Saturday, May 22, 2010

THE PRIZE FOR RUSSIAN SUPPORT

We were wondering how was the Obama administration handling negotiations to put pressure on Iran to give up their nuclear ambitions in the Middle East.

In a schizophrenic move by Obama and his administration, here we have an information that will somehow explain the situation. As an integral part of what can be a possible deal to win over Russia's support, learn how Russia's state arms trader et al have gotten, miraculously, their sanctions lifted.

It all looks like a quid pro quo to me.



(Reuters) - The State Department has lifted sanctions against Russia's state arms trader and three other Russian entities it had accused of helping Iran try to develop nuclear weapons.

POLITICS | RUSSIA

The United States has been trying to win Russia's support for a U.N. Security Council resolution to expand sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Russia approved a draft resolution that Washington circulated at the United Nations on Thursday.

State Department spokesman Andy Laine said Russia's view on Iran "has evolved over time" and noted the country's support for the draft resolution.

"We felt confident ... that we could lift these sanctions," he said.

Earlier this month, a senior Kremlin official said Russia expected the United States to lift bans on trade with four Russian companies if Moscow backed new sanctions against Iran. Russia has long criticized sanctions against entities accused of selling technology that could help Iran, Syria or North Korea develop weapons of mass destruction or missile systems.

The U.S. State Department said it lifted sanctions imposed in 1999 against the Dmitri Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology and the Moscow Aviation Institute. Sanctions imposed in 2008 against Russian state arms trader Rosoboronexport also were terminated.

The department also removed sanctions set in 1999 against Tula Instrument Design Bureau. The United States has said it imposed sanctions against the firm for arms sales to Iran and Syria.

The department made public the decision in notices issued on Friday.

Iran rejects Western allegations its nuclear program is a quest to develop atomic weapons and has ignored U.N. resolutions ordering it to halt its enrichment program.

AMERICA,"LEAST BAD" CERTAINLY NOT BEST

As change is coming, it will be imperative that our thinking evolves towards, only, "the best." It is obvious that accommodating our national needs with "the least bad" has taken us in a totally self-destructing, deteriorating chaotic situation. We cannot and should not deal anymore with mediocrity, and we need to see it from wherever it comes, the left of course, but also from the right. Being true to ourselves and our ideals will take this country on the long way to recovery in the next 50 years to come.

Naturally, knowledge and experience are important -but ever as much are love for our country and passion to fight for the well-being of the American people. Now and forever.

There is no room for middle-of-the-road leaders. There is no room for only great demagogues. There is no room for experimenting with our country.
America is disintegrating in front of our eyes.

The enemy outside and the enemy within are implacably targeting the sheer basis of the structure of this country. It has taken them almost 100 years to bring America to her knees, ever since the ground of family values has been under attack from the beginning of the XXth century.

And, it all begun with the excessive cult for freedom, when freedom was meant as something beautiful, altruistic and good for our societies.

Yes, freedom is good and desirable.

However, in French we find an excellent word for the degeneration of Freedom.

In French, Freedom means the famous Liberte.

And the degeneration of Freedom in French means Libertinage.

For the benefit of the reader, let me explain that the word "libertine" defines "a dissolute person; usually a person who is morally unrestrained."

And when you apply that kind of behavior to a whole country or group, it ends up producing "libertinage".

Let's see that definition applied within a sociological and anthropological context. When such a feeling expands and flourishes within a larger group or country practicing libertinage, it results in "a dissolute group, a country who is morally unrestrained."

That's America now.

So, the one corollary that results from this is that we cannot be lenient anymore.
Whenever we see or smell or sense mediocrity, in any way or form or manner, we need to be alert, recognize it and fight it.

We are on survival mode right now. So, we need to do it.

It's the only way we will succeed in saving our people, our country.

Let's do it.


The writer, Goodwill Ambassador Eliana Benador, based in New York, is a consultant global strategist in the fields of politics, globalization, international affairs, international business development.

