The Start Of The Second American Revolution? – The People Awaken!

Paul Joseph Watson / Prison Planet

For a long time people have been asking why Americans are not up in arms, screaming and shouting about their fast disappearing liberties along with the continuous passage of legislation that they vehemently oppose, from the banker bailout, to the cap and trade bill, to Obamacare. Well now they are screaming and shouting – and if the momentum continues to build, this rebellion could the spark to ignite the second American revolution.

For those waiting for a “summer of rage” it has now arrived – outraged Americans across the country are exercising their first amendment rights to do the most American thing imaginable – speaking truth to power through non-violent civil disobedience.

At first the establishment left media attempted to attack the credibility of the protests by claiming that they were the work of health insurance company lobbyists – but when that fizzled after ABC News reported that there were no lobbyists present at the demonstrations, the attack dogs shifted their rhetoric to claim that the protesters were Nazis and right-wing extremists.

Meanwhile, at the same time media apologists for the administration are labeling the protesters as violent and dangerous extremists, Obama supporters are beating up Obamacare protesters while foundation-funded organizations like ACORN, MoveOn.org, the National Council of La Raza, the eugenics front Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the Clintonite John Podesta’s war-mongering Center for American Progress are supporting moves to chill free speech and eliminate protesters at town hall meetings.

Link to entire article with video compilation of nationwide protests below…

http://www.infowars.com/the-start-of-the-second-american-revolution/

Myth of a ‘legendary banker’

By Sirajuddin Aziz

A legendary banker was born on May 14, 1922, in Lucknow. He has undoubtedly enlightened the financial panorama with the radiance of his vision and zeal. This revered personality is none other than Agha Hassan Abedi who spent his early life in Lucknow. He acquired his post-graduate degree in literature but adopted banking as his profession. He beautifully fused the mundaneness of banking with a high level of human intellect and carved a scenic landscape of innovation and ingenuity.

Agha Hassan Abedi started his banking career with Habib Bank Limited in Bombay and served the institution till 1957. He parted amicably from Habib Bank on a dispute of ‘principle’ and in 1959 laid the foundations of a financial institution named United Bank Limited in collaboration with the Saigols.

United Bank Limited has achieved significant milestones and had expanded to a network of over 600 branches nationwide with more than a dozen overseas branches. It emerged as the second largest bank of the country and remained a formidable competitor to Habib Bank till its nationalisation in 1974.

When nationalisation of financial institutions was looming on the anvil, Abedi set up a bank in Luxembourg called BCCI with the help of Bank of America, the royal family of the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries. The Ramazan war of 1973 brought to the international forefront “oil as a weapon” which translated into a lucrative resource generating a stream of income for the Middle East for many decades to come. Consequently the region was flushed with abundance of petro dollars. This aroma reeked of the perfect ingredients to attract international banks to indulge in the scrumptious deal of managing the excess bounties of petro-dollar-loaded Arab states.

The highly acclaimed pioneer of the then strikingly notable Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) broadened the purview of the bank by instituting it in 73 countries the world over in less than two decades. It even bagged the position of the sixth largest bank in terms of country network against the difficult competition posed by global banks.

The bank was shut down… in fact forcibly closed by a college of regulators. The bank was highly liquid, but not comfortably profitable. It didn’t suffer from any non-treatable financial malaise unknown to the global banking industry, but that it was shut down was more a consequence of the interplay of diabolical political and regulatory suspicion.

Agha Hassan Abedi was an articulator of new management concepts. He exhibited the depth of his soul by speaking on compassion, empathy, humility, interdependence, tolerance, forbearance and interfusion. He took the role of a great leader; he also played the part of a mentor for his staff, an inspiration to the entire financial sector, envy to the competitors, awe to the peers and an addition to the list of great leaders. Amongst the innumerable conferences that he convened, I recall how fresh he was when he called the day’s proceeding to an end at 3:00 am in Athens, Greece, having promptly started the meeting at 10:00 am the previous day.

