US & AL QAEDA

US & AL QAEDA

Gulf war led the start of enmity with the Al Qaeda . The Persian Gulf War that took place in between (August 2, 1990 – February 28, 1991), commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from thirty-four nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion State of Kuwait. This war has also been referred to as Operation Desert Storm, the First Gulf war, Gulf War I, or the Iraq War, before the term became identified with the 2003 Iraq War which is also referred to as Desert Storm. Following the Soviet Union’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989, Bin Laden returned to Saudi Arabia. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in august 1990 had put the kingdom and it’s ruling house of Saudi at risk. The world’s most valuable oil fields were within easy striking distance of Iraqi forces in Kuwait, and Saddam’s call to pan-Arab/Islamism could potentially rally internal dissent. In the face of seemingly massive Iraqi military presence, Saudi Arabia’s own forces were well armed but far outnumbered. Bin Laden offered the services of his mujahideen to King Fahd to protect Saudi Arabia from the Iraqi army. The Saudi monarch refused Bin Laden’s offer, opting instead allow US and allied forces to deploy troops into Saudi territory. The deployment angered Bin Laden, as he believed the presence of foreign troops in the ‘land of the two mosques’ (Mecca & Medina) profaned sacred soil. After speaking publicly against the Saudi government for harbouring American troops he was banished and forced to live in exile in Sudan.

Rise of Al Qaeda

9/11 In Humanitarian Attack on US

        After his expulsion from Saudi Arabia, Bin Laden established his headquarters for Al Qaeda in Khartoum, Sudan. The first actions of Al Qaeda against American interests were attack on US servicemen in Somalia. A string of terrorists actions suspected to have been orchestrated by Al Qaeda followed, and in August 1996 Bin Laden issued a ‘declaration of War’ against the US. Al Qaeda worked to forge alliances with other radical groups. In February 1998, Bin Laden announced an alliance of terrorist organisation- “International Islamic front for Jihad Against the Jews and the Crusaders ” that included the Egyptian Al Gama’at Al Islamiyya, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the Harkat-ul-Ansar and the other various groups. In 1994 Sudan under pressure from Saudi Arabia and the US expelled Bin Laden, who moved his base of operation to Afghanistan. Bin Laden was the ‘guest’ of the Taliban until the US drove them from power in November 2001. Al Qaeda set up terrorist training camps in the war torn nation, as it had in Sudan. From the organisation carried terrorist operations in the different parts of the world including the most horrifying twin towers 9/11 attack.

BROCCOLI

A VEGETABLE THAT FIGHTS CANCER

As the growing industrialization is continuously spitting out carcinogens into our environment and cancer of various hues are spreading their tentacles to take an ever increasing toll on human life, an apparent relief has been discovered in lowly fruits and vegetables rich in anti-oxidants, polyphenols and other cancer preventive chemicals. Among these Italian Broccoli, which is simply called as broccoli, a vegetable belonging to the Brassicacae family has proved to be a most potent one. Besides, the unique anti cancer and other medicinal properties, it is also very rich in various nutrients that can ensure sound health and long life. Particularly its vitamin C content is very high.

Nutritional Constituents of Broccoli (per 100g of raw edible part)  Energy=30 kcals :- Carbohydrates, Sugar, Dietary Fibre, Fat, Protein, Water, Vitamin A equivalent, B-Carotene, Thiamin (Vitamin. B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin. B2), Niacin (Vitamin. B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5), Vitamin. B6, Folate (Vitamin. B9), Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potasium, Zinc.

