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THE BIDEN TRANSITION

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by Vijaya Chandrasoma

The Biden transition finally started last week, with President Trump’s tacit and grudging approval. The U.S. Government Services Administration was instructed to release funds earmarked for the efficient transfer of power to the Biden administration.

Approval had also been given for communication of the Trump medical officials and the Biden transition team. Most importantly, with the Covid19 raging, the services of top medical professionals, specialists in Epidemiology, headed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading epidemiologist in the country, Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Robert Redfield and other leading medical professionals, whose voices had been silenced by Trump, have been recalled. They will bring back policies to fight the virus with scientific strategies favored by President-elect Biden, policies which will better control the rampant spread of the virus caused by the inaction of the Trump administration.

Biden is now receiving the Presidential Daily Briefings, a top-secret document given each morning to the president of the United States. The release of this vital security document, traditionally released to the President-elect from the first day after his election, had been hitherto denied by Trump. These daily briefings keep the next president of the United States abreast of national and international developments which would enable him to hit the ground running when he assumes the presidency in January.

This recognition of transfer of power is the nearest to a concession of defeat that Trump would be able to manage. He is pathologically incapable of accepting that he has been toppled by the American people from his lofty, self-constructed perch of Godlike leadership. In fact, he is currently inciting his cult to violently overturn the results of “the fairest election in the history of the US”, by death threats to the legislators entrusted with the constitutional duty of certifying the Biden presidency.

Trump is violating the unwritten laws of a Lame Duck presidency by taking provocative military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, against the advice of his own security personnel. These actions involve reducing troop deployments in these embattled nations, troops involved in helping local forces to combat terrorism. Trump’s order will leave the remaining American troops unable to fulfill their duties, as they will be primarily engaged in protecting themselves. So Biden will be faced with the unpopular decision of redeploying troops so that they may protect the inadequate numbers of Americans left behind. Which had been Trump’s motive in the first place, anyway – to embarrass Biden, to force him to a difficult decision at the beginning of his presidency. To hell with troops and country.

In spite of all these impediments placed by Trump, President-elect Biden has been making significant progress, clearly indicating the vision of his presidency. He has dismissed the Trump slogan of “America First” which has resulted in “America Alone”. He is assembling an administration designed to help the United States work with traditional allies and resume the leadership of the free world, a role Trump had abandoned by forsaking friends and consorting with adversaries.

Biden has appointed Ron Klain, as his chief of staff. Klain, a veteran democrat who served as chief of staff to two vice-presidents, Gore and Biden, has been a confidante and top aide to Biden since the 1980s. He also served as President Obama’s “Ebola Czar”, during the outbreak of that disease in 2014, and will bring valuable experience in the backdrop of the current pandemic.

Biden has completed cabinet appointments to his foreign relations and security departments, professionals with training and wide experience in their respective fields. He has kept to his determination of espousing diversity in the composition of his cabinet. The list includes people who have had working and personal relationships with Biden over decades, and marks several firsts for America.

John Kerry, President Obama’s Secretary of State and presidential nominee in 2004, perhaps the best known name in the Biden cabinet, has been nominated as the Climate Czar. Kerry will lead the country in taking steps to mitigate the imminent dangers of climate change. America is expected to rejoin the Paris Accord on Climate Change, from which Trump withdrew during the early days of his presidency.

Antony Blinken, one of Biden’s longest-serving advisers is the new Secretary of State. He served as Deputy Secretary of State in the Obama administration, and is described by Obama as “outstanding” and “smart, gracious, a skilled diplomat, well-regarded around the world”.

Alejandro Mayorkas is the new secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, which he served as its deputy from 2013 to 2016. He’s the first Latino, a Cuban whose family fled the Castro revolution, to run the department also responsible for immigration policies.

Avril Haines is the Director of National Intelligence, the first woman to hold this position. A former aide to Biden, Ms. Haines also served as the deputy director of the CIA.

Janet Yellen, the new Treasury Secretary, has led the Federal Reserve, and is praised as a progressive economist, committed to fight unemployment and inequality of income.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, an African American from Louisiana, is the Ambassador to the United Nations. She was an assistant secretary for African affairs under the Obama and Trump administrations, and the US ambassador to Liberia under Bush and Obama.

The National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan served as deputy chief of staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He has been teaching at Yale Law School since 2014.