As management trainees we always referred to him fondly as “Agha sahib”. He brushed shoulders with top political leaders belonging to the US, the USSR, China, India, Pakistan and the UAE and for many of them he acted as a financial and economic consultant. He spoke of Corporate Social Responsibility in the late 70s. He helped President Jimmy Carter in the establishment of Carter Centre, including the setting up of ‘Global 2000′ which dedicated itself to the underprivileged and downtrodden citizens of the third world. He personally supported many charities globally. Abedi sahib, you were great and will remain so in the fond memories of many.

The writer is CEO of Bank Alfalah Limited

US to deploy 1,000 marine commandoes at Islamabad’s American Embassy

by: PKKH

US Marine commandoes numbering 1,000 will be deployed at American Embassy in Islamabad under massive expansion work which is nearing completion.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit Khan has said that 1,000 US Marines will be coming to Pakistan to be deployed at US Mission.

He said that there was no restriction on the number of personnel that a foreign mission could station at its mission but it is done through mutual understanding.

The FO Spokesman stated on Wednesday while replying to a query relating to increase in the strength of the US personnel at Islamabad’s mission, The Nation reported.

A former Pakistan diplomat had objected to the US plans to have a bigger presence in Pakistan in the pursuit of its strategic interests in the region.

Former Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan said that it is evident that America wants to remote control the region from Islamabad.

According to an estimate, Washington is planning to spend a whopping one billion dollars for revamping its main embassy building in Islamabad and increase the strength of its staff.

The Obama Administration is about to spend 405 million dollars for the reconstruction and refurbishment of the main embassy building and 111 million dollars for constructing a new complex for 330 personnel.

A further 197 million dollars would be spent for construction of a housing unit for about 250 personnel.

Not only this, the United States is also planning to give its consular buildings in Lahore and Peshawar a new look.

Experts believe that this is a clear cut strategy of the US to augment its presence and establish control over the region.

Pakistan’s Textile policy with the export target of $25 billion

Pakistan’s major export is the Textile industry. The origins of the cotton in South Asia can be traced back to the American Civil war when supplies from the Southern slave Confederate states of America were disrupted. The Industral revolution had actualy started in Manchester which used cheap cotton grown by slaves in the American colonies. After the disruption of cotton supplies from Amerca, the British were looking for other areas to grow the crop for thir factories. The Punjab was scouted as a region, and cotton seeds were introduced.

According to Pak Kissan 85% of the Cotton in Pakistan is grwon in the Punjab, and 15% is grown in Sindh, mostly along the Indus river. The Cotton in planted in the summer months of June and July and harvested in the Fall and winter months of october, November and December.  Cotton became a mainstay of agriculture in the Punjab (East and West). In 1947, Paksitan had one dilapidated Cotton Mill. This was the only factory in the country. There were no other factories in Paksitan in 1947. Lord Radcliffs boundary Commission ensured that all means of produciton would fall across the Radcliff line.

From meagre beginings, the Paksitani Textile industry has grown into a major power on the international scene. During the last decade exports surpassed all previous records. The Textile industry has fallen into a hole in the past two years. The Textile enterpreneurs are deligent, and very innovative. They produce the best shirts and liene in the world. The Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZ) and easier access to the EU will help them grow.

Pakistan’s textile industry is a major contributor to the national economy in terms of exports and employment. Pakistan holds the distinction of being the world’s 4th largest producer of cotton as well as being the 3rd largest consumer of the same. In the period July 2007 – June 2008, textile exports were US$ 10.62 Billion and accounted for 55% of the total exports…Pakistan has 13% of the market share South Asian Investor

The Textile industy has spent some money on investment but it needs to do more.

The Textile Industry in Pakistan Invested US$6.4 Billion During the Period 1999-2007. See the Outlook for Its Textile and Clothing Exports Today….2006-07 (July-June) was the best year for Pakistan’s textile and clothing industry when the industry managed to export US$ 10.8 billion with the support
of friendly government policies, international propitious environment, and lower
cotton prices.

The shift in government policies, increases in input costs, and the global
recession have changed the scenario for textile exports from Pakistan. Now the
textile industry in the country is passing through a very critical period with
number of closures and shutdowns. Reutres

The $25 Billion target is not only achievable, if the international community supports it, Pakistan can exceed those targets.

