Comments on issues raised by BBC WHYS

President Bush has called for an increase in US troops in Iraq as he has admitted that , “We aren’t winning”. But sending more troops to Iraq is unlikely to change the situation. More troops will be matched by more suicide attacks and sectarian killings. The US troops can’t patrol Iraq inch by inch to spot arms depots and would-be suicide bombers. There are armed groups who have the means and the charisma to have faithful and secretive members. These will have where to hide and how to emerge. AS they can melt and come out from the population, they will remain elusive and unpredictable.

Iraq doesn’t need more troops, it needs more national trust for the Iraqis to live in peace as countrymen belonging to a country patriotically. Continued sectarian loyalty coupled with suspicion of the other side will make Iraq continue plunging into the abyss of violence.

Government Of Indian State Andhra Pradesh, India Proposes Compulsory HIV test Before Marriage. But Compulsory HIV Tests before marriage are only the tip of the iceberg.

There are other causes from drug addictions and needle sharing. Too much still needs to be done before HIV become history. In this sense, HIV test before marriage can be effective if the couple haven’t been engaged sexually before marriage. Today many would-be couple are engaged in sexual activities.

Marriage is for life. It shouldn’t turn into a nightmare because one partner is HIV positive. Any couple should remain faithful to each other after marriage if they each prove to be HIV negative.

After all for promiscuous people, it is in their interest to take an HIV test regardless if they’re married or not as a precaution to know how healthy they are.

Compulsory HIV test should also apply to partners. HIV test should also be made compulsory in countries which have sex tourism as a source of its income. Visitors should be made to testify that that they are free from HIV.

But countries like India will find it difficult to eradicate AIDS as there are large sections of the population that are unaware of it and its dangers. But as long as there is free sex with people risking their lives for money or pleasure, the spread can’t be limited overnight.

What matters, after all, is that every one should have safe sex within or outside marriage. To make tests compulsory, states should also have the means to make them free for all wherever they might be, near or far from health care centres. Ways should be found to make cure available to all the affected regardless of their income or their whereabouts.

Elections in Iran are just a charade as all the key political institutions are in the grip of the clergy of the Ayatollahs who have the power to veto any policy not in line with their ideologies.

Former “reformist” President Khatami was ineffective because many of his reforms were blocked by the clergy. Ahmadinejad has to keep his popularity just with the Ayatollahs who had given him the green light to stand as a presidential candidate and to win the second round, creating a big surprise after he had been considered as the underdog in the race for presidency.

The low turn-out in the local elections is a message to the clergy that the results make no difference as radical reformists and dissidents are excluded from standing and making their voice heard to the public without fear of arrest and prosecution.

When Iran can have a powerful president who isn’t under the grip of the Iranian clergy, then elections presidential or local – can make the difference.