Burma Video: Show Trial of Aung San Suu Kyi begins in Rangoon

Aung San Suu Kyi -the Burmese opposition leader has remained under house arrest since 2003.

The law called the "Law to Safeguard the State Against the Dangers of Those Desiring to Cause Subversive Acts" ordains that the maximum period someone could be held without trial was five years. Accordingly it was assumed that she would be released in 2008. This was not to reckon with the malfeasance of the Burmese junta which simply extended her detention by another year on the pretext that the first year of detention did nor count. She was now due for release in 2009. Undoubtedly the Burmese junta would have manufactured a pretext to ensure that she was not released.

Enter John Yettaw-an American who swam across Inya Lake on 3 May to reach the opposition leader's house. Undoubtedly the authorities could have prevented this but failed to act. He remained at the house for two days pleading exhaustion. This offered the Junta the perfect pretext to deny Ms Suu Kyi her liberty. Ms Suu Kyi and her two assistants were arrested and taken to Insein prison, where they went on trial today. She has no prospects of a fair trial. This is a show trial designed to ensure a prison sentence which will keep her out of circulation in 2010 when elections are due to be held.

China, India and Russia have strong trading links with Burma. There is also close military cooperation between the Chinese and the Burmese junta. China and Russia have vetoed resolutions at the UN designed to bring the junta to heel. Consequently the Butchers of Rangoon are impervious to realism. They feel impregnable. World public opinion is of little concern to them.

Obama overturns Mexico City Policy -US tax dollars to fund foreign abortions

President Obama-the most pro-abortion president in the history of the US- has reversed President George W. Bush’s ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions. Now US tax payers will fund the destruction of the unborn in foreign lands.

The ban is known as the Mexico City Policy because former Republican President Ronald Reagan first introduced it at a UN conference there in 1984. It was overturned by President Bill Clinton in 1993 and then reinstated by President Bush in 2001.

Obama's agenda includes the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding of abortion in the US.

Barack Obama has signed the order to shut Guantanamo on the basis that it is an affront to American values and the Geneva Conventions. He is concerned with the human rights of prisoners in Guantanamo. Yet he expresses a callous disregard for the human rights of the unborn child in the womb. He has sanctioned the provision of American tax-payers money to kill the most vulnerable-those who cannot speak for themselves.

Obama has pledged to sign the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) and other pro-abortion rights laws. FOCA would abolish existing minimal state and federal restrictions on abortion and would even threaten the rights of Catholic hospitals to refuse to perform abortions.

Obama plans to cut Nasa's budget could hand space domination to Russia and China and put US security at risk

In USATODAY

Members of the Texas congressional delegation say they plan to build alliances with other lawmakers as part of a campaign to head off possible deep budget cuts for NASA, officials said.
The drive comes amid expectations that billions of dollars will be shifted from various federal agencies into new programs to stimulate the economy and stabilize the financial system as President-elect Barack Obama seeks to rescue the economy, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday in an online story from its Washington bureau......

It is essential for the new Obama administration to pare government spending where possible and to reduce waste. However it is neither sensible nor reasonable to cut expenditure to a level which, will cripple the space exploration programme. The space agency's budget amounts to just $20.2 billion- 0.6% or less of national spending. Severe cuts will also put astronauts safety at greater risk.

In addition the US risks being relegated to third place behind Russia and China.
China plans to build a lunar base. By 2011 China will have started a programme of exploration focusing on Mars. The Chinese intend in the long term to launch manned space probes to Mars and Saturn.
Russia will resume unmanned lunar missions in 2009. A mission to Venus is planned for 2015. Russia plans to replace the ISS (International Space Station) with an all-Russian station in Earth orbit.This will be an assembly platform for probes to the Moon and Mars.

Unwise cuts by Obama will have grave implications for American security. Dominance in space is a sine qua non for global military superiority. The Chinese and Russians realise as much.

NDTV 24x7 Live Coverage- Mumbai terror attacks

Connection Withdrawn:11/30/08

INDIA SUFFERED one of its deadliest terrorist attacks last night when gunmen ran amok in the wealthiest part of Mumbai, killing dozens of people, blowing up cars, petrol stations, hospitals and luxury hotels and taking a number of foreign nationals hostage.

About 300 people were believed killed and 327 wounded in Wednesday’s attacks with 10 shot dead at Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus, formerly known as Victoria terminus, one of the two big stations in downtown Mumbai. Another three people were killed in the Taj hotel lobby, where Deutsche Bank executives from Europe were believed to be sheltering.

At one hospital, St George’s in south Mumbai, 60 bodies and 200 injured people were brought in.(Irish Times)

Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience a huge threat to American security

So Barack Obama would withdraw US troops from Iraq in 160 days. Irrespective of the rights and wrongs of the decision to send US troops to Iraq the reality is that a US withdrawal in 160 days would plunge Iraq into chaos. Civil war would develop between Shias and Sunnis. Saudi Arabia has stated that in such an eventuality it will support the Sunnis. It is highly probable that Iran would neutralise Iraq. In essence Iran would begin to dominate the Gulf area.
This would threaten oil supplies and add to the upward spiral in oil prices as supplies from the Middle East began to dry up.
It is highly unlikely that Israel would stand idly by and allow an emboldened Iran to threaten its own security. The Middle East would be plunged into a military conflagration.

Obama has also threatened to intervene in Pakistan in pursuit of Osama Bin Laden. This would immediately precipitate the fall of the Pakistani Government. Moslem extremists would then seize power and take possession of the Pakistani nuclear arsenal. This would bring about a nuclear Armageddon.

Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience has frightening implications not alone for American security but also for the security of the West and friendly Middle East countries.
On security issues Obama lacks maturity and sound judgement. Countries such as Iran are more likely to challenge an inexperienced President. John McCain is strong on foreign policy issues. Hence it is unlikely that unfriendly countries would be too anxious to test his resolve.

Special Operations Firefight in Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq ( Special Forces )

This stunning video shows American and Iraqi special forces in action inside Sadr City, Baghdad in an operation to capture insurgents.The powerful video conveys the reality of war. Certainly the soldiers involved are fearless. Nevertheless the cameraman is probably crazy to put his life at risk. Thanks to him. Note the sound of what appears to be the M249 SAW, semi automatic weapon.