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06/11/2010
In a disappointing speech, Obama skips role of Pakistan in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai
Mumbai: In what could be a big dampener and disappointment, US President Barack Obama on Saturday skirted mentioning Pakistan's role in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai and instead focused on the financial capital's spirit.
In his speech at the Taj Hotel after he paid homage to the victims of the terror attack, Obama only made vague references saying that the images of the attack were horrifying. And he went on to add that the terror attack was an attempt to divide India. But here again he did not mention anything on the people who masterminded the attack.
The only silver lining came when he said his decision to stay at Taj Hotel is a powerful message against terrorism and demanded that the perpetrators of the horrific Mumbai attacks should be brought to justice. Beginning his three-day maiden visit to India by paying homage to the victims of 26/11 attacks, he said he was looking forward to deepening partnership in counter-terrorism during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama, he signed the visitors' book, looked at the plaque on which the names of 26/11 victims are engraved and delivered a six-minute speech in which he paid tributes to people of Mumbai and India hailing their resolve and resilience.
"There has been a great commentary on our decision to begin our visit here, in this dynamic city at this historic hotel. Those who have asked whether this is intended to send a message, my answer is simply, absolutely," Obama told a gathering that included kin of victims and staffers of the hotel who braved the 2008 attack.
He made a special reference to General Manager of the Hotel Karamveer Kang who continued to work at the hotel during the 60 hours of mayhem despite losing his family. "Taj is a symbol of strength of Indian people."
Obama also talked about the role of an Indian nanny who saved the life of a toddler, who lost his Jewish parents during the attack at the Chabad House. "We will never forget the awful images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that lit up the skies on those four days of November, 2008," the US President said with the Gateway of India forming the backdrop.
"We today, US and India are working together, more closely than ever to deepening counter-terrorism (cooperation), to keep our people safe," he said, adding the two countries have been sharing intelligence to avoiding more attacks and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
In this context, he said he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to deepening cooperation in counter-terrorism. He said Mumbai was a symbol of hope and peace. Obama then left for Mani Bhavan where he spent over an hour.
Earlier in the day, Obama arrived on the dot at 12.50 pm at the Mumbai airport on his first leg of four-nation Asia trip that would also take him to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. Air Force One carrying the President landed on schedule in Mumbai. Air traffic was closed over Mumbai two hours prior to the touchdown of the Presidential plane.
As soon as he landed, US Marine Commandos surrounded the plane. Three fighter planes and five choppers accompanied the Air Force One. During his visit in India, the US is likely to make 18 announcements on a wide range of areas covering economy, security and political spheres including possible easing of export controls on dual use items.
The Presidential couple was warmly received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Union Minister Salman Khursheed, who is the minister-in-waiting, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer and Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar.
Chavan presented Obama a coffee table book on the state and requested him to keep it in the White House museum. The book was published by the state government in the Diamond Jubilee year of creation of Maharashtra.
"The Chief Minister welcomed the President and his wife Michelle and presented a coffee table book on Maharashtra," an official who was accompanying the CM at the airport said. Chavan told Obama that the book would give him every information about the state including history, culture and major events and requested him to keep it in the White House museum, the official said.
Obama said that the world has been always curious about Mumbai and therefore he chose the destination for his India visit apart from Delhi. After pleasantries, the President and his wife walked across the tarmac to a waiting US Marine One which flew them to the downtown. A smiling President waved to a strong gathering of journalists and photographers.
En-route to Mumbai, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon told the travelling media that major announcements across a range of economic, security and political dimensions could be expected during the visit.
"There will be a number of specific announcements, obviously, as we go forward. But it really isn't just the transactional nature here. It is the overall thrust of the relationship," the U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) said.
Under Secretary of State William Burns said the relationship with India has grown "quite dramatically" over recent years and referred to the four-billion-dollar worth of defence sales to India since 2008. "There are some other big sales that are in the offing," he said.
"It is a relationship that has grown an enormous amount in the last decade and, I think, has enormous potential as you look out at this visit and beyond it," he said. Deputy NSA Ben Rhodes said the first day of the trip will focus on the "economic relationship, issues related to the transactions, US exports, export controls, things in that category".
Donilon said the Presidential trip has a "powerful message" to the people of India and the people of the US about the importance and the depth of the relationship and that is a very important thing to do. "The range of specific things that we are doing here really is intended to show and, in fact demonstrate a global partnership," he said.
Images: AP
Source: India Syndicate and Agencies
Obama avoids mentioning Pakistan - National News ? News ? MSN India
Obama avoids mentioning Pakistan
In a disappointing speech, Obama skips role of Pakistan in the 26/11 attack on Mumbai
Mumbai: In what could be a big dampener and disappointment, US President Barack Obama on Saturday skirted mentioning Pakistan's role in the 26/11 attack in Mumbai and instead focused on the financial capital's spirit.
