Lamis Andoni is a Middle East consultant for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news station. She has been covering the Middle East for 20 years. She has reported for the Christian Science Monitor, the Financial Times and the main newspapers in Jordan. She was a professor at the Graduate School in UC Berkeley.
Close.
Lamis Andoni
Doha, Qatar
Lamis Andoni is a Middle East consultant for Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news station.
more »
World Muslims must read their own history before they try to write any opinion.
Present illegal States like Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arab, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and all other States were created by Britain with power of money and military power with the help of some greedy and hungry Muslims for temporary Worldly power who and whose descendants became illegal rulers as those land belong to only one State i.e. Caliphate and Pakistan also was part of that State for several hundreds years beginning from Umayyad Caliphate. And it is great pity for World Muslims that they do not know their own State and even Gandhi was killed for his support of Caliphate and Indian Muslims where as present rulers including founder of Pakistan opposed the Caliphate. This is the problem and problem is World Muslims and their leaders. More is in:
Insightful article. For the life of me I can't understand how our government compulsively throws its support and our dollars behind every third world dictator-tyrant who happens to "share" our interests. I'm convinced that our government is incapable of learning from past mistakes; in recent memory alone our government's gross incompetence leaves a trail of death and destruction in far away lands as Iran, Vietnam, Iraq and, perhaps also, Pakistan.
Insightful article. For the life of me I can't understand how our government compulsively throws its support and our dollars behind every third world dictator-tyrant who happens to "share" our interests. I'm convinced that our government is incapable of learning from past mistakes; in recent memory alone our government's gross incompetence leaves a trail of death and destruction in far away lands as Iran, Vietnam, Iraq and, perhaps also, Pakistan.
Pakistan, a most dangerous country? It is a big joke. Or, it is all a handiwork of the ambush-journalism, now plaguing the world media. I ask Andoni to tell readers about how much extra is being paid by Al Jazeera to its staff posted in Pakistan offices in the name of "Dangerous Station Allowance"? Real and truth of the situation can easily be verified from the US Foreign Office, UN HR Department, or administration Department of any international organization employing staff on world-wide assignments about what rate of "difficulty allowance" or dangerous duty station multiplying factors to the salaries and emoluments, are being applied and paid to the staff by these organizations for their staff posted in Pakistan. Similar figures for other difficult countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, etc., can be obtained and compared with those related to Pakistan.
There are various other indicators available on several reliable web sites about prevalence of social and moral crimes in different countries. Pakistan is not prominent in such lists. For example, South Africa is presently the world leader in such crimes. Even Great Briton is very high on the list of armed robberies, where a major robbery is being committed every 3 minutes! It would interest the readers to know that, according to the "List of countries by homicide rate per year per 100,000 inhabitants", published by the "National Center for Health and Vital Statistics". dated Dec. 2006, Pakistan is listed at the bottom of the list, with only 0.05 homicide cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Following selection from the list of 112 countries can give a very good idea about the defamation attempts being made in the international media against Pakistan:
Country = Score = Position
Jamaica = 46.59 = 1
South Africa = 34.50 = 3
Thailand = 8.47 = 22
US = 5.90 = 38
U.K = 2.03 = 69
Saudi Arabia = 0.93 = 97
Pakistan = 0.05 = 112
There is another reliable indicator named Happy Planet Index (HPI), which is an index of human well-being introduced by the "New Economics Foundation" in July 2006. The index is designed to challenge well-established development indicators like, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Human Development Index (HDI), which do not take sustainability into account. Particularly, GDP is inappropriate, as the aim of most people is not to be rich, but only to be happy and healthy. Interestingly, the US is ranked 150th in the list of 178 countries, with Zimbabwe being the lowest ranked at 178. Pakistan is ranked 112th, with China at 31, UK 108 and India 62.
Above facts sufficiently prove that, Pakistan is one of the safest places in the world and by contrast, the US is one of the most dangerous.
Islamic extremism is Saudi brand of Islam i.e. Wahabism that they have spread through heavy funding of Madressah's (over a period of years) in Pakistan . Wahabism follows Bush's doctrine "If you are not with us you are our enemy /infidel and we will be-head you".
Lamis Andoni's piece is cogent and very insightful.
Pakistan is indeed the most dangerous counry on the planet: a toxic brew of nuclear weapons, Islamic extremism, and a puissant hatred of India.
Democracy and Pakistan should not be mentioned in the same sentence. Musharraf is a master manipulator, he knows how to play the cards to suck money from this US administration just like all his predecessors. Way to go Mush!
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
There is no better antidote to extremism than respect for human rights and economic development. The whole emphasis on application of military might creates conditions for more extremism.