Biden has been criticized for these appointments, that his administration will just be a continuation of Obama’s policies. Biden denied that his administration will be a third term for President Obama, saying that he has inherited a totally different landscape caused by Trump, the reality of a country polarized as never before in its history. However, he should be commended for the attempt to adopt the policies of the Obama/Biden administration of two terms, which have proved to the most successful in the nation’s history, led by a president considered by many to be the best ever. An administration which pulled the nation out of a deep recession and fashioned a booming economy with 72 months’ continuous economic growth and shrinking unemployment. All done without a whiff of scandal, personal, financial, ethical or political, and with repeated blocking by a hostile Senate.

Trump emerged from his White House bunker on Tuesday for the Thanksgiving tradition of pardoning a turkey. In his address, he continued to flog the dead horse, without a shred of evidence, about how the election was stolen from him. He made this speech during the twin crises of a raging pandemic and crippling unemployment. He had not one word of empathy or concern about these human tragedies, the unparalleled suffering, affliction and death faced by millions of Americans. His only concern is in the pain he is suffering, caused by the delusion of a stolen election. And the growing terror of the fate that awaits him when he loses his presidential immunity and has to face justice for his numerous crimes, as a private citizen.

But he did take credit on Tuesday for the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching record levels. The irony is delicious. A president taking the credit for a record high stock market caused by his own exit from the White House.

Cob, the White House turkey was not the only pardon Trump issued last week or plans to issue before he is removed from the Oval Office. He has already pardoned Michael Flynn, his National Security Adviser, convicted of collusion with the Russians during his 2016 transition. A crime to which Flynn pleaded guilty, was convicted and awaiting sentence – delayed for four years, thanks to the machinations of Attorney General William Barr. Trump is also considering pardoning other convicted members of his 2016 campaign team, currently serving time; former campaign manager, Paul Manafort and campaign associate George Papadopoulos. Also, long-time associate Roger Stone, whose prison sentence was commuted by Trump. Trump’s motive for the pardon of his fellow collaborators with the Russians is obvious. He is trying to undermine the findings of Special Prosecutor Mueller of collusion with the Russians during the 2016 election, swept under the carpet during his impeachment trial by Attorney General Barr. Findings which cast grave doubts on the legitimacy of his presidency.

Also considered for pardon are Charles Kushner, father of son-in-law and senior White House counsel, Jared Kushner, convicted for tax evasion, Alex Weisselberg, Chief Financial Officer, Trump Organization, Rudi Guiliani and members of the Trump family. The president of the United States has extensive constitutional powers of pardon. He will be acting within the law, though with a complete absence of ethics, in pardoning these criminals.

However, he may not have the power to pardon the greatest turkey of them all: Trump himself. The Constitution makes no mention of a president’s powers to self-pardon. Possibly because the Founding Fathers never foresaw that the American people would be stupid enough to elect an ignorant, criminal lunatic as their president. Unfortunately, they were wrong.

There is a fundamental principle in common law that a man cannot be his own judge and jury, which Trump would be attempting if he tries to pardon himself. However, his servile Attorney General may, once again, subvert the constitution by misinterpreting presidential powers of pardon to enable the president to pardon himself. Possibly the last treacherous act of an Attorney General who will be removed in disgrace come January.

The final chapter of 2020 of the tragedy of the Covid19 pandemic is yet to be written. In spite of dire warnings from health professionals, a record number of Americans are traveling, by car, train and airplane, to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. Airports and train stations are crowded, social distancing impossible and not all passengers are masked. These family Thanksgiving gatherings have been projected to be “the mother of all super-spreaders”, whose tragic effects will be seen before Christmas with certain spikes in hospitalizations and fatalities.

Unemployment numbers continue to increase, with 778,000 applicants for unemployment benefits added to the rolls in November. There is no prospect of any relief through a stimulus payment, overdue since May. The Senate has gone on vacation, while millions of Americans go hungry and homeless during Thanksgiving, in the richest country of the world.

In admirable contrast, Biden gave a Thanksgiving address full of empathy, compassion and hope. He made an earnest call for unity in a deeply polarized nation. “We need to remember, we’re at war with the virus, not with each other”. He echoed the words of George Washington, quoting from a plaque at Gulph Mills, Pennsylvania, commemorating the first Thanksgiving on December 18, 1777, celebrated during the War of independence.

“Lacking food, clothing, shelter, they were preparing to ride out a long, hard winter…. In spite of the suffering, they showed reverence and character that was forging the soul of the nation. Faith, courage, sacrifice, service to country, service to each other and gratitude, even in the face of suffering, have long been part of what Thanksgiving means in America.”

