Odd, Interesting and Irrelevant
Gilbert Arenas of the NBA Washington Wizards (formerly Baltimore Bullets and Washington Bullets) scored a franchise record 60 points against the Los Angeles Lakers at their home arena. Wilt Chamberlain is the only other person to score 60 on the Lakers; he did it 4 times. Arenas and the Wizards won.
After the game, Laker Kobe Bryant said of Arenas, "He doesn't have much of a conscience. ... Some of the shots he took [Bryant "covered" Arenas] tonight, you miss those shots and they're just terrible shots."
Kobe is partly right; but he is also a major, me-first, conscienceless player in a league full of them. It defies logic and reality for him to point the finger at anyone else.
Read more!Friday, December 15, 2006
Trade and National Security
President Bush signed the Henry Hyde US-India Peaceful Atomic Energy Cooperation Act, culminating a long uphill climb for the two largest democracies in the world. Relations hit a new low in 1998 when India and Pakistan set off nuclear devices, subjecting each to mandated Glenn Amendment sanctions by the US.
The sanctions were no surprise; but the detonations made clear that the threat of them had not been effective. All parties immediately set to work to find ways to end the sanctions; progress was slow until 9/11 made clear the need for improved relations and cooperation on anti-terrorism.
Even with the new US law much remains to be done. India and the US must negotiate an agreement (to be ratified by the US Congress) that will details future nuclear trade and cooperation. Then, India and the International Atomic Energy Agency must agree on international conditions and safeguards. And that agreement must come before the final step -- the 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group must change its rules to allow nuclear cooperation with India.
The road has been long and difficult and will continue to be. But in enacting the law, President Bush and the Congress have shown the recognition -- and have made it clear to other nations -- that nuclear issues are not amenable to an "one solution fits all" approach. The US has not extended the same kind of deal to Pakistan, which was previously involved in proliferation. The US is working very hard to get international cooperation and pressure exerted on Iran and on North Korea to avoid their becoming true nuclear powers. Both efforts are frustrating, but must continue, even as we work with India and the international community to institutionalize nuclear cooperation and to prevent proliferation. Read more!
The sanctions were no surprise; but the detonations made clear that the threat of them had not been effective. All parties immediately set to work to find ways to end the sanctions; progress was slow until 9/11 made clear the need for improved relations and cooperation on anti-terrorism.
Even with the new US law much remains to be done. India and the US must negotiate an agreement (to be ratified by the US Congress) that will details future nuclear trade and cooperation. Then, India and the International Atomic Energy Agency must agree on international conditions and safeguards. And that agreement must come before the final step -- the 45 nation Nuclear Suppliers Group must change its rules to allow nuclear cooperation with India.
The road has been long and difficult and will continue to be. But in enacting the law, President Bush and the Congress have shown the recognition -- and have made it clear to other nations -- that nuclear issues are not amenable to an "one solution fits all" approach. The US has not extended the same kind of deal to Pakistan, which was previously involved in proliferation. The US is working very hard to get international cooperation and pressure exerted on Iran and on North Korea to avoid their becoming true nuclear powers. Both efforts are frustrating, but must continue, even as we work with India and the international community to institutionalize nuclear cooperation and to prevent proliferation. Read more!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Dubai Ports World and US National Security
An industry-government advisory panel calls for tighter US port security(www.dcexaminer.com://12/12/06.p.20). We could have begun that last summer if politicians had put port security before self-interest. We had the perfect opportunity to strengthen security through agreements with Dubai Ports World, a foreign terminal operator that was about to begin US operations.
Politicians of both parties reacted with hysteria at the news that a company owned by the Government of Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, would operate terminal facilities in 6 US ports (not "own" the ports, as was widely reported). They had been silent when a British firm managed those facilities, but when DPW bought that company, politicians and reporters overreacted, mangled the facts and did the nation a disservice. DPW agreed to sell its US rights; it announced a deal with AIG Investors, last week.
Before it was shouted out of the country, DPW had committed to work with the US Government to introduce extra security measures; that wasn't good enough for the alarmists who ignored the facts: DPW, one of the largest terminal firms, is recognized as the most high-tech and the most efficient. It ships cargoes into US ports every day from facilities around the world -- most of which are monitored by US Government agencies, as are cargoes shipped by other terminal operators. Homeland Security, Customs and the Coast Guard recognize the importance of monitoring operations overseas and on the high seas. They do so, and they will heighten their operations here in the US under new legislation providing $60 million for port security upgrades.
So the panel is correct; we need to increase US port security. Now, if we can only keep the hysterics out of it.
Read more!
Politicians of both parties reacted with hysteria at the news that a company owned by the Government of Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, would operate terminal facilities in 6 US ports (not "own" the ports, as was widely reported). They had been silent when a British firm managed those facilities, but when DPW bought that company, politicians and reporters overreacted, mangled the facts and did the nation a disservice. DPW agreed to sell its US rights; it announced a deal with AIG Investors, last week.
Before it was shouted out of the country, DPW had committed to work with the US Government to introduce extra security measures; that wasn't good enough for the alarmists who ignored the facts: DPW, one of the largest terminal firms, is recognized as the most high-tech and the most efficient. It ships cargoes into US ports every day from facilities around the world -- most of which are monitored by US Government agencies, as are cargoes shipped by other terminal operators. Homeland Security, Customs and the Coast Guard recognize the importance of monitoring operations overseas and on the high seas. They do so, and they will heighten their operations here in the US under new legislation providing $60 million for port security upgrades.
So the panel is correct; we need to increase US port security. Now, if we can only keep the hysterics out of it.
Read more!
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