An "Outsiders" View of the Elections in the" Land Down Under"

Just like many around the World, I have been assessing the Australian Elections with fascination ever since Kevin Rudd decided to call for new Federal Elections in Australia.

Australia has had its' share of ups and downs. That's increasingly clear throughout the ever-growing Orble Team--especially for our Australian Friends. What is clear is that the debate is spirited and the outcome is still open. What I found amusing was how their Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook (PEFO) really put the Government in what I view as a reasonably good light. As Kevin Rudd noted, Australia has to come to grips with new realities as the China Resource boom comes to an end.

What was interesting that despite the slowdown in the Australian Economy, PEFO notes that the Australian Deficit is actually supposed to turn into a surplus by 2016. From the reporting I saw on the Sydney Morning Herald, it appears that the coalition that had put pressure on the Treasury staff to somehow come out with a PEFO that vindicated Australian Government plans.
I was especially gratified by what the article noted when it said that, "....Barring surprises, Labor's plans are all out there, and costed by the officials. It's the Coalition's turn now to level with us: how will it pay for its promises? That is the issue now...." Australians should take heart in the vibrant media that at least insures that everyone is held to account. 

It is bound to be a very interesting 10 days.

Also released by http://www.outsiderviews.com,  August 2013

A "Thought 4 the Day" on perceiving Life

I have been making the "Virtual Rounds" today as I work away on on-going initiatives.    Somehow being around the youth and seeing how they develop is inspiring.      I wanted to share these w/friends to underscore a very crucial perception on life--it is what one makes of it.  I for one remain grateful ever more for every millisecond despite the periodic challenges and minefields:

 

A "Thought 4 the Week" As the New Work Week Looms...:-)

 

An "ordinary face" Thought 4 the Week-End: Remembering What's Important

I spent the day reflecting.    I saw two great Movies:  Mandela Son of Africa & In My Country.  They were both focused on South Africa and what Madiba did to transform a country torn by hatred and brought them all together in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.    Everyone has to learn from one another.  I could not help but remember these admontions as I have had the good fortune to be witness to it:

Let us touch the dying, the poor,

the lonely and the unwanted

according to the graces we have received

and let us not be ashamed

or slow to do the humble work.

- Mother Teresa

We must be ready to learn from one another,

not claiming that we alone possess all truth

and that somehow we have a corner on God.

- Archbishop Desmond Tutu

As I continue onward, I pray that the almighty continues to grant me the privilege and goof fortune to have an open mind, to serve and to do my small part to make a difference despite all that goes on in the World.    

On the Middle East: An "Ordinary Face" Perspective This Week

It is not easy to be hopeful as I assessed the World over the past week for "outsiders".

The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan was a violent month in Iraq and Syria. Just on the last day of Eid-Ftr, some 69 people died in car bombs throughout Iraq. I have seen estimates of between 600-1000 people having lost their lives during the Month of July in Iraq. Maliki appears to be totally inept in trying to stem the tide of violence. All he seems to be interested in is power and more power for himself and his cronies in Government.

What I found especially sickening was a story in Al-Monitor that documented the rise of a dysfunctional elite as the ordinary man and woman tries to survive in a Country that has at best 12 Hours of Electricity a Day and simple basic daily supplies are hard to come by. I was shell-shocked by the story of the prostitute in Iraq and how she had turned into an alchoholic with no hope at the age of 23. 

As the carnage continues onward in Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan seems to be an oasis of stability. It has its' own share of profound challenges for sure. For all intent and purpose, it has been an independent state onto itself with its' own Army and Police Force and the independent agreements it has made for Oil Exploration. This aggressive stance was underscored when Barzani came out noting that he would intervene to support the Syrian Kurds against the onslaught by Al-Qaeda Affiliated fighters who have been fighting in Syria as Syria continues to burn.

The country formerly known as Syria has been cantonized. Despite the headway made by the forces of Assad, the rebels are not giving up. The Rebels lodged an attack on a section of the capital--Damasacus--where Assad lives and works. Although Syrian State Television showed Assad getting into a car and praying at a mosque, the fact that such an attack was reported was signficant. But, it appears that the war has reached a stalement that has no end in sight and the World seems impotent to force a solution. The "Divide and Conquer" startegy by Assad is clearly working especially with how Hezbollah has gone all in. The Guardian of London recently noted how tragic the situation in Syria had become when it noted, ".With no end to the war in sight, the flight of nearly 2 million people from Syria over the past two years is showing every sign of becoming a permanent population shift, like the Palestinian crises of 1948 and 1967, with grave implications for countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, UN and other humanitarian aid officials say." 

