The series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai yesterday are shocking and disturbing on many levels. Our hearts and sympathy go to the victims, their families and to the peace loving people of India.
I have had the great fortune of visiting India on several occasions over the last dozen years. To the first time visitor, India may cause sensory overload as all of our five senses are continuously stimulated by the unfamiliar. However, once one acclimates to the new stimulus, he will discover that India is a warm, inviting and magnificent place. Whether in India as a tourist, to visit friends or on business, I have developed a deep appreciation and affection for the country, its people and their culture.
Professionally, India is a rapidly emerging country with a deep well of educated, hardworking and ambitious people. Over the last dozen years, India developed into one of our most important economic partners. This trend will accelerate and continue in the future.
Strategically, it is an understatement to say that India is "the world's largest democracy." While true, India is not just another democracy. It is strategically located, sharing borders with China and Pakistan and close to many other threats including Iran and Afghanistan. Like Israel, every day India demonstrates to the world that it is possible for a democracy with progressive values, the rule of law, individual civil liberties, freedom of the press and religion to not only exist but also thrive in a part of the world where many do not feel it is possible. It is our common set of values that is the basis of the bond between our nations. Politically we will not always see eye to eye, friends sometimes disagree. However, India is among our most important strategic allies and friends in the world.
However, it is my personal bond with India that makes these attacks really hit home. When I visit Mumbai, I stay with the family of one of my closest and dearest friends, and I truly feel at home. Our families have grown close over the years and it is through this relationship that I developed a strong personal bond with India. Participating in his wedding was one of the most joyous and wonderful experiences I have known.
I have been to many of the places in Mumbai that were attacked yesterday. My friend goes to these places frequently as they are important locations for having meetings and conducting business. This morning, I received an email from him letting me know that all in his family are well. Yesterday, his parents were watching a movie at a theater near the Oberoi hotel. They spent the night at a nearby friend's place because they could not make it home.
Their experience in some ways is not too dissimilar from the experiences of New Yorkers on 9/11. The terrorists deliberately, brutally and mercilessly targeted innocent civilians and sought to murder as many people as possible. In this goal they were successful. The size and scope of the attacks required well developed detailed plans. Developing and executing these plans required patience, resources, frequent communication and practiced coordination. As on 9/11, the terrorists attacked locations that were more than just easy targets. They were important symbols of India. Attacking them was meant to send an unmistakable message that there are people who will stop at nothing to destroy our common values and way of life. We should never forget this valuable lesson.
Today, we in America are united with our friends in India. We mourn for their loss as if it were our own. But, today is also Thanksgiving. I am thankful that my friend and his family are all well. I am thankful that I live in a free society. I am thankful for all the men and women who have served and serve today in our armed forces who sacrifice so much on our behalf.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Thanksgiving is the Greatest Day of the Year!
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Thanksgiving brings families together
2. Thanksgiving brings friends together
3. Thanksgiving has real meaning
4. Thanksgiving is a national holiday for all Americans of all faiths or of no faith
5. Thanksgiving is historic
6. Thanksgiving is still not commercial
7. Watching football games on TV
8. Our tradition of a 'semi-touch' football game in the town park
9. An extra-long weekend
10. Thanksgiving meal may just be my favorite of the year...I can't wait!
Please let me wish a happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families.
-Elad
1. Thanksgiving brings families together
2. Thanksgiving brings friends together
3. Thanksgiving has real meaning
4. Thanksgiving is a national holiday for all Americans of all faiths or of no faith
5. Thanksgiving is historic
6. Thanksgiving is still not commercial
7. Watching football games on TV
8. Our tradition of a 'semi-touch' football game in the town park
9. An extra-long weekend
10. Thanksgiving meal may just be my favorite of the year...I can't wait!
Please let me wish a happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families.
-Elad
Obama's Appointment Decisions are Cause for Cautious Optimism
Thus far, President-elect Obama has demonstrated good judgment by bringing onto his team a group of experienced and well-respected leaders to head executive branch departments and serve in other advisory capacities. He is to be commended for several of his selections, including most of all, for asking Robert Gates to continue as Secretary of Defense for at least the first year of the new administration.
The continued service of Secretary Gates is important for national security as well as political considerations.
