| November 06, 2007 | Tuesday | Shawwal 24, 1428 |
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Why suicide attacks?
Regime change for a fee
Rethinking relations with US
State of civil service
90 years after Balfour
Clean politics option
Plea against US resolution
PIA Chicago flights
Insinuation against Marx
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
OIL is blood for machines and the world economies alike. But oil can never replace human blood lost for oil. Be it that of an Iraqi, Afghan or Pakistani or an arrogant, cruel and selfish US marine, or any other coalition solider thrust in wars against terror (WAT) against their own conscience and will, I am sure beyond doubt.
Even all those initially sympathetic with the US after 9/11 attacks have now openly but sadly and very reluctantly started accepting the ‘universal truth’ that the ‘ twin wars’ of Afghanistan and Iraq, or the ‘triple-decker’ (including Kuwait war of 1991), were all about oil and not WAT as claimed by Bush Sr And Bush Jr and others following in line, frantically beating up the drums of WAT for six years, now without a breather.
No need of any names here, because there is hardly an exception, except ‘Howard the coward’ of that formerly peaceful sixth continent of the world. What a shame has he brought to this otherwise progressive, enlightened and tolerant nation of ‘Her Majesty’s Empire’, now gradually shrinking to her palaces (only) in the last quarter of the 20th century.
The Afghan war, in the world opinion, was initially intended as nothing more than a ‘litmus test’ for the Muslim world. To test positive (by default) their impotence, incompetence to defend themselves and their children, religious beliefs and for that very reason was deliberately started in the holy Muslim month. Regretfully none else to blame except they (Muslims) themselves.
It was like watching a poor sloth inching its way up a palm tree, followed by a hungry and agile wild cat or ‘puma’ in the ‘world jungle’. This scene was frequently shown on Nat-Geo, Discovery and Animal Planet last year. It must now be distinctly clear to all countries of the world and their leaders, including the so-called hundreds of Nato and coalition forces forcibly formed against the foolish and filthy (oil-) rich Muslim countries (ironically also including our poor-and-without-any-oil nation).
These crusades, as the ‘mad and good Christians’ called them, are not WAT as perpetually claimed from his international loudspeakers of the world electronic media and the press. Breaking all religious and other barriers with sonic booms frequently, the bombing goes on every day without fail, with missiles, smart bombs and voice bombs (media) since 2001. Now even intending to bombard our two holy places. Ever heard of such (a better disguised) racism? Surely never.
It is extremely unfortunate that the nexus of blood for oil flows from the KSA to Kuwait to Iraq to Pakistan (through Afghanistan) and now moving south onwards to Iran continuously — not just co-incidentally, all Muslim countries, in almost half a loop and all sharing common borders in between like a continuous chain, holding their leaders and those of the other oil-rich Arab world and their citizens as hostage since Operation Desert Storm of 1991 fame.
The thirst for blood increasing every day will continue for how long is unknown?
IJTABA ZAIDI
Karachi
THERE have been series of suicide bomb attacks in a flare-up of terrorist activities during the last two or so weeks in Karachi, Rawalpindi and Sargodha. Large numbers of precious human lives have been lost and still a larger number injured, many being rendered crippled for life.
Although the attackers blast themselves in the process, whatever little details have surfaced so far in newspapers, it appears that mostly the youngsters are involved who commit suicide attacks at the command of the masterminds.
Such youngsters who indulge in heinous terrorist activities in this manner that they end their own lives as well are hardly aware of the nefarious designs of their masterminds behind these inhuman acts. For sure, they are rendering no service to Islam as such nor to their own families who are perhaps misguided and lured into the trap on the pretext of their sons being imparted religious education and also provided handsome salary-carrying jobs.
Sending children to ‘deeni madaris’ for seeking religious education is good. But at the same time parents should keep themselves abreast of what their children are being taught in the institutions they are going so that they know whether their wards are getting useful religious education or being trained in the use of sophisticated arms for some nefarious designs by some masked masterminds.
