Who Says History do not Repeat

With the proof of Chemical weapons usage ( Red line set by President Obama) , America is preparing to arm


the rebels in Syria against the govt of Assad. The arms has to be delivered thro Turkey and therefore America

would need the support of the Islamist govt in Turkey and its hardcore PM Erdogan. (He can breathe easy against the current popular uprising.)

This is 2013.



Now look back to the 1980s.



Russians invade Afganistan and America wants to drive them out.

Rebels with Islamist roots - Muhajadens- are formed and they need to be armed.

America takes the help of Zia ul Haq of Pakistan and he radicalizes the society

to serve his needs and that matched with Americas short term goals.



The parallels can't be missed. Syria = Afganistan, Turkey = Pakistan, Erdogen = Zia

The outcome of the '80s activities is far too clear now.

America need to know that Turkey is much closer to Europe , geographically atleast !

A repeat of this history in 2030s will be .............................

Britain, Oh Britain………….. Grow up !

I read with interest and real amusement the current debate and noise being made in Great Britain with respect to India’s decision to buy French Rafale for Indian air force. ( Hasan Surror article in The Hindu on last OP ED) Behavior and comments are very unlike the English we know. Just goes to show the level of desperation that has crept into British politics and even to general public. Clear case of being bad losers!

I get a feeling that, the decibel levels are so high mainly because French won rather than Britain lost. Had the winner being US manufacturer, I doubt if the noise would have been so high and feverish. They are scared to accuse French of any wrong doing, so the frustration is taken out on India. Silly indeed!

The main argument is that India has been ‘ingratitude’ after receiving so much British aid. Come on Britian, your true colours are being exposed. If that is the case, what is the real motive of your aid, help the country in whichever way you can or morally bind us to take decisions which is favoring your interest? No way, the Child India is no more the infant you left in the middle of last century, its an adult which will take decisions on its free will. In any case, India has not been asking or requesting aid, in fact our Finance minister has already said, we do not need any British aid any more. Thank you !
In last few years, when India has been pitching for an expanded security council at UN, France has come forward and endorsed India’s case. I do not think, UK has been very committal. David Cammoron has made the right noise in the last visit, but has not been willing to go the whole way. French president Sarkosy has been more forthcoming whether its Kashmir , UN security council or Nuclear deal.
All is not lost for UK. But for UK to expect India to behave only a particular manner irrespective of the merits of the case is childish and under estimating the maturity India has gained. Lets work asequal partners and please shed colonial mind set aleast in this 21 st century .

Tony Augustine

Pains of an 'Image Make Over'

( written almost 10 days bk, published today - network !)
Believe it or not, its more difficult than recasting the die !
Its true in the case of commercial brands and even more true in the case of Politics.
Ask Mr Narendra Modi, CM of the state of Gujarat.
He has been trying hard for some time to have a more liberal Image - an image of a
good politician and if possible of a Statesman to be more acceptable to Indians at large.
Like any good brand, he has a good customer base which has voted him back to power repeatedly.
But, some itch inside makes him think that he has to play in a bigger stage.
For that the current brand identity is no good. So Fasting, pleading, reccos from US, Indian business tycoons etc.
Yes, as an iron fist administrator , he has delivered. Although its debatable if the calm and quietness in the state is
due to fear or genuine good will amongst people. But who ever has even thought of challenging him has not
been very successful !
But the party he represents has a different view of the matter, publically all are in praise.
In BJP his fate is almost like - ' He has no enemies, but none of his friends like him'
The remote controllers from Nagpur wants him at Delhi chair, but the Delhi walls wants him at
Gandhidham only to send 35 MPs to Delhi.
So, what options has Mr Modi got, continue to wait and suffer, I do not think so.
He may float a party of his own. Like Yaddi of Karnataka, he too claims that "I brought BJP to power in the state"
If he really believes that position, he has nothing to gain from BJP, its rather BJP who needs him.

So may think that people will vote from him even if he is in GJP ( Gujarat Janata Party) and reach Delhi with 35 seats
and bargain with strength.
But, he can't cut off his blood line with RSS, that is an issue which he need to resolve if above play is to be staged.
Its really a boiling pot .................. lets see what spills out !

i Tune, i Phone, i Pad, iCon, iGone ; i Sad !

The Newton of Apple is no more, RIP.
Unlike the apples of Adam and Newton, this one has been touched and felt by millions.
No other death has caused so much pain across the globe, he was dear to an 8 yr old as he is to 80 yr old.
White, Black or Coloured, Religion, race had no control on his fan following.
Am sure the notorious Taliban must also be mourning this loss.
What has formal education got to do with success and creativity? very little for genius
like him ! Its a pity that all genius are called early from this mortal world by Him.
I am sure, I won't be needed up above any time soon; though I wish to be in heaven !
Steve - we will miss you dearly.
I can't even imagine, what the world would have got had he continued for another 5- 10 yrs- selfish thought..........
Dearly loved and respected & humble enough to laugh off his talents as that of a crack nerd!
Now back to him - you have to go for the fresh to flower and blossom.
Steve , you have not hindered it even for a minute ! RIP
Hungry for more from him and foolish to hope ........................

Lead if you can - otherwise make way............

I hope that atlest from now onwards, our parliament will lead the nation
rather than being led by the people & nation. Frankly its pretty sad that
parliament has to be told very forcefully by outsiders what law people need
which they have to enact. By this very fact, the assigned law makers have forfeited
their right to be law makers.
The way most of the ministers, MPs MLAs zip past the people on our roads
clearly shows the reality and disconnect with the people whom they are elected to
represent.
They need to realize that if they keep shooting the messenger for too long,
the message itself will shoot them, as has been happening in the Arab world.
I dread to think that our democracy has become so dysfunctional and aloof from
the people.

There is time for Tactical withdrawal even in a war and is now for Team Anna.

Anna and Team Anna has been able to bring the issue of corruption to the nations center stage and that itself is unprecedented
and great service to the nation. Now that they have done it, and the elected govt, however bad it may be, has promised to act on it.
Therefore, its time for Team Anna to withdraw - its a tactical withdrawal which can help the govt and others in charge
to think and act. Making anybody , let alone the govt, to act at 'gun point' and threat of anarchy is no Gandhian way.
Any further push can lead to 'the other side' taking up issues in similar fashion and that will surely lead to more
problems for the nation. The notion that if one is not supporting Anna , he is for corruption is shear non sense.
Corruption from bottom to top is a major issue for the nation and the ones at the bottom affects the common man mostly.
Therefore, I just wish that Team Anna moves to the RTO, Police, Revenue offices across the country.
They probably can help stop the corruption there and that in my mind will be a practical and useful method
to help the common man.

London Riots

The soft underbelly of the ' Developed nations' are getting exposed.
We can possibly brush of the latest events in and around London as criminal acts of small groups.
But the leaders do not seems to understand that it has a pattern and its taking routes - we had Paris a few months back.
Unemployment, under employment and the simmering financial troubles faced are all contributing factors.
As of now , the rising 'smoke' is mostly black and coloured. If the 'white smoke ' starts erupting as happened in
Oslo, we are in for bigger trouble.
The unhindered run of Capitalism has made the gulf between the rich and poor ever more wider.
Many a policy makers are getting more influenced by the 'rich and famous' who are close to them
at the cost of general public and share the spoils. This is a malice which is not restricted to developed world. Almost all
our scams have its origin here.
The west has been advocating regime changes in Arab world and hailed the Arab Spring.
Now what do they wish to label the happening in West ?
Thanks
Tony Augustine