Josef Stalin

http://www.history.com/topics/joseph-stalin

Once more on Rommel

No Field Marshal praises another Field Marshal, perhaps for professional reasons; but take a look at this : Field Marshal Walther Model, one of the ablest and most strategic German commanders (Russian Front in World War 2 ), later Commander in Chief, Western Front ,does the following at Rommel’s funeral : He published an Order of the Day in which he referred to Rommel as "one of the greatest of German Commanders. ...with a lightening power of decision, a soldier of the greatest bravery and of unequal dash. ...always in the front line; he inspired his men to new deeds of heroism by his example. ...

A New Kind of World War

OPINION For many of us, it may not be obvious. The prelude towards the third world war has already started. This time against a cancer, an enemy without a state. A deadly, dangerous (ruthless ), hidden and ever rapidly spreading world enemy. An enemy without uniforms, who can strike anywhere and everywhere, because they cannot be seen outside Syria and Iraq among the civilian population. They don't have a base; no territory of their own, which makes them even more dangerous. It would have been easy to defeat them if they were a state enemy. We Indians are not bothered; perhaps because we don't understand the magnitude of the situation; and perhaps also because of religious ' restraints '. I am talking about the ISIS. We thought the Taliban were dangerous; maybe they are; but the ISIS have quickly overtaken them, and have extremely rapidly spread their tentacles. The ISIS have a magnetic drawing power for recruitment, because of their extreme ruthlessness. Youth find excitement in suddenly becoming powerful and feared. So they join the movement. And mind you : the youth from many a country! The US have made mistakes in Iraq and Afghanistan previously; and now in Syria; so they are wary and unsure this time, to the extent that President Obama shocked his country by saying that he doesn't have a definite plan of action against the ISIS. Russia has it's own reasons for bombing and making air strikes in Syria ( albeit with clandestine US approval perhaps; but granted that Vladimir Putin does not require permission from anyone to bomb anyone ). Today we see France and Germany join the air strikes against the ISIS. France because of the ISIS strike in Paris recently, and for other reasons too perhaps. The UK too; they have been an ally of the US since WWII; perhaps even WWI. The recent ISIS strike in California have left the Americans shocked. So we now see a more definite Obama! Let us see in the days to come, what happens. It will not be an easy fight ( war ), unless people counter react promptly and unitedly. My personal view is that all nations of the world should unite with a clear and definite policy to wipe out this cancer with the same ruthlessness and determination through which it was born. THIS CAN BE DONE. This, then is ' my ' ( sorry 'Our ') WW III ! -- Sent from Fast notepad

The Opposition in India

https://prajkhowa1.wordpress.com/

OPINION & VIEWS

Mr Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi at present, for a second time, after a disgrace in his first  tenure.

One would expect him to get down to the business of administration and such other  duties of a CM now.

For more  than a month after he was elected, he was missing from office because he had a cough problem, and thought it wise to get himself into a yoga training centre.

Now for many months after he has joined office, he spends more time canvassing to people over the radio announcing the many things his government has done,and how he has already kept his word about his pre-election promises to the people of Delhi. One can hear his voice on the  radio every twenty minutes telling everyone what a "great guy he is"!

Perhaps he has forgotten that the elections are over? Nay, he is canvassing for his next tenure without realising that first he has to get down to work, and do genuine business in this tenure!

But not everyone would understand his tactics. Least not the "aam admi" section who do not see through politics, who are poor and uneducated. His target in his tantrums are these people!

Clever, no?! Hoodwinking  is one thing; but the jester does not realise that one cannot hoodwink everyone all the time.

I wish him luck; and the "aam admi" more "akal" to see through things as they are.

ÒPINION: RAHUL GANDHI

The Congress Party, after decades of ruling the country, has lost horriblly ìn the last general  elections.

Scam after scam, indecision, throwing the   buck on others,not taking responsibility squarely on their own shoulders, ťoo many formalities  in making even a simple decision, has çost them heavily. Top this up with a makeshift Prime Minister who was incapable of making  decisions of his own,and seeing them through for ten years. He had no voice, a lackey to Sonia Gandhi,  who could not reach out to the people.

When something  ģoes wrong ,committes  are formed. When there is still no answer, sub-committes are formed. There is no proper supervision over these committees,with the result that no work was done.

What is the value of a national political party of the Congresses' grace that they disregard their senior and more seasoned members and put a young 'kid' at the helm? He throws his weight with people of his father's age, is aggressive, thinks that by gimmicks he can win over the younger generation. And then for some reason he disappears from the scene totally for a month or two.

In my opinion,  Mr Rahul Gandhi has to learn about  India, and what it means to be an Indian. The common Indian is no fool.He is well aware of  what is happening.

Secondly he has to study and mature as a politician. This cannot be done overnight. It takes years. Thirdly he has to respect his elders, and learn to seek advice. Then again he has to cut the apron strings that tie him to his mother.

Fourthly he has to develop a personality. Just being aggressive with his mother backing him will not do. He has to realise that the Congress Party doesn't belong to him or his family. He also has to take it in his stride that Sonia Gandhi is a person non-grata in Indian Politics today.

Rahul Gandhi is making a fool out of himself in the public eye. The  Indian public is vibrant and mature, and can't  be taken for a ride.

It will take time for the Indian National Congress to come up again. My take is that it will take quite some time. They need to find a strong leader with solid backing. At the moment  they have none.

~ Dr Pranjal Rajkhowa

OPINION : Mr Arvind Kejriwal

The tussle between the AAP ( read Arvind Kejriwal ) and the Lt Governor of Delhi, Mr Jung, is becoming an embarrassment to India and abroad.
There is a hidden reason to this tussle; the common man may not be able to see through this; but many people do.

Mr Kejriwal is given to tantrums, gimmicks, playing to the galleries, and drama which will catch the common man's emotions. He banks on this for political mileage. He calls himself an anarchist, which he probably is, judging by what was going on in his last short tenure as CM, and this new tenure too.

Emotional blackmail of the public, strances and drama is all right if you look at him as a politician in the short run. But in the long run, this could be self destructive.

He has no respect for the law, knows very little about governance, and by the time he does get down to proper governance, he will be long gone, and remembered as a jester.

Aurangzeb would have probably loved to have him as a court jester, and then perhaps would have put him to the sword.

Why does Mr Kejriwal oppose everything?  He tries to recruit policemen from Bihar for the Delhi Police, which constitutionally is not under his control. He promises hundreds of jobs to people of his own choice without knowing that there are set rules and norms for recruitment. I am saying " without knowing ", but my take is that he very well knows this.

Why does he want the control of the Anti Corruption Bureau? He behaves as if he already owns this Bureau!

To hundreds and thousands of voters who have made him the CM of Delhi a second time ( despite his losing face in the first ), he has become a thorn in the neck, and has vanquished their aspirations.

His continuous fight with the Lt Governor, Mr Jung, is an embarrassment to India and abroad.

What will Mr Modi do?  Nothing perhaps. Mr Modi has no time for jokers and will wait for Kejriwal to destroy himself!