Not sure if this has been discussed here on IF, and also not sure if a new member can start a topic, but if it's ok with forum protocol, here goes:

It is becoming increasingly clear that a key aspect of Pak self-denial about the 26/11 having been perpetrated by Paks is that the terrorists could not have made the passage from Karachi and landed in Mumbai without being detected and apprehended. This myth persists even among the RAPE.

IF and a few other sites are regularly visited by Paks and others as their source of information and perspectives. Maybe this subject of the sea passage and how it was accomplished could be examined here as well to add to the information out there and provide uncle google with more sources on the subject.

The above topic has been discussed in some detail on BRF - the government has made many of the documents available online (don't have the links now. It is easily googled, I suppose).

If its not OK for a new member to start a topic, please delete.

<b>EVM: Dangers Of Trusting Them Too Much</b>

By Subramanian Swamy

There is much talk today about electoral rigging in the recent general elections. These doubts have arisen from the unexpected number of seats won by the Congress, and they are accentuated by the spate of articles recently published in reputed computer engineering journals and in the popular international press. All raise doubts about the EVMs.

For example, International Electrical & Electronics Engineering Journal (May 2009, p 23) has published an article by two professors of computer science, titled: Trustworthy Voting. They conclude that while electronic voting machines offer a myriad of benefits, nine suggested safeguards are absolutely essential to protect the integrity of outcomes. None of these safeguards are in place in Indian EVMs. In India they do not meet the standard of national integrity.

Newsweek magazine (June 1) has published an article by Evgeny Morozov, who points out that when Ireland embarked on an ambitious e-voting scheme in 2006, such as fancy touch-screen voting machines, it was widely welcomed: Three years and 51 million euros later, in April, the government scrapped the initiative. What doomed the effort was a lack of trust: the electorate just didn’t like it that the machines would record their votes as mere electronic blips, with no tangible record.

A backlash against e-voting is brewing all over Europe. After almost two years of deliberations, Germany’s Supreme Court ruled last March that e-voting was unconstitutional because the average citizen could not be expected to understand the exact steps involved in the recording and tallying of votes. Political scientist Ulrich Wiesner, a physicist who filed the initial lawsuit said in an interview with the German magazine Der Spiegel that the Dutch Nedap machines used in Germany were even less secure than mobile phones. The Dutch public-interest group ‘Wij Vertrouwen Stemcomputers Niet’ (We Do Not Trust Voting Machines) produced a video showing how quickly the Nedap machines could be hacked without voters or election officials being aware (the answer: in five minutes). After the clip was broadcast on national television in October 2006, the Netherlands banned all electronic voting machines.

Why are EVMs so vulnerable? Each step in the life cycle of a voting machine — from the time it is developed and installed to when the votes are recorded and the data transferred to a central repository for tallying — involves different people gaining access to the machines, often installing new software. It wouldn’t be hard for, say, an election official to paint a parallel programme under another password, on one or many voting machines that would ensure one outcome or another pre-determined even before voters arrived at the poll stations.

These dangers have been known to the Election Commission since 2000, when M S Gill, then CEC, had arranged at my initiative for professor Sanjay Sarma of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Gitanjali Swamy of Harvard to demonstrate how un-safeguarded the chips in EVMs were. Some changes in procedures were made by the EC, but not on the fundamental flaws. In 2004, the Supreme Court First Bench, of Chief Justice V N Khare, Justices Babu and Kapadia had directed the election commission to consider the technical flaws in EVMs put forward by Satinath Choudhary, a US-based software engineer in a Public Interest Litigation. But the EC has failed to consider his representation.

There are many ways to prevent EVM fraud. One way to reduce the risk is to have machines print a paper record of each vote, which voters could then deposit into a conventional ballot box. While this procedure would ensure that each vote can be verified, using paper ballots defeats the purpose of electronic voting in the first place. Using two machines produced by different manufacturers would decrease the risk of a security compromise, but wouldn’t eliminate it.

A better way, it is argued in the cited International Electrical & Electronics Engineering Journal article, is to expose the software behind electronic voting machines to public scrutiny. The root problem of electronic machines is that the computer programs that run them are usually closely held trade secrets (it doesn’t help that the software often runs on the Microsoft Windows operating system, which is not the world’s most secure). Having the software closely examined and tested by experts not affiliated with the company would make it easier to close technical loopholes that hackers can exploit. Experience with Web servers has shown that opening software to public scrutiny can uncover potential security breaches.

