US President Obama to be chief guest at Republic Day: Reports

TNN | Nov 21, 2014, 07.59 PM IST

US President Barack Obama to be chief guest on India’s Republic Day

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited US President Barack Obama to Republic Day on January 26, 2015, an invitation that has been accepted by the US president.

Obama will be the first US president to grace the occasion. TV channels reported that the Prime Minister's Office has given an official confirmation regarding Obama's visit to India.

"This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over...invited President Obama to be the 1st US President to grace the occasion as Chief Guest," PM Modi tweeted on Friday.

READ ALSO: 'Chalein Saath Saath': Modi, Obama write first joint editorial

In September this year, Prime Minister Modi visited the US and sought to repair a strained relationship between India and the US. The two-day meeting with Obama did produce some agreements, including the renewal of a 10-year defense cooperation framework, a pact to cooperate on maritime security and several clean-energy initiatives. And as Obama intensifies the American campaign against the Sunni militant group known as the Islamic State, the two agreed to improve their counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing.

READ ALSO: US President Obama meets PM Modi, calls him a 'man of action'

Recent Messages (108)

Sid Harth • 23 secs ago

For Your Eyes Only The best way one can surmise the working methodology of APCO Worldwide is aptly portrayed in the Bond movie Quantum of Solace’s character Dominic Greene and his Quantum organization. Dominic Greene : Well, look at what we did to this country. The Haitians elect a priest...who decides to raise the minimum wage...from 38 cents to $1 a day. It's not a lot, but it's enough to upset the corporations...who were here making T-shirts and running shoes. So they called us, and we facilitated a change. General Medrano : The difference is, my country's not some flyspeck...in the middle of the Caribbean. DG : But we've already begun destabilizing the government. We'll supply the private security. We'll pay off the right officials, and we have 26 countries...ready to officially recognize...your new Bolivian Government. You want your country back. My organization can give it to you... within the week. Report by Shelley Kasli Independent Geo-Political Researcher Mr Modi, I am not the only person, watching you. God almighty, needless to say, is all-aflutter. येह दिल मुश्किल जिना यहा जर बचके my friend. ...and I am Sid Harth

Sid Harth • 9 mins ago

APCO Worldwide’s Plan for India According to APCO Worldwide : After a series of significant policy changes that started in 1991, India today is a trillion-dollar market with an enviable rate of GDP growth. India’s economy is fuelled by the combination of a large services sector, a strong and diversified manufacturing base and a significant agricultural sector that continues to provide a framework for the growth of the domestic economy. The country’s resilience in weathering the recent global downturn and financial crisis has made governments, policy-makers, economists, corporate houses and fund managers believe that India can play a significant role in the recovery of the global economy in the months and years ahead. Today, India plays an increasingly important role in global geopolitics – not only as the world’s largest democracy, but also as an economic powerhouse that is coming into its own. The 6 key industries they’re focusing on are : ENERGY AND RENEWABLES FOOD, CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND RETAIL INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES AND ENTERTAINMENT BANKING, FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INSURANCE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO GOVERNMENTS APCO Worldwide India Brochure

Sid Harth • 10 mins ago

“Although TIME's cover story is not an endorsement, it contains inaccuracies, half-truths and glaring omission of pertinent details on Mr. Modi's tenure as Chief Minister. These betray its real objective - an attempt by APCO Worldwide, Modi's PR firm in Washington DC – to combat negative coverage of their client's documented connivance in gross human rights violations, in order to project him as a Prime Ministerial candidate," said Mr. Shaheen Khateeb, President of IAMC. "Mr. Narendra Modi as the potential Prime Minister of India is a diplomatic and moral conundrum for the United States and other countries of common human values," added Mr. Khateeb.

Sid Harth • 10 mins ago

MODI Makeover Adolf Hitler was a brilliant propagandist. Narendra Modi too believes in the power of image. This is probably why the chief minister hired a US lobbying firm which has serviced clients like former Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha and President-for-life of Kazakhstan Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev. This Washington-based firm, Apco Worldwide, was hired by Modi sometime in August 2007, in the run-up to an important Assembly election, to improve his image before the world community. Among its recent clients are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Communist youth leader-turned-Russian billionaire with mafia links. The firm has a distinction of taking contracts of boosting images of leaders who fell out of favour of their followers. On the face of it Apco Worldwide's brief is to build and sell Brand Gujarat to the international community. APCO, through its 32 offices across the globe, has been promoting Gujarat as a great investment destination. APCO has also been managing Modi’s own behaviour and projection, for which the cost has been over $25,000 per month since 2007.