The objective behind the series of suicide bomb attacks still remains a mystery as nobody owns such terrorist activities. Even if they are opposed one way or the other to the policies of the government, in general, and the war on terror, in particular, to eliminate militants, extremists and terrorists from the country, they still cannot justify such heinous acts in any manner in which many innocent persons lose their lives.
If they are against operation being carried out by the security-related agencies, as well as by law-enforcement agencies, then they should search their hearts as what wrong they have committed that they are being treated like criminals. After all, the writ of the government has to be established, security and solidarity of the country ensured and maintenance of law and order, tranquillity and harmony ensured for safety and good life of the people at large. Gen Pervez Musharraf has time and again reiterated that there will be no compromise on the issue. So the parents of the youths in the troubled areas should better be watchful of what their wards are doing.
KHALID I. KHAN
Lahore
THIS is with reference to Jawed Naqvi’s column, ‘Regime change for a fee’ (Nov 1). For those who are not familiar with America, this may come as a shock to learn that people pay politicians to get their job done. ‘What? Baksheesh?! In America too?!!’ Yes, my friends, America has always had this culture of ‘lobbying’ that is no more than a euphemism for officially sanctioned bribery.
Mr Naqvi’s thrust in the column is to say that Indians are using Mr Blackwill who is allied with Republicans, and Pakistan is using Ms Raphael who is allied with Democrats, and somehow this translates into an advantage for Pakistan if Ms Clinton is elected president. It is very infantile to think that Democrats will only lobby Democrats and Republicans lobby only Republicans. Politicians listen to whoever can bring in the money. As we say in America: ‘Show me the money!’
For the benefit of your readers, here are some figures from ‘Randall V Sorrell’ (June 2006) in the supreme court of the United states . The writ was filed to appeal to uphold the constitutionality of the state of Vermont’s proposed limit on campaign expenditures (Vermont Act 64).
The court struck down campaign contribution limits and ruled against the National Voting Rights Institute which brought the case forward but the facts in it are enlightening: an average member of the US House of Representatives needs to raise 3,000 dollars per day to get re-elected (weekends and holidays included) For an average US Senator, it is 10,000 dollars per day. In the last election cycle, John Kerry and George Bush raised over a million dollars per day.
Does anyone honestly think there is room for partisan interests when the money involved is so high?
B. K. VASAN
Chicago, USA
THE US official’s statement that India is more important ally for Washington than Pakistan is not out of the blue. However, it makes no sense at all as to why it blames Pakistan for its failure to crush the militants when the US itself has failed to do the same in Afghanistan and Iraq. Unrest is on the rise and everything seems to be topsy-turvy in the said countries. The US-led security forces have badly failed to establish the writ of the governments beyond their capitals.
Pakistan, on the other hand, is paying a heavy price for its role of frontline state in the region. Militancy and fundamentalism has become a permanent feature, shaking the very foundation of society. Increasing suicide attacks and warlike situation in the tribal areas and in Swat, once a hub of tourists, are actually the outcome of anti-American sentiments and Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism.
A country should not extend support to an international cause to such an extent that its own sovereignty is endangered. The refrain of ‘do more’ by the US will push Pakistan into a precarious situation. Enough is enough. Pakistan should now focus to putting its own house in order by establishing its writ in the region.
Instead of trying to be in America’s good books, fair or foul, it is the pressing need of the hour that Pakistan should proactively act to stop the rising militancy. It should not allow the situation to touch the critical level as has happened in the Lal Masjid episode and now in Swat, and act timely and effectively so that the collateral damage can be avoided. The sooner, the better.
MUHAMMAD SHAHID RAFIQUE
Okara
CIVIL service in Pakistan has been facing a sure but slow death with the advent of so-called administrative reforms initiated by the ZAB regime in 1973. However, certain good aspects of reforms like horizontal mobility, equal chances of career progression to all occupational groups, and induction of professionals to mainstream of civil service were sabotaged by the elite elements.
