HOW TO STOP TERRORISM

The present approach

The present approach leaves much to be desired. Simplified, it consists of two arms: the pre-emptive arm of having constant surveillance of certain high-risk individuals and groups using national and cross-border intelligence; and the reactive arm of responding to an actual terrorist event by belatedly tightening security around the area of operation and to mop up the perpetrators and their accomplices. From experience, the unpredictability of terrorist source and target render such an approach ineffective. Meanwhile, the highly predictable public response of expressing outrage, wide condemnation, generous conveyance of condolences for the victims, pledges of unity in the face of divisive pressures and the defiant breast-beating of trying to live life as before, all really cut no ice with the terrorists. This present approach, if carried forward, is unlikely to bring us any closer to a solution. In effect, it is merely waiting for the next act of terror to happen somewhere, sometime ... It is just an endless cycle of frustration and powerlessness for both sides.

A need for a new approach

There is really no short-cut to a solution to terrorism. To be forthright, the roots of the present terrorist conflict are actually centuries-old. Therefore, we need the triple requirements of honesty, patience and persistence to get anywhere near a solution. Bombs and firepower alone is certainly not the key to a solution. Truthfully, it is going to be a long hard road. We need the honesty to acknowledge that the present problem is the result of intractable religious bigotry and the conflicting religious duties imposed by rival narratives increasingly translated into a cultural war. We need the patience to let the process of healing and building of trust between communities run at their own time. And we need to believe that we can persist in our efforts to see the whole project through to the next generation.

The diagram above illustrates the structure of one of the possible ways we can proceed. It may be faulty, but it is just my suggestion. I propose to tackle terrorism peacefully using two arms. The cultural arm consists of efforts to persuade humanity to look at religion differently - that it is merely a device to help individuals come to terms with their own mortality and to make sense of their existence. Since there are many irreconcilable contradictions between religious precepts, religion should not invade the public space, but should become a personalized indulgence practiced in a private space. For this to become acceptable, all individuals must have perfect freedom to practice their religion without any form of discrimination, persecution or repression. The political arm needs worldwide cooperation, for example, being under the auspices of the United Nations, to pledge universal religious freedom, non-interference and peaceful co-existence. Such efforts should be reinforced locally through education and the passage of relevant laws. The goal is to de-politicize religion. Only when religion and politics are separated can religious wars be stopped.

EIGHT STEPS OF PURE GOLD
(Dedicated to Ms Priyageetha Dia, who in a spontaneous act of benevolent artistic expression, spent 5 hours laying gold foil over 8 steps of the 20th floor staircase of Block 103, Jalan Rajah where Ms Dia lives.)

BEFORE

AFTER

How could you be so bold,
To ever let passion take hold?

Breaching every threshold

In iron rules now tired and old.

Didn't you hear them scold,

That your art left them cold?

There's no return to the fold,

If your soul cannot be sold.

As now you're on the scaffold,

How should the truth be told?

That it was glorious to behold,

Your eight steps of pure gold!

BEFORE

AFTER

UNDERSTANDING ANTI-TRUMPISM

Anti-Trumpism is a global mass hysterical movement triggered by the election of Mr Donald Trump as the President of the United States who took office on 20 January 2017. Though its adherents call themselves liberals and are purportedly the supporters of Hillary Clinton and her Democratic Party, they are neither liberal not democratic.

If being liberal means being "willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one's own and an openness to new ideas", they certainly are illiberal because they are unwilling to respect or accept a candidate who did not come from their favored Democratic Party and are unable to open their minds to the nationalist and conservative ideas of Trump. If being democratic requires at the very least a respect for the outcome of a fair and democratic election process conducted in accordance with the US constitution, they certainly are undemocratic by stubbornly denying the legitimacy and reality of Trump's appointment and actively seeking to use all available means to reverse it. Of course, these anti-Trumps do not consider being logical, being consistent, being fair-minded and, if I daresay, being morally-responsible as the minimal pre-requisites for fruitful political engagement with their opponents. Inevitably, to their discredit, the movement looks more like a disorganized exercise of mass insanity and stupidity that is not averse to using public misinformation, crime, social disruption, violence and sabotage to further their confusing objectives. Though the anti-Trumps are still clueless, it doesn't take a fool to realize that once assassination or the threat of assassination is used as a weapon, the movement immediately loses its legitimacy.

If we, for an unwise moment, take them seriously and try to find some evidence for the accusations of "radicalism, racism and sexism" directed at Trump, we would be hard-pressed to find any objective evidence except for their persistent and repeated assertions. Assertions, of course, do not constitute evidence. 

In the final analysis, the domestic anti-Trump movement represents the most extreme and the most objectionable product of partisan politics, a monster when energized by blind political rivalry and an uncivilized obsession with power, is willing even to sabotage the national interest and ultimately, their own interests.