America is back, after four years of tottering on the brink of a regime akin to that of Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

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Islamophobia and the threat to democratic development

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There’s an ill more dangerous and pervasive than the Coronavirus that’s currently sweeping Sri Lanka. That is the fear to express one’s convictions. Across the public sector of the country in particular many persons holding high office are stringently regulating and controlling the voices of their consciences and this bodes ill for all and the country.

The corrupting impact of fear was discussed in this column a couple of weeks ago when dealing with the military coup in Myanmar. It stands to the enduring credit of ousted Myanmarese Head of Government Aung San Suu Kyi that she, perhaps for the first time in the history of modern political thought, singled out fear, and not power, as the principal cause of corruption within the individual; powerful or otherwise.

To be sure, power corrupts but the corrupting impact of fear is graver and more devastating. For instance, the fear in a person holding ministerial office or in a senior public sector official, that he would lose position and power as a result of speaking out his convictions and sincere beliefs on matters of the first importance, would lead to a country’s ills going unaddressed and uncorrected.

Besides, the individual concerned would be devaluing himself in the eyes of all irrevocably and revealing himself to be a person who would be willing to compromise his moral integrity for petty worldly gain or a ‘mess of pottage’. This happens all the while in Lankan public life. Some of those who have wielded and are wielding immense power in Sri Lanka leave very much to be desired from these standards.

It could be said that fear has prevented Sri Lanka from growing in every vital respect over the decades and has earned for itself the notoriety of being a directionless country.

All these ills and more are contained in the current controversy in Sri Lanka over the disposal of the bodies of Covid victims, for example. The Sri Lankan polity has no choice but to abide by scientific advice on this question. Since authorities of the standing of even the WHO have declared that the burial of the bodies of those dying of Covid could not prove to be injurious to the wider public, the Sri Lankan health authorities could go ahead and sanction the burying of the bodies concerned. What’s preventing the local authorities from taking this course since they claim to be on the side of science? Who or what are they fearing? This is the issue that’s crying out to be probed and answered.

Considering the need for absolute truthfulness and honesty on the part of all relevant persons and quarters in matters such as these, the latter have no choice but to resign from their positions if they are prevented from following the dictates of their consciences. If they are firmly convinced that burials could bring no harm, they are obliged to take up the position that burials should be allowed.

If any ‘higher authority’ is preventing them from allowing burials, our ministers and officials are conscience-bound to renounce their positions in protest, rather than behave compromisingly and engage in ‘double think’ and ‘double talk’. By adopting the latter course they are helping none but keeping the country in a state of chronic uncertainty, which is a handy recipe for social instabiliy and division.

In the Sri Lankan context, the failure on the part of the quarters that matter to follow scientific advice on the burials question could result in the aggravation of Islamophobia, or hatred of the practitioners of Islam, in the country. Sri Lanka could do without this latter phobia and hatred on account of its implications for national stability and development. The 30 year war against separatist forces was all about the prevention by military means of ‘nation-breaking’. The disastrous results for Sri Lanka from this war are continuing to weigh it down and are part of the international offensive against Sri Lanka in the UNHCR.

However, Islamophobia is an almost world wide phenomenon. It was greatly strengthened during Donald Trump’s presidential tenure in the US. While in office Trump resorted to the divisive ruling strategy of quite a few populist authoritarian rulers of the South. Essentially, the manoeuvre is to divide and rule by pandering to the racial prejudices of majority communities.

It has happened continually in Sri Lanka. In the initial post-independence years and for several decades after, it was a case of some populist politicians of the South whipping-up anti-Tamil sentiments. Some Tamil politicians did likewise in respect of the majority community. No doubt, both such quarters have done Sri Lanka immeasurable harm. By failing to follow scientific advice on the burial question and by not doing what is right, Sri Lanka’s current authorities are opening themselves to the charge that they are pandering to religious extremists among the majority community.

The murderous, destructive course of action adopted by some extremist sections among Muslim communities world wide, including of course Sri Lanka, has not earned the condemnation it deserves from moderate Muslims who make-up the preponderant majority in the Muslim community. It is up to moderate opinion in the latter collectivity to come out more strongly and persuasively against religious extremists in their midst. It will prove to have a cementing and unifying impact among communities.

It is not sufficiently appreciated by governments in the global South in particular that by voicing for religious and racial unity and by working consistently towards it, they would be strengthening democratic development, which is an essential condition for a country’s growth in all senses.

A ‘divided house’ is doomed to fall; this is the lesson of history. ‘National security’ cannot be had without human security and peaceful living among communities is central to the latter. There cannot be any ‘double talk’ or ‘politically correct’ opinions on this question. Truth and falsehood are the only valid categories of thought and speech.