Now the Madras High Court is soon to hear a PIL on the EVMs. This is good news. The time has arrived for a long hard look at these machines. Otherwise elections would soon lose their credibility. All political parties must collect evidence to determine how many constituencies could have been rigged. The number would not exceed 75 in my opinion.

We can identify them as follows: Any result in which the main losing candidate of a recognised party finds that more than 10 per cent of the polling booths showed less than five votes per booth, should be taken prima facie as a constituency in which rigging has taken place. This is because the main recognised parties usually have more than five workers per booth, and hence with their families would poll a minimum of 25 votes per booth for their party candidate. Hence if these 25 voters can given affidavits affirming who they had voted for, then the high court can treat it as evidence and order a full inquiry.

We need to study the origins and growth of US Evangelical movements like Baptists, Epscopalians, Mormons etc. These also are the core supporters of the US conservative movements. The US interaction with other countries has their POV.

THe Indian leadership is taking a beating even after the election

Despite hard-fought win, DMK image takes a beating

R.K.Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI: The sheen of the hard-fought victory in the Lok Sabha elections in the State has faded: DMK’s tremendous show in the parliamentary elections has been relegated to the background following the party’s inability to finalise its list of representatives to the Cabinet more than a week after the win. The gains made in the elections came against seemingly insurmountable odds, especially in the Vanniyar dominated north Tamil Nadu and the acutely caste-conscious deep south. The DMK had fought the elections like it had done never before – in most places, there was hardly any dissent and there were no complaints of DMK leaders working at cross purposes from any district. Its Ministers and district secretaries worked as one unit, even if they had serious differences.

In fact, the district bosses of four northern districts where the PMK holds considerable sway – Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Vellore – promised the Chief Minister that they would come back and meet him only if they managed to win the seats allocated to them. If not, they told him, he should find replacements.

Such was the dedication of senior leaders that most of them went without rest for days on end; checking and re-checking the work in each block and even the lower levels and drawing up fire-fighting plans in areas where people expressed dissatisfaction over the State government’s performance.
Tall demands

Many of them feel let down over the manner in which the party has conducted itself since. “We [the DMK] have been reduced to a laughing stock in Delhi. It is time we took a hard look at ourselves,” said one leader.

Ever since the process of formation of the new government began in New Delhi, the DMK has been at the receiving end of some nasty jokes and has been reduced to laughing stock in the media, with anchor after anchor ridiculing the party for its tall demands. The DMK’s demand for five Cabinet berths was laughed off and its subsequent demand for one Cabinet berth more than last time (last time it was three – till the Communications and Information Technology Minister Dayanidhi Maran resigned) was turned down as unacceptable.

A few party seniors wonder the source for one particular story that made headlines day after day in the media: that Senior Ministers T.R.Baalu and A.Raja were not acceptable to the Congress and the Prime Minister. Both the Prime Minister and the Congress have denied that they had placed any such demand. In fact, a few Congress leaders, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Vyalar Ravi, are on record saying that it is the prerogative of the party who it nominates to the Cabinet.

“The entire press corps will not run the same story unless someone fairly senior spoke to each one of them. I think our party will have to find out who this person is and which party he or she belongs to,” said a leader.

Representatives of a few other political parties felt that the second term of the UPA Government has got off on a wrong note, only because of the DMK.

Ironically, it was DMK that formed the nucleus for the formation of the UPA ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha elections. They feel that the DMK Ministers in the Cabinet and its Ministers of State will have their hands full for an extended period of time – initially to prove to the Prime Minister, the Congress and its allies that they can deliver, and second, to prove to the sceptical voter and the country that the initial hiccups were mere markers that any small party will have to set to dictate the terms of engagement over the longer term.

http://www.swapan55.com
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"They won all the battles, we had the best songs"*

[* A line from a Communist song from the Spanish Civil War]

Apologies for not writing yesterday. I was busy pontificating on TV and finishing my columns which have appeared in today's Times of India and Pioneer.

What are the specific lessons for the BJP?