ISLAMABAD – First-ever textile policy with the export target of $25 billion for next three years would be announced in the second or third week of the ongoing month (August), sources told TheNation on Thursday.

The textile policy has been designed to enhance the exports of textile sector to $25b in next three years. The policy would focus on enhancing domestic capabilities for use of resources through skills development, technology up-gradation and provision of infrastructure facilities sources added.

In the upcoming policy, steps would be taken to promote new investment, diversification of exports mix; to encourage the establishment of domestic and international brand; rationalization of tariff the sources informed.

The textile sector, which contributes 54pc to total exports and accounts for 42pc of total labour force, is trying to come out of serious national and int’l challenges. Export of textile sector dropped from $10.6b to $9.6b in 2008-9 due to high rate of interest energy crises, and poor law and order situation in the country.

Sources further informed that in order to address the issues of export-oriented industry of the country, government would announce textile fund, which would be a part of Rs 40 billion export investment support fund that was proposed in the federal budget 2009-10.

In the export support fund, 65 to 70 per cent would be spent on the textile and clothing industry with a view to move the sector towards consolidation, sources said, adding that textile fund would provide capital to the industrialists and businessmen for overcoming the scarcity of financial resources.

According to sources, the spinning and weaving sector would get its share from the Export Investment Support Fund, worth Rs. 40b allocated in the Federal Budget 2009-10. The Nation

The new Textile policy addresses some of the issues faced by the textile industry.

While Pakistan clearly needs to diversify and increase higher-value-added exports such as sophisticated machinery and high technology products and services, it is essential for it to maintain and enhance the current export levels of textiles, leather and other products for which there is an established export market. The export-oriented industries should get preferential treatment in getting access to necessary inputs of raw materials, financing and energy by government policies. Energy and communications infrastructure, in particular, need much greater focus to enable Pakistani exporters to continue to earn the much-needed hard currency. South Asian Investor

The Government is pretty optimistic about the projected growth.

Suleman Ghani, federal secretary, ministry of commerce, when contacted, sounded confident. ‘I find targets realistic. We have suggested solutions for three most frequently mentioned problems perceived to be impacting on trade. They are: energy deficit, high cost of credit and alarming security situation leading to shyness of trade partners to strike deals with Pakistani suppliers because of high risk factors,’ he said.

‘For energy we have introduced the concept of compulsory contractual agreement between industrial clusters and energy distribution companies to ensure uninterrupted supply of power. To rationalise the cost of credit and make it predictable, a new concept of hedge fund has been incorporated in the policy to cushion the shock of sudden change in credit cost over a specified period. To minimise risk of trade in the current environment, the government has introduced insurance cover for overseas trade partners,’ the commerce secretary told Dawn over telephone from Islamabad. Dawn

There are many dtractors who say the government has not addressed the issues of tarrifs, power shortages, competition from Chinese and other imports and the problem of high interest rates.

Most businessmen contacted for their comments, however, did not share the government’s optimism over the policy.

They termed the trade policy a non-starter from the word ‘go,’ as it fails to address problems threatening the very survival of the narrow industrial base. What, they said, disturbed them most, was the government’s attitude towards issues stifling the growth of the manufacturing sector.

The economic policy, they felt, was not focused on economic revival. It was oriented towards generation of resources from both internal and external sources. Further, the monies so raised at a huge cost to the economy, they feared, might not be put to productive use. In short, the wary private sector sees the economic environment not congenial for business activity.

Some pro-government experts defended the policy. ‘Give credit where it is due. The policy has been well received by the business community. Only textile lobby is unhappy but the government has indicated that it would announce textile policy shortly. I find pursuance of liberalisation policy highly encouraging,’ says an economist.

It is true that many countries who preached non-interference in the market, doled out hefty rescue packages as soon as their own industry came under pressure because of global financial crisis. The protectionism was the next logical direction that rich free trade champion nations might turn to.

