Cuba - Neoliberal tonic cannot wait till Castro's Death

We interrupt the important coverage of the Middle East Crisis to bring to you the imminent (rumored) death of Fidel Castro...

However, the question is more fundamental. Should neoliberalism wait till Fidel dies or can it happen during his lifetime?

Here a fundamental philosophical issue I have with Western Philosophical positions. There is a feeling of “eternity” that transcends over space and time. The Cuban Revolution was a great event of its time and was necessary to pull out Cuba from a conservative oppression. And as with all revolutions there are excesses and this was no exception.

However, it seems that it is the revolution that seems to be the end and not Cuba. The revolution is just one step in moving forward. Cuba after the revolution was more or less like India after independence. As time progressed the operational philosophy changed. And the bitter tonic of neoliberalism is working pretty well, at least for now.

So why not Cuba? It has (seemingly) an excellent education and health-care system. Why not add free market liberalism with it? I'm not asking you to dismantle the education and the health-care. Just bring in the entrepreneurial spirit and a global outlook i.e. Free movement of goods, capital & services and labor – maybe with a slow transition.

The bitter medicine of neoliberalism is bitter. So are good medicines.....

Middle East adversaries and their Enemies

All news media are are now on the war between Israel – a State and Hezbullah – a non-State. This site – dedicated to the idea of a global humanity of mankind - does oppose wars. So I say, “What is happening is unacceptable. This must stop, now and once and for all.”

I must concede that the first para is written a bit early and today I see that (unfortunately) thanks to the Qana episode the air campaign has been suspended. So, some definition of a cease fire is in effect.

It is time to make some salient observations in this war.

• One fine day, presumingly from Israeli territory, Hezbullah commandos kidnapped two Israeli army men.
• However, Asian newspapers, Hindustan Times of New Delhi and Asia Times reported that they were arrested on the Lebanese side of the border.
• Whatever be the Truth, the fact is this is nothing but an excuse by the either sides to start a gory warfare.
• There is loss of life – many young – on both sides of the border. This is increasing the hatred on either sides.
• The Israeli government and IDF are both badly managed. They had the military initiative and international support and they blew it both!
• What does Hezbullah want? Just to give Israel a beating? It clearly can't destroy a country or a State without huge international reprisals and that too with a small army. How does it help to solve the Palestine problem it ?
• What does Israel want? How can it destroy an organization that has a suport of 80% Lebanese support and increasing Arab street support.
• Tonight the Israel's do-or-die final offensive starts. A war it must win to retain respect. If it looses then (a) it looses its military invincibility and (b) war theorists would applaud the coming of the Fourth Generation Warfare.

Now lets look at some of the other interesting points none as looked into.

• Israel's population is about 80% Jews and 20% Arab (Muslims and Christians). Comparatively, India is 80% Hindu and 20% others! It is as much a Jewish state as Secular India is a Hindu State.
• In 1948 when Israel was formed (or rather as an Indian would rather use the term – partitioned), Israel actually requested the Arab population to stay back. Yes there were some extremists (and where there aren't) who did not want that, but by and large, the then Israeli government wanted them to say.
• When Israel declared 48hour bombing pause the New Shekel jumped!!
• (very controversial) For a Hindu, the theological (as opposed to Prophetic) positions of Islam and Judaism are very very close. As a matter of fact, that difference is less than say Shaivism and Vaishnavaism, or (if you are Buddhist) Mahayana and Theravada.

These are simple observations! The problem is that neither the Hamas/Hezbullah nor Israel have figured out their real enemies in the twenty-first century.

They are India and China!