    * The party must recognise that this was a political failure and not merely a defeat caused by management shortcomings.
    * The so-called "Hindu" appeal may work in specific areas (Pilibhit, Mangalore, Azamgarh, Kandhamal, et al) but it is perceived as divisive elsewhere.
    * The ugly face of Hindu extremism puts off the middle ground.
    * There is no such thing as a Hindu consciousness that exists today. The nationalist middle ground has shifted to the Congress.
    * The BJP leadership is seen as completely unresponsive to youth aspirations and modernity.
    * There is a tendency of the BJP to preach to the committed and not reach outwards.
    * In caste terms, we are witnessing a definite drift of the upper castes to the Congress.
    * The OBCs are now the bedrock of the BJP but this has not been formally acknowledged.
    * The RSS-isation of the BJP organisation post-2005 has created serious distortions.
    * The integrity quotient of the BJP is now at par with that of the Congress. This is a problem that the moral guardians of the party have wilfully turned a blind eye to.

What should the BJP do immediately?

    * Recognise the magnitude of defeat and not live in denial (as happened in 2004).
    * There has to be some visible demonstration of the fact that the party has responded to the message. Advani was right to step down and the Parliamentary Board was wrong to reject it. There is still a very important role for Advani but his position is that of a mentor.
    * There has to be a revamp of most state parties. Young, dynamic MLAs and MPs must be given organisational responsibilities.
    * The RSS-non-RSS divide in the party must be bridged. Those who never attended shakhas can't be treated as second-class members.
    * The BJP must focus on the policy debates in the coming two years. Interventions in Parliament must be given due importance. The Leaders of Opposition in both Houses must be chosen accordingly.
    * The party needs to project a modern, cosmopolitan face as national president to woo back the middle classes. What is needed is a picture of wholesome sobriety. The sooner this is done the better.
    * A culture of frankness and debate has to return to the party. The miscalculations resulting from telling the leadership what it wanted to hear were colossal.
    * Modi has to add the OBC tag to his appeal. His pronouncements must become more measured. He has to work on his national acceptability.
    * Stringent norms of fund collection should be set. The private war chests have caused havoc to the functioning of the party.

<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-dhu+May 16 2009, 12:17 PM-->QUOTE(dhu @ May 16 2009, 12:17 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->There was a planned six month break in terror attacks.  Now they will begin again.  Maybe Jihad in UP.  BJP did its best.  It is Indians who have failed.
[right][snapback]97300[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What about the blasts in Assam...?

==

Was everything clean in elections or was there any high tech conspiracy - thanks to Navin Chawla?

Silver lining:
- resounding rout of commies... total tally of Left looking between 25-30 for the first time in about 3 decades. Bengal celebrates.
- Paswan has been wiped out. no seat for LJP. Lalu reduced to just 4.
- Jehadi Ansari of BSP - defeated from Gazipur.
- TR Balu defeated, so also chidambaram.

==

Now where does the BJP go from here? From what I hear on TV discussions - to further secularization. Good for them: vinAshakAle...etc.

==

UP is a surprise! Congress won more than 20 seats? Including Vajpayee's Lucknow!

Thursday, April 30, 2009
Commentary : The Indian Elections & The Hindu Populace

Samhati Sambad
April 30, 2009

Commentary : The Indian Elections & The Hindu Populace
The heat of Elections is on. Election Trumpets sounds in high pitch. This is the season of the Political Parties. All of them are in the battle field. But the season is not only made for them. This season creates opportunity for others also.


For example, this is a lucrative season for the advertisement agencies. The business grows abundantly for election materials like banners , hoardings, posters, flexes, key-rings etc. etc. And the season is equally ripe for those minority goons, who have been keeping their eyes upon the Hindu women and girls very with an insatiable desire or lust.

The purpose behind it is two dimensional. First, the Abduction of Hindu girls and women for nikaha, i.e. marriage with Muslims to fulfill personal pleasure; secondly to traffic them to other states or abroad as a lucrative trade. And obviously, ensure a ticket for the voyage to Jannat (Islamic paradise) by dint of virtue for converting, hence spoiling a Hindu women (this is best if she is a Hindu virgin)- a kaffir as per Quranic dictum. This can be done at any time. But this is de time la carte, for deriving more advantages in this election season. No leader, political party and peers groups will be able to raise even the little finger towards our minority brothers for such pious activities, let alone call it a pure crime. If the Police puts a feeble effort to arrest them, we level it immediately as an attack towards minority, and therefore, communal. Under the veil of a Democracy inter-alias Votecracy , we are bound to protect our Muslims as the priceless symbol of the minority status-a pride of self-proclaimed pseudo-secular democracy. The political leaders are bound to take the side of minorities to ensure their support as a vote-bank. As this secret spreads open all round the corner, the police do nothing but shamelessly indulging the hooligans. As a result, the Hindu girls are abducted or trafficked regularly in this season. Majority of them are minors. Their beleaguered parents are roaming from door to door, helplessly, with moistening eyes. The parents do not dare to convey their pain to the leaders of political parties at the face of their ‘not so important ’-secular gesture. These victims are finally find no other way but to appeal those Muslims, those culprits, marauders to get back their girls at the last resort. And it is the eventuality that those Muslim gangsters kick the Hindu parents out with an ultimatum to cut them into pieces and threaten them of more such dire consequences of their family, if they go any further.

