India is switching gears so fast that some of the gear teeth are about to break off. They first did an about face to Iran on Gas pipeline, dumped Russia in favor of America, and now Tibet is the latest victim of the pragmatist “India-first” policy.
Tibet has been long held as a trump card by India to pin prick China’s back. Over the years, Dalai Lama has always found a warm bed in India from where he could relax and then launch political campaigns.
Now however things are changing rapidly. India no longer sees it necessary to take on the resurgent China. And thus Tibetan movement is being the axe.
I wish Pakistanis too support our government to update our policies in this fast changing world.
Looks like Islamists vs. secularists tussle has come to a head. It is kind of extreme that Turkey’s chief prosecutor would ask its highest court Friday to disband the ruling party for attacking the country’s secular traditions.
Are the secularists feeling so threatened just because Islamists want to lift the hijab ban? Or they are trying to dam the Islamist tide?
Let’s see what the repercussions for the actions of Chief Prosecutor could be! He is asking to ban for 5 years every major Islamist including the president Gul, PM Erdogan etc. 71 in total leaders.
A simpler outcome could be that the court throws out the case. But if it doesn’t what happens then?
Will these powerful men of the ruling party simply pack up their bags and go home? Or we’ll see a start of Muslim insurgency in the country? In that case what will be done to the Turkey’s admission to EU, or what kind of havoc will it bring to the country’s economy?
I hope the two sides back down in the interest of Turkish people. We know from Pakistani experience, that too much political heat is not good, not for any country. And if this heat is allowed to be fanned by Islamists, it may very well bake the Turkey. And who will feast on it? Only the anarchists and the Islamic militants!
Yahoo reports that Israel is planning to build 1400 homes in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
This is going to put more pressure on moderates in Palestinian territories. It will also hurt US’s stance. I guess that’s why Secretary Rice criticized Israel and said —
“Settlement activity should stop - expansion should stop,”
Unfortunately both Israeli and Palestinian sides have and continue to succumb to the extremist parties or groups.
Without having access to figures such as total homes built in all of Israel vs. the number in disputed areas may put some perspective in this difficult environment. However it may not be of help much to Palestinian side that considers even a single home built on disputed territory as offensive action by Israel.
Off course the two sides have to find a compromise somewhere. Otherwise this tit for tat series will continue.
Sometime one feels that the land between Jordan and Sinai is somehow cursed to not have peace.
Let’s hope that both sides continue working on some settlement and achieve a decent environment where the two could live without large scale violence.