From the national security perspective, Secretary Gates has demonstrated an able hand to lead the Department of Defense while we are fighting in two theaters of operation. Following the turbulent Rumsfeld years, under Gates' stewardship, General Petreaus was able to successfully implement the surge strategy which reduced violence in Iraq and established the environment through which long-term victory may yet emerge. As the situation in Iraq eases, we are shifting resources to Afghanistan, and hopefully we will see improvement there as well. Changing leadership in this critical juncture in the war effort may risk our recent advancements. This risk is further magnified as the economy overshadows the war effort as the issue most attracting our attention.
Politically, the Gates decision demonstrates that President-elect Obama may govern 'from the center' as we desperately need him to do. It is a significant olive branch to the Republican Party, and while the leftist side of the Democratic Party may not approve, let us hope that it is indicative of more to come.
Obama's selections of Gates, Clinton and Geithner have drawn analogies to Lincoln's appointments of his rivals, including Seward, Chase and Bates, to critical cabinet positions. Some, and it goes without-saying, the mainstream media, have extended the analogy and bestowed upon Obama the reverence due our greatest President of all, Abraham Lincoln.
This Lincoln-like adoration is not yet due. It has to be earned. If Obama delivers on the lofty expectations that many have of him, then we should praise him and his achievements. However, let us wait before we do so. We should judge his actions and their results, not a dream. Comparing Obama to Lincoln, when he has yet to be inaugurated, is insulting to our collective intelligence and is more befitting behavior of members of a cult.
The continued service of Secretary Gates is important for national security as well as political considerations.
From the national security perspective, Secretary Gates has demonstrated an able hand to lead the Department of Defense while we are fighting in two theaters of operation. Following the turbulent Rumsfeld years, under Gates' stewardship, General Petreaus was able to successfully implement the surge strategy which reduced violence in Iraq and established the environment through which long-term victory may yet emerge. As the situation in Iraq eases, we are shifting resources to Afghanistan, and hopefully we will see improvement there as well. Changing leadership in this critical juncture in the war effort may risk our recent advancements. This risk is further magnified as the economy overshadows the war effort as the issue most attracting our attention.
Politically, the Gates decision demonstrates that President-elect Obama may govern 'from the center' as we desperately need him to do. It is a significant olive branch to the Republican Party, and while the leftist side of the Democratic Party may not approve, let us hope that it is indicative of more to come.
Obama's selections of Gates, Clinton and Geithner have drawn analogies to Lincoln's appointments of his rivals, including Seward, Chase and Bates, to critical cabinet positions. Some, and it goes without-saying, the mainstream media, have extended the analogy and bestowed upon Obama the reverence due our greatest President of all, Abraham Lincoln.
This Lincoln-like adoration is not yet due. It has to be earned. If Obama delivers on the lofty expectations that many have of him, then we should praise him and his achievements. However, let us wait before we do so. We should judge his actions and their results, not a dream. Comparing Obama to Lincoln, when he has yet to be inaugurated, is insulting to our collective intelligence and is more befitting behavior of members of a cult.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Post-Mortem for the Republican Party
I am not a card-carrying member of either party. I am a true independent. That said, I believe the Republican Party blew it. In 2002, the Republicans had so much momentum that they were swept into office overwhelmingly. It seemed that they had been given a mandate to govern that would last a generation. The Democrats were toast.
Then, the Republicans got to governing and they forgot many of the principles that they were supposed to advocate:
1. Reduce the size of government - instead they expanded it dramatically (Department of Homeland Security)
2. Reduce entitlements - instead they expanded old ones and created entire new ones. (Prescription drugs)
3. Run government more efficiently - instead they created layers of added bureaucracy. (no child left behind)
4. Run government more competently - instead they brought cronies with no legitimate credentials and experience into positions of importance (can you say Attorney General Gonzalez? FEMA director Michael Brown?)
5. Keep government off the backs of ordinary people - instead they drove government intervention deeper into our daily lives (can you say Terry Schaivo, Gay Marriage, Abortion)
6. Reduce the deficits - instead they spent like drunken sailors and created the largest deficits on record.
7. Run the government more ethically - instead we got scandals like Tom Delay
It is not that I am a Democrat; I am not. But, I cannot blame people for feeling betrayed and let down with the Republicans.
