Obama Chooses An Unlikely Team Of Hawks, (Time)…Peter Beinart
…Obama knows that while it’s a tough world out there, it’s tough here as well. In Gates, Jones and Clinton, he’s found people who can do more than sell his foreign policy to Iranians, Iraqis and Israelis; they can sell it to Americans too.
General Would Bring Polish To Security Post, (Arizona Republic (Phoenix))…Robert Burns and Richard Lardner, Associated Press
The national-security adviser doesn’t require Senate confirmation, nor does the job come with the muscle of a large federal agency. But in that role, James L. Jones may well be the last voice the new president hears before making crucial decisions on security. Observers say Obama has chosen wisely.
India’s Suspicion Of Pakistan Clouds U.S. Strategy In Region
(New York Times)…Jane Perlez, The terrorist attacks in Mumbai occurred as India and Pakistan, two big, hostile and nuclear-armed nations, were delicately moving toward improved relations with the encouragement of the United States and in particular the incoming Obama administration.
Indian Commandos Battle Assailants, (Washington Post)…Emily Wax
Indian army commandos struggled all day Thursday and into the early hours of Friday to regain control of two luxury hotels and a Jewish center in India’s commercial capital, battling armed assailants who were part of a group that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said was “based outside the country.”
Attributes Suggest Outside Help, (Washington Post)…Craig Whitlock and Karen DeYoung
Analysts cite scale, compared with previous onslaughts.
Attackers’ Identity Remains Unclear, (Wall Street Journal)…Matthew Rosenberg
It remains unclear who was responsible for Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai. But by Thursday, Indian officials had voiced suspicions that some of the terrorists were from Pakistan.
Cyber-Attack On Defense Department Computers Raises Concerns, (Los Angeles Times)…Julian E. Barnes, Nov 28, 2008.
Senior military leaders took the exceptional step of briefing President Bush this week on a severe and widespread electronic attack on Defense Department computers that may have originated in Russia — an incursion that posed unusual concern among commanders and raised potential implications for national security.
The invasive software, known as agent.btz, has circulated among nongovernmental U.S. computers for months. But only recently has it affected the Pentagon’s networks. It is not clear whether the version responsible for the cyber-intrusion of classified networks is the same as the one affecting other computer systems.
The malware is able to spread to any flash drive plugged into an infected computer. The risk of spreading the malware to other networks prompted the military to ban the drives.
Iraq Approves Deal Charting End Of U.S. Role, (New York Times)…Alissa Rubin and Campbell Robertson, Nov 28, 2008. With a substantial majority, the Iraqi Parliament on Thursday ratified a sweeping security agreement that sets the course for an end to the United States’ role in the war and marks the beginning of a new relationship between the countries.
Security Accord Approved In Iraq, (Washington Post)…Sudarsan Raghavan…The agreement is a significant victory for Maliki, who can take credit for ushering in the end of the U.S. intervention in Iraq. That feat could bolster his influence and popularity ahead of provincial and national elections scheduled for next year.
Iran In About-Turn Towards Security Agreement, (Financial Times)…Najmeh Bozorgmehr. …People close to the government in Tehran said that after initially opposing it – and asking its Shia allies in the Baghdad government to resist it – Tehran has been relatively satisfied with the last-minute changes demanded, and won, by Iraq.
New Security Deal Passes Iraq’s Parliament, (NBC)…Jim Miklaszewski
…David, this new security deal could signal the beginning of the end for U.S. military presence in Iraq, but it comes with strings attached that could have serious consequences.
The Iraqi government will now have some say, if not control, over all U.S. military operations. The U.S. military will now need search warrants to enter homes or buildings when looking for enemy forces except during combat. U.S. service members and private contractors could also be subject to arrest and prosecution under Iraqi laws for serious crimes. And U.S. forces cannot launch cross-border attacks from Iraq against other countries, even in self-defense.
Now, one senior Pentagon official tells NBC News that these new ground rules are sure to create some tensions, maybe even a standoff or two, between Iraqi and American forces. But this person added that these kinds of steps are absolutely necessary if American troops are ever going to get out of Iraq.
Record 2.8 million Hoosiers cast ballots Nearly 1 in 4 voted early or absentee in ’08 general election, by Mary Beth Schneider, Indianapolis Star, Nov 26, 2008.
On the numbers/facts, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (Motor Voter Law) made it easier for people to register with the expectation that more people would vote.
Trends indicate that the number of registrations did increase as did the number of voters. However, voter turnout as a percent of registered voters (average being 70%) indicate a downward trend.
Information on the total number of eligible voters in Indiana that have not registered, would have been interesting.
So-What? 2.8 million Indiana voters was a record but turnout as a percent was below average. Was the Motor Voter Law effective?
Will the votes make a difference? How will you know?
What standard should be used for interpreting trends?
