IRAQI FAIRS

Cricket is treated as nothing less than a religion in India and the star cricketers give fierce competition to Gods in the kind of adulation they receive and the kind of frenzy they create. But, no religion, no teachings and none of the Gods ever taught to dishonour the motherland or a symbol of it. However, the most revered cricketing god of the nation, Sachin Romesh Tendulkar was nonchalant and unperturbed when he cut the tri-colour cake at a party hosted by a Non-Resident Indian in Jamaica just before the World Cup on March 10. Now, the question that rises is, is this an act that can be pardoned? The photographs, which came into HeadlinesIndia’s possession show Sachin Tendulkar ready to cut a cake fashioned to represent the Indian tri-colour with Ashok Chakra in the middle (Tiranga) and everyone else present there including the Indians clapping and applauding the demise of Tiranga, for whose sanctity every ‘belonging Indian’ is always ready to lay down his life. Without an iota of respect to the motherland, it is no wonder the Indian cricket team lost the battle in the field.

But what comes as most surprising in the whole event, is the presence of an Indian diplomat, the Indian High Commissioner to Jamaica, K L Agrawal. He was at the venue, cheering as this cake (read Tiranga) cutting ceremony progressed on. The whole of Indian team was present there and Zaheer Khan, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh apart from Sachin Tendulkar are clearly visible in these photographs even. One can allow the fact to pass by, that the highly esteemed and patriotic cricketer in question was not aware of the act he was performing, but it is impossible to comprehend the fact, a veteran diplomat was not sensitive enough to pay respect to the national flag at an international forum. This grave insult bestowed on the Indian flag is not expected from a person who is there to promote and protect Indian rights.

Were’nt anyone present there aware of the Flag Code of India, 2002 and other laws governing the code of conduct vis-à-vis Indian tri-colour? As per the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, not only is this act unethical and insensitive, but it also amounts to an offence with a maximum of three years imprisonment or fine or both. The Act stipulates, “Whoever in any public place or in any other place within public view burns,mutilates, defaces, defiles, disfigures, destroys,tramples upon or otherwise shows disrespect to or brings into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or by acts) the Indian National Flag or any part thereof, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.” It should not be forgotten that the act of showing disrespect was committed at a party.

The expression, “Indian National Flag” includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof, made of any substance or represented on any substance. The cake used for the purpose, without any doubt, represented the Indian tri-colour.

Moreover, the cake had the wordings, “Wish you all the best” written on it. It is another offence as the explanation Four of the said Act clearly says that disrespect to the Indian flag includes putting any kind of inscription upon it. If the on-field performance of the Indian cricket team has exposed the reality of their claims of winning the world cup, this sin committed by a few Indians has exposed the hypocrisy behind their patriotic instincts. All the Indian players relentlessly boast of being the most patriotic of the lot. They feel hurt when they have to remove the painting of tri-colour from their helmet, but they laugh and clap when they chop their own national flag! They doom you in field, they chop you on table!

Players can be forgiven for their poor show at the World Cup, as cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. Even the NRI hosting that party could be forgiven for having forgotten the importance of the flag and for severing emotional attachment to Indian nationality. Players could have been ignorant, though not knowing a law is no defence against an offence, of the flag code, but must not the High Commissioner be asked why and how did he allow and get along with this state of affairs in his ‘sublime’ presence?

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 the Minnesota Division of the FBI and Secret Service raided the offices of iNetGlobal, located at 250 Second Avenue South in Minneapolis.

In an official statement released by iNetGlobal – (the Star Tribune never bothered to run), the company says:

On Tuesday, February 23, 2010 -  U.S. Federal Agents arrived with a warrant to search the Minneapolis offices of iNetGlobal™ looking for something to substantiate their claim that illegal activity was occurring in the business.

iNetGlobal™ provides a number of essential internet tools and services for the small and home based business market.