As for Iran, a new President has taken office and so far he's been making some very interesting moves starting with the make-up of his Cabinet. He submitted it as he took the oath of office before Parliament. The country's economic challengs continue onward though. I remain hopeful that some transformation may be before us as Rohani's Government takes shape. One very interesting directive was from Rohani's new First Vice President when he put a freeze on new Government hiring. I have to wonder whether the hopeful signs and the right rhetoric will actually translate into concerte action that the people are looking for. Sanctions are hurting ordinary Iranians in major ways. I review reports daily coming out of Iran of people dying because of no medicine and other calamities.   But, Israel is continuing of its' Anti-Iran campaign as epitomized by this statement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met owith a delegation of pro-Israel activists headed by US Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI). 

At the start of the meeting the Prime Minister said: "I know that some place their hopes on Iran's new president. He knows how to exploit this and yesterday he called for more talks. Of course he wants more talks. He wants to talk and talk and talk. And while everybody is busy talking to him, he'll be busy enriching uranium. The centrifuges will keep on spinning. 

This isn't a secret. The new Iranian president boasts that that is his strategy. He says, 'I talk and I smile and I enrich uranium'. This is unfortunately going on as we speak. 

Iran's work and quest towards the achievement of atomic weapons not only continues, it continues unabated - it's actually accelerated. And they're also pursuing, as was recently reported, an alternative route to the enrichment of uranium, which is the plutogenic, the plutonium route, simultaneously. So the situation unhappily is not getting any better; it's actually getting worse. Iran is determined to get the bomb and we must be even more determined to prevent them from getting it." 

Egypt and Palestine have also been in the news. I was gratified when John McCain basically called a "Spade" a "Spade" when he noted that what happened in Egypt was a Coup. Juan Cole documented the very concerns about John McCain and Lindsay Graham's Stance on this very fact, though. I also am at a loss to explain why President Obama sent those two anyway. Why he did not choose someone like Keith Ellison is something I don't understand. As a Muslim, Keith Ellison would have been able to talk to Adly Mansour and the rest of the leadership with a crediblity that was clearly lacking with Senator McCain and Senator Graham. The Economist' KAL, though, captured the essence of the Coup that everyone seems to understand except The State Department in Washington:

As Egypt burns, there is also Palestine. Peace Talks have begun again under the auspices of the United States. I have to wonder what is there to negotiate. Area C is exempt and settlements continue with no end in sight.. Although Secretary Kerry's efforts are commendable, there is no viable state and no viable peace process. How will a new nation be created out of the current reality that is out there here and now:

Although I want to be hopeful, what is before us in the Middle East remains ever more challenging as ever.     


Also released to http//www.outsiderviews.com  08/11/2013

Will we remember?

 

A Thought 4 the Week (II): Leaving a Beautiful Life

Apache Blessing ~ To Family & friends  May the sun bring you new energy by day!  May the moon softly restore you by night!  May the rain wash away your worries!  May the breeze blow new strength into your being! May you walk gently through the world! And know its beauty all the days of your life!  & remember to:

“ Let us endeavor so to live that when we come  to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”  Mark Twain (1835–1910)  American writer

A "Thought 4 the Week"//"A Message to Garcia" | BeLikeRowan.com

Enough Said: "A Message to Garcia" | BeLikeRowan.com

Thought 4 the Week: Never Giving Up :-)

A True Lesson in Leadership to be learnt & remembered as a new work week begins:

Brief Thoughts on another challenging & fascinating week in Our World

It has been another challenging , yet fascinating week around our World.    What Professor Dabashi from Columbia has written on Iran and the broader Middle East and the World is one of those "Must-Reads" as the World comes to grips with the ever changing landscape as Syria is destroyed, Egypt burns and the rest of the Middle East continues to be on the edge of the abyss:

The West is a career: Linking Rouhani’s election to US sanctions - Opinion - Al Jazeera English

What must be realized, though, is that Iran has its' share of profound challenges which has been brought up to a large extent by the sanctions.    The question is whether Rouhani who will take office as of Sunday will be able to move very quickly to change things.   His tone has been "interesting".  How it translates into action is the sixty four thousand dollar question.