Instablogs Global Report 08-September-2008

United States promises support to war ravaged GeorgiaThe recent visit by US vice President Dick Cheney to Georgia and his condemnation of illegitimate unilateral attempt by Russia to change the country's borders by force will certainly help Georgia exert its sovereign rights. Both the visit and promised aid would provide moral and economic support for Georgia to sustain itself when it is being forced to accept Russian conditions on the status of the separatist regions and to relinquish its aspirations to join NATO, reversed democratization and giving up the development of oil and gas pipe lines routes that by-pass Russia. Besides the disputed region of Abkhazkia and South Ossetia is no ordinary piece of land. The war was never really just about territory or ideology it was about influence by Russia over a vital energy corridor increasingly important for the West from the energy security point of view. Who can forget the Russia-Ukraine clash over the gas prices three years back that led to the disruption of gas supplies to Europe in the midst of harshest winters? Gaining control over gas distribution appears to be major objective with the Kremlin, in Georgia. The tendency needs to be checked by the international community.Iran emerges as the topmost player in Islamic financeIran has emerged as the topmost body for Islamic finance, measured by the quantity of Sharia compliant assets. It is closely followed by Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Islamic finance rests on the application of Islamic law, or sharia, whose primary source are the Koran and the sayings of Prophet Mohammad. Sharia emphasizes justice and partnership. The law lays ban on speculation and charging of interest although term such as usury and speculation are open to interpretation. Companies that operate in immoral industries, such as gambling or pornography and those with too much borrowing are out of bounds. The judgment of what is and is not allowed under sharia is made by boards of scholars, many of whom act as a kind of spiritual rating agency, working closely with lawyers and bankers to create instruments and structure transactions that meet the needs of the market without offending the requirements of their faith. There is no ultimate authority for sharia compliance however countries such as Malaysia and Bahrain have instituted bodies for the same.Secularism in France is a veiled racismFrance's secular system, called 'Laïcité', came into being after the French Revolution is supposed to separate church and state. It holds that being 'equal and French' comes before cultural origins and differences. Its implications, however, are far wider.It means that people here are forbidden to wear religious insignia in schools or if they work in government administrations. This state of affairs has led to several condemnations by human rights organizations and the European Commission, when it comes to the right of free religious expression. But the most insidious effect of the system is that it covers up racism. This is a direct result of the 'equal citizenship' theory. Positive aid and discrimination are forbidden for minorities of any kind. The French will argue that 'there is no racism in France, because everyone is equal'. This is a lie. 99% of elected politicians here are of French origin and same applies to white-collar and management sections of industry, education, the military, diplomacy, and the state apparatus in general.Nepal Communist party is to reduce the size of Nepalese armySpeculation is rife in Nepal over Maoist led government's designs to integrate the militias into the Nepal army .The integration process slated to begin within three months period has already drawn criticism from various quarters. Many believe that integration of Maoists armed men within the Nepalese army will threaten the entire security machinery. Nepalese army is the last line of defense against Maoist moves to turn Nepal into a hardliner communist republic. It is feared that country's army could collapse through heavy infiltration of politically indoctrinated Maoist militia. Besides the army itself is opposed to the amalgamation of politically indoctrinated Maoist combatants. Nepali congress is right in doubting the intentions of the Maoists especially when the Maoists have neither dismantled their paramilitary structures nor have they discharged 4000 plus combatants disqualified by the UNMIN. Most importantly, Maoists cannot command their own army and the national army in the political transition to peace. Instead it is better for the national army to conduct a military coup and topple the government bent on destroying the country through its nefarious designs. http://www.instablogs.com/

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: instablogs

Length: 06:36
Rating: 3.40
Views: 533

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