PREDICTIONS FOR YEAR 2010 – WITH NEO-ASTROLOGICAL APPROACH!

Planet ‘A’ is supposed to sextile with Planet ‘B’ in 1st quarter of 2010, whereas Planet ‘C’ will try to sneak in a trine with some other planet. Planet ‘D’ is not going to be lazy either, it will conspire to quinseptile Planet ‘E’ in 2nd quarter of the year. However, Planet ‘F’ will be actively courting Planet ‘G’ to sesquisquare with it sometime in 2nd/3rd quarter. Meanwhile, Planet ‘A’ would surreptitously semisquare to Planet ‘X’ with an eye on Planet ‘Y’ in 3rd quarter. Most likely this will bring about a quantrine of Planet ‘G’ to Planet ‘H’. This will inadvertently lead to quantiplexing of the geodetic forces between Planets ‘F’ and ‘M’ which will surprisingly throw up a benign hemisquaring between Planet ‘C’ and Planet ‘Y’ towards the end of the year.

While the abovementioned high falutin astrological mumbo jumbo may not be making sense, unless one looks at it with a 'neo-approach', but as an aside at least an attempt could be made, in simple English, to look at topics which may be critical in 2010. Let us see what these topics could potentially be:

Economic:
· There may be a dip on global economic front starting early 2nd quarter and then stabilizing in 3rd quarter. Global economy will be on the path of recovery by end of 2010.
· Noble metals will continue to entice and frustrate the investors.
· There is possibility of next round of bitterness between developed and the developing nations with regard to CO2 emission limits.
· China will likely continue to provide artificial resuscitation to its economy never mind even if it creates potentially disastrous bubbles.
· Large oil companies are likely to feel more frustrated in making investment decisions in non-conventional sources of crude oil.

Political:
· Russia is likely to look for chinks in American armour and bargain accordingly.
· Europe will like to concentrate more on economic recovery unless forced (by unforeseen circumstances) to pitch in more in fight against religious radicalism.
· Western European nations will increasingly realize their foolishness to have allowed influx of Muslim population in their countries during last few decades.
· China is likely to enhance its global political gamesmanship this year.
· Forces inimical to Iraq’s ambition to increase crude oil production are likely to become more active.
· Pakistan’s top army brass will most probably prove to be greater rouges and tough to fathom. The Army and their intelligence agency will at the same time play mystifying games of betrayal and boot licking (of western powers).
· Middle East may see rise in tension towards 3rd quarter.
· Afghanistan’s fate will most likely experience roller coaster like ride tagged along with waxing and waning of Karzai’s fortunes/faux pas.

Other:
· US will increasingly realize the need to recover the leadership through new technological breakthroughs and inventions.
· Ultra rightists and hard core Republicans in US may cause to bring misery to their land due to their insensitivity and inveterate dogmatic approach.
· BASIC countries are likely to continue their unified approach on matters of mutual interest. India may see some political instability during the 1st half of the year.
· The world is likely to see its fair quota of natural disasters – earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.

One hopes the voice and thinking of the saner elements belonging to any political stripe or religious belief all around the world will prevail over the doctrinaire and fissiparous elements.

Whether or how the galactic constellations may be influencing the events of 2010 and beyond is anybody’s guess, but at least one can pray to that Supreme Almighty God to lessen the potential of miseries and provide the wisdom to human race to realize, feel and act with reason and compassion. Amen!

TOO MUCH ON OBAMA’S PLATTER – BUSH ERA MESS, HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES, AND HAVING TO COUNTER REPUBLICAN ONSLAUGHTS!

If one sees the current challenges facing President Obama one can’t but help feel empathetic for him. Only someone utterly insane or the greatest rogue practitioner of political antagonism would allude that Obama is not working for the interests of USA. As well, to any sane and impartial observer it would be apparent that Obama is bogged down in too many things at one time.

