Political India: Engaging America

From The Hindu

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined President Obama in strongly condemning Sunday’s bomb attacks in Kampala, Uganda, in which at least 64 people were reported to have died.

Two bombs simultaneously ripped through the Ethiopian Village restaurant and a sports club in the Ugandan capital late Sunday evening, killing innocent spectators who were watching the World Cup final.

In a statement Ms. Clinton said, “We understand that American citizens may have been injured or killed and our embassy is reaching out to assist. Our condolences go out to the families and friends of the victims, in the United States and Uganda.”

According to media reports, the U.S. embassy in Kampala had confirmed that one American was killed in the bombings. Reports also noted that a California-based charity called “Invisible Children” which works against the use of children as soldiers, had identified that victim as one of its staff.

The Secretary said at this tragic moment the U.S. stood with Uganda, adding, “We have a long-standing, close friendship with the people and government of Uganda and will work with them to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice.”

According to Reuters, the al-Qaeda-inspired al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia had threatened to attack Uganda for sending peacekeeper troops to the east African country to support its Western and Ethiopian-backed government. Reports also said that an al-Shabaab commander in Mogadishu had welcomed the attack, however adding that “he did not know if they had carried it out”.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, Kampala bombing, President Obama, terror strike, Uganda unrest

From The Hindu

It is possible that the oil from a damaged offshore rig may continue leaking into the Gulf of Mexico until August and cause the largest environmental catastrophe in the United States' history. The grim prognosis emerged even as rig owner British Petroleum (BP) admitted that its much-touted "top kill" operation had failed to stem the surge of oil from the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded on April 20.

The enormity of the damage that has already occurred combined with the inability of the administration to stop the leak, has led to the possibility that "Oilgate" may have a significant political fallout and irreparably damage the Obama presidency as well.

In a statement BP said, the "top kill" procedure intended to kill the well by injecting heavy drilling fluids through the blow-out preventer (BOP) on the seabed, into the well. However it said that despite pumping over 30,000 barrels of heavy mud in three attempts, and deploying a wide range of different bridging materials, "the operation did not overcome the flow from the well".

While there are several further steps that BP will take to halt the flow of oil, U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, leading the effort to curtail the spill, said, "The ultimate solution is going to be to drill a relief well, take the pressure off that well and cap it. That will be sometime in August. We don't want to wait that long."

"Assault on the people"

President Obama echoed some of the frustrations of those affected in states such as Louisiana, when he said that every day that the leak continued was an assault on the people of the Gulf Coast region and their livelihoods.

He added, "It is as enraging as it is heartbreaking, and we will not relent until this leak is contained, until the waters and shores are cleaned up, and until the people unjustly victimised by this manmade disaster are made whole."

On the unsuccessful efforts to stop the leak Mr. Obama said, "While we initially received optimistic reports about the procedure, it is now clear that it has not worked. Rear Admiral Mary Landry today directed BP to launch a new procedure whereby the riser pipe will be cut and a containment structure fitted over the leak."

BP confirmed that it had received government permission to move to the next step in the subsea operations, the deployment of the Lower Marine Riser Package (LMRP) Cap Containment System. This procedure would entail cutting and removing the damaged riser from the top of the failed BOP to leave a cleanly-cut pipe at the top of the BOP's LMRP, BP explained.

The cap designed to connect to a riser of a surface-level drillship, will be placed over the LMRP "with the intention of capturing most of the oil and gas flowing from the well". BP added the LMRP cap would be connected in approximately four days.

"This operation has not been previously carried out in 5,000 feet of water and the successful deployment of the containment system cannot be assured," BP warned.

Since the crisis unfolded, the Obama administration has come under fire from various quarters, including Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, who recently expressed frustration at the delays in containing the damage to his state's coastline, which had seriously endangered its marine life and associated livelihoods.

Labels: BP, Gulf Coast, LMRP, oil spill, President Obama

From The Hindu

Responding to the announcement of “far-reaching trade restrictions” by South Korea against North Korea the White House on Monday said President Obama “fully supports President Lee in his handling of the ROKS Cheonan incident and the objective investigation that followed.”

South Korea’s announcement of trade restrictions — as well as a warning that it was prepared to use military force in case of further provocations came days after South Korea claimed that its neighbour to the north torpedoed and sank a South Korean vessel, killing 46 sailors.

In a statement Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said the measures the government of South Korea announced were called for and entirely appropriate.

A White House official confirmed to The Hindu that U.S. support to South Korea included the trade restrictions announcement.

Emphasising that South Korea could count on the full support of the U.S., Mr. Gibbs noted, “Specifically, we endorse President Lee’s demand that North Korea immediately apologise and punish those responsible for the attack, and, most importantly, stop its belligerent and threatening behaviour.”

Mr. Gibbs also explained that given the U.S.’ “unequivocal” support in South Korea’s defence President Obama had directed his military commanders to coordinate closely with their South Korean counterparts to “ensure readiness and to deter future aggression.”

The White House also said the administration supported South Korean President Lee’s intention to bring the issue to the United Nations Security Council. In that context Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice were separately consulting “very closely” with their Korean counterparts, with Japan, China, and other United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states, the White House noted.

In response to the pattern of North Korean provocation and defiance of international law, Mr. Obama has directed the U.S. government agencies to review their existing authorities and policies related to North Korea, Mr. Gibbs added.

Ms. Clinton, currently in Beijing, will travel to Seoul for discussions with President Lee and his senior advisors on May 26 before reporting back to Mr. Obama on her consultations in the region.

Also Defence Secretary Robert Gates was said to be in “close contact” with South Korean Defence Minister Kim Tae-young and will meet with him and other counterparts.

Labels: Hillary Clinton, President Lee, President Obama, ROKS Cheonan, South Korea, torpedo incident