Friday, May 14, 2010

AS ABOVE SO BELOW

Let’s speak of values, the values on which our country is based upon and which we should be constantly trying to improve to better ourselves and our kids, so we can all become more dignified human beings.

For, have you ever thought on what’s our role in this world? Who are we? Why do we exist?

This material, physical life we have is part of something way beyond our comprehension.

At the same time, G-d, the omnipresent being, force, strength,energy and all of the above and much more, is at the source of our existence, however one may choose to call it: G-d, Allah, the Holy One, universal intelligence, and so on.

So, the next question is who we are, what are we doing here.

The goal of existence is to try to make it as “livable” as possible, here on Earth trying to get close to what may be in the world “beyond”, the world of perfection where almost nothing exists and at the same time everything gets to be perfect.

There is a lot of philosophy here, but it is necessary to try to find ways to make this a better life.

Following the example of the Universe where everything has an order: Planets, galaxies, and so on. If it was not for that, we would only be seeing chaos everywhere, planets colliding, stars and galaxies destroying each other. In fact, with that order, obviously pre-established by the most powerful source, each of the universal elements has a well established cycle.

As a matter of fact, some of us borrow from the moon cycles to follow the lunar calendar while others borrow from the sun cycles to follow the solar calendar. And so on.

The point being here of universal organization, discipline, hierarchy, limitations that make each one its entities revel in their own existence.

The formula “as above so below,” can very well be utilized in our human context as well, to bring the same discipline and organization existing in the larger Universe and applied in human societies.

That’s how and why, we could argue that the perfection of man and woman was created, to love and complement each other, and be active participants in procreation, allowing for this species to further survive, develop and thrive.

That’s why there is a discipline of respect and reverence to parents, to the elderly.

That’s why there is the need and a respect for moral authority -in essence, the ultimate version of authority.

That’s why there is a need to study constantly, with people wiser and who can stimulate minds of all including children and teach the order in our societies -which does not necessarily mean submission, it means lucidity of judgment so one can always be on the alert when the “enemy within” is pushing existence itself to the border of the abyss.

The real reason for this is to inspire men to evolve aiming for perfection although we may not know if we will ever attain that level, but which we must nevertheless strive to achieve at all times.

In the creation of the Universe, men were given the elements to elevate mankind beyond their material existence and, who knows, maybe even try to create something close to Utopia.

And, what has actually happened.Well, mankind has so far managed to make hell on Earth.

Thus, in order to have more chances to make this a better world, it will be necessary to sit back and understand that life on Earth ought to follow the well coordinated, universal pattern, if men want to succeed and manage not to destroy this planet.

Notions such as respect, compassion, solidarity, love, understanding, need to be instilled in people from birth, but change also needs to be done by adults and now.

Businesses should thrive. And, any government that curtails the liberties and livelihoods as much as the well being of their populations, will be giving signs which have to be taken darn seriously, because they may be pernicious for mankind at large.



The world cannot be better if liberties are taken away, when populations are losing jobs, homes, and become destitute. By all standards, that is simply wrong and those are signs that populations need to address these issues in a responsible,adult manner.

One major and decisive line of thought is the fact that right and wrong are universal concepts.

Children disrespecting parents, is completely wrong anywhere inthe world. And that, is indeed a very important concept, because if children are brought up in a society of permissiveness -that will be at the origin of societal ills, because it is at home that boundaries have to be taught by parents willing to invest time, effort and energy –let alone financial- resources to personally overview the education of their children.

Otherwise, for instance, unlimited, sickening “greed” enters our lives and people like a certain Madoff will never know when to stop even when he knew how much he would hurt people who entrusted him with their fortunes and he ended up ruining so many lives.

But, thankfully, this is all something we can avoid. We have been given brains with extraordinary thinking capabilities, way beyond our wildest dreams. We should use them.

Life is wonderful. That’s the life we need to leave for our children. That’s the life we need to aim at.

Making paradise on Earth, that’s the goal.


Goodwill Ambassador Eliana Benador is a global strategist and consultant, and a political analyst based in New York