The major issues which he has to contend with currently can be grouped under following heads:

Mess left behind by George W. Bush administration – These include:
· The worst economic situation since the great depression of 1930s and hopeless action planning to deal with it in medium and long term;
· No clear cut politico-military strategy in Afghanistan;
· Confused policy vis-à-vis dealing with Pakistan, Taliban and the Af-Pak region;
· Highly strained relations (with a dash of mistrust) with Russia;
· One of the most inept, languid, direction-less handling of Middle-East ever seen;
· Convoluted one-step-forward-two-step-backward policy on Iran;
· Half-hearted policy endeavours with regard to dealing with North Korea;
· Disastrous policy stances on environment;
· Myopic goals clouding economic and strategic planning vis-à-vis China;
· Rushed through and muddled exit strategy from Iraq;
· Highly negative international image of USA.

Election campaign promises of President Obama – These include:
· Health care reform;
· Closure of Guantanamo Bay prison camps;
· Changes in environment policy of US;
· Reforming the way Wall Street operates and curbs on Wall Street fat cats;
· Reducing/neutralizing the stranglehold of lobbyists and power brokers in Washington.

Republican antagonism – These include:
· Obstruct any and every change that President Obama is trying to bring about (even if it means selling one’s soul to corporate business interests in order to thwart Obama);
· Criticize everything that Obama says nationally or internationally, including, his body language (his well-mannered gentle bow to Japan’s Emperor was foolishly criticized by the Republicans);
· Pray and hope that US lose where Obama makes some effort for the country (example: US effort to bring 2016 Summer Olympics to Chicago);
· Belittle a prize of the stature of Nobel Peace Prize;
· Pooh pooh due diligence performed by American President in arriving at some key policy decision (example: the thorough decision making process regarding troops surge in Afghanistan);
· Criticize rescinding of US decision to deploy anti-missile shield in Poland and Czech Republic.

It is so unfortunate that the list of mess (of major issues; minor issues are too numerous to be enumerated) left behind by Dubya and his cronies is so long. It certainly is not something to be proud of for any president (who has the slightest sense of self-esteem, shame and achievement).

The worst and the most damning legacy of Bush-era is the systemic and structural failure of the financial system of Wall Street which was presided over by (the obstinate pro-Republican) Alan Greenspan. Following the disastrous economic downturn the band-aid response that was crafted by Bush’s economic advisors was no less shameful and inadequate.

On top of Bush-era’s long list of mess, Obama is trying hard to implement his election campaign promises. Obviously, his plate gets crowded with too many items. Sensing this, the defeated and humbled Republicans are trying to pounce upon each and every opportunity regardless of whether or not it makes any sense.

Somehow surprisingly the brunt of Republican attacks is largely being borne by President Obama himself. The other Democrat personalities don’t seem to be getting involved or pitching in early enough in responding to and/or rebutting the Republican salvos. This is bringing additional pressure on the President.

Moreover, Obama was initially pushing for the best outcome of any policy change initiative brought about at Capitol Hill or at international stage. However, he is realizing that more often than not the politicians – be it Republicans or Blue Democrats – give a damn for the good of the masses or the country; their first priority is self-preservation and self-perpetuation, rest everything is secondary.

One hopes that the powers, which apparently subsist in and operate from levels beyond what human imagination can fathom, will provide the necessary force and support behind the well-meaning efforts of the current US president because it is unimaginable, to a sane and rational mind, that the US president is not acting for the best interests of United States. One will have to wait to see whether the good intentions won in the long run or the kitchen sink politics of Washington prevailed!

AFTER DELTA FLIGHT 253 INCIDENT – IT IS TIME TO PULL UP SOCKS RATHER THAN REPUBLICANS’ DISGUSTING GAME OF POLITICAL NAME CALLING!!

Alas this world is imperfect, this grim reminder one gets from the stupid recriminations one can see or hear taking place between the Republicans and the Democrats over the failed bombing attempt aboard Delta/Northwest Airlines Flight 253 to Detroit from Amsterdam.