Thus reforms became an eyewash and a political gimmick, making civil service indifferent to element of service to the people.
With long years of military rule and to further the agenda of the establishment, induction of serving and retired armed forces’ officers through dubious constitutional amendments placed the last straw on a sick camel back. As people say, almost 3,000 armed forces’ officers are working in civil service and attached departments of the federal and provincial governments. Out of 32 major public-sector institutions, 29 are headed by serving and retired officers. What good can be expected of this dented civil service?
Much trumpeted devolution has destroyed time-tested institutions without a workable alternative, and even new set-up has been hijacked by the politically connected elite elements of the civil service, thus whatever was left has met its ultimate end. It is very sad to see that wisdom to civil servants come only after superannuation.
JAVED. N. MALIK
Via email
MUHAMMAD Ali Siddiqi has rightly described ‘the single biggest cause of political instability, massacres and wars in the Middle East’ in his well-researched article, ‘Ninety years after Balfour’ (Oct 3). This document, ‘Balfour declaration’, attributed to Arthur James Balfour (1848-1930), a Conservative party leader, once British prime minister and then foreign secretary when the so-called declaration was made public, has proved to be a source of most serious and insoluble obstacle to global peace.
History goes back to the times when after a long spell of more than three centuries the Jews, who were officially exiled from the Island in 1290 by Edward I, called Longshanks (1239-1307), were allowed to return by Oliver Cromwell, the lord protector of England (1599-1658), despite severe opposition.
However, it was King Charles II (1630-85) who in 1664 formally allowed them to settle in England, earning epitaph ‘protector of afflicted ones’. Thereafter, the Jews gradually achieved eminence and status in English society. Dr Chaim Weizmann (1874-1952), Russian-born chemist, a main proponent of Jewish homeland in Palestine, president of the World Zionist Organisation, who became first president (1949-1952) of modern Israel, played an important role in getting British support for the cause.
His discovery and development of a method for synthesising acetone, used in explosives manufacturing, helped Britain in World War I and earned him monitory reward and great admiration of Lloyd George, then minister of munitions, who as quid pro quo supported the Zionist cause.
In appreciation, the services of Dr Weizmann was included in the negotiation held for Declaration along with Sir Mark Sykes, Sakolow and Rothschild and Earl of Balfour. (Arthur Balfour was already influenced by the theology of ‘dispensationalist’ who believed that Christ’s return is foretold in Old and New Testament prophecy and that return of the Jews to Palestine is a key event to the pre-ordained process that will lead to the Second Coming. This theory was popularised in the US during 19th and early 20th centuries and is ardently followed by Christian-Zionist reference, The Israel Lobby and USA foreign policy by John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt). Nonetheless, negotiations seem to have been mainly oral and by means of private notes and memoranda, of which only the scantiest record is stated to be available.
Carroll Quigley, a scholar, PhD in history from Harvard, Bill Clinton’s Anglophile, one-world mentor and professor of history at Georgetown, in his book The Anglo-American Establishment, published in 1982, has, however, claimed that the Declaration was drafted by Lord Alfred Milner (1854-1925). He was a British statesman, then head of ‘Rhode-Miller Round Table Groups’ that Cecil Rhodes called for in his will to be ‘Churches for the extension of British Empire’.
Miller was the trustee of Rhodes’s will and both Milner and Rhodes were self-described British race-patriots. The recipient of the Balfour Declaration, Lord Rothschild, was also a close friend of Rhodes and was at an earlier time also a trustee of Rhodes’s will.
Consequently, the thesis of Quigley, if accepted as true, then the infamous declaration which was basis for the Mideast’s most horrible predicaments is ‘Milner Declaration’ and not ‘Balfour Declaration’.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
DAWN’s editorial (Oct 25) rightly claims: ‘Uninterrupted democratic process can give clean politics, accountability, as periodical cleansing by military have muddled, instead of offering clean, workable political system allowing people to judge for themselves’, based on past 60 years’ experience.
