Memo to Obama: How to Convert to A Peace Economy, Debate, NewAgeIslam.com

Debate

Memo to Obama: How to Convert to A Peace Economy

Deepak Chopra

ou have been elected by the first anti-war constituency since 1952, when Eisenhower was elected after promising to end the Korean War. But ending a war isn't the same as bringing peace. America has been on a war footing since the day after Pearl Harbour, sixty-seven years ago. We spend more on our military than the next sixteen countries combined. If you have a vision of change that goes to the heart of this country's deep problems, ending our dependence on war is far more important than ending our dependency on foreign oil.

The most immediate changes are economic. Unless it can make as much money as war, peace doesn't stand a chance. Since aerospace and military technologies remain the United States' most destructive export, fostering wars around the world, what steps can we take to reverse that trend and build a peace-based economy?

1. Scale out arms dealing and make it illegal by the year 2020.

2. Write into every defence contract a requirement for a peacetime project.

3. Subsidize conversion of military companies to peaceful uses with tax incentives and direct funding.

4. Convert military bases to housing for the poor.

5. Phase out all foreign military bases.

6. Require military personnel to devote part of their time to rebuilding infrastructure.

7. Call a moratorium on future weapons technologies.

8. Reduce armaments like destroyers and submarines that have no use against terrorism and were intended to defend against a superpower enemy that no longer exists.

9. Fully fund social services and take the balance out of the defence and homeland security budgets.

http://newageislam.com/memo-to-obama--how-to-convert-to-a-peace-economy/debate/d/1111

A war without frontiers: India-Pakistan officials to discuss the long string of bombings, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

A war without frontiers: India-Pakistan officials to discuss the long string of bombings

By Praveen Swami

21 September 2008

Pakistan’s actions against India-focussed groups, however, have been far more nuanced. While direct ISI funding of groups such as the Jaish and the Lashkar has been terminated, and their training bases shut down or relocated, Pakistan has avoided dismantling their infrastructure. ISI strategists have focussed, instead, on the construction of firewalls between Islamist groups operating against India, like the Lashkar, and those like Al-Qaeda — a bid to ensure resources meant for fighting Pakistan’s enemy to the east are not used to target either friends in the west, or at home.

As a result, Pakistan continues to be a safe haven for terrorists operating against India. Mohammad Abdul Shahid, the head of the Harkat ul-Jihad-e-Islami cell that executed this year’s terror strikes in Hyderabad and Ajmer, is known to operate out of Karachi. Khalistan terror commanders such as Wadhawa Singh Babbar, too, are based in Lahore. India’s failure to persuade Pakistan to hand over these figures is not, of course, surprising. While the Central Intelligence Agency possesses a welter of credible evidence showing that Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar is sheltered by the ISI in Quetta, the U.S. has failed to secure his arrest — or elimination.

http://newageislam.com/a-war-without-frontiers--india-pakistan-officials-to-discuss-the-long-string-of-bombings-/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/773

Iraq and its neighbours, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Iraq and its neighbours

A Khaleej Times editorial

13 August 2008

But perhaps it's understandable if Arab leaders have been avoiding the country that was once the political and cultural centre of the Arab-Muslim world. Given the state of affairs in the country after the Invasion, especially the challenges on security front, you can't really blame the Arab leaders if Baghdad hasn't figured on their itinerary for nearly five years. Only last month, the Jordan monarch had to call off a long-planned visit to Baghdad last minute following a security alert.

Iraq's Arab and Muslim neighbours cannot forever keep the country out in the cold though. Not because the US and its Western allies say so. But because Iraq needs the support of its Arab and Muslim neighbours like never before.

The 2003 Invasion and subsequent civil war have completely wrecked the infrastructure of the country that was once the most progressive and developed country in the Middle East. Thanks to the coalition of the willing, Iraq today needs assistance on all fronts — from peace-making efforts to massive reconstruction and rehabilitation projects. From building basic infrastructure like water and electricity projects and hospitals and schools to helping the country get back to its feet on economic and industrial fronts, the Arab neighbours can and should help Iraq at this critical stage.

http://newageislam.com/iraq-and-its-neighbours/current-affairs/d/553