Marvi Memon refused to meet Mrs. Clinton

[This letter was first published by The Nation.]

Marvi Memon refused to meet Mrs.Clinton
November 3, 2009

Dear Secretary Clinton,

Whilst the message from you and your government is that of peace and friendship, the Kerry Lugar Bill passed by your legislative branch has been one of the main stumbling blocks in this mission. The assumption that Pakistanis have misunderstood the bill is equally faulty. Pakistanis have read the bill and understood your intent to micromanage Pakistan, to curtail Pakistan’s nuclear expansion program and to direct the war against extremism in Pakistan from White House.

What follows below is an understanding of the bill which needs to be amended if relations between US and patriotic Pakistanis have to be established. Your assertion that if we have issues with the bill we don’t need to take the money is ‘spot on’; patriotic Pakistanis have rejected your mere $1.5 billion. We will not negotiate on our country’s sovereignty and defence. And these are not mere slogans. They are based on facts which we read out of your conditionalities which do exist. And here are the facts Secretary Clinton:

1. The most controversial clause in the bill pertains to giving US ‘direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such networks’. The explanation given in the note is equally unacceptable because it wants ‘cooperative efforts’ to combat proliferation to continue. This cooperation mentioned is intrusive since it demands ‘direct access’. Secretary Clinton, we have already handled our proliferators and believe in non proliferation. This we consider a breach of our sovereignty.

2. The reference to Pakistan military and intelligence agencies being involved in giving support to terrorists in the past is equally offensive. This is a clause which enables the Indian lobby to target Pakistan and hold it responsible for all future terrorist acts in the region.

3. The other issue pertains to the fact that President Obama’s regional security strategy will include working with ‘relevant governments and organizations in the region and elsewhere.’ The strategy which could include RAW and Mossad would be imposed on Pakistan for US national interest not Pakistan. And as such we cannot give the authority of making Pakistan’s security strategy to a US President.

4. There are references to expansion of Container Security Initiative at various Pakistani ports which we consider a security hazard.

5. The term sanctuary for terrorism implies that Pakistan is a failed state as is included in intelligence reforms and Terrorism Prevention Act 2004.

6. Bill allows ‘irregular forces to be used for US combat operations in Pakistan’ as stated in the Ronald Reagan Act 2005. This in effect gives legal cover to the Dynocores and Blackwaters which we Pakistanis have major issues with and consider a threat to our security.

7. The bill micromanages Pakistan’s important federal government agencies from education, madrassah’s to trade, to judiciary, to natural resources. All aid given will be to NGOs and if more than $100,000 is given those NGO files will become classified. As such Pakistan will not have access to such operations. This we consider an attempt by US to create its own financial political power bases for future.

8. Approximately $860 million of the aid will go back to US in the form of administrative expenses etc. This truly reflects badly on the actual impact on an average Pakistani’s life.

Here were some of the issues with the bill. Now let’s examine what aggravates Pakistani sensitivities with regards to current US policies. And why you are not welcome in Pakistan by patriotic Pakistanis. This might help you understand why over 80% of Pakistanis have issues with your policies as per certain reliable surveys.

1. Firstly, the US stance in the war against extremism is biased towards protecting Indian and Afghan interests. The TTP and Baloch terrorists have been using these two countries and their resources as bases for their operations inside Pakistan as is proven by Pak military evidence. Whilst you consider Pakistan to be sovereign our aid is linked to these two countries which we find distasteful.

2. Whilst Pakistan’s nuclear program is an issue for US, the Indian nuclear program (civil nuclear technology agreement) is being allowed to expand without any blockades.

3. Whilst you have personally complemented Pak military efforts in your recent visit, at the same time there are conditionalities in giving aid to Pakistan to strengthen its military against terrorists. Certainly these terrorists are linked to India and as such conditionalities are one sided. Moreover, if Pakistan military is being complemented why can’t it be trusted with drone technology? Additionally US policy wishes to strengthen Pakistan’s parliament and yet it ignores the resolution passed by Pakistani parliament against drone attacks.

4. Whilst Pakistan is a frontline state which has paid dearly in terms of men lost in battle with terrorists, US considers India and Pakistan to be equals. Where is the advantage Pakistan should get for cooperating on terrorism? $1.5 billion is a joke compared to the billions spent in Afghanistan and Iraq, even in Turkey and Egypt. As well as the fact that no where with other allies has US imposed intrusive conditionalities.

5. Whilst Pakistan is blamed for terrorist sanctuaries how many infiltrators coming from India and Afghanistan specifically have you managed to stop?

6. The commitment for ROZs looks like its dithering. Where is the actual support for the tribals who have suffered the most in the war being fought to destabilize Pakistan?

7. What effort has the US played in cutting drug money which is destabilizing Pakistan and funding terrorism considering its source of entry is US backed Afghan territory. UN report confirms that after US entry into Afghanistan opium production has increased manifold. This is impacting Pakistan’s security since it’s ready financing for terrorism inside Pakistan.

Secretary Clinton,

If you wish to improve Pak-US bilateral, a more productive approach would have been to not justify the bill on arrival but rather to give an open ear to the criticisms with a commitment to amending it. Since there have been no such commitments it seems fruitless to meet with you. This is even more disturbing considering that you have been given plenty of evidence of Pakistani uproar on the bill before your arrival. It’s a pity that the bill was executed minus real Pakistani input. This has no doubt created a diplomatic fiasco for the US. Instead of underestimating the fiasco or considering it a result of Pakistani lack of comprehension, it would have been better to deal with it head on: amending the bill being the only viable option.

