the details of the jet fighters, ships, vehicles, and installations of Pentagon where oil is used. At that time, the US Navy had around 285 war and supporting ships and 4,000 jet fighters. The US military had approximately 28,000 armored vehicles and approximately 140,000 HMWV. More than 4,000 choppers, several hundreds of other planes, a fleet of 187,497 vehicles, nuclear submarines, huge ships, and aircraft carriers where jet fighters land and take off and they release radio active material in the atmosphere all the time. Moreover, thousands of other army vehicles also use oil. According to the CIA World Fact Book of 2006, there are 210 countries in the world and there are only 35 countries are using more oil than Pentagon. According to an officially released data, the US military uses approximately 321,000 barrels oil in a day and the quantity of that oil has not been counted, which is used by the Army-affiliated contractors or private agencies working on lease. The preparation of deadly weapons, bombs, grenades and missiles and unlimited energy used during their tests and other resources are besides this huge consumption. According to the report of Steve Kretzmann, director of the Oil Change International, approximately141 (MMTCO2e) was released in the air during Iraq war from March 2003 to December 2007.

Major Difficulties
Approximately 60 percent of the total gases released by all countries is released in areas where war is underway. Release of toxic gases is prohibited in war-torn areas under the US law. Therefore, scientists have to face several difficulties, while gathering this data. Bryan Farrell is considered an expert environmentalist and he has written in his book The Green Zone-The Environmental Cost of Militarism that "the great attacks on the environment of the each is launched by an agency, which is the US military". It is strange that the activities of the US Defense Ministry Pentagon have got exception in the global environmental conferences. It is also really a strange tale.
The global conference on environment held in Japanese city of Kyoto in 1997. The US Government imposed this condition, while signing the agreement that the US military action in the world, participation of the US military in UN missions, and US-NATO joint military actions would not be discussed in the global environmental conferences. Under the force of circumstances, the participants of the conference accepted this condition, so that the United State could sign this agreement. However, the United States adopted its deceptive posture, and when the entire world acknowledged its condition, it refused to sign the agreement. In this way, the United States deceptively removed its military actions from the agenda of any global conference in the world. This great concession has provided freehand to the United States in that it could play havoc with the environment of the world through its military action as much as it desires.

Impact of Toxic Gases and Materials
In addition to carbon dioxide, the US military is adding up several other toxic gases and materials in the soil and water. The US military is also using weapons that have been manufactured with less powerful uranium. These weapons were used on wholesale basis in the Middle East, Balkan, and some areas of the Central Asia. That spread thousands of pounds used material and radioactive particles in the areas. The US Government is also selling explosive mines and cluster bombs on wholesale basis. These bombs causing damages to farmers and common citizens after they are sprayed in the fields in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Thousands of people have been maimed due to this. Israel showered more than 100,000 US supplied cluster bombs on Lebanon in 2006.
Toxic and chemical material was spread on a vast area in Vietnam because of the US invasion. Because of that invasion, still the level of dioxin toxic gas is 300-400 above dangerous level. This is causing birth-disabilities to the newborn babies and diseases like cancer. The Iraqi land was the most fertile land in the Middle East since 5,000 years.

Environmental Pollution
However, the twice US invasion has devastated its fertility. Iraq used to supply food to other countries and now it imports more than 80 percent from aboard. We have not mentioned the nuclear bombs dropped by the United States on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. No agreement can decrease the environmental pollution, in which the US military actions are not included. The world should include the US military actions in its agenda.

Haiti Likely To Become New Source of Chaos in Central America

An earthquake has killed more than 20 million people in Haiti. In addition Port au Prince where we still witness that peacekeeping forces are trying to maintain law and order, the rest of the region is in a lawlessness state. After the United States sent approximately 10,000 troops to Haiti, the European Union has given rise to doubts and France even criticized the United States for using the name of providing disaster relief and assistance to Haiti to cover its intention to occupy Haiti. It seems that the political fight for power between Europe and the United States in Haiti has begun earlier than one can expect.