Instead of making useful contributions towards what needs to be done to protect the world from the radicals, like the Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried to blow up the Delta flight, the Republicans have launched in to nonsensical tirades to make some political capital out of this incident. They are trying desperately and, albeit, clumsily to malign President Obama (and his administration).

However, much to the chagrin of the said intellectually stunted Republicans they are getting egg back on their faces as some American TV channels are immediately pointing out the appalling inaction/gaffes of Bush and folks of his administration which has brought US to this pass. But the increasingly frustrated moron Republicans suffer from selective amnesia when they try to throw dirt on their political opponents.

But then that’s one of the downsides of democracy in that the party out of power tries to cut its nose to spite its face without realizing how much harm it may be causing to the country in the process.

Adding to this nonsense these days are the oftentimes stupid/off-the-point discussions of some half informed anchors (of American TV channels) who seem to be steering the discussion according to their personal political inclinations (and their agendas). These schmuck anchors are indeed utterly disgusting!

Anyway, more important than the schmuck American politicians and/or TV anchors is path forward for the international community in the light of what happened on Flight 253. Following points seem to need urgent attention:

· As the Foreign Minister of Yemen mentioned, his country needs international help in fighting Al-Qaeda. US, EU need to provide Yemen the necessary wherewithal in this respect as early as possible.
· Al-Qaeda’s central planning cell most probably still operates from Af-Pak border and this cell may be coordinating its actions with its cells in other countries, e.g., Yemen. Therefore, pressure must be continued to disrupt the central cell, including kicking the Pakistani asses to continue their operations in Waziristan and other areas bordering Afghanistan.
· The wily double-faced Pakistanis must not be allowed to get distracted by the so-called request from the Taliban to get former cricketer Imran Khan to mediate. These are red herrings across the trail.
· The Saudis need to act on the sleeper cells in their country and in this regard they need to coordinate their actions with their western allies, especially, US and Yemen (if the Saudis don’t consider this below their dignity).
· Stricter check of people of certain religious/ethnic backgrounds got to be put in place without drum beating about it to the world. Flight manifests need to be scanned for such people before the flight leaves and anybody appearing suspicious should be subjected to secondary/tertiary checks.
· Former top calibre counter-terrorism personnel from countries, like, India, Israel, UK should be brought in to train the US, Canadian, western countries immigration personnel in scanning and screening techniques – both visual and otherwise. The western immigration personnel, especially, the Caucasian personnel have little knowledge about names, characteristics of these ethnic groups.
· The aforementioned experts will scrutinise and look for potential radical elements before he/she boards a flight.
· Of course, full body scanners, specially trained sniffer dogs (dogs who can sniff certain chemical substances, i.e., PETN) need to be brought in use at various airports ASAP.
· Last but not the least the intelligence agencies need to pull up their socks. In the case of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab the American and western intelligence agencies - in particular, the British - surely dropped the ball.

Flight 253 was definitely a wake up call to people who may be getting a bit complacent. Political bickering and crude attempts to make political capital (like the Republicans are trying to do) will not help. On the other hand, coordinated, concerted actions on the part of the international community can certainly help in fighting the scourge of religious radicalism. Let saner elements join hand in this ongoing battle of attrition!

WANNA MAKE QUICK BUCK? SLEEP WITH A CELEBRITY AND SELL YOUR STORY!!

The other day some one, who is passing through hard times owing to job loss, asked me if there was some quick mitigation possible. I asked that person, “Have you slept with any celebrity, like, Tiger Woods?” (I could pose such a question because of my cordial and friendly relations with that person.)

That person responded innocently, “No, I haven’t; moreover, I am a male and I am straight”!! When he continued to look at me askance, I explained to him the background as to why I asked him that seemingly frivolous question.

I gave him a low down on the current media interest in women who had allegedly slept with Tiger, and the reported attempts made by those women to encash their ‘stories’. He looked disgusted, and I nodded in silence conveying complete agreement.

