A really great article - "Gains for Pakistan bear Kerry’s mark"

[wisteria]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/04/05/gains_for_pakistan_bear_kerrys_mark/?comments=all



"The president of Pakistan recently sent Senator John F. Kerry flowers. Pakistan’s powerful army chief spent three hours at Kerry’s house recently for dinner. And soon, officials in Islamabad will confer on Kerry the “hilal-e-Pakistan’’ — the highest honor given to a foreigner"


Oh, and any English majors among us- is that the proper spelling for bear? Bare?

[karynnj]

1. That is a fantastic interesting article

(First, your grammar question was interesting to me, a non English major because I realized I didn't know the answer, but thought it looked wrong. From Answers.com, the Boston Globe got it wrong - http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_it_bare_the_name_or_bear_the_name (Another grammar question, I had from the article was if the has should be a have here - "Supporters insist the aid — and Kerry himself — has helped rebuild trust with a critical ally.") Math is so much easier.)

The idea of helping provide services to the civilians themselves has seemed to be the basis of much of Kerry's ideas on foreign policy. This really is a test on whether that works to build real trust. It appears to have moved things in the right direction. It is a lot of money, but if it succeeds in getting Pakistan to root out Al Qaeda, it will have been one of the key factors in the Afghan War. I wonder if the long term good might be to solidify the fragile democracy in Pakistan. If it does and that leads to a government that can work with India, it could be the key foreign policy action done by Obama.

[wisteria]

6. I had looked up the definintions and I still wasn't sure. n/t

[MBS]

2. Even better was fact thatin hard copy it was on the front page

Below the fold, but the headline nevertheless just leaped out. .
nice way to start the day : )

[karynnj]

3. Great to hear!

[blm]

4. luck of geography.... heh

.

[Mass]

5. "bear the mark"

bear one means carry the mark

bare means "expose"

So I guess it really depends of the meaning.

[wisteria]

7. The online dictionaries I checked weren't clear on either spelling. n/t

[YvonneCa]

9. ...bear is correct in...

...this case. ;)

[wisteria]

10. The bears have it! Thanks. n/t

[ProSense]

8. Excellent article.

Diplomacy at work, and Senator Kerry is a master.

[karynnj]

11. Article on a program to bring 25 Pakistanis to Amherst for a summer exchange program

Senator John Kerry Wednesday announced that the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Donahue Institute will receive $455,440 from the United States Department of State to conduct the Study of the U.S. Institute for Pakistani Student Leaders on Comparative Public Policy.

The six-week program, will offer 25 undergraduate students from Pakistan the opportunity to study alongside American students this summer, said office of the lawmaker, who is a lead supporter of $7.5 billion multi-year assistance plan for Pakistan.

The program aims to deepen the Pakistani students understanding of the U. S. and to increase their leadership skills. They’ll also participate in community service activities and a two-week study tour to other parts of the United States.

“Student exchanges helped win the Cold War and they’ll help enormously in today’s globalized world. This investment will allow exceptional students from Pakistan to interact with their American peers in Amherst, gain leadership skills and learn about our country,” Kerry, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said.

http://www.pakistantimes.net/pt/detail.php?newsId=10108

[wisteria]

12. Wonderful! n/t

[karynnj]

13. Small as this is, consider the impact

The students will likely be among Pakistan's best. If even a tenth become successful political, business or cultural leaders in Pakistan, they will be a force having seen that the US, which is not perfect, is not the evil alien country that some portray it, Their having a more reality based view could make a difference.