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I have been assessing Iran and Afghanistan and what has been happening. I have heard Karzai's committment to fight reform. I have seen the Defense Minister committing to double the size of the Afghan National Army. I am with Juan Cole when he notes how one can raise an Army from Conscripts that can't read or write.
Moving on to Iran, the country continues to be in a state of flux. Today saw the conviction of the Former Vice President of Iran, Ali Abtahi, of inciting violence. He was sentenced to six years in prison. As I saw this newflash, I realized that if he had not "confessed" to his sins, he probably would have been executed. The fact remains that people have been executed and people continue to be tried.
On another note, the former Controversial Interior Minister of Iran, Ali Kordan died of lung cancer and complication of influeza. He gained his 15 minutes of fame when he claimed he had a Doctorate From Oxford when in fact there was none. I reviewed his resume on Iran's Official News Site. It was clear that he was one of the ex-military men who helped to in effect insure that Iran became a defacto military state.
Throughout the past week, I have also been continuing to see the thinking and the subtle psychological war against the so-called official opposition. I saw a dispatch today about how Mousavi was in effect a coward for not having appeared on State Television to refute the continued allegations against him. There is of course the big military manevours by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards to guard against a perceived air attack. Ahmadinejad, though, has hit the road. I hope he's having fun.
As I have making the rounds of the Sunday Talk Shows, I have also been thinking about the plight of people on Main Street. I was out and about yesterday on some committments and noticed a few people with signs asking for help. After a bit of soul searching, I decided to muster up the courage to walk up and talk to both of them.
The first person I talked to was a maintenance guy. He and his wife worked for a company in Lake Forest, California. His wife was an Accountant. They both lost their jobs when the company shut down. He told me that he had been everywhere and left applications at all places. Yet, there was nothing. The only thing I could tell him was to keep the faith. I then walked up to talk to a couple who were at a Costco sitting and holding up a sign asking for help.
I got to talking to them and asking them what happened. The gentleman noted that he worked in Construction and was a painter. He noted that there was nothing to be found. He then told me that he had no other choice but to be "out here" trying to see what was available. This is while people continued to walk into Costco to buy the products they wanted. It is as America goes on to celebrate Thanksgiving.
I was profoundly moved by the plight of these two individuals. All of us t led me to think about the kind of social safety net that is necessary so that people are not forced on the streets. While supporting my son's Cub Scout Pack's efforts during Scouting for Food, I thought all who are really desparate for even a meal. As I drove away and reflected upon the plight of those two, I wondered if it could truly be me someday and whether if we as a society had the courage to overcome. I continue to have hope because I have seen an America that has overcome great odds to do great things. That's why I remain thankful and hopeful as America celebrates Thanksgiving Week.
Afghanistan has just come out with an annoucement that it will work to increase the military force to 240,000 troops. There is an estimate that each Afghan Army Troop will cost about 12,000 dollars, yet each American Troop will cost around 1,000,000 Dollars. Now, with all such staggering figure, the question that has to be asked is this: What has happened to all the money that has been sent to Afghanistan? Why is the country in such dire straits?
When Karzai took the oath, he promised action. He wants to reconcile with the Taliban. He also has promised to fight corruption. But, the reality on Main Street is different. Talk is cheap. Despite the apparent embrace by the international community, the question has to be asked: Where has Karzai been for the past 7 years? Why did he not make sure that The Taliban did not rear their ugly head? How can he emerge from his reputation as the "Deputy Mayor of Kabul" and really start to assert his authority? How can the cancer of corruption be eradicated from a society that knows no other way to do business? How can the people be given hope when they continue to be in the front lines and suffer the casualties?
The big day is apparently near. I am certain that these are questions that I am sure Mr. Obama is contemplating as he decides to deploy the additional resources necessary to carry on the fight in Afghanistan. There needs to be a concerted effort to not only find the money, but to make sure that the Taliban do not get financed at least with US Tax Payer Money. I am confident that the President and his team have accounted for that as well. I eagerly await the decision.
Mort Zuckerman is no leftie. As one of the leading businessmen in America today, everyone should listen when he speaks. I recently read a column he wrote for the Financial Times about the Free Market. I frankly struggled with the stark realities that he laid out, even though I have also written here and in OV's sister sites about the realities of Main Street.
