Video: Pakistani Chief Justice orders investigation into girl's flogging

Pakistan's top judge has called for a court hearing into the public flogging of a teenage girl, which was captured on video and shown around the world....The film shows apparent Taleban members holding her down and hitting her with a strap as she cries out in pain...... Local sources said the girl had been accused of illicit relations with a man and that the flogging took place about a month and a half ago.....Full story at BBC

Afghanistan -Video Clip Shows French soldiers in action against Taliban and discusses likely future French policy

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Presidential Debate- Nashville ,Tennessee: McCain V Obama: McCain enhances his Credentials on Economy

In the economic section of the debate John McCain was more specific. Obama tended to rely on populist generalisations. His solution appears to be more and more state involvement. Obama is a true Socialist. The state will solve all problems. The difficulty with his approach is that more state involvement requires higher taxes. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If voters opt for Obama on the health care issue they will pay a heavy financial price in increased taxes.

McCain caught out Obama on Freddie and Fannie. Obama being the second highest recipient of campaign contributions from Freddie and Fannie. McCain outlined how he attempted to introduce regulation on Freddie and Fannie. Obama was no place to be seen. McCain outlined a plan to buy up bad house loans and stabilise house values- cost 300 billion dollars. New mortgages at present values would be provided to those house owners. This just might work. I believe that this should come from the 700 billion rescue package.

McCain outlined how his tax policies would benefit the middle class and small business owners. McCain stressed energy independence: more off shore drilling and nuclear.
He outlined plans for public expenditure freeze (except military spending). This would help fund tax cuts.
McCain hammered Obama on spending and earmarks. Obama voted for 94 tax increases. Obama according to McCain has plans for 860 billion dollars in new spending. I suspect that it is much more. Clearly Obama’s tax promises cannot be fulfilled.
As McCain stated: “Nailing down Obama’s tax proposals is like nailing Jello to a wall".

Obama criticized McCain on Freddie and Fannie and on deregulation. Obama did not adequately answer McCain charges on Freddie and Fannie.

Obama outlined his ideas on middle class tax cuts. He attempted to inject class warfare into the debate. He criticized McCain proposals to lower tax burdens on industry. Obama fails to realise that various European countries have embarked on reducing tax burdens on industry. Failure to reduce taxes on industry will lead to job outflows. Obama pressed universal health care. Once more failing to realise that such a policy would ignite a taxation time bomb. It would cripple taxpayers. McCain challenged Obama's plans for fines. Obama failed to respond.
McCain performed very strongly on the economy. He certainly gained the upper hand on this key issue.

He exposed major contradictions in Obama’s plans. Obama stressed more and more state involvement and regulation. Even on energy Obama was economical with the truth.

Both candidates sparred on foreign policy: On Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Russia. McCain won this hands down. McCain made it clear that he would defend Israel in the event of an attack. Obama waffled. On Pakistan, Obama came across as naive.

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.

Clinton's Blunder on Pakistan-Further Evidence of lack of Foreign Policy Experience

ABC This Week 123007. Hillary thought that Pervez Musharraf was on the ballot in Pakistan's upcoming Parliamentary Elections which were held on February 18, 2008. He was re-elected as President to a 5-year term in October 2007. This was a major gaffe.
It provides further evidence that Clinton is out of touch on foreign policy issues. Her foreign policy claims are built on foundations of sand.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari assumes leadership of PPP-Can the party remain united?

The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has named Benazir Bhutto's son Bilawal, an Oxford University student, as its chairman.
Asif Zardari Benazir’s husband will act as co-chairman. PPP vice president Makhdoom Amin Fahim and the party's Punjab province president Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will serve on an 'advisory council' for the new leader.

This decision is fraught with difficulties. Bilawal is only 19 years old and lacks maturity and political experience for such an onerous task. To all intents and purposes it appears that Zardari is the new de facto leader until such time as Bilawal is groomed to assume the leadership. Zardari has numerous critics in Pakistan. He is unpopular amongst large sections of the electorate and probably lacks the magnetism necessary to woo sceptical voters. Can he work with the advisory council? It is doubtful if the party can remain united in the long term.

51 years old Sanam (Benazir’s) sister is popular amongst PPP members but is unwilling to take over the leadership. She is probably best equipped to maintain party unity.