Pakistan might have a government which is beholden to you for its future longevity, but there are patriotic Pakistanis who will defend the soil before accepting your policies of creating a US fiefdom in Pakistan. As a young parliamentarian, I would only welcome you to Pakistan once we have evidence of your shift in policy so that Pakistan is dealt with as a sovereign country.

MARVI MEMON

The Choas That We Are

It is getting harder and harder to fathom what is happening in our country or where we are headed. There is not one … but multiple fundamental issues ongoing and none of them seem to be addressed by anyone. The nation is at war (apparently we weren’t at one before since the interior minister just said we are like a couple of days back. perhaps the previous operations in the north were …. i dont know not worthy of the word war). There is an ongoing sugar crisis. Power and electricity are always a fundamental problem. Security threats are increasingly getting higher. Our sense of civil liberties are becoming desentisized. We as a people are absolutely not discplined in anything. We don’t have the basic civic sense that we should. And overall… more and more …people are becoming cynical in this country. Oh and of course.. the economy.. the Kerry – Lugar bill … the unemployment and lack of jobs…. etc etc etc. I could continue this list … but I am sure you get the point by now.

People.. and mostly I am talking about the high and mighty ‘political’ analysts in our country are still stuck on Musharaff. ‘He did this’ ‘He did that’ ‘He brought him’ ‘He authorized’ blah blah blah. All happened. All done. All in the past. What is happening right now is now? We simply cannot afford to continue sitting and discussing and debating and blaming people for what happened in the past. We cannot afford to stay caught up in that.

The security threat has become so horrific that schools and universities are being targetted. The twin blasts which took place in the IIUI yesterday … was beyond sad. 6 Students died. Students. The future of Pakistan. This is what is happening now. People who are concerned are getting more and more fed up with living in this country, and not out of mere whim of irritation, but this is actually getting too much. I don’t blame them. For anyone their childred are everything. And if their children are not safe…. then they will do what is necessary to protect them. The schools across the nation are closed. The federal ones are to remain closed till Sunday if I am not mistaken. Inititially the Universities and Institutes were also going to be closed .. however the decision was changed for them to remain closed on Wednesday (today) and reopen on Thursday.

The very idea of our children not being able to attend school because of a terror threat of a suicide bomber is … horrible. It goes against the idea of a ‘free’ and ’sovereign’ state. Something that we are ‘apparently’ so much concerned about for bashing the Kerry Lugar bill. (I shall not comment on the bill itself and whether we should or shouldn’t be opposed to it. I will refrain for now). But the point is … this is not the sign of a state which is Free or Sovereign.

Yesterday as I was driving home in the evening, I was listening to a show on one of the FM channels and the RJ’s were at that moment discussing this ongoing crisis only. One of them was saying  “The security which has been put in place.. the added security … is not at all a measure of suring up security. All this is doing is adding to our hassels. I was going to drop my kid to school today… and the guy who is their to protect me… started frisking me. I mean …he wasn’t even trained to do that … properly. And all he had on him was a metal detector. This is not security at all. It is in fact a lack of it.” Completely agreed. The other one was however adding that “we shouldn’t give in to the Taliban or the militants behind these threats because this is exactly what they want. They want us to stop functioning as a nation. After the schools they will say the work places will be targetted and then our offices will be closed for the same reasons.”  

While I agree with him in principal… I think it is easier said then done. Especially given the state of security measures in place as pointed out by the other RJ. We are not equipped to stand tall (shamefully) in the face of such threats.

We are in a grave situation. I am sorry to say but with this latest terror wave we’ve simply gone beyond rock bottom. Our leadership is full of corrupt incompetent puppets who have no sincerety towards the country in their hearts. Our entire political leadership .. not just the one in the centre… is horde of corrupt animals.

The idea of … a shut down of the education system …. I mean its become so bad that it is affecting the lives of our children. I mean before this ..with the terrorist attacks and all we were still able to protect their lives. Yes parents got more strict with timings and safety concerns for their children on their plans and everything. But the schools … its too much. I am right now in a state of being beyond anger actually.

We need to get rid of the old guard of our leadership and politics…and generally the people in places of doing something for this country. Our supreme court should take notice of things as they are going on in the country. And our country .. which so aggressively came out on the streets for the entire Judicial crisis… needs to raise their voice against … against … where the current leaders are taking this country…..oblivion.

Change the entire system. Put rules in place. I think the only body capable of doing this is the National Assembly and perhaps the Judiciary. But there you go…more problems here. The national assembly is also full of F******* yes men who absolutely do not have any morals or goodwill of the people in their hearts or sights. (I am talking about the majority… there are a rare few who are actually genuinely representing their electoral seats). And the Supreme Court….well … I think the current benches are already too politisized after the ..and actually the entire March 9th, 2007 incident.

And no…. I won’t merely say God Help Us. We need to help ourselves. We can only pray for mercy.  

Cricket Pakistan: Disappointment Looms Ahead

Once boasting the likes of Akram, Waqar, Inzi & Anwar and other heroes of our cricketing past, Pakistan was one of the game’s most dangerously unpredictable team. It didn’t matter if we were facing Waugh’s Aussies or the impeccable Proteas, on our best day we could create fireworks and produce a firecracker of a game. We were passionate. We had bite in our batting and force in our bowling. Easily figuring in the top 3 – 4 ODI teams on a regular basis.

