Winding 2014 down here @ Outsiders: Brief Thoughts along with a "Musical Interlude" 2 Enjoy & Remembering #Madiba

It has been a year of challenges here as we "formalized" the launch of #outsiders.   As we wind the year down, we hope all enjoy this "Musical Interlude" and think about the "art of possible" and Imagine a year of possibilities as we envision a better World that is within the realm of the Possible.     This was as also we remember the memory of Madiba with this beautiful rendition by +U2 :

Remembering #Madiba with this beautiful song from #U2 http://t.co/0ZZcv2ccDL via @youtube
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 21, 2014

Onward

On the CyberWar Today & the Breach at the US Office of Personnel Management

The debacle at Sony continues to reverberate around the World.      This is a more disturbing Development just reported on NextGov:

GovExec Breaking News    December 18, 2014     OPM Alerts Feds of Second Background Check Breach // Nextgov Staff The Office of Personnel Management is alerting more than 48,000 federal employees their personal information may have been exposed following a breach at KeyPoint Government Solutions, which conducts background investigations of federal employees seeking security clearances. The total number of employees affected is 48,439 according to an OPM email notification obtained by Nextgov. Read the full story at Nextgov The old saying is ever so true:  You have either been hacked--or if you have not been hacked, you have probably been hacked anyway.     It is a war that seems to have no end.

Notations on Our World: On Another Challenging 24 Hours w/#Cuba, #Pakistan & #Israel

It has been a challenging 24 hours in our World.    As the World was witness to the grief of the families of the victims of carnage in Pakistan, The Nation of Pakistan laid out an indictment of the Nation of Pakistan in the starkest terms--no one was spared and it was released earlier by us in Twitter:

For Our Children: Powerful Editorial in Pak Daily👏👏👏👏 will #Pakistan listen? http://t.co/7wb1OE64ez
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 17, 2014

As Pakistan's Prime Minister was indicted, the one indictment that was particuarly striking was on the Opposition Leader Imran Khan.   His party is in power in the province in which this carnage occurred Although Pakistan's Prime Minister has vowed to eradicate the terrorists, Pakistan and the World will be watching because so far the Taliban seems to hold all the cards.  In one of the recent broadcasts as the world broadcasters deliberated the aftermath, Al Jazeera had a Pakistani analysts who said one key thing that is ever so poignant:   Such men are not Pakistanis--and they should only be referred to as the Taliban or TTP.    What is tragic is how Children were targeted as they were.    These merchants of death came out with another statement with images of the killers stating that they had planned to only target the "senior students".      We will continue to assess this on an on-going basis.

This week also has seen some good news.   Cuba and the United States are to resume diplomatic relations after 50 years:

Some good news 👏👏🎉😁💥 as US & #Cuba, in Breakthough, Resume Diplomatic Relations, via @nytimes http://t.co/QAteCsGJQw
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 17, 2014

What was striking is the moves that #POTUS has taken--whether it was the release of the Americans Held in North Korea and the negotiations with Cuba that began in 2013 that culminated in the simultaneous announcements by President Obama and the Cuban President, Raul Castro.     Cuban American Politicians such as Senator Marco Rubio were out in full force on US Cable Channels noting how the actions of President Obama was contrary to American Values and how the Castro rule will be sustained.  But Raul has realized that business as usual is not going work.   It may well have begun with the handshake between Raul Castro and Barack Obama while attending Madiba's Funeral in South Africa last year:

The President at the time noted that it was simple politeness--but it apparently broke the ice.   The reports we've reviewed has also underscored the role the Vatican--in particular Pope Francis--played in the rapprochement that also resulted in the swapping of the Cuban Five for US Spies who were imprisoned in Cuba while releasing an American who was also imprisoned and returned to the United States.  

