Saswat Blog
All that's Left!
Jul 2003
Rice Interview by Lehrer
30/07/03 13:08 Filed by Saswat Pattanayak in:
Political
Regress, progress, all of that. For the time being,
the interview transcript which was awaited.
Dr. Condoleezza Rice Interviewed by Jim Lehrer
Q The President's defense of National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice today came at a critical time. A week ago, her chief deputy, Stephen Hadley, acknowledged he had been warned by the CIA in two separate memos that the Agency would not stand by information suggesting Iraq was trying to buy uranium in Africa to reconstitute a nuclear weapons program. That claim made it into the President's State of the Union speech, and CIA Director George Tenet took the blame.
But with Hadley's admission, new questions emerged. If he knew about the error in advance, who else did? Was it overlooked simply because the administration was anxious to bolster the case for war?
Here to answer these, and other, questions, is National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Welcome, Dr. Rice. Read More...|
Cultural (Dis)respects of Hip Hop
22/07/03 17:03 Filed by Saswat Pattanayak in:
Reference
Village Voice has this story on
Young South Asians' Love-Hate Relationship with
Hip-Hop's New Indian Beats
Mix This by Tina Chadha talks about the tensions in the music industry of hip hop and myths of cultural purity.
Belly dancing is Middle Eastern, not Indian. But you wouldn't know from
videos of Indian-influenced hip-hop. Ever since Timbaland accidentally
bought an Indian CD five years ago, artists from Missy Elliott to Bubba
Sparxxx to Justin Timberlake have turned to outdated Indian tracks to
make crowds gyrate. Although they may not know Bollywood from bhajans,
and their lyrics sometimes contain misguided stereotypes, they're
making Indian music more popular here than ever.
This week, the U.K.'s Panjabi MC is dropping his American debut, which
could set the record straight. His hit "Beware of the Boys" has pumped
through Indian kids' CD players for nearly a half-decade, and is now
(with a couple of verses by Jay-Z) racking up 3,200 spins a week in the
U.S. So young Indians are hoping they'll finally get some cultural
respect, starting with the word Punjabi, pronounced "Pun-jabi" not
"Poon-jabi." (Though it is spelled Panjabi sometimes.) Read More...
Mix This by Tina Chadha talks about the tensions in the music industry of hip hop and myths of cultural purity.
Belly dancing is Middle Eastern, not Indian. But you wouldn't know from
videos of Indian-influenced hip-hop. Ever since Timbaland accidentally
bought an Indian CD five years ago, artists from Missy Elliott to Bubba
Sparxxx to Justin Timberlake have turned to outdated Indian tracks to
make crowds gyrate. Although they may not know Bollywood from bhajans,
and their lyrics sometimes contain misguided stereotypes, they're
making Indian music more popular here than ever.
This week, the U.K.'s Panjabi MC is dropping his American debut, which
could set the record straight. His hit "Beware of the Boys" has pumped
through Indian kids' CD players for nearly a half-decade, and is now
(with a couple of verses by Jay-Z) racking up 3,200 spins a week in the
U.S. So young Indians are hoping they'll finally get some cultural
respect, starting with the word Punjabi, pronounced "Pun-jabi" not
"Poon-jabi." (Though it is spelled Panjabi sometimes.) Read More...
The solo escape
12/07/03 13:54 Filed by Saswat Pattanayak in:
Editorial
Korean Submissions
Strange bedfellows at a crucial juncture.
China and South Korea have agreed that the "Korean peninsula should be nuclear (weapons) free'' and see it as the importance of the "dialogue process'' to "push the situation on the Korean peninsula towards a positive direction''.
Will North Korea follow suit?
Wait and watch what the big brother United States (ruler, father, you name it and US is the male personification of the war zone. Pacifists are feminists of course) does.
China and South Korea have agreed that the "Korean peninsula should be nuclear (weapons) free'' and see it as the importance of the "dialogue process'' to "push the situation on the Korean peninsula towards a positive direction''.
Will North Korea follow suit?
Wait and watch what the big brother United States (ruler, father, you name it and US is the male personification of the war zone. Pacifists are feminists of course) does.
Flagging off irrelevance
So much ado about nothing.
As if flagging off buses across the border meant any thing. Between India and Pakistan, the drama continues. The rightist power claims that solves the problems which persisted throughout the five decades of the existence of the countries as political democracies (or whatever).
The drama has reached a stage when its painfully funny. People are clearly missing from the pictures since the ministers are eager to credit themselves for this new era of friendship (or whatever).
Apparently, a bus would be flagged off at 6 a.m. IST from Lahore today. About the same time a bus from New Delhi would start for Pakistan. (for the records, it takes 11 hours to cover the distance of 500 kilometres including immigration and customs clearance).
A fortnight ago when the Indian side claimed that the bus would be seen off by the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, Islamabad dropped the idea of seriously pursuing it. When asked, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan reportedly told press that from Pakistan, the Tourism Minister would flag off the bus. He would not say whether the minister was "reluctant" to do the needful because of their collective feeling that the peace process was heading nowhere.
So much for a feeble Vajpayee claiming strength at bridging gaps (or whatever).
As if flagging off buses across the border meant any thing. Between India and Pakistan, the drama continues. The rightist power claims that solves the problems which persisted throughout the five decades of the existence of the countries as political democracies (or whatever).
The drama has reached a stage when its painfully funny. People are clearly missing from the pictures since the ministers are eager to credit themselves for this new era of friendship (or whatever).
Apparently, a bus would be flagged off at 6 a.m. IST from Lahore today. About the same time a bus from New Delhi would start for Pakistan. (for the records, it takes 11 hours to cover the distance of 500 kilometres including immigration and customs clearance).
