The Maturing of a President

President Obama acceptance speech for 2009 Nobel Peace prize shows that he has finally taken ownership in being the President of United States. The award of Nobel Peace Prize to Obama was one of the most blatant inducements by the Left Wing to motivate the new and young President to follow their agenda. Obama’s eloquent speech supporting and defending the “just wars” has not only shattered their dream but was also a fitting reply to all the Chamberlains who have hijacked the media and academia in the West.

The hypocrisy of the Left is that they enjoy the benefits of living in secular democracies and lecture their leaders while they kiss up to the dictators. There are violent protests organized by Left Wingers to save dictators like Saddam Hussein while they are silent on the imprisonment of leaders like Aung San Suu Kyi. They want to read Miranda rights to the foreign terrorists while caring little about the victims and their families. In Oslo, Obama put his foot down and has finally become the President of United States. He deserves our congratulations and support.

The Missing Peace Laureate

President Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize today. The awarding of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to Obama has drawn considerable criticism. It was a big surprise for everyone, including Obama himself, as he has been President for only nine months and has yet to deliver meaningful results. Obama himself humbly admitted he does not deserve the honor. This year's decision gives further credence to past accusations that the Nobel Peace Prize has become a political award.

Mahatma (The Great Soul) Gandhi, the very apostle of peace, was not chosen for the Peace Prize despite being nominated five times, the last time in 1948 just before his assassination, presumably because Norway feared annoying the British Government. The Selection Committee was ashamed enough that they did not award the 1948 Peace Prize to anyone.

Gandhi not only mobilized India’s 330 million people to freedom from 200 years of British rule, he did it using solely non-violent means. Upon Gandhi’s death, Albert Einstein said, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

Gandhi’s example of non-violent resistance was subsequently emulated by many leaders in various parts of the world to fight oppression and injustice. Two followers of Gandhi’s path, America’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and South Africa’s Rev. Tutu, have been recognized with the honor of the Peace Prize; however Gandhi has not.

Interestingly, Gandhi’s popularity has grown with the passage of time. Statues and streets around the world are built and named for him. Whenever peaceful resistance against injustice and oppression is discussed, pundits speak of Gandhi’s way. It is clear Gandhi does not need the Peace Prize; rather, the Peace Prize needs Gandhi for its own credibility.

Denial of the Peace Prize to Gandhi was an unjust act of cowardice and stupidity. Recently, the Nobel Foundation expressed regret for its mistake. Though the Nobel Foundation needs to do a serious evaluation of the selection process for the Peace Prize and make the necessary amendments, the first step is to correct this historic wrong by awarding the 1948 Peace Prize posthumously to Gandhi. A one time exception to the Foundation’s living person rule is justified for this purpose. Otherwise the Nobel Peace Prize will remain tainted forever.

The Climate Change Debate

The publication of the emails from a top Climate Research Center in Britain shows that there is a lot of politics behind the Climate Change debate. This also confirms that the ultra left is as guilty as the ultra right in pushing its agenda by any means.

An aggressive implementation of Climate Change Program being promoted by the ultra left environmentalists will result in loss of significant number of jobs which we and the World can not afford during this recession. It is time to take a breather on this issue and keep it as a long term goal.

Obama’s Afghan Strategy

President Obama, in a national address today announced that he is sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan by next summer on a limited mission. This decision is the right decision. However to talk about a time frame of limited period of 18 months only weakens America’s commitment and resolve. All Al Qaeda and Taliban have to do is to lie low for next 18 months and use this period to rebuild their forces and stockpile of arms and ammunition. Once Obama’s surge is over, they can go back on their old game of attacking and destabilizing the government. Instead of trying to please every one, it is time for Obama to be honest and say and do what he believes in.

A for Attitude

What makes Kobe Bryant a great basket ball player? A recent article on Kobe soliciting help from another past great player Hakeem Olajuwon during summer this year shows Kobe’s mindset. It is Kobe’s willingness to be always learning and improving his game. Kobe does not control whether Los Angeles Lakers will ever win another championship. He does have control on improving his skills and the best he can be as an individual player and as a team player. If every one in Lakers does that there is a good likelyhood that they will win many more championships.

Kobe is already one of the best players in NBA. This article just shows that he is always striving to improve himself. That is why he gets an "A" for attitude.

Fort Hood & Beyond ......

The latest disturbing information regarding Major Hasan alleged web postings and his past contacts with a pro Al Qaeda Imam indicates that Hasan is more likely a Jihadist and the Fort Hood carnage was a terrorist act. Whether Hasan acted alone or is a part of wider conspiracy is yet to be established. It also looks like that many signs of Hasan’s past troubling behavior were more likely ignored for political correctness. The Fort Hood massacre is a wake up call for America and the secular world. If America does not get its act together it will be disastrous.

Regarding Islamic fundamentalism, most people seem to be missing what is involved here. So far we have only seen the tip of the iceberg of the challenges the secular world is facing. Taliban, Al Qaeda and the Islamic fundamentalists have same global agenda and want to establish their brand of Islamic Caliphate to rule the world. What is happening is not new. It is a continuation of the relentless execution of a plan which has been going on for over past one thousand years. Just look at the history of the Persian and Byzantine Empires. The Islamic fundamentalists know that the secular democracies are weak hearted and divided and will fall sooner and later. They will never give up unless they are totally eliminated. The secularists need to decide whether to face up this challenge now or meet the fate of Persian and Byzantine Empires.

As far as fighting the Islamic Fundamentalism in Afghanistan and rest of the world is concerned, it can be effectively done only by winning the hearts and minds of the majority of Muslims who are also the victims of these extremists. The continuing protests in Iran after 30 years of Mullahs’ autocratic rule and self initiated positive changes in a small enclave in Afghanistan are indications that the Muslims are ready to oppose the Islamic Fundamentalists. The secular world should help these progressive people in Muslim Countries to counter the Islamic extremists.

Civilian Trial of 9/11 Terrorists….

Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. has announced that the hardcore 9/11Attack terrorists will be tried in a Federal Court instead of in Military Courts as was planned by the previous Administration. No matter how you spin it, these terrorists are enemy combatants who attacked America. Why should they be granted the constitutional rights of American citizens? The more appropriate place to try them is in Military Courts. This decision therefore appears to be made just for political correctness.

Further the American Court system is not experienced to handle cases like these. There are no precedents for conducting these trials as indicated in the following New York Times Report and the risks of Defense Lawyers converting these trials into a circus and propaganda events are high.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/14/us/14legal.html?hp

If Obama Administration wishes to try these terrorists in American Courts, why start this process with the most dangerous terrorists like Khalid Shaikh Mohammed? Why not to gain some experience in prosecuting these case with lesser criminals? This decision shows the inexperience of the Obama Administration in general and this Attorney General in particular. While upholding the American Justice System is prudent, we also need to be fair to the victims and their families. They have rights too.