Sid Harth • 11 mins ago

ASERO’s (MOSSAD) Management Team : Asero is almost like a retirement home for ex-Mossad and ex-Shabak secret services officials. David Harel - Managing Director and Vice President, Israel. Former head of international relations for the protection and security division of the Israeli Security Agency Oded Raz - Vice President, Former Senior ranking security official of the Israeli Security Agency Gadi Kalai – Director, Former Regional Security Manager (RSO) of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA)’s North Region One of Apco’s favorite legislators is Senator Joe Lieberman, who is a staunch supporter of military aid to Israel. Lieberman’s wife, Hadassah was Apco’s leading lobbyist for health care and pharmaceuticals clients.

Sid Harth • 11 mins ago

Apco’s involvement in various intelligence and security-related projects is done through its strategic partner and sister company Asero Worldwide. While Apco’s expertise is in the field of communications, Asero specializes in homeland security and risk management consultancy. Ken Silverstein, the editor of Harper’s Magazine (June 30, 2007) described Apco lobbyists as the “crucial conduit through which pariah regimes advance their interests in Washington”. He exposed APCO’s specialised experience in working on behalf of authoritarian regimes such as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. Apco and Asero have many overlapping consultants and management members. For example, Doron Bergerbest-Eilon who sits on Apco’s International Advisory Council was also founder and president of Asero Worldwide. Mara Hedgecoth, the daughter of Apco CEO and President Margery Kraus also sits in Asero as Vice President. At the same time, Mara Hedgecoth also serves as Vice President and Director in Apco Worldwide.

Sid Harth • 12 mins ago

Rabinovich was the Israeli ambassador to the US, and acted as the Zionist regime's chief negotiator with Syria during the era of Yitzhak Rabin. A former president of the Tel Aviv University, Rabinovich is also the chairman of the Israeli-based Dan David Foundation, named after a Romanian-born Jewish philanthropist who was active in the Zionist youth movement of the 1940s. Shimon Stein served as the Israeli ambassador to Germany, and according to Apco's website, follows "a long and distinguished career in the Israeli government and Foreign Service". Later, he served as minister-counselor for political affairs for the Israeli embassy in Washington. Doron Bergerbest-Eilon is the former head of the protection and security division and a senior security official of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), a position equivalent to the rank of Major General. In May 2005, Bergerbest-Eilon was awarded with The Director’s Recognition Award, the US Secret Service director’s highest commendation. Among his expertise listed are Security and Defence, with Singapore as one of his "regions of expertise".

Sid Harth • 12 mins ago

Among Apco's speciality is to help its clients to "navigate the complex and often converging worlds of business, industry and finance, media, public opinion and society, and government and public policy." Besides Apco, Kraus also helped found and develop the Close Up Foundation, an educational foundation sponsored in part by the US Congress. But Kraus is also active in other organisations which are less educational in nature, such as chairing the advisory board of Group Menatep, a Russian holding company, and being involved in Teuza Fund, a venture capital fund publicly traded in Israel's Tel Aviv stock exchange. Within Apco, 50 individuals sit in its powerful International Advisory Council. They comprise of former politicians, business leaders and diplomats. At least three among them, Itamar Rabinovich, Shimon Stein and Doron Bergerbest-Eilon, are individuals who are directly linked to Israel and its notorious political and military institutions.

Sid Harth • 12 mins ago

What they fail to mention however is that those strategies are devised by their International Advisory Council Members such as Aleksander Kwasniewski (former president of Poland), Itamar Rabinovich (Israel's former Ambassador to the United States and former Chief Negotiator with Syria in the mid 1990's), Timothy Roemer (former US ambassador to India, who is now on New Delhi and Mumbai's key staff) and others who are interestingly members of the Bilderberg Group and the Trilateral Commission. The Zionist Connection The name Apco Worldwide suddenly gained fame (or notoriety) in Malaysia after Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim drew comparison of the firm's image-building campaign for its Malaysian client to a similar campaign by the Israeli government. Anwar in his speech in the Dewan Rakyat on March 17 said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 1Malaysia concept was actually an imitation of the 'One Israel' concept of the Zionist regime, who is also a client of Apco.

