Peace finally breaks out

NEWS BASED STORY BY BLOG's EDITOR:More than immediate peace, the painstaking Egyptian brokered Israel-Hamas truce is appreciated for vindicating advocates of dialogue and negotiations, setting the pace for the future as regards the Middle East's most complex problem, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.While few familiar with the region's history are lighting their cigars just yet, and the understanding could not prevent immediate exchange of limited hostilities, it is the most promising yet between Tel Aviv and Hamas at a time when both have pressing issues with the other they'd like taken care of sooner rather than later.After years of 'no negotiations with terrorists', a stance that registers closely with allies in Washington, Israel has apparently come to the conclusion that a little understanding isn't too bad if it halts the flurry of rockets into its southern establishments, even though their fatality threat is far smaller than the panic they cause. Hamas, for its part, has come to appreciate that its defiance is much better served without incessant Israeli bombardment and raids. Then there is the mutual give-and-take concerning Israel's long captured soldier Cpl Gilad Schalit in return for opening Gaza's borders to food and fuel supplies as acute shortage threatens to finally finish off struggling residents. On the surface the understanding seems to nicely balance both sides. Yet there are greater concerns that are bound to present themselves very quickly. Having taken the heat, Hamas will waste little time in refurbishing its supplies and rearming itself, an exercise that will make Israel see the deal as counter-productive, most probably inviting strong reaction. On the other hand, even if Hamas stays committed to its word, seeing its obvious immediate advantages, there is no guarantee numerous other militias will cease operations simply at its behest, such diverse has the Gazan splintered uprising become in the years of struggle, choke and lawlessness. Considering the odds, a realistic assessment does not see the understanding holding for long. Indeed, most pundits accord it little save the lull-before-the-storm brushing aside. Yet that is specifically why the international community must gear itself for far greater involvement. For a US administration that has only recently promised taking up Palestine as its legacy initiative, the timing could not be better. The agreement, however fragile, is a great victory of use of negotiations as opposed to muscle. Hamas' actions following its promise should be seen very carefully, and cooperation should be rewarded so it has something to show for the new approach. As for Israel, even its firmest supporters will struggle to find instances where the Jewish state has honoured promises with regard to its role in the Middle East. Counting the six long decades of its illegal occupation, that makes for a very long list of lies.For better or worse, regional powers are clinging to the understanding as the most positive development to have emerged from the conflict in quite some time. Keeping it on track will require skilful diplomacy from regional and non-regional players alike. Considering the way the Middle East has been damaged in the recent past, it seems unlikely any stakeholder will take this opportunity lightly

Tarique's spinal cord broken

TAREQ RAHMAN Who is son of Ex-President Zia-ur Rahman and 3 times prime minister begum Khaleda Zia.Spinal cord of Tarique Rahman is broken, causing acute pain in his waist and neck, a physician at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said on Saturday.Private TV channel I quoting Prof Yunus reported that Tarique, who is undergoing treatment at BSMMU hospital prison cell, is also suffering from pains in his right hip- joint. "His condition has deteriorated," the doctor said, adding that he needs treatment abroad.Earlier, detained ex-PM Khaleda Zia had alleged that her son was in good health before his arrest and questioned why he cannot walk now being under government custody.About Khaleda Zia's health, DIG (Prisons) Maj Shamsul Haider Siddiqui said she developed swelling in the wrist of her left hand and was also suffering from pains in her knees due to arthritis.The BNP chairperson preferred her treatment at the United Hospital in Gulshan, as she doesn't want to go abroad for treatment. She is rather calling for sending abroad her two detained ailing sons-Tarique and Coco for their proper treatment.