Lamis Andoni and much of the Middle East and South Asia press seem to assume that the US only has short-sighted goals that hinge on security in the present versus the institution building that will produce long term structural peace. Infact the US does and always has championed institution building and the long-term. The problem is that the governments of the region are so brittle and the consequences of their fall are likely to produce region wide chaos and threats to American security, that the US has little choice but to support the status quo. I'd be nice if for once, the region's journalists and intelligensia would quit blaming the US for all woes and realize that the US is now (and always has) acted in its own self-interest. Sometimes that self-interest has had unintended consequences (i.e. post-Soviet Afghanistan)...but these were unforseen by everyone and cannot be laid solely on the US. The region in the end is responsible for its own fate provided that it does not endanger anyone's national security. Unfortunately, the chattering class of the region seem more eager to blame the US than fix their own problems. The US will be eager to help--provided it is in its interest to do so. Make your case so that the US becomes a partner rather than an easy excuse to avoid your problems.
Exactly what sort of institution building would Ms. Andoni recommend? Perhaps of the sort witnessed in Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Libia, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, or so many other happy examples. Exactly what "Pankistani interest" does she claim have been betrayed? Would Bhutto represent any change or not?
The F-15 story of being grounded looks like a smoke screen for a carrier (the USS Enterprise?) to be repositioned to the North Arabian Sea without panicking Islamabad. The US is preparing for a suden hostile force having the nuke and it ain't Iran. A Pakistani revolution (and doesn't Washington love planning them) looks like having the potential to turn very nasty very quick. The US/Brit plan for Bhutto on the seat has failed plan B looks very bleak.
Wow, some people just have to see the glass half-full.
Look on the bright side, if we can be at war with Pakistan and Iran in addition to Afphanistan and Iraq, my Hallibuton, Boeing, and Lockheed stock will go through the roof!
Roy, Chiapas Mexico wrote: "In my opinion, the world's most dangerous country is The United States of America for obvious reasons."
Yet Mexicans risk their lives to sneak into, and illegally live in, "the world's most dangerous country". One has to wonder why they do it if your statement were true.
Andoni wrote "Pakistan today is a reminder of the danger of blindly choosing security and military measures over institution-building."
No, Pakistan today is a reflection of the madness created when religion trumps civility, ends justify means, and the faithful blindly support others who murder. Pakistan is a reflection of itself, you just do not want to believe Islam can create such madness. Yet we see the madness in Iran where hostage taking is a sport as is stoning. We saw it in Afganistan where the Taliban enforced strict sharia law, cutting off hands and executing people for minor crimes in public. We see the madness today in Iraq where Sunni ethnically cleanse their neighborhoods of Shia, and visa versa. We see it in Lebanon where Hezbollah is willing to work outside the democratic institutions to get what it wants. It is the islamists who are choosing military measures instead of institution-building to solve what they perceive as problems.
By blaming the government you apologize for the radicals. You need to see where the evil lies, but like most Muslims I've met you cannot get your head out of the Quran long enough to see that its teachings are formenting the evil you ignore in Pakistan and elsewhere. You only see evil in civility. Islam will not survive if it continues on this course because history shows that those religions and civilizations that rely on violence to solve problems die out. Unless Islam reinvents itself as a peaceful religion, I give it 200 years before it ends up on the trashheap of history. Christianity made its choice against violence centuries ago and so remains viable today. When will Islam? And who will lead the change away from vilence toward peace and tolerance? I have not seen a hint of a leader though millions are crying out for a leader. I have talked to Muslims who say that Islam is being used to justify killing children as a way to heaven. That they say is insanity but that is what they are hearing and being taught and they see no one standing up to the madness. They are caught between wanting to be civil and also be muslim.
The stock has gained 150% from Oct 8, 2007 to Oct 22, 2007.
By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/
The stock has gained 150% from Oct 8, 2007 to Oct 22, 2007.
By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/
"Who make this country dangerous?
The United stat Of America, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran. The all 4 country have good continuation for the such subject"
Pakistan chose the path to destabilization by themselves. Bhutto and then Zia embraced fundamentalism in their quest for power and the common pakistani citizen silently condoned the wahhabization of their country. Pakistan has always had an inferiority complex when it comes to all matters pertaining to India and all their actions (good or bad) since Independence have been based on their perceived need to protect themselves from the Indians.
In the 60 years since Independence, Pakistan has fought 3 wars, carried out a genocide in current day Bangladesh, embraced foreign money and ideology in lieu of their freedom and independence and are still struggling to understand their own ideology. Pakistan has had and will continue to have many many dictators simply because in their quest for recognition and meaning they sold their soul to the Devil - radical thoughts and ideologies for the money and (perceived) power it bought them. The worst part is, the common man did not see any of this wealth- it was simply shared amongst their elite.
