The President declared the end of combat operations in Iraq

Remarks by President Barack Obama in an address to the nation
on the end of combat operations in Iraq

Oval Office
8:00 P.M. EDT / August 31, 2010.

THE PRESIDENT : Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home.

I know this historic moment comes at a time of great uncertainty for many Americans. We’ve now been through nearly a decade of war. We’ve endured a long and painful recession. And sometimes in the midst of these storms, the future that we’re trying to build for our nation — a future of lasting peace and long-term prosperity — may seem beyond our reach.

But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.

From this desk, seven and a half years ago, President Bush announced the beginning of military operations in Iraq. Much has changed since that night. A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.

PT. BUMI ResourceS Tbk.'s proverb

- Let us put our minds together and see what life can make for our children.

- Do not cut down the tree that gives you shade.

- Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.

- The highest education is that which does not merely give us information, but makes our life in harmony with all existence.

- If everyday is an awakening, you will never grow old. You will just keep growing.

- Man can no longer live for himself alone. We must realize that all life is valuable and that we are united to all life.

- Music is harmony, harmony is perfection, perfection is our dream, and our dream is heaven.

- The world is playground and life is pushing my swing.

- He who has health, has hope. And he who has hope, has everything.

- Every man's ability may be strengthened or increased by culture.

New Financial regulation Bill

President Barack Obama signed the new US Financial market regulations into law yesterday ( July 21 ), this new regulation appear because US economy have many crisis according many risk instrument plays in the financial market like : Credit cards, mortgages, stocks & money market, derivatives, loans, insurance, etc. and finally hit in 2007 / 2008, the crisis start from America but the impact of that economy crisis spread to the other countries, many companies close and many people lost their jobs.

Afraid of tragedy like the Great Depression in 1930' s, Obama administration' s prepare and set this new regulation, the President says : " The American people will never again be asked to foot the bill for Wall Street' s mistakes ", then Mr. Obama said : " There will be no more taxpayer funded bailouts. Period. "

This regulation have 2300 page bill, all of us are waiting this law into practice, others says : " It was a good step toward in a new financial system ". 

I hope other country will follow next and the crisis can not repeat again. We always learn how to make something better than before after we get fall and making errors.

Spain and FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2010 ( football ) begin on Friday, June 11 in Johannesburg soccer city stadium South Africa country, the first match is between South Africa vs Mexico, result : 1 - 1, the final match is between The Netherlands vs Spain on Sunday, July 11 in Johannesburg soccer city stadium. In this occasion I' d like to say that I hope Spain will win the match soon, why ?, because many information recently told that Spain have economic problems like Greek but with different shapes, so if they win the game at least their economy can rise by this situation, more job, tourist, product, and other sector in economy fields will increase proportional with their results, and The Europe economy recession can reduce and on the other hand the global recession automatically can terminate.

4th of July and Chinese tradition

  If you know a little of Chinese tradition trust, you will see that in Chinese trust, the number of four ( 4 ) mean : Dead sign, Chinese people always ( if they can ) not take that 4 number, they believe this number 4 is a Bad luck for they life.

In Jakarta you will see some building ( a lot ) do not have 
number 4 in their passenger lift, they only have number 1, 2, 3, 5 and so on,  or the number 4 change by other sign like : 3 A and 3 B; Also on the name card, some people write their office level without number 4, they afraid of that dead sign.

                                          4th of July Celebrates
BUT .......... this day is the Fourth of July, this day is the Independence day of America, the number 4 in here is very important for American people, they all celebrates this number 4 of day with happiness, there is no bad sign in here, the number 4 of July is a lucky number, who wants to change this number 4 with number 3 or 5 ?.

AND the amount of years of American Independence is : 234 years for this year, and again the number of 4 appear for this day double four for this year and still ........ luck sign.

Can you count something without number 4 ?, Four square for instance, do you have your house with ellipse model or pentagon shape than 4 square ?, ...... strange ...... do you have four children ?, who is the number 4 then ? ........ Can we live without number 4 ?, Of course not !, do you want bankrupt ?, and what about Four Seasons, must we change it with 5 seasons or 3 A seasons ? what kind of season is that ?, where on Earth of that season ?, ..... so the dead sign of number 4 is a false alarm.

Ford has sold Volvo

Yesterday ( Sunday, March 28 ) at Volvo headquarters in Gothenburg, Sweden, China' s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. agreed to buy Volvo cars from Ford Motor Co. for US$ 1, 8 billion, Ford will receive US$ 1, 6 billion in cash and US$ 200 million note from Geely and it puts a Chinese company for the first time in charge of a major global car brand.

Geely Chairman Li Shufu who' s called China' s Henry Ford said Geely will build Volvos in China, the deal brings opportunity, he has the goal of selling 200.000 Volvos in China by 2015. The company is ranked no. 11 in China.
Ford paid US$ 6, 5 billion for Volvo in 1999 and over the past few years, Ford has also sold Aston Martin and Jaguar - Land Rover.

Aston Martin sold to a consortium which valued at pounds 479 million in March 12, 2007; The consortium includes Investment Dar and Adeem Investment from Kuwait.

Jaguar - Land Rover sold to Tata Motors Ltd. from India for US$ 2, 3 billion in March 26, 2008.

Ford must use about half its sale proceeds to pay US$ 23, 5 billion debt the company took on in 2006.
Ford Motor Company founder is Henry Ford 1863 - 1947, pioneer automobile manufacturer, Ford' s famous car in 1908 is Model T, nearly 17 million cars were produced worldwide.

Souvenir from VOA

This afternoon I get a big yellow package envelope from VOA ( Voice Of America ) in Washington DC., it contains of : 1 T shirt - 50th Anniversary of VOA, 1 Word Book / VOA Dictionary - 50th Anniversary of VOA, 1 Back pack - 50th Anniversary of VOA, 1 Big calendar poster 2010 VOA size : 85 cm X 55 cm and 1 Frequencies schedule.

It reminds me all to the Special prize from VOA Special English several weeks ago, where I go to the Embassy.
The link to VOA Special English is : http://www.voaspecialenglish.com

It looks like my blog have problem with its font letter, I tried to posting my write but still not same as usual, I don' t know why, perhaps it' s because of some experiment which have made by Blogger Team with their new experiment column recently.