Sid Harth • 13 mins ago

In the same month that Corzine was hired by MF Global, March 2010, there were confirmed news reports that APCO Worldwide had been hired by the Financial Services Roundtable, a Wall Street trade group, to promote the image of Wall Street as trustworthy. APCO in its own words "APCO is proud of its work over the past 25 years providing strategic communication services to many governments, including the Government of Malaysia. APCO has also provided services to many of the world's leading companies and to international institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations, the European Commission and ASEAN, among others."

Sid Harth • 13 mins ago

there was a front group that was set up called Health Care America, and the sole purpose for it to be set up was to attack Michael Moore [who was about to release his documentary on health care, Sicko] and to attack the notion of a single-payer system in this country…the media contact for it was a guy named Bill Pierce, who I had known and worked with in the past...He was listed as a media contact, and if you called his number, you would have reached him at his desk at APCO Worldwide… There was an article that the New York Times wrote as a kind of a review of Sicko, not really a review but just a story about the movie actually premiering in the U.S. in June of 2007. And the New York Times story quoted the Health Care America spokesman as saying that this represented a move toward socialism. And there was not an —apparently not an attempt on the part of the reporter, or any reporter that I saw, to disclose the fact that this was funded largely by the insurance industry.” Watch the video here : "Push Michael Moore Off a Cliff": Health Insurance Whistleblower Wendell Potter Details How the Industry Attacked Michael Moore’s Film Sicko -

Sid Harth • 14 mins ago

According to Wendell Potter, an insurance company public relations insider and whistleblower, writing in his book Deadly Spin, "One of the deceptive practices of which APCO has a long history is setting up and running front groups for its clients. In 1993, Philip Morris hired APCO to organize a front group called the Advancement of Sound Science Coalition in response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ruling that secondhand tobacco smoke was a carcinogen. Philip Morris also hired APCO to manage what it called a 'massive national effort aimed at altering the American judicial system to be more hostile toward product liability suits' and to build a coalition to advocate for tort reform. According to the Center for Media and Democracy, the tobacco industry paid APCO almost a million dollars in 1995 to implement behind-the-scenes tort reform efforts and specifically to create chapters of 'grassroots' citizens' groups called Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse." Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, interviewed Wendell Potter on November 17, 2010. Potter revealed more about APCO and front groups:

Sid Harth • 14 mins ago

The Wall Street MakeOver & Sicko Attack Hughes Hubbard and Reed is the same law firm handling the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers. After more than three years, customers have yet to be made whole. There are over 7600 law firms in New York City according to the legal web site, Martindale.com. Why SIPC has selected the same firm for two of the largest Wall Street collapses in history is noteworthy. Hughes Hubbard and Reed hired the same public relations firm to handle both the Lehman and MF Global matters, APCO Worldwide.

Sid Harth • 15 mins ago

Israel: “Wiped off The Map”. The Rumor of the Century, Fabricated by the US Media to Justify An All out War on Iran Would it be too much to ask that WAPO reveal that according to the Justice Department's Foreign Agent Registration Act section, Arnold and Porter has been serving as Israel's registered foreign agent since June of 1964? Would it be a lot more to mention that since 2010 the firm has been receiving a $10,000 per month retainer for advisory services and "special projects?" Could WAPO possibly trouble itself to inform readers that according to FARA filings the firm earned $1.2 million in fees in 2010 alone from the Israeli government? Arnold and Porter is now Israel's largest and longest serving registered foreign agent (not that there aren’t more than a handful of unregistered ones). Arnold & Porter represented several Israeli government officials in US courts by arguing that sovereign immunity mandates provide blanket protection from legal liability for their actions. In 2007 the firm won dismissal of war crimes and crimes against humanity claims brought by Palestinians against former General Security Service head Avraham Dichter. In 2005 the firm won dismissal of similar claims against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other senior officials, Israeli military forces and an intelligence agency. In 2006 Arnold & Porter also won dismissal of similar claims focusing on a single Israeli official's actions that resulted in civilian casualties in 1996. In 2008 Israel's Treasury paid Arnold & Porter $483,401 to defend such actions. In the year 2010 the firm signed a renewable contract with Israel for a $10,000 per month retainer for legal and advisory services and "special projects" with $8,000 in allowed travel expenses. Arnold & Porter reported $1.2 million in fees from the government of Israel for the year 2010. Excerpt : Smith wrote about Arnold & Porter in his book Divert.

