Friday, February 6, 2009

The release of Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan

That man on the picture who looks as innocuous as any septuagenerian is a very dangerous person. Individually he has done more to ensure that the world is a more dangerous place to live than many rogue state and governments combined together. He is Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistan's Nuke Man, the greatest nuclear technology smuggler and proliferator! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Qadeer_Khan

On him rests the responsibility of nuclear weaponized Libya, Iran and North Korea! The Saudi Arabia and Egypt angles have not been proven yet. On 6th February 2009, Islamabad High court declared AQK a "free man". His "house arrest" for the last 5 years is widely viewed as a neccessity for his own security. However, according AQK a "free man" status is perhaps a clear indication from Islamabad to US. An indication that Pakistan's loyalties cannot be taken for granted! Earlier, the Pakistan Foreign minister had issued a statement regarding "trust" on China. ( Where does that put US?). There have also been requests from Asif Zardari to US to do away with "drone attacks". Could the release of AQK be judged as an act of defiance by the Pakistani government? Especially because, AQK's house arrest under the Musharraf regime was seen as a tactic to assuage US woes and giving in to US pressure on AQK. There has been no direct word from officials in Islamabad on the government's interest and reactions on the release. However, "AQK" has thanked Asif Ali Zardari for lifting the restriction imposed on him. http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1877608,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

While AQK had in a televised address in 2004 confessed to smuggling and stealing nuclear technology, later he had retracted his confession saying that its was forced on him, by the authorities i.e Musharraf! He had also indicated at another time, that the smuggling and stealing of nuclear weapon technology was done under the knowdge of the Pakistan authorities and there were pay offs at all levels (indicating a broader conspiracy). All said and done, Musharraf never allowed US or the IAEA to interrogate AQK.

We already have a threat note from Congressman Howard Berman,Chairman of House Committee of Foreign Relations ( a powerful Congressional committee that plays a key role in shaping US foreign policy) in terms of US assistance provided to Islamabad. In coming weeks, the House of Representatives and the Senate are likely to take up a legislation, which proposes to triple the non-military aid to Pakistan – amounting to $1.5 billion per annum for the next ten years.
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/us-warns-pakliftingq-khans-house-arrest/10/29/54539/on

The situation in the subcontinent is far from what can be called "under control". Pakistan and Afghanistan are bombs waiting to detaonate. Loyalties and stands have varied from one end to another. Pakistan for instance has made many vacillating comments on the "war against terror". Its own loyalties are split between Islamic fundamentalism and allegiance to America against economic aid to keep alive! Counting on such a state as an ally is a mistake that America can ill afford. Will Obama choose to take more direct steps to diffuse Pakistan as a crisis or will he also circumvent and procrastinate the inevitable? By inevitable i mean a joint military operation in Pakistan (may be against Pakistan's own wishes but in their interest) to free the state of its rabid fundamentalists and ensure a free democratic structure working on its own.

A detailed history of AQK and his Nuclear smuggling network:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1025193-1,00.html

IPL defies Recession, Slowdown and the Downturn!

http://www.livemint.com/2009/02/06110832/Pietersen-Flintoff-fetch-reco.html?h=A1

Recession? What is that? Obama may be keen on limiting the top CEO and banker salaries, but hey, he hasnot heard about IPL!

And i thought Vijay Mallya was cash strapped due to losses in Kingfisher operations. His overzealous acquisition of KP suggests his pockets are deeper than thought! Sometimes, i think Mallya is handling more than he can... with Force India, United Breweries, Banglore Royal Challengers, Kingfisher and all! Offhand, i think that the acquisition of KP was funded by the Rs.80000/- per month pay cut of the pilots in Kingfisher Airlines. The break even of Rs.7.75 crores paid by Mallya for KP would happen in less than a year. A small price to convert a test team to T 20 outfit!!

Theres enough and more star power at IPL this time around with Shilpa Shetty joining in the ranks of Preity Zinta, SRK, Katrina Kaif, Riya Sen and Juhi Chawla! The bids have soared through the sky for most of the 17 players who debut in IPL this year. Dhoni stands trounced by KP and Freddie as the top billed player. Interestinly, if i remember it correct, in IPL season 1 it was mainly the pool D,E,F players who provided the batting and bowling goods! Talk of Shaun Marsh? Gautam Gambhir? Shane Watson? So the highest bidded players were not the top draws in terms of results. VVS Laxman? Rahul Dravid? Sachin Tendulkar? Saurav Ganguly?

$1.5 million fee is pittance when you compare it with Messi's fee of $330 million in Spanish League! But well, cricket in its T 20 avatar is looking up steadily! You already have high passions at stake: Remember crying Srishant and Harbhajan's slap? Shane Warne has reported threatened not to play for Jaipur Royals if they shift base to Ahmedabad and Saurav Dada has indicated fitness for a T 20 go!

With the ad rates not so high this time around and companies being under seizure on account of a downturn, it would be interesting to see how much BCCI and Modi net in IPLs second coming! It would be interesting to do a Superbowl versus IPL kind of an analysis (specially now when the chips are down and out!). Watch this space.

WHo knows, India's deliverance from the downturn may be through the exuberrance of a sporting event after all!