We had the magic of Akram’s left arm pace, the banana swing of Waqar’s ferocious right arm, the middle order reliability of our Inzi and the opening class of Anwar. Not to mention the ‘doosra’ or the ‘googly’ of Saqi. We had our evergreen and motivating Moin Khan. That was a team I would sit down for through thick and thin. They had their good days and their bad days. They had lazy days and miraculous ones. But they always had something about them which would ensure the morale and motivation of its fans. It after all had some of the players who were part of the world cup winning squad of ‘92 to begin with. 

Our current team, which lost yesterday to England lacks talent, commitment, passion,spirit,inspiration, discipline…. I could keep going on and this list would not really end. Since the start of the warm matches for this T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s performance has been under par. In fact it has been far worse than that as well. We are quite vulnerable to defeat at the hands of the Dutch. I couldn’t see the hunger in a single player last night. Not even the captain. Who let us not forget thinks this T20 Tournament is not to be taken seriously and just for ‘fun’. While he might have said that not to put down the tournament but rather to set a mind frame, unfortunately for him, that is not the way to get about it. In the last 2 years, Pakistan’s team has increasingly become more and more predictable in the way it will have a lackluster performance and approach to the match. We have not been a team filled with the spirit or desire since the last T20 world cup. Our batting is weak. Our balling lacks any threat. Our fielding….. well lets just leave our fielding. After yesterday’s disaster of a performance in all departments… the fielding was still the one to stick out as the one FAR WORST. I counted at least 10 dropped chances.  

The PCB’s administrative turbulence doesn’t help matters either. A continuation of the ad-hoc system of running things is slowly taking away from this nation a sport in which we thrived… and crazed ourselves. We have had 4 Chief Selectors since 2007. Not to mention the number of coaches that have changed. The re-association of Miandad followed by the re-disassociation and the eventual re-re-association are all examples of an unhealthy system. Cricket has officially been made a mockery of. The lack of playing time against teams of merit for a long time (The gap between the asia cup and the matches against Sri Lanka and then Australia yet another 2 months after that) certainly didn’t help our team to be a slightly better equipped. We were bound to be rusty no doubt. Also the scrapping of the ICC Champions Trophy and taking away of our World Cup Hosting rights were enough of bummer for players and fans alike. But all these reasons, while with some weight simply cannot be used as excuses for all the things that our team lacks. Playing on the World T20 stage and representing one’s country in my humble opinion should be enough to fire up your sense of spirit and engine. It should be enough to be able to give your 100%. If at the end of the day THAT is not enough for the team to win, it is something far more acceptable then a team of experienced players going out there as if they’ve just started playing the sport and are yet to develop any sort of connection with it. It is atrocious. The biggest crime in all of this was actually the lack of passion, spirit or determination. Things which can take you far beyond your skill and ability. Things which can take you far beyond the discipline as well.

I hope that we do beat the Dutch on the 9th and by enough of a margin to qualify. But honestly … if you ask me right now.. gun to my head… we do not deserve to make it anywhere near winning this competition. Not with the attitude we have shown so far. Not with the commitment we have shown so far.

Pakistan needs a complete overhaul of the PCB and the general setup in order to get back to being a potent force in the world of cricket. We need a better administrative and more stable structure to support the progress and development of a team properly put in place with sound judgment and merit. If things continue the way they have…. we will soon become the proverbial failures. 

Rise Pakistan….

We fight in the north with a self construed virus. Every day the number of IDP’s grow. There are millions of people whose life is torn apart. From whom everything has been taken away. And yet…. they still have nowhere to turn. The relief camps have been set up. The army is fighting and pushing hard. But its still not enough to win a war which goes far beyond the defeat of the Taaliban ( God knows when that will happen). People are dying of hunger, disease and other dangers. I saw on DAWN News today of one camp where there is a severe lack of security arrangements. Intruders are coming in at whim, threatening IDPs and creating more panic. The Police recovered some mines from one of the camps. Things are very bad. Zardari isn’t lying (One of the rare occasions) when he says that the current amount of aid pledges made to win this war are hardly enough. They aren’t. With all this current plight of the people of the north, what is the most startling to see… is the absence of a united nation.

I fail to see what the entire nation is doing to help their brethren. There is a lack of urgency as was there at the time of the 2005 Earthquake. There is not enough urgency in the relief efforts or the mobilization to get everyone behind a motivated front to help, to contribute. Maybe its a different economic setting. But that is hardly reason enough. This is a very crucial time in the country’s history. We are fighting a virus which might very well have been allowed to spread too much and question the existence and survival of Pakistan. This is a grave situation and hardly anyone seems to realize it. Hardly anyone seems to bother. And what’s more is that this WILL affect the entire nation more then that earthquake ( NOT trying to put down one tragedy for another).

It is shocking. It is sad. And it is fact. We are not as mobile. We are not as united. We are not getting behind what is a necessity to be done now. We are simply not doing our share to help.