| Year | Total Number of Eligible Voters | Voter Turnout (M) | Registered Voters (M) | Voter Turnout as a Percent of Registered Voters / | AVG Voter Turnout as a Percent of Registered Voters |
|
1964 |
? |
2.09 |
2.62 |
80% |
70% |
|
1968 |
? |
2.12 |
3.04 |
70% |
70% |
|
1972 |
? |
2.13 |
3.02 |
70% |
70% |
|
1976 |
? |
2.28 |
3.01 |
76% |
70% |
|
1980 |
? |
2.28 |
2.94 |
77% |
70% |
|
1984 |
? |
2.27 |
3.05 |
74% |
70% |
|
1988 |
? |
2.22 |
2.87 |
78% |
70% |
|
1992 |
? |
2.35 |
3.18 |
74% |
70% |
|
1996* |
? |
2.19 |
3.49 |
63% |
70% |
|
2000 |
? |
2.23 |
3.99 |
55% |
70% |
|
2004 |
? |
2.51 |
4.3 |
58% |
70% |
|
2008 |
|
2.81 |
4.51 |
62% |
70% |
* Motor Voter Law
POST: Transformation Leadership. Aditya Birla Group, India’s First Global Corporation
One of the best descriptions of transformational leadership has been penned by Prof. Bernard Bass, a renowned exponent of the idea. He says succinctly,
“Leaders are truly transformational when they increase awareness of what is right, good, important and beautiful, when they help to elevate followers’ needs for achievement and self-actualisation, when they foster in followers high moral maturity, and when they move followers to go beyond their self-interests for the good of their group, organisation or society.”The first lesson is that transformational leaders are able to set out a bold vision. But that’s not enough. They are also able to project their dream and put extraordinary communication skills to use to drive it across to a large number of people. Also, far-reaching as the vision may be, it is usually expressed in a simple and direct manner. When we get to the core, we see something very basic, often strikingly obvious. With hindsight, we might almost wonder how we could have missed it!
A second lesson is that transformational leaders are skilled at marshalling the intellectual and emotional equity of their people. They work hard to gain their trust and commitment because, no matter how appealing the vision, if others don’t buy into it, it won’t get implemented. And the most potent way to get everyone on the same wavelength is to set an example. A leader has to be true to the beat of his own drum, and there cannot be any inconsistency between word and action.There is a third lesson — which relates to “individualised consideration”. This implies caring for the individual at the highest level, understanding and factoring in his or her unique circumstances, but at the same time, being dispassionate and not letting it cloud one’s sense of judgement.
The fourth lesson is the ability to mind the mind. Transformational leaders will not let the storms of the heart cover the sun in the mind. They leave behind the regrets of the past, and will take forward the lessons instead, into the future. They are far from egocentric, quick to recognise that they are wrong and change track accordingly. For them ego, E-G-O connotes edging goodness out.
The fifth lesson is that transformational leaders stoke the spirit of intellectual courage to ferment constructive dissent, which has a huge positive impact on the quality of team building and decision-making. They are quick to recognise good ideas and have the intellectual honesty to give credit where it is due.
The sixth leadership lesson is about the imperative of institutionalisation, in order to ensure continuity without disruption. They focus on building an institution, which is enduring and lasts far beyond the leader and his individual contribution, and continues to thrive and to serve the larger interest of the group.And finally, the seventh lesson pertains to the leader’s willingness to move away from his conventional role and take on an entirely different mantle, maybe even hanging up his boots. Such an act caps true leadership, representing as it does, wisdom and the grace to pass on the baton.
Concluding remarks
To conclude, I’d say that transformational leaders are few and far between. They emerge from the times and circumstances — and all too often, from the ashes strewn around them. Commanding leadership and easy times rarely go together.
The idea however is to hearken to the message they hold out for us, and distil their leadership wisdom to our contexts.”
POST: Transformation Leadership. Aditya Birla Group, India’s First Global Corporation
One of the best descriptions of transformational leadership has been penned by Prof. Bernard Bass, a renowned exponent of the idea. He says succinctly,
“Leaders are truly transformational when they increase awareness of what is right, good, important and beautiful, when they help to elevate followers’ needs for achievement and self-actualisation, when they foster in followers high moral maturity, and when they move followers to go beyond their self-interests for the good of their group, organisation or society.”The Dalai Lama is a leader of an altogether different mould. He has no overt base of power; he holds no political position; neither does he command an army; and he has no control over mighty economic resources. Yet, he strikes a powerful chord. In a world driven by material progress, and the incessant thunder of conflict and strife, he offers the message of peace and humanity.
What makes the Dalai Lama so interesting and influential? Why do people around the world care about a simple Buddhist monk who 50 years ago was forced to leave his country, and who for years has headed an unrecognised government-in-exile, a ‘virtual’ nation of 6 million Tibetans?
I believe it is entirely appropriate to speak of him as a transformational leader. Why? Because, while his basic message is spiritual, his work has ramifications that are entirely down-to-earth. What exactly is the difference he has made, and what are the dimensions of what he has achieved?
Dalai Lama: Tibetans To Vote On New Leadership – November 28, 2007 – The New York Sun
The Tibetan desire for autonomy vs. the Chinese position that Tibet will always be considered part of China would get my vote as one of the best best battles to study in terms of Quality Leadership and strategy.
AMRITSAR, India The Dalai Lama said yesterday the Tibetan people will vote on a new system of leadership before he dies, as Tibetan Buddhists grapple with ways to prevent their spiritual leaders from falling under Chinese control.
China has ruled the Himalayan nation of Tibet with a heavy hand since its communist-led forces invaded in 1951 and for decades, the Dalai Lama has personified Tibetans’ struggle for self-determination. But fears that China will appoint a new Dalai Lama after his death have led Tibetan leaders to contemplate ideas that break with the centuries-old system to choose their spiritual leader including doing away with Dalai Lamas or naming a successor before the current leader dies. China, which accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet, angrily condemned the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s proposal as a subversion of Buddhist tradition.
China blames France, EU for summit cancellation, By Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press Writer , Nov 27, 2008.
BEIJING – China said Thursday French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s plans to meet with the Dalai Lama — hated by Beijing — left it no option but to pull out of an upcoming China-European Union summit.
“We resolutely oppose the Dalai traveling to other countries in any capacity to carry out activities aimed at splitting China. We resolutely oppose foreign leaders having any form of contact with the Dalai,” Qin said.
The cancellation, first announced Wednesday by would-be summit host France, was a dramatic example of the lengths to which Beijing will go to try to internationally isolate Tibet’s exiled Buddhist leader.
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