As we have been on this "Whirlwind" here in #Outsiders, we have also been assessing the latest out of Israel.  Israel is facing major headwinds on the Diplomatic Front as Parliaments throughout the European Union are calling for Palestine's recognition.     This is as the election campaign has gotten under way and the latest statistic is a stark reminder of the reality of life in Israel today:

This is quite an indictment of #Netanyahu as #Israel 2013 poverty reports notes 1.6 million are poor: http://t.co/8rFKFWykOQ
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 17, 2014

This is about 20 percent of Israel's population.      It will be interesting how the parties in power (and especially the leader of the Goverment) explains this to the Israeli Public.     

Never a dull moment in our World....

A Mid-Week Musical Interlude to Enjoy: Caravan - Roman Street

Onward w/the "Caravan" :-) 

Notations on Our World: On #Pakistan Today

As the World was witness to the tragedy in Sydney and came to grips with it, it is now witness to another horrific attack at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan.    A newsflash was released earlier today in the Outsiders channel earlier this morning.     As we assess this, it is also of profound sadness as we also have just seen reports of another attack in Yemen as 15 Children were killed in a car bomb.  We have decided not to release the images here that is being reported by major news outlets around the world.

The Taliban claim that they attacked because the Pakistan Army attacked them recently.   It seems as if those who claim to operate under the name of the so-called faith they espouse to must at least understand the faith and the view of the Prophet Mohammad on this very subject that could be well found by doing a simple search on the Web.    The Australian Prime Minister called all those who pursue such twisted ideology in his usual direct and eloquent way:  Merchants of Death.     What is also evident, though, is how such an attack continues to underscore the profound challenges Pakistan faces.

The World is with Pakistan today.    We here @ #Outsiders join the World in extending our profound condolences to the people of Pakistan on this trying time as grieved families bury their dead and those who are injured deal with their aftermath of their injuries.  But the leaders in Pakistan have some profound  on a multitude of fronts before them.   Imran Khan, for instance, has been pursuing a campaign to undermine the Government.   Corruption continues to be ever so rampant.   Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub, is virtually lawless.   Baluchestan (On the border with Iran) is also virtually lawless as competing factions continue to agitate for independence in a province that is rich with natural resources.   It is also a sanctuary for Balchui agitators who periodically attack Iranian forces and kidnapped a squad of Iranian Border Guards.    Someone once said that Pakistan's Army is an institution in search of a viable country.  It holds true even today as it continues to be ostensibly led by a Democratically elected Government.    Yet, it seems as if the priorities are not set as militants continue their campaign in Kashmir and we get periodic reports of infiltrations to undermine the rule of law in Kashmir.

Pakistan is a Country of 200 Million People (almost 3 Percent of the World) with a nuclear weapon--so what happens there matters.  The question is whether the political leaders will have a wake-up call now as they come to grips with this latest in a string of tragedies that seem to have no end in sight.

Notations On Our World : On #Sydney & #Afghanistan & #Russia

Australia and the World were on edge as the hostage situation in Sydney unfolded.   Unfortunately, it ended tragically.  But the aftermath of how Australians have come together which was remarkable to be witness to.   People from all walks of life in Sydney including representatives of the Muslim Community in Australia were amongst those as reported by this image from Martin's Place and noted by the BBC based on images supplied by AFP (Agence France Press):

 

 It was quite traumatic as we noted it here in #Outsiders.   As the drama unfolded it was shown on live television throughout the World.     It was quite interesting how the talking heads have been at it speculating about the why and the how.   Hopefully the investigation will reflect the true nature of what happened.    It is tragic how two innocent souls lost their lives as they did as they went about a daily routine to get coffee--something that many of us take for granted.   