IF there was ever a time in the modern history of Pakistan to rise, this is it. It is significant that we rise. We rise to our capabilities and do our bits to help. To help fight this war far beyond the defeat of the Taliban. The war will certainly not end there. The IDPs will have to rehabilitated. Their homes rebuilt. Their lives rekindled. And this nation, the people of this land, we must unite now and we must rise. We have to stand up for this nation, for it’s survival, for our identities to be forged in the manner and expectation of the ideals upon which Pakistan was made. On the backs of the sacrifices that have been made in the past and are still made by a rare few.

My appeal is simple – merely sending out messages or writing stuff like I’ve is not enough. I am not hoping to start a revolution of writing on the web with this. (I am not a hypocrite… I know when I am part of the bad lot). I am hoping that maybe I too will be able to do something much more then this tomorrow but along with that most of you who read this will also do so. Shazia Marri announced that 150 Trucks will be going to the aid of the north. How can we help? How can we donate? Where do we donate? Where to do we chip in with the manpower to make sure that all of the donations that do come in can go as soon as possible?

I pray to Allah to help the people of Swat and other affected areas in their time of need. May Allah keep us all in his blessed protection. 

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Friday, April 17, 2009
Sehar Tariq

Eight years ago I boarded a plane to the United States to come to college. I was 17. As I left, my father hugged me and told me to never come back because he believed that soon Pakistan would not be a country fit for me to live in. I told him he was trying to save money by not having to buy me tickets to come home. We laughed it off. I hugged him goodbye and that day my father and I began our great debate about the fate of Pakistan. Abba told me to stay away. I defied him every time. I came home twice a year. I only flew PIA. I refused to do an internship in the US I worked every summer in Pakistan. I moved back when college ended. I started work in Pakistan. I worked two jobs because there was so much to do and not enough time to do it in. I was inspired and energised. I was hopeful and optimistic.

Today I am neither. And I have lost the debate with my father about the fate of Pakistan. The Parliament by endorsing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR) has heralded the end of Pakistan as I knew and loved it. Today, the elected representatives of the people turned Pakistan into Talibanistan. Today we handed over a part of the country to them. I wonder how much longer before we surrender it all.

Today we legislated that a group of criminals would be in charge of governing and dispensing justice in a part of Pakistan according to their own obscurantist views. They have declared that the rulings of their courts will be supreme and no other court in the land can challenge them. They have also declared that their men that killed and maimed innocent civilians, waged war against the Pakistani army and blew up girls schools will be exempt from punishment under this law. A law that does not apply equally to all men and women is not worthy of being called a law. Hence today we legislated lawlessness.

What was most disturbing was the quiescence of the Parliament to this legislation. The utter lack of debate and questioning of this ridiculous legislation was appalling. The decision was not informed by any independent research or expert testimony, and to my knowledge none of the parliamentarians are authorities on matters of security, rule of law or regional conditions in Swat. This signals disturbing possibilities. Either our politicians are too afraid to stand up to criminals or maybe they don’t possess the foresight to gauge the national impact of this action. There is no hope for a country led by cowards or fools.

How can one be hopeful about the political future of a country where the will and the wisdom of politicians becomes hostage to the threats of barbarians? How can I be optimistic about a country where doyens of the media like Ansar Abbasi hear the collective silence of the parliamentarians as the resounding support of the people of Pakistan, but are deaf to the threats issued by the Taliban to anyone opposing the legislation? How can I feel secure in a country where the army, despite receiving the largest chunk of our resources, cannot defeat a bunch of thugs? How can I expect justice when there are different laws for different citizens, and I as a woman am a second class citizen? How can I be inspired by a country where there is no culture, no music, no art, no poetry and no innovative thought?

How can I be expected to return to a country where women are beaten and flogged publicly, where my daughters will not be allowed to go to school, where my sisters will die of common diseases because male doctors cannot see them? How can I be expected to call that country home that denies me the rights given me by my Constitution and religion? I refuse to live in a country where women like me are forced to rot behind the four walls of their homes and not allowed to use their education to benefit the nation. By endorsing the NAR and giving in to the Taliban, Parliament has sapped my hope and optimism. Parliament has dealt a deathly blow to the aspirations of the millions of young Pakistanis who struggle within and outside the country, fuelled by sheer patriotism, for a peaceful, prosperous and progressive Pakistan.

When there is no hope, no optimism, no security, no justice, no education, no progress, no culture  there is no Pakistan. Maybe it is because I am the grandchild of immigrants who was raised on stories of hope, patriotism and sacrifice that even in this misery I cannot forget that Pakistan was created to protect the lives, property, culture and future of the Muslims of the Subcontinent. It was not established to be a safe haven for terrorists. We fought so that we could protect the culture of the Muslims of the Subcontinent, not so that we could import the culture of Saudi Arabia. Our ancestors laid down their lives so that the Muslims of the Subcontinent both men and women – could live in a land free of prejudice, not so that they could be subjected to violent discrimination of the basis of sect and gender.

Maybe it’s because I’m competitive and I don’t want to lose the debate to my father, maybe I am afraid to lose the only home I have, or maybe because I love Pakistan too much to ever say goodbye  I hope we can remember the reasons why we made Pakistan, and I hope we can stand up to fight for them. I hope we can revive the spirit of national unity of 1947 and lock arms to battle the monster of the Taliban that threatens our existence. Talibanistan is an insult to my Pakistan. I want my country back. Pakistan Paaindabad!

The writer is pursuing a master’s at Princeton University. Earlier, she attended Yale University.

