Award winning journalist and, Daniel Pearl would have been 40 years old on Oct 10. He was murdered in Karachi by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan. Mr. Pearl lived in Mumbai for some time as the South Asia Bureau chief of Wall Street Journal (Mumbai) and was "totally at home and loved India".
Terrorists whose leader Ahmed Shaikh is now in custody of Pakistan Army/Govt killed him. Several reports have indicated that Pearl was close to digging up the connection between the Pakistani intelligence service ISI and AL Qaeda. Several reports have indicated that this terrorist leader Ahmed Omar Shaikh had actually "surrendered" to Ejaz Shah, a former top ISI official, who is now home secretary of Punjab province- one week before- his handing over to the Pakistan Army/Govt. Interestingly, the Pakistani courts had tried and convicted Ahmed Shaikh and sentenced him to death. In a surprising twist, recent media reports, based on sustained interrogations of another Al Qaeda bigwig in US hands, Khaled Mohammed Shaikh-also a Pakistani national- has been accused of actually killing Daniel Pearl. While this story is yet to be played out, credible sources indicate that Khaled Mohammed- also known as “the brains behind 9/11 terrorist incident”, may also be the kingpin of Daniel Pearl’s murder.
Mariane Pearl - wife of Daniel Pearl - is continuing the message and life of Daniel Pearl by being on the speaking circuit. Also, to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism and music, the Daniel Pearl Foundations was established. The 2nd annual Daniel Pearl Music day was recently celebrated on October 10 across all continents, to resist hatred and celebrate common humanity. Also the 1st Daniel Pearl Fellowship to bring a journalist from Pakistan to the US has been awarded to Fasih Ahmed of Pakistan.
For more information about Daniel Pearl Foundation, log onto www.danielpearl.org
US State department on Terror log onto www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/2432.htm.
Sam Rao
Historic California Elections
http://www.siliconvalleyguru.com/guruhub/mod_channel/C_Search_Art_Det.asp?fm=ent&Channel_Id=NEWS&Art_Id=2007
A climactic end to a circus-like campaign
San Jose, CA: The circus - like atmosphere of the historic recall elections was helped by high profile candidate and eventual winner Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing his candidacy, on national TV (Jay Leno show), with several of his key aides surprised by the announcement. Add to it a bevy of over 135 certified candidates, each putting in $3,500 required for filing papers!
The people showed their frustration with current state of affairs and demonstrated the “throw the incumbents out” attitude. Even registered Democrats and Women - who were supposedly safe vote banks for Gov. Grey Davis and the Democratic party - crossed lines to vote for moderate Republican (pro choice, moderate) candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger 3,847,468 (48.7%); while the nearest candidate Cruz M. Bustamante (D) got 2,499,124 (31.7%). The overall “Yes to recall” garnered 4,531,880 votes (55.4%), while “No to Recall” drew 3,660,568 (44.6%).
The colorful candidates include Pornography publisher Larry Flynt (15,860 votes), porn-movie star Mary Cook (10,301 votes), Ex-Child actor Gary Coleman (12,988 votes) and a bevy of other not so-serious candidates! South Asian candidates in the fray received a paltry number of votes with Pakistani - American Mohammed Arif (I) getting 1,636 votes while Vik Bajwa (D) 1,094 and Vip Bhola (R) 573 votes.
“This seems like a good business,” said a local resident - referring to the fact that not - so credible candidates like Vik Bajwa - who never ran for any elected office - got his name splashed all over Indian - American media, and raised about $40,000 - although he got only 1,093 votes.
In terms of cost to the state, estimates are over $60 Million just to conduct the elections- at a time when the state is facing ballooning deficits. Many analysts predict a short honeymoon for Gov. Arnold. Although with a fresh start and acknowledged inexperience, the transition team appointed by Gov Arnold has already shown a broad spectrum of potential troubleshooters.
The 68-people transition team named by Gov. elect Arnold on Oct 10,2003, include experienced people from diverse backgrounds like Republican Bill Simon, SF Mayor Willie Brown, a Democrat and ex speaker of California assembly, Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Gerry Parsky, President Bush's top California adviser and Susan Estrich, who ran Democrat Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential campaign etc.
Who knows? As they say- the Way California goes, soon so does the rest of the country. This historic recall elections and message must have surely resounded in the hallways of the National Democratic party and the GOP- all gearing up for the Presidential elections in 2004.
For more information log onto http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm.
Sam Rao