About the only thing that the Republicans remained true to their word was being strong on national security. And, on national security, the war was longer and more difficult (as all wars are) than Americans were led to believe it would be. It took a few extra years, and for the President to fire Rumsfeld and bring in Petreaus to finally get things right. So, while the war certainly did not help, I do not believe it hurt the Republicans in the end.
It really came down to the perception that the Republicans got drunk with power and used it selfishly, rather than in the interest of the country.
It is a testament to John McCain, the man, that the election was as close as it was. I believe that it could have been even closer, possibly resulting in a McCain victory had John McCain, the candidate, run a half-way effective campaign.
So, the Republican party is at a crossroads. It needs to figure out what it stands for and whom shall it include under its tent.
On the other hand, the Democrats now have unchecked control of both houses of Congress and the White House...they may get drunk on power the same way the Republicans just did.
Then, the Republicans got to governing and they forgot many of the principles that they were supposed to advocate:
1. Reduce the size of government - instead they expanded it dramatically (Department of Homeland Security)
2. Reduce entitlements - instead they expanded old ones and created entire new ones. (Prescription drugs)
3. Run government more efficiently - instead they created layers of added bureaucracy. (no child left behind)
4. Run government more competently - instead they brought cronies with no legitimate credentials and experience into positions of importance (can you say Attorney General Gonzalez? FEMA director Michael Brown?)
5. Keep government off the backs of ordinary people - instead they drove government intervention deeper into our daily lives (can you say Terry Schaivo, Gay Marriage, Abortion)
6. Reduce the deficits - instead they spent like drunken sailors and created the largest deficits on record.
7. Run the government more ethically - instead we got scandals like Tom Delay
It is not that I am a Democrat; I am not. But, I cannot blame people for feeling betrayed and let down with the Republicans.
About the only thing that the Republicans remained true to their word was being strong on national security. And, on national security, the war was longer and more difficult (as all wars are) than Americans were led to believe it would be. It took a few extra years, and for the President to fire Rumsfeld and bring in Petreaus to finally get things right. So, while the war certainly did not help, I do not believe it hurt the Republicans in the end.
It really came down to the perception that the Republicans got drunk with power and used it selfishly, rather than in the interest of the country.
It is a testament to John McCain, the man, that the election was as close as it was. I believe that it could have been even closer, possibly resulting in a McCain victory had John McCain, the candidate, run a half-way effective campaign.
So, the Republican party is at a crossroads. It needs to figure out what it stands for and whom shall it include under its tent.
On the other hand, the Democrats now have unchecked control of both houses of Congress and the White House...they may get drunk on power the same way the Republicans just did.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Warm Wishes for Our New President
E Pluribus Unum. This nation just experienced a wondrous event, the rise to the highest seat of government of a man that to most of us was an unknown figure only recently. The characteristics that make Barack Obama unique among the men who have been our Presidents are well known. It is not an exaggeration to say that what transpired in America in the last election in all likelihood could not happen anywhere else. And, while Barack Obama may turn out to be a great President, it is true that our great nation will never cease to amaze us. We are truly a light unto the world, a shining city on the hill.
And, we are optimistic. We have no choice but to be optimistic, as it is in our DNA. Barack Obama is our President now and we will support him, regardless of whether we voted for him or not. The country needs to be united as we face many challenges.
We know that as President, Obama will have a lot of unrestrained forces, Nancy Pelosi in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate, pulling him to the ideological far left.
It will take a strong man to stay in the middle. If he does, he can achieve great things, and will go down in history.
If he does not, he will be tossed out the way the Republicans were tossed out when they tried to take the country too far to the right.
Let us hope he rises to the task ahead.
May God Bless America.
And, we are optimistic. We have no choice but to be optimistic, as it is in our DNA. Barack Obama is our President now and we will support him, regardless of whether we voted for him or not. The country needs to be united as we face many challenges.
We know that as President, Obama will have a lot of unrestrained forces, Nancy Pelosi in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate, pulling him to the ideological far left.
It will take a strong man to stay in the middle. If he does, he can achieve great things, and will go down in history.
If he does not, he will be tossed out the way the Republicans were tossed out when they tried to take the country too far to the right.
Let us hope he rises to the task ahead.
May God Bless America.
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