Like many other developing countries, Pakistan has put up with a heavy price for opening up its markets at an early stage. But its industry has now sort of adjusted to liberal tariff environment. Besides, liberalisation did introduce more competition and forced locals to focus on modernisation in management and processes.

People benefited from increasing depth in local consumer market. Today, the range of variety in consumer items has increased to a level, where households from lowest to upper most income groups, have choice within their own budgets. The competition has also brought prices down in certain categories of goods and services.

These must be factors that helped in warding off temptation to revert to protective tariff regime in the current trade policy.

‘Who says the world is fair? US announced a bailout package of over $700 billion for economic revival. Pakistan, a country paying through its nose, because of follies of others, has been driven to wall by the IMF for subsidising power to make it affordable for its teeming millions,’ said a businessman from Punjab critical of the government for not extending enough support to industry.

‘Pakistan seems to be heading towards deeper economic crisis which may lead it to a widespread social unrest and culminate in a political crisis. The prospects of improving the productive capacity in the short-run look dismal. The trade policy looks irrelevant under the circumstances,’ said another leading industrial tycoon.

‘Everyone seems looking inwards. We still opt to focus outwards amidst shrinking global demand and the very challenging trade environment. Would it not be better to focus on domestic trade with incentive for potential sectors to achieve economies of scales? Why not suggest ways to perk up local demand to the benefit of local industry?’ asked a business leader with interest in diversified fields.

‘Why there is no mention of the Afghan transit trade in the policy that has developed into a major bane for the local trade and industry? A cursory look at the profile of goods imported under the scheme indicates massive abuse of the facility. It is seriously hurting interests of local industry and legal trade,’ Chaudhry Mohammad Saeed, an ex-president Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry commented. Sultan Chawla, the current FCCI head was not available as he was visiting Tajikistan with an official delegation.

For sustainable development and achieving millennium development goals the government needs to be vigilant and discreet utilising all available options to expand economic activity by restoring confidence of the industrial community.

Courtesy: Dawn – RupeeNews

Pakistan, China have strong friendship bonds

By: Daily.pk

Pakistan and China have strong bonds of friendship and no force on the face of earth can weaken this relationship.
This was stated by Rear Admiral Wang Shi Chen, Commander Chinese Escorting Fleet, in an interview during his visit to Headquarters Commander Karachi here Friday.

An ISPR (Navy) press release issued here pointed out that Admiral said that China strongly opposes all terrorists activities. Like Pakistan, China is also a victim of terrorism and we would put in all out efforts to eliminate this menace in its all forms and manifestations.

Commenting on F 22 P Frigates he said, `All the weaponry, equipment and sensors fitted onboard these ships are much advanced and reliable and even better than those fitted on our own ships’.

He said that Pakistan and Chinese Navies are all set to conduct a joint maritime exercise commencing from August-8. Joint Staff meeting held in this connection was very successful in which procedures and operation plans were chalked out, it was stated.

Earlier, Admiral Wang called on Commander Karachi, Vice Admiral Saleem Ahmed Meenai, Commander Coast, Vice Admiral Muhammad Shafi, and Commander Logistics, Vice Admiral Azher Shamim. During the meetings matters of common interest came under discussion.

Hiroshima bombing anniversary observed

By: Daily.pk

Japan marked 64 years Thursday since Hiroshima was hit in the world’s first atomic bomb attack with a call for a nuclear-weapons-free world, a goal backed by US President Barack Obama.

The mayor of Hiroshima, the city where 140,000 people died from the blast, renewed his call for the abolition of what he said are 24,000 remaining nuclear warheads over the next decade as he led the solemn ceremony.

About 50,000 people, including ‘hibakusha’ or atom bomb survivors, politicians and envoys from 59 countries and the United Nations, gathered near the A-bomb Dome, the skeleton of a hall burned by the bomb’s intense heat.

The abolition of nuclear weapons is the will not only of the hibakusha but also of the vast majority of people and nations on this planet,” said the mayor, Tadatoshi Akiba, head of the international group Mayors for Peace.Akiba praised Obama for stating at a speech in Prague this year that the United States, as the only country to have ever used an atomic weapon, has “a moral responsibility” to work toward their eventual abolition.