These services include: Domain Registration, Web Hosting, Email Marketing, Shopping Cart, eCommerce, Local Business Directory, Press Release service, Search Engine, and Pay Per View Advertising services.

iNetGlobal offices will remain open to provide support to our thousands of customers from around the world. iNetGlobal will continue to provide the level of quality service our customers have come to expect now and into the future.

We would like to thank all of our Members and Customers for their support and well wishes in this trying time.

Thank you – iNetGlobal

The Minneapolis’ Star Tribune’s report on iNetGlobal was misleading, incorrect and lacked real information about iNetGlobal and the reason the Federal Government can only “suspect” a Ponzi scheme. Since the first posting of this story, KARE 11, KSTP 5 and a handful of bloggers and online media outlets have picked up on the tainted one-sided story that the Strib delivered to their wavering readership.

Remember, in the United States, the American people in business have no protection over the federal governments investigative branch. Without absolute facts American businesses are at the whim of  federal agencies which can freeze bank accounts, take computers and close offices with nothing more than an allegation.

The land of the free and home of the brave is now being ruled with Communist, Gestapo  tactics.

The United States government would never go into a non-profit, human service agency that had received millions of dollars in federal money to address a disparity in an under-served community that posted no results, but denies, obstructs and freezes assets from businesses on a daily basis without proof of guilt with a “wild, wild west” mentality.

On Tuesday, February 23rd, Star Tribune reporter Jim Walsh, wrote, “Federal agents raided a Minneapolis business owned by local musician Steve Renner Tuesday morning in what authorities are ‘calling‘ a suspected Ponzi scheme. The secret service said it would not divulge any other details at this time.”

The Star Tribune has not seen a copy of the search warrant; nor did they have relevant details about what triggered the investigation.  The newspaper has used it’s “power” to skew a story adding defamatory contempt prior to a full investigation and a Grand Jury inquiry.

Has the meaning of the word “calling” changed to “guilty?”

Just for the record: iNetGlobal™ is a global Internet Service Company that provides essential services for its target market—entrepreneurs, home-based business, small businesses, and corporations—all those who need to market on the Internet.  These “V” core services include—V-Webs™, V-Newswire™, V-Local™, V-Webcast™ and V-Shops™ – in addition to its online advertising services make up the bulk of the company’s business.  Following its humble beginnings in 2006, iNetGlobal finally perfected what is now its current product lineup in July 2008.  Since introducing the iNetGlobal™ services, the company has become one of the fastest growing Internet service companies in the world.

Our business model pays individuals to “Surf the Web” while using our products to promote and build capacity for their small businesses. iNetGlobal members are no different than Marketing Experts who sell online advertising and get paid commissions. In traditional advertising and marketing, the cost for such exposure would be phenomenal and beyond the reach of most small businesses.

iNetGlobal has created opportunities on a Global level.

iNetGlobal’s “V” core services are the back-bone of online Internet marketing. Following iNetGlobal’s™ humble beginnings in 2006, the company finally perfected what is now its current product lineup in July 2008.  Since introducing the iNetGlobal™ services, the company has become one of the fastest growing Internet service companies in the world.

When staff questioned the intrusion of the government agencies, Robert MacQueen, Secret Service Lead Search Agent said, “This Company (iNetGlobal) is running a Ponzi scheme. We have 3500 Chinese filing a suit that said this.”  Special Agent MacQueen went on to say, “We have frozen your bank accounts and the ‘victims’ will get their money back.” One of the staff of iNetGlobal asked the agent “Isn’t that for the courts to decide? It looks like you have found the company guilty with contempt, prior to investigation.

In closing, the United States of America was founded on hard working individuals that wanted to make a better life for themselves. It seems currently, if an individual is successful the federal government and the ponds they use (Star Tribune) paint an unrealistic picture of entrepreneurial success.

But really, when was the last time you purchased a newspaper versus reading your news online?

I feel the Star Tribune newspaper has lacked journalistic integrity in this story, and in other stories by not allowing their readership the option to see both sides.

Before the war:

I joined the Army in February of 2000. I was stationed at FT Carson, CO for 2 years. I went to Korea for 2 years. At the beginning of 2004 my active duty time was up and so I joined the Minnesota National Guard.

