Help Me. . .

Ok, I'm still trying to figure this one out.

First, the United States is broke. Yet, we can pack up nearly the entire staff of the White House, rent 800 rooms in the Taj Hotel for two nights, take planes, helicopters, countless vehicles AND 34 warships so that Obama can visit Mumbai, India. And for WHAT???? For what????

What grand plan do we have with India that requires such expense and trouble on both sides of the planet? And really isn't this visit just going to agitate the Pakistanis, our "allies" in the War on ______________ (enter words in the blank which we aren't supposed to use any longer). These same Pakistanis whose secret services helped (still do) fund and mobilize the Taliban in Afghanistan for over 20 years?

I just can't figure it. I understand that Obama wants to tuck tail and get outta town for a bit after being drubbed in the election, but holy fuck man! Nearly half a billion dollars to do so? Go hide out at Camp David for a week and invite Indian Prime Minister Singh there on his freakin' dollar! The Indians have got plenty of money.

I dunno, to me it just doesn't make sense. It's not like we are brokering some large scale weapons agreement or some gigantic transnational pipeline project with India. It seems as if Obama has finally got his piece of the pie and is moving on up.

I just read this piece from a Hindu news source:

There has been a good “working progress” on the elimination of obstacles created by dual-use controls of the U.S. as governments of both countries were of the view that the issue need to be reviewed in order to reduce and “ultimately eliminate” it, Ms. Rao said.

She also disclosed that India has invited U.S. companies to explain to them the provisions of its domestic civil nuclear liability law and address their concerns, if any, and also begin discussions on the next steps of implementation of civil nuclear power projects.

I'm not sure why these discussions require the entire White House, much less President Buckethead, to attend direct talks on matters that can surely be handled at the State Department level or lower. Even security issues can be negotiated at a level much lower than the presidential mark. Yet, we have to rent an entire hotel for this and trail 34 warships in the waters off of India? To talk about civil nuclear power and dual-use technology prohibitions?

Forgive me for saying this but. . .I can't wait for this shameless, petty, lying, thin-skinned, self-serving douche to be evicted from the White House come 2012 and it won't be a day too soon. We are the laughing stock of the world thanks to Obama and frankly, we deserve it for electing such a loser.

Read more...

Pakistan's Cloudy Future. . .

The recent troubling events in Pakistan are edging that problematic country closer and closer to imminent political and social implosion. And the fallout could be felt far and wide, throughout the region and eventually, throughout the world.

With the weak Pakistan government's capitulation to the Taliban by virtue of allowing the lawless Northwestern tribal regions to 'secede' in a sense, from the light central governmental control, simply verifies the political and paramilitary clout the Taliban have in the region. Granting them free reign and open ground to operate is bad news for the rest of us. And particularly for the United States and NATO troops that will have to battle the legions of men and boys they train.

WWBOD?

What would Barack Obama do? A surge? He probably prefers to negotiate too. His political backbone has yet to be found outside of stuffing 800+ billion dollars worth of debt down our throats and his unwillingness to follow up on off-the-cuff campaign promises concerning difficult decisions is suspect.

Should Pakistan collapse, an ever more developing reality, there will be no one in the world who can bring her back except the United States. And it may be necessary. A nuclear-armed nation in the hands of fanatical, cave-dwelling, death-wishing, knuckle-draggers is completely, and without a doubt, out of the question.

India, are you ready?

Read more...