We refer to ourselves, the great global majority, as the ‘Obamajority,’ and we call on the rest of the world to join forces with us to eliminate all nuclear weapons by 2020,” Akiba said in his speech in the southern city.

Together, we can abolish nuclear weapons,” he added. “Yes, we can.”Those at the memorial ceremony offered their silent prayers at 8:15 am (2315 GMT Wednesday), the exact moment the bomb was dropped in 1945.

The blinding blast of “Little Boy” and the fallout from its mushroom cloud killed some 140,000 people, either instantly or in the days and weeks that followed as radiation or horrific burns took their toll. Three days after the attack, the United States dropped a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki, which killed 70,000 people in the southern port city.

Japan surrendered on August 15, ending World War II in the Pacific. The nation has since been officially pacifist, while also becoming one of the United States’ closest allies, hosting some 47,000 US troops. Japan Prime Minister Taro Aso told the ceremony that “I pledge a new today that Japan will be the frontrunner in the international community in abolishing nuclear weapons and realising eternal peace.”

Cow (India) Desire of Hitting Bull (China)

By:  Daily.pk

The land of yellow soil China is the world largest country with the area of 3705387 square kilo meters. Its population is over 1.2 billion. However, since 1949 Chinese military top brass with the support of her nation has made their country strong enough to meet any aggression with iron hands. After the collapse of Soviet Union, china emerged as second super power. The calculated opinion of the world economists has declared China as emerging global economic power.

China has dispute on shared 3500 Kilo meter border with India. The relations between two states remained tense since inception of China. Apart from other conflicts, territorial dispute is the major one, which led into Sino-Indo War in 1962. In this war New Delhi faced a great set back in the shape of her armed forces defeat. After fighting a brief border war, the demarcation of the 3500km border between China and India remains unsolved.  China came out in a better position after the confrontation, due in part to superior forces and supply lines.

Now just compare India with her neighbouring countries. She has border disputes with China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. On the other hand China has borders with 14 countries and has not dispute with them except India. In particular, Arunachal Pradesh province in northeastern India has continued to be a bone of significant contention with increased oratory from both sides over the past few areas.

It is worth reading that after almost 47 years or so India and China have moved their forces because of continuous increase in tension on the border. According to Indian today and Indian Express  Indian  Army brought armoured vehicles to the North Sikkim plateau in the late 1980s, the small detachment has now been replaced by the heavier and more powerful T-72 Main Battle Tanks and modern BMP troop carriers. As per newspapers, the mobilisation took place after repeated Chinese transgressions last year in the Finger Area; a one kilometer stretch of land in the northern tip of Sikkim that overlooks a valley called the Sora Funnel and is considered a strong defensive position. The question arises why India once again went for mobilization of forces after so many years. Probable answer could be that after the post cold war era India went close to USA because of the reasons (1) capturing one of the largest market (2) assisting Americans in containing china (3) placing watch dog in Asia to look after her interests (4) prolonging her stay in the region for getting permanent hold over CAR’s states (5) desire of becoming future global power.

On June 9, the Chinese Global Times published an editorial entitled “India’s Unwise Military Moves,” which denounced India’s troop deployment.  A thinly veiled warning was explicit within the article: “India’s current course can only lead to a rivalry between the two countries.  India needs to consider whether or not it can afford the consequences of a potential confrontation with China.”  An affiliate of the People’s Daily published a Chinese language article on June 12 which translates to “India is a paper tiger and its use of use will be trounced, say experts.”  It is a provocative article, even referring to India as a paper tiger is a throwback to the language of Mao. The confrontation between India would be amount to Cow hitting the Bull.

Therefore it is evident that India has the desire of moving forward to complete her hegemonic desire of expansion through any means. To complete her aim she even never let her old (Soviet Union) and present (USA) masters to know about covert motives of becoming future global power. In this context Indian leadership always acquired requisite weaponry to get dominance over strategically significant Indian Ocean. It is interesting to know that   Indian Ocean is the 3rd largest ocean. 45 states are encircling resources enriched ocean. Almost 30000, ships are annually passing through these routes. The important sea routes are passing through Indian Ocean region. India believes that China and Pakistan are the only encumbrance in her hegemonic design of influencing region and becoming future global power.