Mind you, this anti-Trump movement is by no means restricted within the shores of America as there is a strong international dimension to it. Could it be that young people everywhere have also been long afflicted with a similar liberal cultural confusion through social media which is only now rearing its ugly head? Has this Trump moment presented a perfect opportunity for its cathartic  manifestation of intransigence? I do not think so. More likely, this apparent international collusion is more the result of the bandwagon effect whereby people psychologically ignore or override their better judgement to join the chorus of hatred towards Trump because they thought everyone else is doing it.

So, I'll leave you to look at 30 of Trump's most significant actions in the first 30 days of his presidency and judge for yourself whether there is any trace of radicalism, racism or sexism in anything he has done:

1. He jump-started job creation. President Trump is looking out for American workers that Washington has left behind.

2. He signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering the United States to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations and agreement.

3. He hosted the CEO of Intel to announce Intel’s plan to invest $7 billion in a United States factory that will create 10,000 American jobs.

4. He signed a Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and another declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction.

5. He signed a Presidential Memorandum ordering that all new pipeline construction and repair work use materials and equipment from the United States.

6. He signed legislation, House Joint Resolution 38, to block the burdensome Stream Protection Rule from causing further harm to the coal industry.

7. He signed legislation, House Joint Resolution 41, to eliminate a costly regulation that threatened to put domestic extraction companies and their employees at an unfair disadvantage.

8. He is saving taxpayers' money. President Trump is fighting to save Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars. He saved Americans $700 million on a new batch of F-35 fighters.

9. He capped the cost of Boeing’s next-generation Air Force One fleet at millions below that which was agreed to by the Obama administration.

10. He is restoring public safety. President Trump will work to reduce the threats of crime and illegal immigration to public safety.

11. He signed an Executive Order to enhance the safety and security of the United States by, among other things, constructing a wall on the southern border.

12. He signed an Executive Order to make sure Federal immigration laws are faithfully enforced throughout the country and that Americans’ tax dollars do not go to jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of immigration laws.

13. He signed an Executive Order that directs the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who engage in crimes against law enforcement officers.

14. He signed an Executive Order that establishes a task force, led by the new Attorney General, to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across America

15. He signed an Executive Order that re-focuses the Federal Government’s energy and resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations, such as drug cartels.

16. He is getting Government out of the way. President Trump understands that excessive regulations stifle job-creation and harm our businesses.

17. He signed an Executive Order instructing Federal agencies “to minimize the burden” of the Affordable Care Act and required that for every new Federal regulation, two existing regulations be eliminated.

18. He directed the Commerce Department to streamline Federal permitting processes for domestic manufacturing and to reduce regulatory burdens on domestic manufacturers.

19. He signed an Executive Order expediting the environmental review and approval processes for domestic infrastructure projects.

20. He has an America First foreign policy. The President’s first priority is the safety and security of the American people.

21. His Department of the Treasury sanctioned 25 entities and individuals involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program.

22. He signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretary of Defense to work with other Cabinet members to develop a plan to defeat ISIS.

23. He called or met with more than 30 foreign leaders

24. He is "draining the swamp". President Trump has taken action to ensure that all members of his Administration are working for the American people.

25. He signed an Executive Order establishing new ethics commitments for all Executive branch appointees, putting in place a five-year lobbying ban and a permanent ban on lobbying for foreign governments, so appointees serve the American people instead of their own interests

26. He put in place a hiring freeze for Federal civilian employees to stop the growth of a bloated government.

27. He is keeping his promise to defend the Constitution. President Trump promised a Supreme Court justice in the mold of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. 

28. He nominated Judge Neil M. Gorsuch to the Supreme Court because of his consistent record defending the Constitution.

29. He is helping women succeed in business. President Trump knows the country cannot reach its potential unless every American has a chance to prosper.

30. He launched the United States-Canada Council for Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders.

A WORLD WITHOUT PAIN

Imagine a world without pain,

No stress, injury or strain.

Sheltered safely from the rain,

Nothing's there to lose or gain.

Without a spot or a stain,

Though it's all been in vain.

Hope's all you need to sustain,

In the quest to catch the last train.

There's no need to explain,

If there's nothing to complain.

From all decisions you abstain.

"No comment" is your refrain.

On the sofa that you're lain

Sits the very life you disdain.

For all to see, it's very plain,

Only pulse and breath remain.

TRUMP'S FIVE KEY MESSAGES TO AMERICANS

1. UNITY

America is one nation and this will be a joint national effort to make America great again. This unity is forged by open, honest dialogue facilitated by a common patriotism for America. Prejudice will be  banished and divisions will be healed when a new national pride develops.

2. RULE BY THE PEOPLE

Democracy will be returned to its roots by transferring power back to the people. Government will be controlled by the people, not vice versa.

3. IMMEDIATE CHANGE

Change to stop American carnage is from right here and right now.

4. AMERICA FIRST

All American policies will be governed by a new vision of America first. There will only be two simple rules: buy American and hire American.

5. POLITICAL PRAGMATISM

Politics in America will not be determined by party allegiance or by liberal or conservative ideological dogmatism. Policies will be driven by big-thinking, pragmatic business problem-solving principles and brought to fruition by timely concrete action.