As the election slogans are roaring high in the air, a series of news of abduction of Hindu girls and women are coming profusely from the villages of West Bengal every day to our central office of Hindu Samhati. If we want to weave the incidents together in an overall back-drop of election scenario of rural Bengal, we can only hear a heart rendering wailing, sobs and cry, sounded with formidable alacrity. And the wail, the pain, the suffering are now being suppressed and erased by the louder sound of the election drums.

Under such prevailing circumstances, no Political Party would likely to come forward to protect the dignity of Hindus. Nobody will express the human desire to fight for the existence of the hapless Hindus. It is our firm resolution. Therefore, we confirm, there is no endeavour to protect the persecuted Hindus or rescue the Hindu girls from the Muslim goons at any level. So, Hindu Samhati (HS), on behalf of the full strength of our organization, vows not to support any political party in the ensuing Election to the House of the People. We and the local workers of HS will decide to vote the Candidates or the Political Parties upon their attitude and attributes reflected to the cause of Hindus. We should realize that this Election is not the last one. We have to prepare for the post-election phase. That may be more fatal for the Hindus. But we have to fight for Hindus till the last breath. The protection of Hindus is our ultimate aim, our only goal, our sole mission.

This thread is to discuss about Indian Christians.
How they interact in the diaspora and how they interact with the west.

What do they tell the western people regarding Indians.

<b>Quetta-based Taliban move to Karachi</b><!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->PESHAWAR - Fearing US drone attacks, <b>a large number of Taliban’s Afghan leaders have shifted from Quetta to Karachi, Peshawar and other cities.</b>

TheNation has learnt from some highly reliable sources that Taliban leaders after discussing in detail the situation, <b>caused by recent threats of drone attacks by the United States, United Kingdom and other allies, had decided to vacate Quetta with immediate effect. </b>

<b>The sources said that majority of the top leaders have shifted to Karachi, Peshawar and other areas of Pakistan and are now living in a low profile.</b> The sources also informed that <b>Taliban leaders are under tremendous pressure of “certain friends to have ‘understanding’ with both Iran and China.”</b>Moreover, Taliban leadership has intensified efforts for collecting maximum donations from their Arab world’s well-wishers and in this respect Maulvi Hamdullah has been made Taliban representative for the Gulf region. Moreover, Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar Akhund has written letters to around one thousands well-wishers and philanthropists asking them for funds. Most of these well-wishers belonged to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Maulana Hamdullah is considered amongst the most confidential aide to Mullah Omar since 1994. He had been heading the Finance Department in Qandahar during Taliban’s rule from 1994 till November 2001.
Meanwhile, Taliban leadership has also announced posting of Maulvi Qudratullah Jamal as Liaison Officer for the well-wishers and friends throughout the world. Maulana Qudratullah Jamal had been a minister in Taliban regime.

<b>The Taliban leadership has also posted Maulvi Muatasem as head of Finance Committee, Maulvi Abdul Kabir as head of political Affairs Committee, Maulvi Aminullah as Commander for Orazgaan province, Amir Khan Mutaqqi as head of Culture and Information, Mullah Jalil as head for Interior Affairs and Mullah Baradar as special aide to Mullah Omar.</b>

The sources informed that purpose of this reshuffling is to stimulate Taliban activities all over Afghanistan. Despite finalizing frequent strategies, the Taliban militants are yet to embark on summer offensive against the United States-led allies in Afghanistan.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...rfyaEmLkHjB2TlQ

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->World health officials stepped up the battle against a new swine flu blamed for dozens of deaths in Mexico, after the US declared a public emergency amid signs the disease was spreading.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->