Isolation…

Pakistan is going through a very fragile state right now. We are showing all the signs of a nation which imploding from the inside. The very fabric of our existence is a very loose thread. Yes…. I am saying it that pessimistically. What else can I do? Sing glorious and praiseful songs of our nation? At a time when the political environment (no surprises here) is yet again in turmoil. Just a year after the ‘Great victory of democracy’. At a time when there are cancerous problems in the northern parts of our country. At a time when our security capabilities were literally made a mockery of (the Sri Lankan Cricketers attack).

So tell me, what else would I be right now if not pessimistic. Its a lot better then being a hypocrite. And we have plenty of those in our fine land as well. People who would shout all sorts of things against Musharraf and his rule, are now said to have been wishing him back. Wishing his time back. You wanted democracy? Well you’ve got it… so now suck it.

The attack in Lahore was nothing short of shameful on part of our security arrangements. Arrangements for which we gave so many assurances in words that it looks like then and now was a different entity altogether. And it is absolutely ridiculous to then try and come out and defend or deny anything. Accepting and acting upon it would be better advised.

However the damage has already been done. I think almost everyone can be certain that the motives behind this attacks weren’t directly linked to the Sri Lankans, hence ruling out one of the suspects being named by our all so competent agencies, i.e. the Tamil Tigers. For other reasons as well, it couldn’t possibly have been the Tigers. Given their current position in SL, I honestly feel (And i might very well be naive here) they don’t have the resources or the ‘”assets” to be operating in such attacks on foreign soil. Not right now.

The motives behind this attack were clearly to isolate Pakistan. It was clearly to put a huge question mark on the security situation of the country. It was clearly to leave us out in the cold. Or to hand us over to the devil. Wrapped and ready.

Unless there is a strong united front in Pakistan in terms of the leadership and the running of this state, the hope and future of this country are very much in danger. Our ability to exist as a sovereign state is very much in a limbo down the years. If the situation doesn’t improve, this entire country would be a cynic.

Someone I know was presenting a theory. If the situation indeed doesn’t improve. If it further worsens in the sense that there are more incidents of huge security lapses or attacks on high profile personalities or events etc, there is a good possibility that the UN might pass a resolution to declare Pakistan incapable of handling the situation. That it is a ‘failed’ state. That it can easily turn into a guerilla state. And since it has nuclear capabilities, it is therefore going to be unable to safeguard its own nuclear program. Which is why the UN must take over Pakistan’s nuclear program and have the IAEA watchdog present. Basically take away our nukes from our hands.

The overall morale of the country is also at an all time low, of this I am sure. The one thing that can universally provide the masses with some sort of distraction from the hustle and bustle of reality is sports. No matter which country, this almost always holds true.  And unfortunately for us, our sport with the largest following, cricket was also not safe from politics. Hasn’t been for years. The PCB’s systems and policies carry the stench of political manipulations. And now not only that this has affected our teams performance and quality. But now also our credibility as a country which can host international cricket. After this attack on the one team that agreed to tour Pakistan, we will unfortunately not be seeing international cricket in our country for the foreseeable future. We will not be part of the hosting nations of the next World Cup. The masses are deprived of sanity to which they have as much of a right as they do on breathing air. Especially in these times.

It is sad what is happening in our country and it is even more sad as to what is not being DONE in our country. 

The Year That was…

The year 2008 :

• Global Economic Meltdowns
• World over job cuts in hundreds of thousands including major banks and airlines. Woolworths closes. Citibank cuts 70,000 jobs world over. The US announces $700 billion bail out for its failing banks. Recession hits everyone everywhere.
• Unrest and riots in the third world due to rising costs of living
• Erratic Oil Prices : Hitting records high prices of $147 a barrel and now currently below $40 a barrel
• Terror attacks in Pakistan have killed thousands this year: Marriot hotel severely damaged.
• Terror takes a new face and way in the Mumbai Attacks
• Pak – India tensions on the rise with war hysteria spreading in the common people and media on both sides of the border
• Israel’s savagely carries out air-strikes on GAZA after blocking it from every possible corner…. killing 375 (including 60 civilians) and injuring thousands.
• The US continues its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
• Cricket dying a new death every day due to dual policies of ICC : ICC Champions Trophy canceled due to be held in Pakistan. Pakistan Isolated as most teams refuse to play in Pakistan in view of the security situation.
• Asif Ali Zardari is elected President of Pakistan in September.
• Political and rebel movements, clashes of violence, disruption of normalcy mar life in most 3rd world countries.
• Sea Pirate activities on the rise.
• Natural disasters claim hundreds of thousands of lives in various global events.

And now some of the positives:

• Spain crowned Euro Champions for the first time
• Barack Hussein Obama becomes the first African American to be elected the President of the United States of America sparking hope world over for a better US foreign policy. He will assume office on the 20th of January , 2009 to continue the history.
• China hosts the Olympics and carries out one of the most expesively planned and organized olympics in the history of the event.
• Phelps breaks all time record by bagging 8 golds at a single Olympics.
• Gwadar Port, Pakistan becomes operational.
• Over 120 countries sign an agreement to ban Cluster Bombs.

To each his own to categorize:

• The proton beam is circulated for the first time in the Large Hadron Collider, the world’s largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, located at CERN, near Geneva, under the Franco-Swiss border.
• An extra leap second (23:59:60) is added to end the year. The last time this occurred was in 2005.