When he wrote this back on October 19, 2009, the updated unemployment numbers had not come out yet. The latest reports on the US Federal Deficit had not been announced. The continued fiscal bloodbath in States and Local Governments was yet to be announced for the month. Yet, he told us that "...The Free Market is not up to the job of creating work...". (Source: http://www.ft.com., retrieved 11/20/2009). The stark realities he laid out in his comments lays out the reality of the utter failure of the so-called free market as it has been laid out over the last number of years. For those who advocate more of the same, they have to realize that, ".....this is the only recession since the great depression to wipoe out all job growth from the previous business cycle...." (Source: http://www.ft.com, retrieved 11/20/2009). So, what is there to be done
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Iran came out and rejected the UN-brokered nuclear fuels deal and again has come out with another alternative plan. The Foreign Minister basically dared the international community to impose sanctions on Iran. What I wonder is how everyone is so surprised at it all?
The United States is trying to build consesus to somehow have sanctions imposed on Iran. Well, the Russians and the Chinese are not going to budge. The Russian President has made some positive noises, but actions speak louder than words. I see Iran continuing to play for time until the point of no return. With the continued precarious nature of the internal political dynamics of the country, there is no other choice
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Iran has not be dominating the headlines. Yet, things continue to be in a state of flux. The so-called President came out swinging the other day predicting the imminent demise of all enemies of the Islamic Republic. But, to me, the joke of the day was when one of the commanders of the Basij (the milita) came out telling Iranians and the world that the Basij was of the people and was in fact a servant of the people. It is nothing further from the truth in light of the fact that the Basij were used by the Government to put down the uprising after the June election.
What I find gratifying is that opposition continues on in subtle ways. Although State Media continues to portray an aura of normlacy, this past week saw artists boycotting state-sanctioned events. There are also subtle means of resistance and opposition that continues on. How long before this civil resistance is actually going to be successful remains to be seen
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California continues to march to the edge of the abyss. The statistics I have seen from Pew Resarch scares the daylight out of me. California's current budget deficit as a percentage of the general fund is estimated to be at 49.3% of the general fund. The numbers I have seen are at 21 Billion Dollars according to a report on PublicCEO.com. It is just as bad in Nevada, which I just visited. It is estimated to be at 37.8 Percent of the general fund.
I have always believed that California is a leading indicator of what is going on in the Country as a whole. Although I think that California will be back, it will be quite a while. An indication of the steep climb California has is what happened with the University of California System. The UC trustees just approved a 32 percent tuition hike for students along with some massive budget cuts. With the steep cuts, I see these folks cutting the legs from under future development. I see the continued evolution to be such that Education may end up belonging to the rich and the well-off. Some may not think Education to be a Civil Right, but it seems to me that if there is anything that would help guarantee a reasonable future is Education. My own local school district is dealing with a 25 Million Dollar deficit. The School Board has decided to balance this budget by going after teacher salaries and pensions
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Venezuela is now in recession. There is rising crime and the inflation rate is estimated to be at 26 percent. As Hugo Chavez continues to tour the world pushing his anti-american views, what I find interesting is how he continues to preside over such a disaster in his own country. He has had the opportunity to really make his mark on his continent going forward. As I continue to assess what is going on in Venezuela, I wonder whether Chavez truly understands what he has done to Venezuela.
The former Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin, has been hired by the Prime Minister of Cambodia to be his economic advisor. When I saw their picture together, I nearly fell out of my chair in laughter.
Hun Sen is an interesting fellow. He was a Khmer and then switched sides with the Vietnamese when they overthrew the butcher Pol Pot and his gang. He claimed to be a Democrat and brought back Prince Sihanouk. I was always fascinated by Prince Sihanouk who seemed to survive all that happened like a fox. And of Course, he engineered the current King taking the throne who was a former dancer so that he can continue on his merry way. He wants his economy to improve, yet the only people who seem to be winning are his gang and his supporters
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Comment by Mike Pouraryan
on OV Week-End: Voices From the Street Corners
Outsider Views:
Smooth Political
Kitten Politics
Thanks for your visit and your suggestion. What I did on a personal level is something that will be between myself and those individuals. You seem to not realize the extent of the hurt that is going on out there right now.
What you and your ideological soulmates need to understand is that there is genuine hurt out there. Simple minded solutions that you all advocate is simply not going to work. I will remind you that it was tried tried during the Bush Adminstration and it failed..and failed miserably. The results are evident now.
if you and your ideological soulmates had your way, doing nothing would have been the way to go..and the results would have been even worst than we are in today. The fact does remain that the natoinal debt is too high, the unemployment is too high, people are afraid and there needs to be a concerted effort to not have a 'bunkerlike" ideological mentaility which seems to be the order of the day.