A fortnight ago when the Indian side claimed that the bus would be seen off by the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, Islamabad dropped the idea of seriously pursuing it. When asked, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan reportedly told press that from Pakistan, the Tourism Minister would flag off the bus. He would not say whether the minister was "reluctant" to do the needful because of their collective feeling that the peace process was heading nowhere.
So much for a feeble Vajpayee claiming strength at bridging gaps (or whatever).
Draconic POTA jeered
POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) review has begun
in India. Finally. Does it make life easier. Hardly.
Following suits of the Patriot Act, India’s
fascination to tackle terrorism has led different
people in jails, on political grounds. Same old. We
have heard of such normal political misuse of power.
What’s new? Only five of the 14 states gave any shit to the request of the Union Govt to furnish papers. Bravo! What happens to the review. Mainstream press will not bother to know any longer. The news is over. And out.
What’s new? Only five of the 14 states gave any shit to the request of the Union Govt to furnish papers. Bravo! What happens to the review. Mainstream press will not bother to know any longer. The news is over. And out.
Hindu seer pioneers innovative methods of mass disturbances
Kanchi Sankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati, the Hindu
seer has of course gone ahead and come down on the
rejection of his formula on the Ayodhya issue by the
All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
He would not agree for a court to settle Ayodhya issue (the most shameful mass behavior in India since the times when we tolerated the British on Indian land).
Jayendra Saraswati has said: "a solution to the Ayodhya issue will not be possible through court. It is possible only through talks".
Indeed, how can a reactionary like him who instigate people to kill-haul each other in name of communalism agree for court interferences. A true believer in anarchy in a Hindu fanatic society? Hardly. When the religious seers say “Talks” they mean talk between them and other power brokers. Just let them dare to confront the masses and see how history is gonna be rewritten!
Down with the Acharyas and all other conmen.
He would not agree for a court to settle Ayodhya issue (the most shameful mass behavior in India since the times when we tolerated the British on Indian land).
Jayendra Saraswati has said: "a solution to the Ayodhya issue will not be possible through court. It is possible only through talks".
Indeed, how can a reactionary like him who instigate people to kill-haul each other in name of communalism agree for court interferences. A true believer in anarchy in a Hindu fanatic society? Hardly. When the religious seers say “Talks” they mean talk between them and other power brokers. Just let them dare to confront the masses and see how history is gonna be rewritten!
Down with the Acharyas and all other conmen.
Barry White No More
06/07/03 11:37 Filed by Saswat Pattanayak in:
Reference
R&B crooner
Barry White is no more. White was a tire-thief
and an eternal musician.
For the uninitiated, Never, Never Gonna Give You Up and I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby are his classics.
For the uninitiated, Never, Never Gonna Give You Up and I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby are his classics.
A World to Win
I came across this news service--A World to Win News
Service. They have the following to say:
"While we are not yet able to offer well-rounded and rapid coverage based on a network of correspondents, the world situation - including US imperialism's ongoing wars on the Oppressed Countries, the people's growing resistance and their equally growing revolutionary needs and movements - has made it necessary for us to enter the battle for a public opinion based on the truth now, even though we can only do that in a modest way now. AWTWNS is published only electronically. All its articles may be reprinted, excerpted or used in any other way as long as it is credited."
You can find them here
"While we are not yet able to offer well-rounded and rapid coverage based on a network of correspondents, the world situation - including US imperialism's ongoing wars on the Oppressed Countries, the people's growing resistance and their equally growing revolutionary needs and movements - has made it necessary for us to enter the battle for a public opinion based on the truth now, even though we can only do that in a modest way now. AWTWNS is published only electronically. All its articles may be reprinted, excerpted or used in any other way as long as it is credited."
You can find them here
India joins the fight against struggling peoples
Thanks to 9/11 and the global fight against repressed
people.
The Ministry of Defense in India has planned to setup an elaborate network of electronic warfare (EW) systems in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast to help the security forces fight the terrorist threat.
The government say the idea is to equip the security forces with improved and upgraded communications infrastructure to counter the advanced communications systems being used by terrorist groups.
Already some systems have been established in Jammu and Kashmir and performing to expectations and, much bigger projects — Rikki-II and Rikki-III are underway.
The Ministry of Defense in India has planned to setup an elaborate network of electronic warfare (EW) systems in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast to help the security forces fight the terrorist threat.
The government say the idea is to equip the security forces with improved and upgraded communications infrastructure to counter the advanced communications systems being used by terrorist groups.
Already some systems have been established in Jammu and Kashmir and performing to expectations and, much bigger projects — Rikki-II and Rikki-III are underway.
India does not know how to say No!
India says, almost!
In its June 28-29 issue, the International Herald Tribune carried a New York Times report that India was "split" on the issue of sending troops to Iraq. "Indian officials say their soldiers will not serve under direct U.S. military command and have asked for the creation of a joint command structure. Citing concerns that Iraqis will view them as occupiers, officials have also asked for a specific time-table for forming an independent government.
"U.S. officials have declined to give specific dates. Previously, they said it could take as long as two years," the report said.
In its June 28-29 issue, the International Herald Tribune carried a New York Times report that India was "split" on the issue of sending troops to Iraq. "Indian officials say their soldiers will not serve under direct U.S. military command and have asked for the creation of a joint command structure. Citing concerns that Iraqis will view them as occupiers, officials have also asked for a specific time-table for forming an independent government.
"U.S. officials have declined to give specific dates. Previously, they said it could take as long as two years," the report said.
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