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India threatens to use N-weapons
By Jawed Naqvi - Dawn.com
NEW DELHI, Nov 14: India marked its national Children's Day on Thursday with President A.P.J Abdul Kalam explaining to the young ones the relevance of nuclear weapons and how they may have to be used when peace is threatened. It was not easy even for the veteran scientist credited with building the country's nuclear missiles to parry some of the questions, a typical one being why not spend the money allocated to war machines to alleviate the country's grinding poverty. In what could be his first remarks as the head of state on India's nuclear policy, an unusual subject for any Indian president to delve on, Kalam told the school children - who met him at public function - that the country could use the weapons to defend itself. "We have taken a decision that India will not use nuclear weapons first," Kalam was quoted by the Press Trust of India as telling his young audience. "But when peace is threatened and somebody else uses it, India will use it for defending the country", he said. Saying that "all around nations have nuclear weapons," Kalam explained: "When two of our neighbours have got nuclear weapons, naturally for India, to protect peace, we have to have it". The Zee news channel said Kalam mingled with the children, answering questions which ranged from his vision to make India a developed nation to the issue of brain drain. A youngster wanted to know if the government should really use the funds spent on testing missiles in Chandipur for the poor. Kalam said that the spending was not much and it was for the defence and security of the country which were important.

****I have to wonder IF Peace is Possible when they are "training" the young in the ways of annihilation?

posted by An Old Curmudgeon 9:42 AM

 

Let's all take that first small step

[Editor's note: The following was sent to me by a friend. It makes me believe that us average people are on the right track.]

"Speaking of politics, my sister Jennifer and I talked today over the phone. She had just seen the Oprah/CNN collaborative interviews with people around the world, asking what their opinion of the U.S. might be. Basically, those interviewed said we are pretty good people, but we're into money too much, we don't pay attention to the impact of our influence on others, and we don't cry for the sufferings of others when they experience the kind of stuff we did on Sept. 11, 2001.

"Now, I don't know if this is a statistically significant sampling of world opinion, or what the producers' editing choices were. I'm usually skeptical of any mass-media presentation that doesn't clearly attempt to find diverse opinions. But that's really irrelevant, Jennifer's point is that she realized she doesn't think too much about other countries, or what their problems are, or how our country might affect them. She said she expects that most people in the U.S. probably behave the same way.

"I realized I don't think that much about other countries either, day to day. I asked what she thought we could do about it, and she said, "Well we can try to get educated about other countries' issues and needs. And we can find ways to help the people immediately around us in our daily lives. The positive, respectful attitude will rub off and extend to those who do have contact with people from other countries. Then maybe we'll piss off fewer people."

"I thought about it and decided it couldn't hurt, and it was something I could do tomorrow, not wait for a "program" or someone else to do it for me.

"My sister is a care giver to a 90 year old lady in the winter of life. And Jennifer is still looking for what she can do. I was really proud of her and wanted to brag to you what a great sister she is. So there."

---Stan

posted by Lorenzo 6:50 PM