A nuke-armed country, with a history of irrationality, proliferation, radicalism and a perennially unstable leadership is undoubtedly the most dangerous country in the world.
The dangerous country in the world is Pakistan Not Iraq
Some of our country men and women are dislike the position
of No 1 dangerous country
Lts us say if not No 1 make it No 7
We must agree It is a danger country not to day it is from last 3 decades
Or more
Who make this country dangerous?
The United stat Of America, India, Saudi Arabia ,Iran
The all 4 country have good continuation for the such subject
America was the no 1 they use Pakistanis and Pakistan against
Communist USSR during cold war and hot war after that Saudi Arabia Influence
the radical Wahabies to permute it is ideologies
Iran influence The shiest to permute there ideologi and India was not behind to
Dig the grave for this country.
Who created this mess? There is nobody who wants to tell the truth. Pakistan was a secular state till Mr Bhutto bowed to the pressures from Mullahs at the end of his rule to get popularity vote from the masses and then came General Zia a very dear friend of US who led the country to the chaos Pakistan is facing now. The Afghan war against the Russians was blessed by the US and their western allies as the holy war and Mujadeens were projected as the freedom fighters and who later evolved into Taliban and then all the way down to the current situation in Pakistan. This religious extremisms was brought to that part of the world with the blessing of the West and guess who is complaining now?
All leaders pursue personal ambitions of power at the expense of their own people. Duh!!! It's called greed and it's one of the seven deadly sins. But guess who ends up dead?
You're kidding right? I mean honestly, you're joking right? Do you think ANY superpower in the world has the least bit of fear of Pakistan? You speak of that bitterly divided country as if it were on Par with REAL Nations? Make no mistake, at the push of 1 red American button, your country's existence would become an distant memory. Even if we chose not to completely annihilate you with our vastly superior nuclear arsenal, we could simply cruise missle your country to death from the comfort of our missle carrier ships & submarines hundreds of miles away. (Not to mention Stealth Bomb and Smart bomb you dust.) Also, as many soldiers as your country has, India has much more. You exist because the world permits you to exist. A few nuclear missles, does not a SuperPower make. Know your place, peon.
Ms Andoni should be aware of the fact that it was the petro-dollar of the Arabs which was siphoned to the so-called Mujahideen fighting the American proxy war in Afghanistan. Like America, Saudi Arabia wanted to promote dictatorship in Pakistan and financed the sunni mosques and madresshas to spread their brand of Islam - Wahabism.
I agree with Lamis Andoni when she says Pakistani leaders pursue personal ambitions of power at the expense of Pakistani interests. But I must say that General Musharraf never was a leader. This is the 'lust of power' which forces dictators like General Musharraf to take extra-constitutional steps like he took on October 12, 1999 and on November 3, 2007, when he declared martial law in the country. How a martial law can be viewed and accepted as a 'Constitutional' step? In his televised speech late night yesterday he said he respected the judgement of the supreme court when it reinstated the chief justice of pakistan. He never accepted the decision and he was waiting for the appropriate time to strike. To challenging his re-election as President in uniform was a purely constitutional matter and he should have fought it according to the constitution of pakistan but he chose to use the force which, naturally shows the mindset of a General. The Supreme court was hearing the arguments of the parties concerned very professionaly and because the case was of such importance that it needed time to make a judgement purely according to the constitution. Why General Musharraf was so 'desperate' last evening to raise objections on the 'leave' issue of a senior judge who wanted to physically attend the wedding of his daughter. Under which law a General can decide when to allow or not allow a senior judge of the supreme court to take his private life decisions. I mean this is absurd. General Musharraf reacting like a 'spoiled child'.
Pakistan is now facing a far more seriuos external and internal dangers and I request all those forces who have influence on General Musharraf, please don't support him.
Pakistan is a failed state without a future. India will have to work hard to secure its borders, otherwise it risks its ascent to joining the ranks of the developed world.
Someone mentioned America role in WWII in "saving the world".
Yup "join the fun late when things are nearly over, bomb innocent and ready to surrender Japanese into submission with nuke devices, lend/lease to rip the Europeans off, and then stay around in Italy, Germany, and Japan for example for 60 years past the end of WWII.
Now how about writing articles on such class acts as Libya, Jordan and Egypt, for example, where the family dynasty rule has made a mockery of democracy.
After all the people of Pakistan can when they want to go out on the streets and protest.
In Egypt all street protests have been banned since Sadat's death.
Students have to hold rallies within the walls of their educational institutions.