Political Unrest
There are many reasons why the United States wants to bring such a parade of troops to Haiti. First, the earthquake has toppled the whole system of the Haitian Government and it has also provided an excellent opportunity for the anti-US forces to intervene the US influence in Haiti. Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and other neighboring countries have begun to smolder Haiti, which is considered the "back yard of the United States."
According to the US intelligence, the anti-US group led by Venezuela and Cuba, have in recent years deployed its influence and carried out activities in Haiti using the name "peasant revolution". In a "call to arms" declaration filled with revolution phrases, armed peasants claimed that they had declared war on the Haitian Government and intended to take over Port au Prince. Before this anti-US force launches attack on Port an Prince, the United States must control the Haitian military establishment, including the Port au Prince airport and navy port as well as fully responsible for the control of air traffic.
Second, the anti-US forces, the left-wing elements that used to be quiet in Central and South American countries during the last few years finally found a breakthrough when the poor Haitians became unhappy with current situation. Once again, these left-wing forces begin to challenge the Haitian Government's adjusted economic policy. Poverty remains the greatest threat to democracy. Within the Central and South Americans, the relatively more stable countries like Venezuela and Colombia, their democratic systems have also at one time attacked by the military coup. Until today, the political environment in these countries remains restless. As such whether these countries whose democratic system are basically weak can overcome poverty, sustain economic growth, and democracy will have to depend on the crucial factor of whether the situation in Haiti can become stabilize within short period of time
After years of political unrest, those countries in Central America that are popularly known as the "backyard" of the United States have gradually moved on well with their democratic reforms and economic development and shown economic prosperity. If these countries continue to do well, this region can become a potential growth region in the world. After President Barack Obama took office, his Central American policy is not as tough as during the former Bush administration. For Central American countries to walk away from historical shadow and move along with economic development, the key factor will depend on where these countries can curb the unrest factors that exist in their respective society. Their success in overcoming social unrest will provide a better future for the Caribbean region in this Pacific century.
Several factors can affect the future of the Central American countries. First, in handling situation in Haiti, the United States can no longer fall into the similar quagmire as it did in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is likely that President Obama might involve former US President Bill Clinton as the intermediary and continue to support the reelection of Rene Preval as Haiti's national leader in order to stabilize the situation in Haiti first.
Haiti's Political Future

Like many Central American countries, Haiti is still in a position of not able to shake off the shadow of past hatred and political fight. The right-wing assassination groups are still active in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Although Haiti's civil war ended in 2000, Haiti's political parties are still in a row over how they should share power fairly. In addition, two years ago, Haiti almost walked back to the old path of dictatorship. UN observers claim that the Haitian Government has violated human rights. They claimed that the corruption in the Haitian Government was rampant. Of special note is that whether the opposition force led by former Prime Minister Edward can return to Haiti and take part in the general elections, which will also pose critical challenge to Haiti's political future. Moreover, the decision of the precarious Guatemala and El Salvador to choose opening up and reform or continue to raise high the socialism banner can also affect the future development of Haiti and the Caribbean region.
Moreover, the international affairs observers do not have good impression about Haitian leader René Préval. Overall, they criticized his action in 2009 in the closure of the Parliament and court with the support of the military as dictatorial act. They said he was able to hold on to his power with the US support. In the past year, the United Nations urged the international community to contribute to the rebuilding of Haiti, but the response has been poor. The main reason was that many countries could not trust the Haitian Government led by Preval. After the massive earthquake hit Haiti, the humanitarian assistance that poured into Haiti was not channeled to the Preval Government but was directly channeled to the International Red Cross or the peacekeeping units. These are clear indication to show that the UN has lost confidence in the Haitian Government led by Preval.

Policies for Economic Development
In addition, while economic liberalization, corporate privatization, and fiscal consolidation and other economic adjustment policies have become the mainstream policies for economic development, but following such an economic development path can also contribute to wider gap between the rich and the poor.
US President Obama's goal is to integrate the economy of the Central and Southern American countries into the North American Free Trade Agreement. As such under the psychological pressure of trying to join the bandwagon, all countries in central and southern America are speeding up the pace of integration. All these are not what the corrupt Haitian Government led by Preval can bear. This is another thorny problem faced by Haiti in the coming days.