What is known is this:   The criminal  who undertook this and was taken down by Australian Commandos was someone who had a criminal record and clearly did not understand what it meant to live in a free Democratic & Open Society and the actions he undertook abused the privilege the people of Australia extended to him.   He was of Iranian origin and was on bail for a range of offenses.    He had pretended to  be a  Shiite cleric and then converted to Sunni Islam.     Although he was disturbed, the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police underscored the process in noting that they will investigate it to understand what happened and lessons to be learnt from it so that such trauma cannot happen again.   The Australian Prime Minister who laid a wreath at the Martin Place Memorial with his wife said it best:   "Tragic beyond Words" ,      But this humanity was shown ever more with this as Australians stepped up:

Watch: Australians Tell Muslims 'I'll Ride With You': Hashtag trends after Australians offer to accompany any... http://t.co/gdfGb9odpR
— Ajinkya Ambre (@Axelfinance) December 15, 2014

As the World came to grips with this, one other tragedy continues to unfold.    The Taliban in Afghanistan continue to be even more lethal and brazen in their attacks throughout Afghanistan and especially in the heart of Kabul.    We here @ #Outsiders have underscored the challenge of the Taliban for years.   It was ever so gratifying as we commented on the turnout for the Afghan Elections.      However, the war in Afghanistan continues to be a challenge ever so crucial as this commentary by the distinguished Constitutional Scholar Professor Turley notes and we received it here in #Outsiders: 

Report: Afghanistan War Reaches $1 Trillion And Will Require Hundreds of Billions More by jonathanturley Despite the public pledge of President Obama to pull out of Afghanistan, we continue to spend huge amounts of money in the war and the Obama Administration has fought to keep U.S. troops in the country. Now an estimate from the Financial Times and independent researchers put the cost of the war at roughly $1 trillion with a commitment of hundreds of billions more in the coming years. There continues to be no serious debate over our ongoing losses both in personnel and money in this war. Read more of this post

The United States has committed to have troops in Afghanistan under the new Agreement signed.    Professor Turley's last comment in this  in why there continues to be no serious debate over on-going losses in personnel and money.    Two Americans fell within the past 24 hours ago in Afghanistan.      

As Afghanistan burns, there is also another theatre of war that is currently not as much in the headlines--Ukraine.   Ukraine lost Crimea to Russia and continues to fight for its' Eastern Region as it is engaged in a struggle with Russia.   Russia, though, appears to be paying a heavy price as the Russian Central Bank raised its' interest rate to 17 Percent to avoid a further fall in the Ruble that has lost 50% of its' value since the beginning of the year.

Part of it is attributable to the reckless adventure Mr. Putin has pursued.   Beyond that is the collapse in the Price of Oil which is causing profound headaches for all major oil producing countries.    Some who have seen beyond Oil will probably fare reasonably well.  Those like Russia and Iran who are quite dependent on Oil will suffer.  Some tough decisions will need to be made by all and some indications are already happening as budgets have to be readjusted to the new realities  as epitomized by this price per gallon recently:

    

May we truly live in interesting times.....

Notations on Our World (12/14/2014) : On the Hostage Situation in #Australia & The Fight against the Media in #Turkey

As a new week dawns in #Outsiders, we have been assessing troubling developments around the World over the past number of hours.  The latest one is coming in from Sydney Australia:

Very very disturbing :-( :-( Police clear Martin Place after gunman holds hostages at Lindt Chocolat Cafe http://t.co/mVIJHzSsMo via @smh
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 15, 2014

Hostages are being kept at Martin' Place in Sydney and as we're going to press, BBC World News has live coverage of the event which is quite disturbing.     Although the apparent initial reports of the flag of Daesh (also known as the Islamic State or ISIS) is turning out to be denied,  Australia seems to have been aware of the impending threat as it carried out raids throughout Australia.    It is an on-going development and the Opera House in Sydney has also been evacuated due to a suspicious package.   

As the World is witness to this hostage crisis, there is another disturbing development in Turkey that was noted earlier:

The Free Press is under attack everywhere...disappointing as #Turkey arrests & #Mogherini leads #EU criticism http://t.co/UqCTiE1VHW
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 15, 2014

This is another profound disturbing development as a Free Press is under attack in Turkey as the Turkish President becomes ever so paranoid and as the Syrian Inferno burns ever more.  Although it is a welcome development to have had the European Union Foreign Affairs Chief lead the criticism, it seems to have no effect on how the Government of Turkey will deal with the challenges at hand.