Green Bud of Broccoli :

Broccoli green Bud

This cool weather crop is rich in vitamin –C, folic acid and soluble dietary fibres. It contains a number of nutrients with potent anti-cancer properties including diindolyl methane and selenium. Particularly 3,-Diindolyl methane is an active modulator of the minnate immune response system with anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer activities. Similarly, like other Brassica vegetables, Broccoli is also rich in Glucosinolates, which are metabolized to cancer preventive substances like isothio-cyanates. Glucoraphanin, a compound present in it can be processed into sulphoraphane, a known anti-cancer agent. Broccoli leaf is edible and it contains a lot of beta-carotene. Therefore, a high intake of Broccoli has been found to reduce the risk of many types of cancer, especially prostrate cancer. Recently, a research from the US National Cancer Institute has found that eating broccoli and cauliflower once a week, decreases the aggressiveness of the disease by 45% to 52%. Similar effects have also been observed in case of colon cancer.

Broccoli Green bud

          Methods of storage and cooking have varying impacts on anti-cancer effects of broccoli. Domestic storage of vegetables at ambient temperature in refrigerator shows only minor loss of glucosinolate levels over 7 days. However, when stored at much lower temperature the loss may be upto 33% by fracture of vegetable material during thawing. On the other hand, a total loss of 77% glucosinolate has been observed after boiling it for 30 minutes, but steaming for 2 minutes, microwave cooking for 3 minutes and stir-fry cooking for 5 minutes do not have any significant effect on those, except when the vegetable is finely shredded. Therefore, in order to derive the maximum benefits from broccoli the latter three methods of cooking should be adopted. However, if it is boiled, it should be done with less water, which should be consumed along with the vegetables and the boiling time should be also reduced.

Broccoli Field.

(Source: USDA nutrient database, Kurushetra.)

Marxism in era of globalisation.

Marxism in era of globalisation.

The globalisation along with liberalisation and privatisation is a dominant tendency of the world since 1990s. The globalisation is based on the ideology of neoliberalism and supremacy of market principal. The globalisation refers to the increasing exchange of goods, services, capital, information, and persons across nations, which is facilitated by modern means of communication. After the disintegration of Soviet Union in 1991, the ideology of Neoliberalism became dominant and Marxism needed in the background, which was termed by Fukuyama as “end of History”. Other economic based on Marxism and socialism in the Eastern Europe also opted for neo-liberal open economies. This raised the question of relevance of Marxism. However, on closer analysis, Marxism as political and economic structure may have become redundant, but some of its principals like socio-economic equality, justice and primacy of social/public interest are still relevant as the full impacts of neo-liberal ideology gradually unfolds. Under the process of globalisation, the poor peoples and poor countries are marginalised as state withdraw from social sphere and market principal takes the reins. It is in this scenario that Marxist idea of socio-economic justice assumes significance.

INDIA--AFGHANISTAN

India and Afghanistan have shared history and relations for a long time. Taxila, the famous Indian learning center lies in India, while during Maurya period, large area of Afghanistan was included in India, later many Afghan dynasties like Suris and Khilji ruled India. During colonial rule, while Pakistan was a part of British empire, the British rule had troubled rule in Afghanistan. After Independence, India signed a treaty of Friendship with Afghanistan on January 4, 1950. The internal condition of Afghanistan had influenced Indian policy in Afghanistan. India was the only South Asian country, who recognised Soviet backed Democratic Republic in Afghanistan in 1980s. While relation between the two became very close during Soviet support, the assumption of power by Pakistan and US backed Taliban in 1996 and subsequent civil war strained India-Afghan relations. India did not recognise the Taliban government 1996-2001 and instead backed its opponent Northern Alliance. It was the only period in the history (1996-2001) when India did not had diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. Some other anti-Indian activities of Taliban like destruction of Bamian Buddha statute and hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 to Kandhar in Afghanistan by terrorist with the tacit support of Taliban and Pakistan, further strained the relationship between the two countries. Since the intervention of the US forces and fall of Taliban Government in 2001, India has reassumed her diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. At present, though India is involved in the process of Security and Stability in Afghanistan, she is playing an important role in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. In the US strategy of Afghanistan (AF-PAK) India is not assigned a major role and Pakistan continues to occupy a central place in this design. India is trying to regain her rightful place in Afghanistan and protect her vital interest through economic diplomacy and engagement.