Anyhow to complete her design, India has planned to spend US$150 billion over the next 5 years as well as a market open to foreign participation and collaboration, India cannot be ignored. The current defence spending expected to top US$34 billion in 2010. She possess  second largest air force in the Asia Pacific region along with substantial naval, coastal and army aviation interests, all of which are planning for substantial modernization, acquisition of new assets and upgrading of existing capabilities in line with India’s rapid economic growth.

As the aerospace defence industry’s leading flagship conference in the region, the 3rd annual Air Power India 2009 international conference offers unrivalled market insights, business leads and networking opportunities. Indian has explored India’s air power strategies, technologies and solution lies in-depth. Retired Brig. Gurmeet Kanwal, director of Center for Land Air Warfare Studies (CLAWS), said that China’s policy is to confine India to the backwater of the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea, as it no more considers the Indian Ocean Region as Indian domain. With this perception, China could choke commerce through IOR. To say the least this is a hasty conclusion, and is in line with Indian thinking that People Republic of China is a dangerous enemy. Speaking on “India’s response to security challenges from China in Indian Ocean Region,” he said, “With the Chinese encirclement strategy, commerce through the Indian Ocean Region could be easily choked by way of disruptions of trade routes through sea. Defense of far-flung island territories and delineation of maritime boundaries are some of the maritime challenges for India, Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal reiterated. India is busy developing blue water navy, with two aircraft-carriers, twenty submarines, 25 warships and hundreds of missile boats to defeat the Chinese Navy.

On July 27, 2009 India has also launched its first indigenously made nuclear powered submarine ‘INS-Arihant’ (Destroyer of the enemy). Thus, she joined an exclusive club of US, Russia, China, France and the UK with the launch. The 6000-tonne submarine will undergo sea trials for two years before being commissioned for full service.

In 2004, Russia already built three Krivak class frigates – INS Talwar, INS Trishul and INS Tabar – for India. These frigates were armed with eight BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile systems and not the Club-N/3M54TE missile system, which was installed on previous frigates. The Krivak class frigate has deadweight of 4,000 metric tons and a speed of 30 knots, and is capable of accomplishing a wide range of maritime missions, primarily hunting down and destroying large surface ships and submarines. India is to receive three Russian Krivak IV Class Frigates by 2012.

On July 28, 2009 Pakistan Foreign Office has said that such a step would destabilise the region and would have a detrimental effect on regional peace. He further added that continued induction of new lethal weapon systems by India is detrimental to regional peace and stability. The induction of nuclear submarine by India has really started the arms race in the region. Pakistan, China’s worries in this connection are very genuine. China is also watching the ambitious desire of New Delhi with regard to nuclear expansion. Beijing has also started building necessary naval armament to counter Indian design of confining China. In short induction of nuclear Submarine would be taken as Indian nuclear sea pollution.

Basit said Pakistan would take all measures to ensure strategic balance in the region. The induction of nuclear submarine is really upset the balance of power in the region. India has fully supported by US and Russia against China. Russian leadership has forgotten that India who always been patted by her prior to its disintegration has joined American block. The Indian race of naval expansion and build up is to threaten, blocking and stifle Pakistani sea lanes, encirclement of China and dominant Indian Ocean.  India has become a big threat in general to the region and particularly to Pakistan’s security and survival. On the other hand US and its Western allies always posed that Pakistan is more prone to internal threat rather than external. US and India knows that Pakistan are real time tested friends of the region and cannot move away from each other.  Indian is common enemy and always planned to create insurgency in Pakistan and China.  Raw with the help of her master agency CIA staged a plot of sabotaging Beijing peace through Dalai Lama movement. In short, world community should ask India to abide by the international laws and resolve territorial disputes for permanent regional peace bilaterally. Zaheerul Hassan