These are a few of the glimpses of the year that was 2008. For a more comprehensive list you can visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008

Keep in mind that I tried my best to keep this post balanced with the positives , negatives and the in between category. The link might not be as rosey. It will be hard to find a the positives in that list. 2008 was … infact a very bad year.

I hope that 09 will be better. And I hope we all can do whatever we can and feel we can to make 09 a better year.

December 27th, 2008 – A year to her passing…

December 27th, 2007, the date on which Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. A year has passed since then and today is the first year of her death anniversary.

A year to her passing and democracy has supposedly returned to this country. Zardari is the President of Pakistan (Still with the ’sweeping’ powers that many had opposed for Musharraf). The PPP rules the day even thou the party is more or less hijacked by the president and his cronies. Pakistan is in a serious economic turmoil (The world is facing a global recession to be fair) and we have turned to our ‘last’ option of the IMF. The terrorist attacks have continued and operations in our northern areas are ongoing. Relations with our neighbors India are tense with activities along both sides of the border.

A year has passed with all of the above, and our country’s mindset is still stuck on the CJ, the investigation in Benazir’s assassination case and other political bickering.

A year has passed and corruption and poverty are still rampant in our country. If nothing else, it has increased.

And still, our country’s mindset is stuck on the same things. We are still caught up in the hysterical circus of who killed BB. We are still stuck up in the circus of the CJ. And now we are heading into the war hysteria following the ‘Mumbai Massacre’ or Carnage or whatever it is that you want to call that.

Bhutto’s PPP is no longer hers or her father’s legacy as they had left it. That legacy has been hijacked by her husband and his henchmen. Even thou shrewd President of Pakistan/ “Co-Chairman” of PPP , has learned his way with words, one still can tell from the look on his face which he does try and hide so well that he’s still busy counting the money in his head that’s being made. The money that’s still spilling over from the lottery ticket that he’s been awarded since last year. Many times in this past year have I heard people say that Zardari has surprisingly learned how to talk and what’s more, talk sense on occasion.

A year to her death and the fortunes of this land are still hanging by a thread. Aside from my own personal opinions on the character and ambitions of BB, I for moment thought that maybe , just maybe the PPP if they win the election, and since they were die hard Bhutto followers, would rise somewhat for the betterment of this country. I thought, as Bilawal said ‘Democracy is the best revenge’, the PPP would take it upon themselves to avenge her death by the best possible means to quash terrorism, corruption and steer this nation in the right direction. I was of course wrong and it was of course a fleeting thought in a mere micro moment of time.

That was not to be. The channels today looked like digital shrines of the Bhuttos with the constant show reels on the past and the present of the bhuttos. The documentaries on the assassination plot investigation by various channels added to it. And of course goes on to prove what I earlier said about our nations mindset.

December 27th, 2008….. a year to BB’s death……. and a year with nothing to show for her supposed ‘Democratic ambitions for this country and its progress’.

Indian View: Cover-up?

By

Sandhya Jain

1 December 2008

While stock-taking has only just begun, it already appears as if some things are being covered up. In these circumstances, the retention of Narayanan who was invisible during the entire crisis though he was too visible in the hated Indo-US nuclear deal does nothing to inspire confidence. In an atmosphere when media hype persistently reminds us of the Twin Towers tragedy in New York, one can only think of the success of Prince Bandar in escorting all well-connected Saudi youth out of America in the immediate aftermath of 11 September 2001.

Some things deserve an immediate answer – how many terrorists were there actually; how did they reach their respective destinations inland; and is it possible that “super-terrorists” simply walked out with the real survivors after having utilised the “mercenaries” to the hilt, just as they had murdered the navigators of the boats that brought them to Mumbai?

Current media reports and government sources say that the terrorists came by sea, landing near the Gateway of India or Colaba. This certainly explains the attacks on the sea front hotels like Taj, Oberoi and the Nariman House. But the question remains – how did they get to the CST station, Cama Hospital, and other places inland? Someone must have provided transport and back-up.

By no logic can anyone believe that nine separate sites in a city could be held to ransom by just 10 men. It is particularly difficult to believe that gigantic hotels like the Taj could be ruined and scores of guests killed or injured by just two men (sometimes the figure goes to six). Even two men per floor could not have caused the kind of death and destruction that did happen. A small place like Nariman House, yes, but Taj and Oberoi – I don’t believe it. And if there were six persons at Taj and at least two at Nariman House, that means only two persons destroyed the Oberoi?

Rediff.com has interviewed the doctors who conducted the post-mortems on the dead hostages and terrorists, and it is their expert opinion that a battle of attrition took place over three days at the Oberoi and Taj hotels. The mutilation of the bodies was unlike anything they had seen in their careers in forensics.

For one, the bodies of the victims bore horrible signs of torture. Now this is understandable if the victims are being tormented by half-human beasts, but it seems strange that two terrorists could simultaneously fight and keep Indian commandos at bay for 62 hours, and also have the time to torture their victims. Yet the doctors were emphatic that:
“It was apparent that most of the dead were tortured. What shocked me were the telltale signs showing clearly how the hostages were executed in cold blood.”

To my mind, it seems apparent that the terrorists who kept the NSG commandos engaged and those who tortured and killed the hotel staff and guests were two separate groups.