What disgusted him and I was the fact these women – being labelled by media as mistresses of Tiger – slept with the top golfer on their own volition. And, now they were making frantic efforts to auction their stories to make a fast buck before the public interest waned. These women, at least most of them, clearly knew that they sleeping with a married man and that there was almost NIL possibility of any ‘real’ romance and ‘happily ever after’ scenario.

The point that jumped out and begged to be asked: Are these type of women not some kind of slimy, scheming, leeches who look for potential preys and get laid by celebrities to ‘lay’ a foundation for a potentially salacious story saleable at a later date should such an opportunity came by?

Does this not amount to ‘prostitorting’? Are they not some kind of dangerous celebrity poaching vultures looking for an opportunity for a ‘kill’?

Regular hookers, prostitutes or call-girls operate with their clients strictly on a contract basis – ‘you sleep with me, you pay for it in some form’. Simple! In these transactions NO mushiness is assumed from either party or any offered! There is no element of ‘affair’ in these trysts!

But in case of the trysts married celebrities have with their so-called mistresses, the sales pitch these so-called mistresses offer to their 'stories' is that they had an ‘affair’, a ‘fling’. By bringing in the ‘affair’ angle, they subtly try to differentiate themselves from the regular hooker or a prostitute. There is an attempt to bring in the element of ‘romance’.

But are these so called mistresses also not some sort of a slut, probably a diabolical slut? Were they not spreading their legs for some kind of gratification – be it having been piled on by a ‘celebrity’, or for some gift or some favour? Did they REALLY think the married celebrity was having an AFFAIR which had possibilities of ‘happily ever after’?

No way! The ‘mistress’ knew, that celebrity knew, that they both were having a good time on the side! And, for any one knows in the world, the ‘mistress’ probably had already been compensated too with favours, gifts, money, whatever, during their so-called ‘affair’! If they really thought there was some hope of a permanent relationship, then they were plain stupid, naïve!!

This is precisely what is disgusting – these celebrity poaching vultures bide their time for making a ‘kill’ with their story of an ‘affair’, and when the opportunity comes they encash their tales with all the spice of mushiness, romance, steamy conversations, how good that celebrity was in the bed and so on!

The media understandably tries to keep up the celebrity ‘affair’ frenzy, because it helps in selling their stuff, it becomes a talking point. The public quickly reaches for these stories and reads them with interest. (But the stupid public hardly bothers to read or comprehend how their politicians sold their souls to big lobbying firms, corporate entities for favours and blocked some legislation which would have brought some relief to the masses in general!!)

One is not trying to justify what Tiger did as a married man – as a single he could screw as many women as he wanted! But the point one is trying to make is that these so-called mistresses are worse than the regular hookers, or prostitutes or call-gals.

Does Nature, or do laws of karma bring some different (harsher) form of retribution for these women?

WHAT SHOULD UNITED STATES' AFGHANISTAN POLICY BE - PART I

Objective:
· To make sure Taliban and Al-Qaeda do not get control of Afghanistan and start their fiefdom all over again;
· To make sure there is a democratically elected govt in Afghanistan which is ally of US and West;
· To make sure Afghanistan stands on its own feet economically with out the poppy crop revenue;
· To make sure Taliban and Al-Qaeda base in Pakistan is dismantled;
· To make sure Pakistan does not play the double game w.r.t Taliban and Al-Qaeda with US;
· To eliminate as many Al-Qaeda and Taliban (especially the bad Taliban; better get rid of any Taliban) as possible;
· To establish a credible, dependable and functional western intel network in the region.

Sub set of objectives:
· To make sure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is secured from falling in to radical elements’ hands;
· To make sure opium exports from Afghanistan is curtailed to as low volume as possible;
· Pakistan is weaned away from supporting and providing conducive environment for the Islamic radical elements.

