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While necesary cautions need to be exercised in ruffling the feathers of a powerful and friendly ally the President needs to be commended for her stoic resolve to stand up to a principle in naming the double standards of the US Government where it is conducting a seemingly unjustified and non UN mandated offensive against a sovereign nation Iraq while sending a message to Sri Lanka to negotiate with the terrorist group the LTTE.

It has become a cause for concern to the Sri Lankan Nation that the lenient policies of the UNF Government in granting many dangerous concessions to the LTTE could eventually have far reaching consequences and that they are relative to the stand taken by the US Government towards Sri Lankan Policy towards the LTTE which seems to have influenced greatly the attitude of the present government and many analysts wonder if the countinuing attrocities of the LTTE at will (though sporadic) are broadbased upon this rationale and the President has expressed her sentiments wisely and at an appropriate time.

For some unknown reason while naming them dangerous international terrorists in recent times, a carrot has been offered to the LTTE by the USA that they could be considered for deproscription conditionally and somewhat mind boggling if true in view of the colossal harm they have inflicted on Sri Lanka!

The leniencies extended to the LTTE have resulted in continued child conscriptions, attacks on vessels in territorial waters and a reluctance to desist from their normal modus operandi which even entails rather ludicrously the establishing of mock LTTE administrations in parts of the North and North East of Sri Lanka which indicates the direction in which they have always been headed despite a rather shallow sounding Peace Process which has nevertheless resulted in an extended calm within the once war torn nation of Sri Lanka and perhaps provided a stepping stone for thought about what the real options might be for any goverment in order to offset the attributes of peace against those of aggression without compromising overeignity and territorial integrity which poses many tough questions and eventually might prove to be very circumstantial albeit a dedication on the part of the President's commitment to peace.

That the present war in Iraq has been highlighted as an example of a double standard is not only the concept of Sri Lanka's President but also that of a huge coalition of opposition involving many SuperPowers, the leaders of many nations as well as the majority of the United Nations who have continued to express disagreement towards the present US aggression in Iraq where the priorities of the Bush Administration seem to have by -passed greater priorities of a world order dedicated to peace through negotiation and created a conflict in the minds of many about US directions and the President of Sri Lanka has every right to express her opinion as it illustrates the simplest of proverbs about sauce for the geese and whether it isn't sauce also for the ganders! Especially those who have a definitive right to defend their territories and integrities against terrorists! citing the full strength attack against Iraq as a probable injustice while treating the LTTE as though they were kittens.

The US double standard not only complicates the essence of peace for Sri Lanka where the perpetrators of the anti peace sentiment the LTTE despite their pretences towards collaborating towards a lasting peace as seen by their weapons and personnel building programs and continued clandestine publicity towards a push for secession but also leaves the options of any Government interested in a lasting peace through negotiation in disarray unless unilateral decision making by the Government irrespective of the advise of peers then becomes a priority where the option then necessary to restore peace would be a military one and a definite no! no! at present for Sri Lanka.

An option however which the President has suggested as being viable if necessary in a worst case scenario which could be devastating to Sri Lanka beyond any semblance of doubt!

The President in citing this very situation which involves the double standards of the USA has more than emphasized the futility of the war in Iraq, its far reaching consequences which could easily proliferate itself into something much greater in adversity and has asked the very relevant question "Does The US have any justification in waging war against an entity they deem megalomaniacal and harmful through their own perceptions, while proclaiming the merits of peaceful negotiations against a megalomaniac led terrorist entity within Sri Lanka, where the impetus and the consequences of their actions are one and the same ?"

A cause of strength an reassurances for Sri Lanka that in her President there prevails a resilience towards principles and an unwavering resolve on her part as matriarch to stand by the Sinhala Nation and all her inhabitants in these uncertain times where a blinkered Administration has done little or nothing to indicate where they are headed probably unsure themselves!!

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