This suspicion is intensified by the startling revelation that the terrorists also did not meet a clean death. Doctors who conducted the post-mortem said the bodies of the terrorists – especially their faces – were beyond recognition. The security forces identified the bodies as those of terrorists [on TV they said it was because of the presence of weaponry near the bodies].

One terrorist was shot through either eye (i.e., both eyes!!!). As the NSG commandos never got to such close range with the terrorists, and nobody commits suicide by shooting both his own eyes, it follows that the killers were somebody else. Since none of the hotel guests could have the kind of weaponry used in the conflict, this suggests the presence of a mysterious third party, making the terrorists the victims of a classic double-cross – the stuff of spy thrillers. Actually, it reminds one of the convenient murder of the alleged killer of President John F. Kennedy.

Hence it would be entirely in order to closely interrogate each and every guest, especially the foreign guests, before allowing them to leave the country. Without false emotionalism, we should also fingerprint them for the future; who knows what Interpol cooperation may throw up.

Top Russian counter-terrorism expert, Vladimir Klyukin, an Afghan war veteran, opines that the Mumbai attackers were not “ordinary terrorists” and were probably trained by the special operations forces set up in Pakistan by US intelligence prior to the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. In his view, the nature of the Mumbai events suggests the signature of the ‘Green Flag’ special operations forces created by the Americans in Pakistan, just a year before the Soviet withdrawal.

Guerrilla operations of the Mumbai kind require at least two-three years of preparatory work with experienced instructors. Raw trainees cannot hold four huge complexes in a city to ransom for so long. The Russian Interfax news agency reported the former KGB veteran as surmising the involvement of at least 50 terrorists, given the geography and sheer scale of the attacks. This seems like a legitimate estimation.

What is more, the only way 9 coordinated attacks can occur simultaneously is by using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) or live maps for communication and control. These are not normally owned by private parties. Initial investigations also suggested that as many as seven terrorists included mostly British-born Pakistanis, and one does hope that these leads are not covered up. The reports also suggested some gunmen were captured, but later media reports highlighted that only one terrorists was caught alive at the railway station. So there is a lot of confusion here that needs to be cleared up.

Certainly the hints about British involvement, openly asserted by the outspoken Lyndon LaRouche, need investigation.

Media has been heavily criticized in some quarters for airing visuals of NSG commandos dropping on the hotel roofs from helicopters, and thus giving operational secrets away to the militants watching TV inside. If the criticism is to be valid, however, we will have to accept that the terrorists had more men inside who could be deployed to watch TV and give information which would enable them to react and rebuff the aerial assault. There is no way 2 to 6 terrorists could torture victims sadistically and kill them brutally, watch TV, fight and keep the security forces at bay for 62 hours, and then kill themselves or each other in impossible ways.

The death of terrorists points to a clear double-cross and also the possibility of the involvement of more than one religious denomination. That the terrorists did not prepare for death by carrying potassium cyanide is well known; nor did they simply intend to blow themselves up like the usual suicide bombers. The surviving terrorist has revealed that they were told of an escape plan – and no doubt that plan was used by those who killed their fellow terrorists and walked out free!

This writer has consistently stated that modern, late 20th-21st century jihad is qualitatively different from the medieval jihad in which Muslim armies led by generals or kings ran over much of the world in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Contemporary jihad is a mercenary tool of Western colonialism, serving a colonial intent with devout slavishness, and this seems borne out by the events of Mumbai.

What remains to be seen, however, is whether or not the Islamic world wakes up to the reality of its own self-enslavement. India on its part has demonstrated that no matter how long it takes to get operational, no matter the cost in terms of live and property, the territory of Bharat Mata will be protected.

It is more than likely that Pakistan was rebuked by its British and American ‘friends’ (read Masters) for agreeing to send the ISI chief to assist in the investigations, and forced to backtrack on a solemn assurance. The teams from Scotland Yard and America, ostensibly coming to assist India in the probe, are more likely trying to ascertain the extent of evidence with India.

It is pertinent that the recovery of a satellite phone from the trawler abandoned with the body of the Gujarati captain revealed that the trawler had been hijacked to Karachi Port, and while there, calls were made even to Australia (where the CIA has a famous outpost!)

Interestingly, General Leonid Ivashov, who was Chief of Staff of the Russian armed forces when the Twin Towers tragedy happened on 11 September 2001, insists that there is no such thing as international terrorism and that “the September 11 attacks were the result of a set-up. What we are seeing is a manipulation by the big powers; this terrorism would not exist without them.” Instead of faking a “world war on terror”, the best way to reduce such attacks is through respect for international law and peaceful cooperation among countries and their citizens [http://www.voltairenet.org/article133909.html]

Globalization creates the conditions for the emergence of this terror. It seeks to design a new world geo-strategic map; appropriate the resources of the planet; erase cultural identities; and subjugate States before a global oligarchy. Thus, terrorism, according to Gen. Ivashov, is an instrument of world politics, “a means to install a unipolar world with a sole world headquarters, a pretext to erase national borders and to establish the rule of a new world elite. It is precisely this elite that constitutes the key element of world terrorism, its ideologist and its “godfather”.

Contemporary international terrorism combines the use of terror by State and non-State political structures to attain political objectives through intimidation of people, psychological and social destabilization, elimination of resistance inside power organizations, and the creation of appropriate conditions for the manipulation of the countries’ policies and the behaviour of people. Media complicity helps. But terrorism is not possible without the support of political and business circles that wield the funds to finance it – and Pakistan is notoriously bankrupt.