In his speech at the Taj Hotel after he paid homage to the victims of the terror attack, Obama only made vague references saying that the images of the attack were horrifying. And he went on to add that the terror attack was an attempt to divide India. But here again he did not mention anything on the people who masterminded the attack.
The only silver lining came when he said his decision to stay at Taj Hotel is a powerful message against terrorism and demanded that the perpetrators of the horrific Mumbai attacks should be brought to justice. Beginning his three-day maiden visit to India by paying homage to the victims of 26/11 attacks, he said he was looking forward to deepening partnership in counter-terrorism during his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Accompanied by his wife Michelle Obama, he signed the visitors' book, looked at the plaque on which the names of 26/11 victims are engraved and delivered a six-minute speech in which he paid tributes to people of Mumbai and India hailing their resolve and resilience.
"There has been a great commentary on our decision to begin our visit here, in this dynamic city at this historic hotel. Those who have asked whether this is intended to send a message, my answer is simply, absolutely," Obama told a gathering that included kin of victims and staffers of the hotel who braved the 2008 attack.
He made a special reference to General Manager of the Hotel Karamveer Kang who continued to work at the hotel during the 60 hours of mayhem despite losing his family. "Taj is a symbol of strength of Indian people."
Obama also talked about the role of an Indian nanny who saved the life of a toddler, who lost his Jewish parents during the attack at the Chabad House. "We will never forget the awful images of the 26/11 attacks, the flames from Taj Hotel that lit up the skies on those four days of November, 2008," the US President said with the Gateway of India forming the backdrop.
"We today, US and India are working together, more closely than ever to deepening counter-terrorism (cooperation), to keep our people safe," he said, adding the two countries have been sharing intelligence to avoiding more attacks and demanding that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
In this context, he said he was looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to deepening cooperation in counter-terrorism. He said Mumbai was a symbol of hope and peace. Obama then left for Mani Bhavan where he spent over an hour.
Earlier in the day, Obama arrived on the dot at 12.50 pm at the Mumbai airport on his first leg of four-nation Asia trip that would also take him to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. Air Force One carrying the President landed on schedule in Mumbai. Air traffic was closed over Mumbai two hours prior to the touchdown of the Presidential plane.
As soon as he landed, US Marine Commandos surrounded the plane. Three fighter planes and five choppers accompanied the Air Force One. During his visit in India, the US is likely to make 18 announcements on a wide range of areas covering economy, security and political spheres including possible easing of export controls on dual use items.
The Presidential couple was warmly received by Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Union Minister Salman Khursheed, who is the minister-in-waiting, US Ambassador to India Timothy Roemer and Indian Ambassador to the US Meera Shankar.
Chavan presented Obama a coffee table book on the state and requested him to keep it in the White House museum. The book was published by the state government in the Diamond Jubilee year of creation of Maharashtra.
"The Chief Minister welcomed the President and his wife Michelle and presented a coffee table book on Maharashtra," an official who was accompanying the CM at the airport said. Chavan told Obama that the book would give him every information about the state including history, culture and major events and requested him to keep it in the White House museum, the official said.
Obama said that the world has been always curious about Mumbai and therefore he chose the destination for his India visit apart from Delhi. After pleasantries, the President and his wife walked across the tarmac to a waiting US Marine One which flew them to the downtown. A smiling President waved to a strong gathering of journalists and photographers.
En-route to Mumbai, National Security Adviser Tom Donilon told the travelling media that major announcements across a range of economic, security and political dimensions could be expected during the visit.
"There will be a number of specific announcements, obviously, as we go forward. But it really isn't just the transactional nature here. It is the overall thrust of the relationship," the U.S. National Security Adviser (NSA) said.
Under Secretary of State William Burns said the relationship with India has grown "quite dramatically" over recent years and referred to the four-billion-dollar worth of defence sales to India since 2008. "There are some other big sales that are in the offing," he said.
"It is a relationship that has grown an enormous amount in the last decade and, I think, has enormous potential as you look out at this visit and beyond it," he said. Deputy NSA Ben Rhodes said the first day of the trip will focus on the "economic relationship, issues related to the transactions, US exports, export controls, things in that category".
Donilon said the Presidential trip has a "powerful message" to the people of India and the people of the US about the importance and the depth of the relationship and that is a very important thing to do. "The range of specific things that we are doing here really is intended to show and, in fact demonstrate a global partnership," he said.
Images: AP
Source: India Syndicate and Agencies
Obama avoids mentioning Pakistan - National News ? News ? MSN India
