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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en"> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="Author" content="Douglas Lang"> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Mozilla/4.5 [en]C-DIAL (Win95; U) [Netscape]"> <title>View from Space</title> </head> <body> <br>Dateline:June 3rd, 1999 Washington, DC 20:00 hrs GMT <br> <hr WIDTH="100%"> <center> <p><a href="http://www.hightech-store.com/inthefuture.html"><img SRC="globe.gif" ALT="Another view of the future" height=138 width=144></a> <p><b>From Space Looking Back. In Time, Looking Forward.</b></center> <p>How long ago did hundreds, perhaps thousands of young Chinese, the vision of their own fatherland, lay their lives for their dream called Democratic Communism, a state free from Autocracy, Nepotism and Corruption?. The year, 1989, the place <i>Tiannamen Square</i>, Beijing. Ten years later, believing signals from the USA were forthcoming, a defiant bunch gathered forces in Belgrade, openly protesting Milosevic on the streets. Of course, as usual, we blew the initiative, sat on our hands and paved the way for the current conflict, somewhat a mirror of April Glasby's infamous 1991 nod to Iraq's Saddam Hussein. <p>This week, the Chinese floated a rumor that the USA backed the Tiannemen Uprising. It comes on the tail of accusations that the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade two weeks ago was intentional. The US responded that it was part of an effort to deflect attention from US accusations of Chinese spying and theft of Space Technology. <center> <p><b>Is Life a Giant Circle, or What?</b></center> <p>From space, looking back, the Earth is at peace. Water covers everywhere, atmosphere is abundant. But in the light of time, from ground zero, the view is quite different, where the water is fouled with human waste and the air is filled with hydrocarbons. High impact manufacturing processes send millions more pounds of toxic chemicals into he air each year. Is it any wonder <a href="http://www.usatoday.com">USA Today's</a> recent headline screamed "Mars Past is Earth's Future". <p>What to make for this humanitarian venture in <i>Kosovo</i>, where the KLA are at once listed as a terrorist organization by US intelligence, yet our partner on the field of battle. Does the KLA start to remind you of the South Vietnamese regular army, maybe 1968? (See reports of aerial bombing support by NATO to KLA forces trying to retake border regions with Albania from the Serbs. <a href="http://www.7am.com">7am.com</a>). Then the NATO inspired peace plan calls for the KLA to disarm as part of a general armistice, which coincides with Serbian Paramilitary and Police withdrawal. <center> <p><b>A World at War, Again?</b></center> <p>Nostrodamus and Edgar Casey lay July as the month when disaster occurs, the 27th to be specific. If you want to be technical, the world is at war right now. Fourteen countries, aka NATO, along with Albania, Macedonia, and the KLA, against the Russians and the Serbs. Follow the yellow brick road and see where it takes you, but the path to peace will not be paved with bombs. If we send in ground troops, the Russians will be hard pressed by internal forces to repond likewise. Forget how much they "want money from the west", pride is pride. And don't delude yourself about the efficacy of a Russo/Serb strike. We have bombed buses, nursing homes, churches, embassies, bridges with pedestrians and cars and convoys with refugees. The Serbs have engaged a murderous spree at the Kosovo doorstep over old hatreds and religious egoism and resources (read minerals, including gold, zinc, copper and chrome). <p>Yet as of this writing, NATO has announced a Serb acceptance of the NATO plan, which has as its cornerstone, withdrawal of all combatants from Kosovo, both KLA and Serb. Of course, to keep the heat on, until actual troops withdrawals are monitored within a specific timetable, bombing missions will not halt, according to a USA White House press conference, now under way. This tone looms ominous for the civilian population caught in the crossfire. And once forces withdraw, a UN sponsored, NATO monitored force will assume custodial care, as in Haiti, Bosnia and elsewhere. Will the Schroeder inspired "Marshall Plan" be financed and lives rebuilt? No doubt, already overburdened, under financed, volunteer organizations will bridge the gap. <p>In a mountainous region, cold and forbidding, another confrontation looms, this place called <i>Kashmir</i>. Pakistan and India, both nuclear tipped, pushing at the envelope, challenging the hands of fate. Yet peoples lives hang in the balance as men play their game of Chess to the tune of life. Sharif and Vajpayee should meet in an arena and duel it out. Last weeks example of India's aerial attack into Pakistan (deflecting border incursions, they say) highlights the fragile illusion of peace, shattered by misunderstanding and misinformation. <p>Israel has moved once again toward the dream of peace with their neighbors, through the election of Ehud Barak. Alternately, many negative and confrontational signals will be sent if he dares elevate Ariel Sharon to superstar, as in Foreign Ministry portfolio. Peace with Syria may require unacceptable concessions, now that the region has yielded high quality wine vineyards and clean water. One idea would be for swapping outposts, as in a forward position by each side, watching the other. <center> <p><b>What Is One To Do?</b></center> <p>Sitting on your hands is the wrong response, that's for sure. Throwing your hands up in exasperation, confusion or despair is also off course. This is the time to take direct action. Governments tend to listen to the people when they make the biggest stink and the loudest noise. Nonviolent protest is the first, best solution, always. You will not gain the trust nor love of your enemy by hating them as they hate you. Remember children, for they fight the war and suffer its injustice most. <p>54,000 American men and women died in Vietnam, mostly teenagers, barely developed photos of senior prom now collecting dust on a lonely parents mantle. 500, 000 still live the physical and mental pain, now nearly 30 years later. All were military or related personnel though (without discounting the loss of a handful of volunteer civilians). <p>But the Vietnamese, ah, there is another matter entirely. Millions killed, millions more wounded, civilian women and children. Countless raped and beaten. Their land, occupied repeatedly by various foreign conquerors. Yet, American visitors, ex-vets mostly, say their recent experiences indicate grudges and vendettas are not part of the vocabulary. Many are simply too young to remember, others point to the essence of Buddhism as forgiveness and understanding. <center> <p><b>Love Is <i>The</i> Answer!</b></center> <p>Knew I'd get hear eventually, didn't you? How corny and simplistic, you say? Love! But, in my short 42 years, love has saved me over and over. In my travels through 18 countries in four years, my butt was often saved threw the loving kindness of strangers I will never see or know again. And if life is a giant circle, do I not have the obligation to pass on this kindness to others. <p>The Prophets Moses, Lord Buddha, Krishna, Jesus and Mohammed, among others, all sought to teach this universal message which advocates alleviating the pain of the suffering ill, feeding the hungry and sheltering the destitute among us. We are tasked with no lesser obligation for we have lived this life of privilege that no generation before us has enjoyed, and nothing good in life comes easy, or free. <p>Until the next dispatch, <p>All the Best, <p>Douglas Pepper Lang <hr WIDTH="100%"> <center> <h1> <a href="http://www.hightech-store.com/index4.html">THE HIGH TECH STORE (CLICK HERE)</a></h1></center> </body> </html>