More pertinently, only secret services and their current or retired chiefs have the ability to plan and execute an operation of such complexity and scale. It is secret services that create, finance and control extremist organizations.

Is it possible that M.K. Narayanan has been retained by the current pro-Western dispensation to “help” the Western secret services (State actors) in the current mess, to facilitate their long-term agenda by manipulating and misleading the nation and the people? We deserve an answer; we demand to know.

Terror in Mumbai…..and also ‘in Bannu or Somewhere’

The events that have presided in Mumbai over the past 2 days , and still continue, are nothing short of Barbaric. Perhaps they even go beyond. For I am sure even barbarians had some honour. Some humanity. The Crazed look on one of the gunmen which has become somewhat the iconic picture of this terror strike in Mumbai, gave no sign of humane feeling whatsoever.

The last reports that I heard on CNN qouted Indian officials as putting the death toll at 160, and several hundred are injured (if I am not mistaken perhaps around 800). The city was under the siege of and a iron grip of fear has been cast over it.

I heard earlier in the day a Photographer who was an eye-witness to the events as they were unfolding at the Taj, one of Mumbais’ most prestigious and most luxurious hotels. The military had moved in and was concluding a rescue operation. Everyone was taken by absolute surprise at the pace with which this all happened and the boldness with which these militant groups struck. The relevant authorities were/are still baffled. And his final verdict was that it was absolutely ridiculous that the relevant authorities took 4 hours to move in. And that it was a ‘Mickey Mouse’ operation.

With the fires still burning in Mumbai, the finger pointing is just starting and as usual, Pakistan is one of the names that comes to their minds. And well lets be honest, everyones. And what does Pakistan do? Sent our Director General of ISI to them to share intellegence. Appropriate? Co-operative? or plain stupid? I wish not to say anything. You can all be the judges and have your own opinions.

However, I will judge this government of ours. I have said it before and I will say it again. It doesn’t actually seem like we have a government. This is actually more befitting of the ‘Mickey Mouse’ term, our government that is. Prices in this country are out of control. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are STILL somehow managing to get richer. Our esteemed Prime Minister, Mr. Yousaf Raza Gillani, continues to show us the puppet that he is. An absolute brainless puppet.

I mean despite the fact that their is absolutely no effort being put into the economic management of this country apart from giving a statement or 2 or doing something so obvious that a layman would have done it, our government also continues to show it’s uselessness in the security of our country. As rightly put by a friend, ‘Woh roz aakar chamaat martay hain hamain drone attacks kar kay. Ham roz kehtay hain, aab nahi karna, bataa ria hoon, baht marun gaa. Aglay din woh phir rakh kar chamaat martay hain.’ And our Premier, who while justifying the ‘Sharing of Intelligence’ visit of our Director General of the ISI, said ‘ The whole nation condems it. WE are also the victims of terrorism. We had that bomb blast in Marriot in Islamabad. And even today, I heard on the plane that there was a bomb blast in Bannu or somewhere.’

Now normally I would merely make fun of his apparent discomfort with English and lack of use for it and also the comic element in this statement which is that our Prime Minister ‘Heard’ on the plane that there was a bomb blast in ‘Bannu or somewhere’. Bannu or somewhere???? What does that mean? That no one bothered properly briefing the premier of this country about a bomb blast. Or that it has become so rudimentary that everyone’s stopped being shocked about it to actually know the complete facts. In either case, it’s sad.

Getting back to Mumbai, this despicable act was nothing more then cowardess. For all the terrorists who think that this was some short cut to heaven, I believe in my faith strong enough to know that they are blind morons. They are brainless brainwashed drone like robots. My brother while we were discussing this over dinner yesterday, recalled all the books he’s read about the cold war and the age of spying and deception and intellegence and counter intellegence. The world we live in today is far more dangerous and far more horrifying then the world was when Russia and America had their horns locked over the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis incidents.

Today there is absolutely no remorse, in the eyes of those who carry out such injustices. They seem absolutely soulless. Before there used to be … as one would put it, ‘Honour among thieves’. Now there is not.

The terror attacks that have taken place in Mumbai, even thou the attacks were much different then those in the past, (I mean it was a complete guirella operation) and even those that take place as mere bomb blasts on the train (2006, and previously took place in India) or the bomb blasts that regularly take place in Pakistan are all henious acts of violence, inhumanity and a crime against all humans.

I sincerely wish that those behind the attacks are actually brought to justice, and that this wasn’t the result of some chess move that so cunningly is always played by the CIA’s , Mossad’s, ISI’s and RAW’s of this world. (20 years ago, this list would have been topped by CIA, KGB).

I also sincerely hope that the leaders of both the nations show firm maturity, and don’t let things detoriate between the two countries. For whatever might be said, it’s not possible for me to believe, at least not for this point in time that the Pakistan State had any hand or influence in this. ISI perhaps. Even RAW perhaps. Because maybe both the intellegence bureues of their respective countries might not have wanted such close ties between the 2 countries. BUT I AM SAYING ALL OF THIS AS A MERE OPINION OF MY OWN AND IS NOT OFFICIALLY BEING SAID OR HAS EVER OFFICIALLY BEEN SAID!

I pray for the families of those who died in this horrible event, and wish for them the courage and resolve they need to move on with their lives.