TIB(BANGLADESH) ON CORRUPTION

If graft alone eats away a country's 3.84 per cent of per capita income, the pervasiveness of corruption can only be imagined. One wonders what would be the percentage of GDP growth if the country could get rid of such massive corruption. Earlier the World Bank estimated that Bangladesh lost 2 per cent GDP growth to corruption. What is however so disconcerting is that contrary to a general feeling, corruption in some sectors in fact increased in the first half of 2007. The overall corruption picture remains almost same as before despite the Caretaker government's much vaunted anti-corruption drive, the regular biennial survey and fourth of its kind, conducted by the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) concludes. Sector-wise, education, health, land administration, local government and different utility services sector recorded increased corruption and the law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, power, banking and tax sectors registered a slight decline in the magnitude of corruption compared to the previous six months. So, the sectors on which was the spotlight recorded a decline in corruption, albeit in a small measure because in terms of magnitude the law enforcement agencies together with land administration are still massively corrupt. Admittedly much of the country's fight against corruption depends on getting corruption curbed particularly in the law enforcement agencies because they are the tools for fighting this socio-economic vice at the grass-roots level. We have often heard that the police are no longer under any political influence and therefore can take independent decisions. Also there is perceptible attempt to turn the agency more accountable than it ever was and the best measure of this was the punishment meted out to members of various law enforcement agencies, the number of whom has been all-time high. Turning small gains into triumphYet it needs to be realised that endemic corruption cannot be rooted out overnight. It is a continuous process and the small gains made have to be turned into bigger triumphs in the long run. It is impractical to change the administration and the public service sectors lock, stock and barrel. But given the political will and people's active participation in the process through creation of public awareness, reforms can indeed be brought about in the functioning of public offices. When corruption rises even in the education sector, it surely is a cause for serious concern. The TIB report has found increase in petty corruption as also higher rates of bribery in sectors where corruption has recorded a decline. So we suggest a long-term plan, say a 10-year one, for bringing corruption down to a tolerable level from where a final onslaught will be launched to eliminate this vice once for all.

OBAMA SAY "SORRY"

Obama apologizes to Muslim women over picture snub AFP, WashingtonWhite House hopeful Barack Obama personally apologized Thursday to two Muslim women after campaign volunteers barred them from appearing in a picture because of their headscarves.Obama spoke by telephone with Shimaa Abdelfadeel and left a message to Hebba Aref after Muslim leaders urged the Democrat to personally apologize to the women.The campaign has blamed the incident on volunteers who, during a rally in Detroit, Michigan on Monday told the two Muslim women they could not stand behind Obama because of their "hijab" headgear."The actions of these volunteers were unacceptable and in no way reflect any policy of my campaign," Obama said in a statement."Our campaign is about bringing people together, and I'm grateful that Ms Abdelfadeel accepted our apology and I hope Ms Aref and any who were offended accept my apology as well," he said.The Obama campaign had already apologized for the snub.But the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) had called for a personal apology from Obama to help redress the grievance and also combat growing anti-Islamic sentiment in the United States."Although we welcome the Obama campaign's apology, we are extremely concerned about the level of Islamophobia in our society that would prompt other minorities to view Muslim supporters as potential liabilities," CAIR's national legislative director Corey Saylor said in a statement."We hope that Senator Obama will personally apologize to the two women and (show) that he decries the current Islamophobic climate in our nation that is not only attacking him, but has even jaded some within his own campaign." CAIR, the leading US group for Muslims' civil rights, also urged Obama to invite the women to the stage during a future campaign event.Dawud Walid, executive director of CAIR's Michigan branch, told AFP that Abdelfadeel and Aref were "very pleased that the senator personally called them to apologize."The women said Obama told them that "such behavior has no place in his campaign and does not represent his values," Walid said, adding that CAIR welcomed the apology.Obama, who is Christian and promises to turn a page on America's cultural wars, has struggled to counter false Internet rumors that he is a Muslim

OBAMA "THE ONE"

Obama "the one", the only candidate this cycle -- besides Ron Paul, of course -- to get donations from actual Americans as versus the pressure groups, has decided not to take socialist funding, and instead depend on private gifts for his campaign. McCain, the social nationalist, is squealing.
A Republican op was attacking Obama on TV over this: "He changed his mind on public financing. Can he be trusted on taxes, on Israel?"
Isn't that a slightly odd question?