Why above objectives are important to US, Western allies:
If Taliban get control of Afghanistan, they could potentially cause damage to western interests by:
· Providing safe refuge to AL- Qaeda to live and expand;
· Sub-contracting offshore attacks to AL- Qaeda;
· Trying to increase sphere of influence – first in the region and then beyond (in ME, South Asia, Asia Pacific);
· Destabilising nearby countries, like, Kyrgyzstan, who are supportive of US and West;
· Creating more and more training grounds for AL- Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan and Pak and other places;
· Systematically trying to nibble more and more area of Pakistan with eventual aim to grab the whole country;
· Increasing opium smuggling to West in menacing proportions;
· Increasing its financial base to make it strong and secure.

Aspects that will be key to success of Af-Pak objectives:
· How far the west's so-called technological advancement can be successfully put in use by US/ISAF;
· How far Pakistan can be made supportive to US/NATO objectives;
· How far Karzai, war lords cooperate and support US/NATO objectives.

Other aspects key for success of Af-Pak objectives:

Military -
· AQ and Taliban need to be taken out;
· Pakistan’s (ISI’s) support to AL-QAEDA and especially to Taliban needs to be cut off totally;
· AL- Qaeda and Taliban’s numbers need to be assessed realistically – region-wise/area-wise

Political -
· Karzai needs to ensure better governance – less corruption, cronyism etc.;
· Karzai needs to put in place proper governance machinery in the whole country;
· The war lords need to be aligned with US/NATO objectives (and support democratically elected govt in Kabul).

Economic -
· Karzai needs to ensure US and international monetary aid trickles down to poor and low middle class
· Democratically elected govt in Kabul needs to provide progress report on utilization of US and international monetary aid;
· Need to create alternative job opportunities (alternative to working on opium fields) and offer jobs to poor people.

Other -
· International sources of funds to AL- Qaeda and Taliban need to be cut off;
· Need to get Europe to commit more resources – troops and money.

WHAT SHOULD UNITED STATES' AFGHANISTAN POLICY BE - Part II

Actions needed to achieve aforesaid objectives:

With Pakistan -
· Adopt tough carrot and stick policy with Pakistani regime;
· Get Pakistan to live without being obsessed with India - provide Pakistan some non-harmful alternative reason to be proud of and be busy with;
· Keep continual pressure and vigilance on ISI – use carrot and stick with key people and buy their support/allegiance;
· Always double-check any so-called key intel, important tactical advice provided by Pak;
· DO NOT BLINDLY TRUST PAKISTAN;
· Seek intel from India and Israel and cross-check Pak’s intel always.

Military tactics -
· Adopt pincer-like movement in cutting off AL- Qaeda /Taliban and taking them out (Pakistan to push from South and US/ISAF pushes from North) in Southern Afghanistan;
· Adopt similar tactics in other areas of Afghanistan;
· Use advanced technology to detect IED’s from distance, intercept messages, locate enemy, blast underground network etc.;
· Use devastating air attacks where civilian casualties are not likely at all;
· Increase troop levels in regions/areas as required.
· Allow some Taliban to escape to China’s Uyghur region, Iran to create trouble there.

Economic -
· Karzai to make sure job opportunities are visibly available and achievable to poor;
· Karzai to make sure small business opportunities are available to masses;
· Keep providing monetary and other aid to Afghanistan.

Set time frame for Karzai -
· Keep pressure on Karzai to develop further Afghanistan’s own security and police base/network in a given time frame (3-5 years)
· Evaluate periodically Karzai’s performance against given KPI’s

Other -
· On a dual track approach explore if some Taliban are willing to join democratic process (but do not get obsessed with finding out good Taliban / bad Taliban);
· Take out/eliminate private fund providers to Taliban (most of them operate in Gulf and ME, some in Europe);
· Keep up an international media blitz that moderate Islamic elements are being courted and radical elements being eliminated;
· Keep an eye on China’s game in region;
· US/NATO to maintain an unified, aligned and integrated approach.
· Do not piss India off.