Those in authority everywhere claiming to be democratic need to adopt a scientific outlook on this issue as well. Studies conducted on plural societies in South Asia, for example, reveal that the promotion of friendly, cordial ties among communities invariably brings about healing among estranged groups and produces social peace. This is the truth that is waiting to be acted upon.

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Pakistan’s love of Sri Lanka

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By Sanjeewa Jayaweera

It was on 3rd January 1972 that our family arrived in Karachi from Moscow. Our departure from Moscow had been delayed for a few weeks due to the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It ended on 16th December 1971. After that, international flights were not permitted for some time.

The contrast between Moscow and Karachi was unbelievable. First and foremost, Moscow’s temperature was near minus 40 degrees centigrade, while in Karachi, it was sunny and a warm 28 degrees centigrade. However, what struck us most was the extreme warmth with which the airport authorities greeted our family. As my father was a diplomat, we were quickly ushered to the airport’s VIP Lounge. We were in transit on our way to Rawalpindi, the airport serving the capital of Islamabad.

We quickly realized that the word “we are from Sri Lanka” opened all doors just as saying “open sesame” gained entry to Aladdin’s cave! The broad smile, extreme courtesy, and genuine warmth we received from the Pakistani people were unbelievable.

This was all to do with Mrs Sirima Bandaranaike’s decision to allow Pakistani aircraft to land in Colombo to refuel on the way to Dhaka in East Pakistan during the military confrontation between Pakistan and India. It was a brave decision by Mrs Bandaranaike (Mrs B), and the successive governments and Sri Lanka people are still enjoying the fruits of it. Pakistan has been a steadfast and loyal supporter of our country. They have come to our assistance time and again in times of great need when many have turned their back on us. They have indeed been an “all-weather” friend of our country.

Getting back to 1972, I was an early beneficiary of Pakistani people’s love for Sri Lankans. I failed the entrance exam to gain entry to the only English medium school in Islamabad! However, when I met the Principal, along with my father, he said, “Sanjeewa, although you failed the entrance exam, I will this time make an exception as Sri Lankans are our dear friends.” After that, the joke around the family dinner table was that I owed my education in Pakistan to Mrs B!

At school, my brother and I were extended a warm welcome and always greeted “our good friends from Sri Lanka.” I felt when playing cricket for our college; our runs were cheered more loudly than of others.

One particular incident that I remember well was when the Embassy received a telex from the Foreign inistry. It requested that our High Commissioner seek an immediate meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr Zulifikar Ali Bhutto (ZB), and convey a message from Mrs B. The message requested that an urgent shipment of rice be dispatched to Sri Lanka as there would be an imminent rice shortage. As the Ambassador was not in the station, the responsibility devolved on my father.

It usually takes about a week or more to get an audience with the Prime Minister (PM) of a foreign country due to their busy schedule. However, given the urgency, my father spoke to the Foreign Ministry’s Permanent Sectary, who fortunately was our neighbour and sought an urgent appointment. My father received a call from the PM’s secretary around 10 P.M asking him to come over to the PM’s residence. My father met ZB around midnight. ZB was about to retire to bed and, as such, was in his pyjamas and gown enjoying a cigar! He had greeted my father and had asked, “Mr Jayaweera, what can we do for great friend Madam Bandaranaike?. My father conveyed the message from Colombo and quietly mentioned that there would be riots in the country if there is no rice!

ZB had immediately got the Food Commissioner of Pakistan on the line and said, “I want a shipload of rice to be in Colombo within the next 72 hours!” The Food Commissioner reverted within a few minutes, saying that nothing was available and the last export shipment had left the port only a few hours ago to another country. ZB had instructed to turn the ship around and send it to Colombo. This despite protests from the Food Commissioner about terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit prohibiting non-delivery. Sri Lanka got its delivery of rice!

The next was the visit of Mrs B to Pakistan. On arrival in Rawalpindi airport, she was given a hero’s welcome, which Pakistan had previously only offered to President Gaddafi of Libya, who financially backed Pakistan with his oil money. That day, I missed school and accompanied my parents to the airport. On our way, we witnessed thousands of people had gathered by the roadside to welcome Mrs B.

When we walked to the airport’s tarmac, thousands of people were standing in temporary stands waving Sri Lanka and Pakistan flags and chanting “Sri Lanka Pakistan Zindabad.” The noise emanating from the crowd was as loud and passionate as the cheering that the Pakistani cricket team received during a test match. It was electric!