Six months later I was activated with a unit out of Cloquet, MN. This unit was primarily Air defense and so the unit was sent to FT Bliss TX to cross train to Motorized Infantry. We spent six months training for our mission. Four months into the training our unit was split into two companies. 60 to go to Saudi Arabia and guard some construction sites and the others were sent to Iraq. A small group of 40.

During the war:

Upon arrival to Iraq we were given the mission to guard the Baghdad oil refinery, to provide Quick Reaction Force to our sector and provide sector security which included daily 8 hour patrols. About our 4th month in we were given the mission to help train the Iraqi SF and Iraqi Special police. We would train them during the day and conduct raids during the night. I was a team leader of our rear gun truck which I was in charge of rear security and making sure my Iraqi counterparts knew how to set up security and engage the enemy. This is a picture of my buddy Nibras. He was on my team of rear security. We spent almost every day together. He was part of the Elite Commando’s of the one of the most feared Iraqi Special forces units in Iraq. The Wolf Brigade. During this time we encountered more Improvised explosive devices than we could count. Small arms fire, car bombs, sniper fire and mortars.

My unit with only 40 Americans and 100 Iraqi’s were responsible for the capture of over 1100 terrorists. And while this was going on we still were able to help the community with handing out food, water, school supplies and clothes. One of the hardest things my battalion had to go through was when our Battalion Commander was killed by a road side bomb. He was the highest ranking officer to be killed in combat in Iraq. Col Wood was a very good commander and wanted to do the right thing for the Iraqi people.

And one of the greatest things that I saw in Iraq came on a day in early summer. We had handed out school supplies a couple days earlier to a really poor neighborhood in the Dora Market. We had been guarding this intersection for two days straight trying to catch terrorists. We were about 25 hours into it and I had switched with my gunner so that he could take a break from the 50 caliber machine gun we had on our truck. The sunrise that morning was beautiful and I was just looking down the barrel of this huge gun when I saw it out of the corner of my eye. A little kid walking around this curve in the road, then another, then another. I pulled my head up to get a better look and I saw all the kids. Walking in a single file line, Elementary age kids with those back packs on. I almost shed a tear knowing that this was the first time in their lives that they were able to go to school.

After the war:

Well it takes about 2-3 months for the adrenaline to wear off. You are very numb while you are in the fighting and you don’t realize the things that you saw over there affected you mentally and physically. One of my biggest problems after getting back was my anxiety issues. I could not handle large crowds or standing in line at grocery store. I would avoid that at all costs. I just could not understand why someone was upset in front me in line over a 50 cent coupon. For months I would just avoid going to the store. My buddy and I would turn to alcohol to help calm the nerves. And as everyone knows alcohol just increases your anxiety issues.

Another thing that I could not help was sleeping at night. For over a year we were running on very little rest. We would sleep for an hour or two here and there. When I got home I would go to sleep at 11 and wake up at midnight fully rested. Be tired all day and continue that routine all over again the next day. I would have terrible nightmares. In my dreams I would be in a gun battle and my rifle would jam or run out of ammo. Helplessness!! Caused by thinking I should have done more for the Iraqis. I was stubborn to ask for help. I didn’t need it I was fine. I was a tough Army guy. We don’t need help. We need to exercise and drive on!

After 6 months of not sleeping and having nightmares. I finally turned to my Mom and Dad. I needed something. I went to the family doctor and was prescribed anti anxiety medication and sleeping pills. I lasted a whole 3 days on those. The sleeping pills didn’t work and the anti anxiety pills made it so much worse. So I turned to the VA. I was given a thorough examination and was diagnosed with Anxiety issues from Trauma and subclinical PTSD. The DR. gave me so many tools to help overcome all of my issues. I still see her about every 3 months and I will continue to use the VA for the rest of my life. I now have the best girlfriend ever and the loving support of her family. Combined with my family support system and church I am able to carry on as upstanding citizen. I am here to help anyone that may have questions about deployments and what you can do for your community and family.