45TH US PRESIDENT MR DONALD TRUMP'S
INAUGURAL SPEECH

Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.

We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.

Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.

We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.

Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.

Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.

Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.

Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.

The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.

Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.

It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. 

This is your day. This is your celebration.

And this, the United States of America, is your country.

What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.

January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. 

The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

Everyone is listening to you now.

You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.

At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.

Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.

These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.

But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.

This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.

The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.

For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;

Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;

We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;

And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.

One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.

The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.

But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future.

We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.

From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.

From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.

Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.

We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down.

America will start winning again, winning like never before.

We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.

We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.

We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.

We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.

We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.

We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.

We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.

At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.

When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.

The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”

We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.

When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.

There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected.

We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.

Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.

In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.

We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.

The time for empty talk is over.

Now arrives the hour of action.

Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.

We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.

We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.

A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.

It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.

And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.

So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:

You will never be ignored again.

Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.

Together, We Will Make America Strong Again.

We Will Make America Wealthy Again.

We Will Make America Proud Again.

We Will Make America Safe Again.

And, Yes, Together, We Will Make America Great Again. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.

GLORY AND HONOR

(A letter to the terrorist)

Where is there glory

In this suicidal savagery?

Where is there honor

In that bombing horror?

How is there glory 

If killing is your only duty?

How is there honor

If you want harm for the other?

Why is there glory 

By making misery a certainty?

Why is there honor

By bringing tears and hunger?

Yet, if you seek true glory,

Find it in truth and beauty.

If you strive for real honor,

Let goodness be the governor.

You'll see pure glory

In freedom and equality,

And find the highest honor

In justice - your new master.

       Don't worry America,      
Everything's gonna be alright!

Why Clinton Lost

It is a great puzzle to me why people say they were shocked by Hillary Clinton's loss in the Presidential Election 5 days ago. Readers of this blog would have known that I support Donald Trump right from the beginning and the reason for my support is so obvious that, to me, it is a complete no-brainer. Basically, the reason has less to do with Trump and more to do with her own faults. For those who are still scratching their heads, these are the more important reasons:

1. Hillary Clinton is not suitable for public office because of her crimes.

She is involved in too many crimes, from breaching state secrets by illegally setting up an unsecured private email server in her house basement to conduct official business and divulging them to her aides and maid who had no security clearance, obstructing justice by destroying evidence of her crimes, being involved in corruptly selling favors to foreigners in blatant pay-for-play schemes under the Clinton Foundation, committing perjury by repeatedly lying to Congress about her email server, about the Clinton Foundation and about Benghazi, being involved in arms sales to terrorists, engaging paid disrupters to commit violent acts at Trump's rallies, planning voter fraud, and breaking campaign finance laws by accepting contributions from foreign donors through surrogates, etc.

2. She ran a very poor campaign.

This is all the more surprising given that she has been a career politician for 30 years and was involved in presidential campaigns against Barack Obama and Bernie Sanders. Yet, her campaign is devoid of that "one great idea" that is essential in capturing the imagination of her voters. Her campaign slogans had drifted from "I'm with Her", to "Make America Whole", to "Love and Kindness", to "Break Down Barriers", to "Build Ladders of Opportunity", to "Love Trumps Hate" and to "Stronger Together". With so many slogans, instead of reinforcing each other, they indicate that there is an identity crisis in her campaign that confuses voters as to what her reason for running was. Ok, "I'm with Her", but for what? Well, "Stronger Together", but to do what?

She also did not articulate her plans for America about reforming or improving Obama's policies. A large part of her campaign is about making accusations about her opponent and employing dirty tricks to paint him in the worst possible light. Together with a colluding mass media that almost exclusively ran non-stop negative stories about Trump from every possible angle, her campaign induced voter fatigue such that nobody wanted to listen anymore to these tiresome implausible accounts. 

3. She had lost touch with the common people and did not understand their needs.

While Trump was talking about jobs, immigration, national security, health insurance, childcare costs and education policies, she concentrated on maintaining the culture of political correctness by talking about bigotry, sexism, racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia. In her haste to push such issues, she also made the fatal error of attacking voters instead of just attacking Trump by labelling them as deplorable, irredeemable and "not America". That alone would have caused a large section of voters to never ever vote for her.

4. She lacks charisma.

Charisma is an essential quality in a political leader that can charm and inspire people to believe in her qualities and her mission. But, her voice, her tone, her choice of words, her expressions, her behavior and general demeanor did not engender trust nor attract voters towards her. In short, people find her hard to like.

So, the election result has less to do with what Trump did right and more to do with what she did wrong. The best things about Trump's campaign are nothing spectacular, but just common sense things. Her loss was triggered by an implosion within her campaign caused by WikiLeaks' revelations about her too many past and present scandals, her over-confidence leading to a lack of campaign preparation and coherence and a lack of personal qualities essential for the office of president of the USA. 

EVERYBODY FOR TRUMP

EVERYBODY FOR TRUMP

EVERYBODY FOR TRUMP