I believe she was only the second head of state given the privilege of addressing both assemblies of Parliament. The other being Gaddafi. There was genuine affection from Mrs B amongst the people of Pakistan.

I always remember the indefatigable efforts of Mr Abdul Haffez Kardar, a cabinet minister and the President of the Pakistan Cricket Board. From around 1973 onwards, he passionately championed Sri Lanka’s cause to be admitted as a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and granted test status. Every year, he would propose at the ICC’s annual meeting, but England and Australia’s veto kept us out until 1981.

I always felt that our Cricket Board made a mistake by not inviting Pakistan to play our inaugural test match. We should have appreciated Mr Kardar and Pakistan’s efforts. In 1974 the Pakistan board invited our team for a tour involving three test matches and a few first-class games. Most of those who played in our first test match was part of that tour, and no doubt gained significant exposure playing against a highly talented Pakistani team.

Several Pakistani greats were part of the Pakistan and India team that played a match soon after the Central Bank bomb in Colombo to prove that it was safe to play cricket in Colombo. It was a magnificent gesture by both Pakistan and India. Our greatest cricket triumph was in Pakistan when we won the World Cup in 1996. I am sure the players and those who watched the match on TV will remember the passionate support our team received that night from the Pakistani crowd. It was like playing at home!

I also recall reading about how the Pakistani government air freighted several Multi Barrell artillery guns and ammunition to Sri Lanka when the A rmy camp in Jaffna was under severe threat from the LTTE. This was even more important than the shipload of rice that ZB sent. This was crucial as most other countries refused to sell arms to our country during the war.

Time and again, Pakistan has steadfastly supported our country’s cause at the UNHCR. No doubt this year, too, their diplomats will work tirelessly to assist our country.

We extend a warm welcome to Mr Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. He is a truly inspirational individual who was undoubtedly an excellent cricketer. Since retirement from cricket, he has decided to get involved in politics, and after several years of patiently building up his support base, he won the last parliamentary elections. I hope that just as much as he galvanized Sri Lankan cricketers, his political journey would act as a catalyst for people like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene to get involved in politics. Cricket has been called a “gentleman’s game.” Whilst politics is far from it!.

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Covid-19 health rules disregarded at entertainment venues?

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Believe me, seeing certain videos, on social media, depicting action, on the dance floor, at some of these entertainment venues, got me wondering whether this Coronavirus pandemic is REAL!

To those having a good time, at these particular venues, and, I guess, the management, as well, what the world is experiencing now doesn’t seem to be their concerned.

Obviously, such irresponsible behaviour could create more problems for those who are battling to halt the spread of Covid-19, and the new viriant of Covid, in our part of the world.

The videos, on display, on social media, show certain venues, packed to capacity – with hardly anyone wearing a mask, and social distancing…only a dream..

How can one think of social distancing while gyrating, on a dance floor, that is over crowded!

If this trend continues, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Coronavirus makes its presence felt…at such venues.

And, then, what happens to the entertainment scene, and those involved in this field, especially the musicians? No work, whatsoever!

Lots of countries have closed nightclubs, and venues, where people gather, in order to curtail the spread of this deadly virus that has already claimed the lives of thousands.

Thailand did it and the country is still having lots of restrictions, where entertainment is concerned, and that is probably the reason why Thailand has been able to control the spread of the Coronavirus.

With a population of over 69 million, they have had (so far), a little over 25,000 cases, and 83 deaths, while we, with a population of around 21 million, have over 80,000 cases, and more than 450 deaths.

I’m not saying we should do away with entertainment – totally – but we need to follow a format, connected with the ‘new normal,’ where masks and social distancing are mandatory requirements at these venues. And, dancing, I believe, should be banned, at least temporarily, as one can’t maintain the required social distance, while on the dance floor, especially after drinks.

Police spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana keeps emphasising, on TV, radio, and in the newspapers, the need to adhere to the health regulations, now in force, and that those who fail to do so would be penalised.

He has also stated that plainclothes officers would move around to apprehend such offenders.

Perhaps, he should instruct his officers to pay surprise visits to some of these entertainment venues.

He would certainly have more than a bus load of offenders to be whisked off for PCR/Rapid Antigen tests!

I need to quote what Dr. H.T. Wickremasinghe said in his article, published in The Island of Tuesday, February 16th, 2021:

“…let me conclude, while emphasising the need to continue our general public health measures, such as wearing masks, social distancing, and avoiding crowded gatherings, to reduce the risk of contact with an infected person.

“There is no science to beat common sense.”

But…do some of our folks have this thing called COMMON SENSE!

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