Today Pakistan is facing the global hurricane, threatening the region comprising Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Kashmir, and requires a very careful policy to avoid conflict, or vicious plans across the Durand line, with self-created turmoil.
Prolonged western presence in Afghanistan, creating chaos, has apparently some hidden objective about oil and other natural resources in the northern areas, for which initially the USSR had attacked, seeking corridor, to lay pipeline and safe passage to warm waters. This was not favoured by the Taliban, resulting in US attack, nor is it possible under present turmoil. Similar is the case of attack on Iraq and threat to Iran as 21st century crusade against Muslims.
It is apparent that the objective cannot be achieved through killings, which has misfired, triggering terror attacks all over the region, including Pakistan. Operations on Lal Masjid, tribal areas and Swat have aggravated the situation.
Thus the solution to this self-created quagmire lies in reconciliation with the saner elements and Islam-loving people in Pakistan, stopping attacks on civilians, and offering clean politics in Pakistan. Pakistan can thus serve as bridge, for achieving peace in the region, fulfilling global objectives.
In this background, what is needed is implementation of democracy in accordance with the promises of our founding fathers
SYED MOHSIN RIZVI
Karachi
MURAD Bey’s assertion in attempting to deny the actual number of Armenians massacred and Turkey’s role in the alleged massacre is quite sad (letter, Oct 30).
In this day and age it is quite naive of Mr Bey to base the case on ancestral narratives where in this day and age it is quite easy to look up independent historical accounts, which are to the contrary.
However, my purpose is not to debate the facts of the case, what I want to point out is that the only reason Turkey thought of not cooperating with the US in its illegal war of Iraq is due to its own perceived ‘honour’. Isn’t the US currently perpetrating one of the worst genocides of our history in Iraq? Why is Turkey not trying to convince its ‘ally’ otherwise. Turkey is at least a fully informed and involved partner in this case.
HASAN BIN HAMZA
Adelaide, Australia
A WELL-reputed German airline has fully availed itself of the opportunity provided by PIA for marketing Chicago to Pakistan flights at much cheaper fares than those of PIA, with one night stopover free of cost in Frankfurt.
PIA flights to and from Chicago have been discontinued abruptly without looking into the consequences. The passenger rush with German carrier is an eye-opener for PIA. There are nearly 28,000 Pakistani-origin families living in and around Chicago. They were well served by Chicago operations in and around cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Kashmir.
People here are disappointed with the closure of Chicago-Pakistan operations, and those at Houston and NY are also showing their negative intent to avail themselves of PIA flights in view of the uncertainties caused by the Chicago sector closure.
PIA should come out with a financial/profit explanation on the Chicago-Pakistan sector. If a German carrier can make it financially viable, PIA should look for something wrong within their ranks who advised closure of this sector. The Pakistani community at Chicago is keen to hear restoration of PIA flights from Chicago.
DR VAQAR AHMED
University of Wisconsin Madison, USA
THIS is apropos of a report, ‘Marx’s skin lesions may have influenced writings’ (Oct 31). The thrust of this ridiculous report is that bad skin made Karl Marx a communist.
First and foremost, the scientific merit of the work of Marx and Engels can only be validated or invalidated by recourse to the facts of social life. It is ridiculous to ascribe Marx’s great scientific discoveries, including historical dialectical materialism and the theory of surplus value, to a desire for revenge for his carbuncles from an off-the-cuff joke to his friend Friedrich Engels.
Second, Engels was equally a founder of Marxism and most classical works of Marxism are in fact co-authored by Marx and Engels. Lenin is credited with having furthered Marxism to a new stage.
Are we now to believe that the entire line of communist intellectuals from Engels, Lenin to Faiz Ahmad Faiz and Sibte Hasan were revolutionaries because they each suffered from some malady?
Clearly the insinuation that Marx was motivated by his skin lesions to write what is even today considered the most thorough critique of modern society is, quite simply, preposterous.
TAIMUR RAHMAN
Lahore University of Management Science
Lahore
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