Sid Harth • 16 mins ago

In addition to supporting George Bush, Apco also defended British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s unpopular move to enter the Iraq war. Apco had assisted Tony Blair to consolidate the war alliance. Together with the London-based Foreign Policy Institute, Apco prepared and published the pamphlet, ‘A Global Alliance for Global Values’ in which Blair declared: “We must commit ourselves to a complete renaissance of our strategy to defeat those that threaten us.” After the invasion of Iraq, Apco swiftly positioned itself to help American companies plunder Iraqi wealth and resources. In May 2003, Apco Worldwide launched a task force headed by Marc Ginsberg, the former US ambassador to Morocco, to help U.S. clients secure contracts for Iraq’s rebuilding. Apco is described as a lobby firm that “specialises in helping corporations advance their goals by manipulating legislators, and drafting and advancing model legislation and regulations. Key tools include the creation of business coalitions and fake, corporate-funded ‘grassroots’ groups tailored to specific issues.” Recently there was a report published on the importance of finding a legal basis for an attack on Iran. Interestingly the authors, Jeffrey H. Smith and John B. Bellinger III, lawyers at Arnold & Porter, supplied such a basis.

Sid Harth • 16 mins ago

Beating the War Drum Doing public relations for dictatorships is perhaps the more charitable part of Apco’s activities. Apco has a battalion of pro-war lobbyists under its wing. The firm is also a strong advocate of expanding armaments and the US military role in world affairs. In October 2004, Apco and Kissinger Associates (owned by Henry Kissinger) formed a strategic alliance. Beside Kissinger Associates, Apco also built a broad network or coalition of conservative pro-Zionist lobbyists and consultancy groups including Heritage Foundation, Frontier of Freedom, Jewish Policy Center, etc. In the name of war against terror, Apco helped to coordinate government communications to convince the public of the necessity of war. Its job also included manufacturing public opinion and feedback in supporting the war efforts. Basically it exploited Islam-phobia in Western society to sell aggression as the solution to regain security in the West.

Sid Harth • 17 mins ago

Mechanics of Narendra Modi's PR agency : APCO Worldwide - Orchestrating our Future October 6, 2012 at 8:29pm Photo showing Modi with Apco-people. One smiling Indian-looking makes a pretty picture In this dynamic and ever-changing world, Apco Worldwide stands tall as the giant of the lobbying industry. The firm, in its own words, offers “professional and rare expertise” to governments, politicians and corporations, and is always ready to help clients to sail through troubled waters in the complex world of both international and domestic affairs. Margery Kraus founded APCO Associates in 1984 as a subsidiary to Arnold & Porter, one of Washington's largest law firms, and from where APCO’s name is derived. Arnold and Porter is now Israel's largest and longest serving registered foreign agent (not that there aren’t more than a handful of unregistered ones).

Sid Harth • 21 mins ago

Opinion 9/16/2013 @ 2:50PM 16,713 views U.S. Faces Problems With India's New Prime Minister Candidate That was a news two years ago. Modi's love for America, perhaps, a sitting duck-presidency of Barack Obama, has not grown or diminished. What media denies in their editorials is the fact that after a prolonged war in Afghanistan, US is, finally, pulling out. A symbolic military, in just advisory capacity may remain. Pakistan has joined hands with Putin's Russia. A slap on Modi's face. In BRICS meetings in Brazil, Modi, as his self-promoting style, declared Vladimir Putin, his closest friend. In Australian G20 summit, Putin was almost kept away by other members. So much so, Putin left early. Ukraine is a thorn in Putin's side and he knows about it. US and European powers want Putin to solve that problem. Let's take a step back. Modi has many problems. Let Modi stop, at least one single problem. Take suitable action, that is not a face saving nor anti-Hindu. Demolish the so called 'Godmen' not just one from Hisar, Haryana. US, under Obama, has seen the extremes. Recession, was the least part of Obama's problems. He survived, if that means, he is still the president. How far Modi would go, if small and large problems he created would accumulate and keep him moribund? All glory be to our prime minister. Not before he makes a progressive moves. Modi is a fish, big or small, depends upon my view or those of his vulgar fans, in a mud. I hope he find some way to reach the water, before quitting his dream-world. ...and I am Sid Harth

Source: TOI

...and I am Sid Harth

...and I am Sid Harth

Friday, November 21, 2014

US President Obama to be chief guest at Republic Day: Reports

Recent Messages (108)

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