I intend to start practicing civil disobedience. In the case of Treasury Secretary Geithner, I am going to have a rubber stamp made that says "Tax Cheat!" in block letters. Every time I see a piece of paper currency with Geithner's signature on it, I am going to stamp over his name with my Tax Cheat stamp. Sure, this action is just as futile as my vote, but eventually maybe others will reach the same conclusion that I have: it is far past time to make our voices heard. Please see the linked article for a website the author went to for a custom rubber stamp which cost around US$6.50. This is not an endorsement for the stamp company, only a noted reference.
Your editorial "Obama and Iraq" (Jan. 27) highlights many factors regarding the U.S. strategy in Iraq but neglects to mention the role of the Kurds. Within Iraq, the Kurds have been America's strongest ally in both Iraq's liberation from Saddam Hussein and in the democratic transition after the fall of the previous regime. Our peshmerga forces have fought and died alongside U.S. soldiers combating terrorists in Iraq. The Kurds deeply appreciate what the U.S. has done by ridding Iraq of a regime that employed chemical weapons against us and that was responsible for the death or disappearance of more than 180,000 Kurds.
The autonomous Kurdistan Region is a model for the rest of the country with respect to our culture of tolerance and our commitment to good governance. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is also unwavering in its support for federalism and the Iraqi constitutional process. We are also concerned about any possible trends that seek to accentuate tensions between Arabs and Kurds, whether in Mosul, Kirkuk, Diyala or elsewhere.
The KRG agrees that the drawdown of U.S. forces must be responsible, and driven more by conditions inside Iraq rather than by a timetable. The gains in Iraq over the past year have been substantial, but the politics remain fragile, especially following the provincial elections held on Jan. 31. We still must navigate the referendum on the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement to take place late this summer, and parliamentary elections to be held by the end of 2009. Should there be a U.S. redeployment in Iraq, the KRG is fully committed to working as a partner with the U.S. to ensure security and stability in Iraq.
#2
From day 1, the Kurds should have been wheeling and dealing at a furious pace to insure their rear ends were covered six ways from Sunday. They rate right up there with Jews for being persecuted and hated in the Middle East.
And though they have made some ties with Israel, they should have strongly and openly come out as Israel's second best friend and military ally. This would have caused major shock waves in the ME, as well as some serious realignments of power.
The Kurds should be shaking in their boots right now. While it was good that they spent their money on economic development, it also means that the Arabs, Turks, Iranians, and Syrians are going to want to steal what they have built.
#3
With all appropriate considerations for their many blemishes, blah blah blah, this sort of letter tragically confirms that the Iraqi Kurds have more honor and sense of responsibility about the sacrifices of American blood than about half of Americans themselves. As a special forces friend has said since 2006, the biggest challenge to morale is now "why bother?", when large parts of the country and most of the "elites" are indifferent or hostile to their efforts and sacrifice.
The situation in Sri Lanka certainly looks as though the war with the Tamil Tigers is almost over, although over the last 25 years the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have demonstrated the ability to recover from adversity several times.
The Tamil Tigers certainly seem to be on the back foot, but even if they are crushed militarily, major questions will remain about the future political make-up of the island, and the conflict will remain unresolved in the long term.
The quest for meaningful devolution of power is one that has dominated Tamil politics since the mid-1970s, since parliamentary options were effectively closed, leading to armed conflict between the Tigers and the Sri Lankan armed forces.
The role of both Norway and neighbouring India needs to be brought back into the picture in order to help broker a lasting peace. Although India has its domestic problems at the moment - such as tensions with Pakistan and forthcoming elections, its interests in regional stability should be used as a positive influence in Sri Lankan politics.
Clearly, there is a significant danger in Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa assuming all-out victory. The increased attacks on journalists also echo the darkest days of the Premadasa regime in the 1990s, an era that ultimately led to war resuming with an even mightier force on both sides.
The Sinhalese could certainly be stupid enough to throw away the chance they have to reunite the island. So too the defeated Tamils could swear that the next generation will get Dire Revenge and continue the fight with boom-babes and assassins.
However, bringing India and Norway back into the picture only makes continued strife inevitable. They'd call for endless negotiations and compromise. The eyes of the world community would be on them. They might even be unfortunate enough to have a special rapper from the U.N. take up residence in Colombo. All of that guarantees more trouble.
The government must now say that peaceful Tamils will be protected and that all citizens on the island, Sinhalese and Tamil, will have their basic rights guaranteed. That means a vote in the parliament, protection in the courts and the right to say and think what they wish. If the government does that Sri Lanka will return to being a far-off island with tropical breezes and white-sand beaches. If they don't, it won't matter what anyone else does.
Posted by: Steve White ||
02/05/2009 00:00 ||
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#1
ION PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > LTTE, SRI LANKA, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL OF THE INDIAN OCEAN + INDIA AND CHINA FACE OFF IN THE INDIAN OCEAN.
ALso on PDF > SOUTH ASIA AFTER 26/11 [Mumbai Attack = Its not good news].
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Your editorial "Obama and Iraq" (Jan. 27) highlights many factors regarding the U.S. strategy in Iraq but neglects to mention the role of the Kurds. Within Iraq, the Kurds have been America's strongest ally in both Iraq's liberation from Saddam Hussein and in the democratic transition after the fall of the previous regime. Our peshmerga forces have fought and died alongside U.S. soldiers combating terrorists in Iraq. The Kurds deeply appreciate what the U.S. has done by ridding Iraq of a regime that employed chemical weapons against us and that was responsible for the death or disappearance of more than 180,000 Kurds.
The situation in Sri Lanka certainly looks as though the war with the Tamil Tigers is almost over, although over the last 25 years the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have demonstrated the ability to recover from adversity several times.