USA – WHAT A COUNTRY?! ANYONE CAN LAUNCH A TIRADE, HOWEVER NONSENSICAL, AGAINST THE PRESIDENT!! IS THIS A DEMOCRACY WORTH EMULATING?

What is currently happening in US media world, especially with respect to actions of one cable TV channel, is utterly flabbergasting! The anchors, talk show hosts of the TV channel in question have been highly strident in their criticism of President Obama from the time he assumed office. But of late in the context of proposed health care reform this channel is seen to have gone ballistic in their antagonism to Democrats and President Obama in particular.

Watching this TV channel the question that comes to the mind of any one who is rational and sane minded: Is this the type of democratic practice any country should aspire to have? Is this the ideal model of right to ‘free speech’? If an individual or corporate body or an organisation has enough money, can that individual or corporate body or an organisation launch a sustained campaign based on any nonsensical, stupid premise/argument against an individual – an individual who happens to be the President of USA?!

What is the limit to which right to free speech can be stretched in a democracy? In other democracies in the world – be they in Western world or in Asia or Latin America – the opposition parties are known to oppose any proposed change in policy by arranging public rallies. Opposition parties are also known to attack the government, the Prime Minister or minister(s) in and outside the Parliament (or Senate et al), but the verbal attacks are generally more based on reasoning – whether rational or flimsy – related to the policy in question (sometimes it gets physical too inside the lawmakers chamber).

But the main point to note is that the attacks and responses mostly take place between the government and the opposition – rarely an outside organization, and that too a media channel, is roped in that fight in such a blatant and brazen manner. In US at the moment the TV channel referred to at the beginning of the blog is carrying out a sustained campaign against the president by name, and all kinds of information (or disinformation) is being disseminated.

A random sampling of information (or disinformation) regarding President Obama thrown at public by the said American cable channel include following (this is by no means a exhaustive listing):

· Mischievously highlighting that Obama’s middle name is Hussein;
· He may not be born in USA, hence is not eligible to be president (as per US law);
· He is a socialist (sometimes he is branded as quasi-communist);
· Sometimes he has been compared to being a fascist;
· His proposed health care reform involves killing of elderly people…etc etc

This kind of sustained campaign against a Prime Minister or President through blatant and partisan use of TV channel, and worse, based on apparently irrational/whimsical arguments, is unheard of in any other democracy. Thank goodness, the people of the other democracies in the West and other parts of the world don’t get to see the aforesaid circus on a daily basis and in a detailed manner (for whatever reasons). If they did, they would have:

· Rolled in laughter listening to the whimsical/irrational points made by that channel;
· Wondered how intellectually challenged and mentally half grown people get to speak on TV on a regular basis;
· Developed a hateful opinion of American democracy;
· Added another reason to their list for disliking US, and strengthened their disdain for Americanism.

But potentially the worst implication could be that some folks in the other democracies might get ideas of how one could run the head of the government – prime minister or the president – down in the dirty game of politicking; how electronic media can be used (or misused) to manipulate public opinion to any extreme! This is indeed a frightening prospect.

The potentially catastrophic aspect of use (or misuse) of electronic media is that in a country of relatively large population (US population around 340 million) there are always people who are vulnerable and susceptible to manipulation – who could potentially get driven to extremes. In a large population this segment (of vulnerable people) can be fairly big.

And, when people belonging to this segment, even a handful, get driven to extremes they could potentially get morphed in to radical elements and create havoc in society. Fanatic religious radicalism is one such example of people driven to extremes though in this case the radicalism is fed and fomented through religious channels, again, through use of electronic means.

It will be interesting to see if and at what point the current ongoing character assassination – it will not be unfair to call it such – of the American leadership will stop. If it continues like this, in medium and long term future the socio-politico repercussions for the people of USA could be potentially highly toxic and dangerous. One hopes the saner elements in the US will pause to ponder on what is going on and stop the slide before a serious damage takes place to its polity!!