When you say "we" are you speaking as an American or as a Pakistani? It seems that you are confused about your own identity. I doubt that you are an American, judging from your extreme hate and anger at the entire world, including America.
Today Pakistan's greatest enemy is Pakistan itself. All of Pakistan's major institutions are in open conflict with each other. The only thing you are proud about is that you have nuclear weapons. How about good education, individual freedom, democratic institutions and good relations with your neighbors?
If you think of USA in such negative terms then why has Pakistan been begging and pleading for finacial aid and debt forgiveness and accepting American dole to the tune of ten's of billions dollars and continues to beg for more?
You seem to be proud to threaten the world with Pakistan’s capacity to blow up other nation’s capital cities and even the gulf of Hormuz with a nuclear attack. Then you ask a maniacal question “Any takers?” It is such hateful talk that has resulted in Pakistan earning the dubious reputation of being the most dangerous country in the world.
Instead of this hatred I wish Pakistan will give peace a chance and try to be a good neighbor. If you look to the east, you will find in India a willing partner to work in improving the lives of all people in the subcontinent and make the world safer.
The American Declaration of Independence proclaimed the need to fight the War of Independence against the occupying power Britain because King George III had 'kept among us standing armies' that committed intolerable 'abuses and usurpations.' Today our government's army is committing abuses and usurpations in Iraq, Afghanistan and perhaps Pakistan. The American people are sick and tired of "perpetual mimetic" warfare. Pre-9/11, the US military maintained over 700 foreign military bases and almost a quarter of million soldiers in 130 countries. 70% of Americans do no support Empire building. Today we are behaving like an empire and our press is a partner in this enterprise.
Discussions of the inner politics of Pakistan as if it were a colony or a province of America confound many in Pakistan. Democratic forces in Pakistan are saying "Yanki ghar jaoo". If you don't know what that means, ask the professional anti-Pakistan elements in your team.
Incursions may ignite a fire that may not be containable.
Do we want to deal with cardboard caricatures, or do we deal with reality?
One forgets that this is the fourth largest country in the world, nuclear armed and in certain regions of the country the entire population is armed. Does sanity suggest that we antagonize 160 million people? For what and for whom? For getting OBL? One of the worst case scenarios is if Americans are taken hostages and then attempts are made to rescue them. This would be embarrassing for the USA and Pakistan.
The risk vs. reward may not be worth it.
Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophe where many Pakistani civilians die as a result of a strike. An accident could occur. If the Pakistanis are not aware of a strike missiles could be launched which could start a regional war. Pakistan and India are nuclear armed. In such a case, all bets are off, and the result would be horrible for the planet.
Pakistan has a 10 division well trained and well equipped army, one of the most professional armies in the world. Most of the officers were trained in the UK, USA, and Australia etc. The army has a centralized control with intense loyalty to the officer corps. More than 500,00 soldiers are in reserve, and like Israel all Pakistani high-schoolers (11th and 12th grades) are trained in basic two year military training called NCC (National Cadet Corp).The army is armed to the teeth, with local arms production M-16, Kalashnikovs, heavy artillery and now airplanes (knockoff of F-16s called JF-17 Thunder). They also have one of the best missile programs in the world, better than that of India.
“The Regime” consists of the army support, an elected National Assembly and Senate with representation of all the political parties including a heavy and intense presence of the MMA, PML and PPP opposition.
Now to eliminate all this would require a full scale invasion. 400,000 American soldiers and mercenaries (contractors) could not do it in Iraq, which has one fifth of the population and was sanctioned for ten years.
Now let us talk about invading Pakistan. Whose army is going to do it? One will need at least two million soldiers to occupy the country partially, and no one in 5000 years has been able to hold it.
Before the country is attacked many unnamed capitals and cities may go up in smoke, the Gulf of Hormuz would be blocked (ending supply of oil to the world), the Suez Canal would be choked, and many oilfields would be radio active for the next ten thousand years. This would mean the end of life as we know it. MAD (mutually assured destruction is the wave of the future).Any takers?
Pakistan may also decide to re-realign itself with Russia and China and leave the USA high and dry.
Peace is the only way. Let us build bridges of harmony and rethink the strategy of war and “taking out nukes”
Pakistani pleas for sanity in Afghanistan were ignored. Those who want to understand the irked Pakistani must know that the in 2001the US installed a non-Pashtun, anti-Pakistan government in Kabul. The must also know that NATO allows the puppet Karzai government to continue to bark at Pakistan. The Pakistanis also know that despite being clod war allies for 50 years, Pakistan was threatened with annihilation in 2001. They also remember that $450 million paid for F-16s was never returned. Neither were the planes ever delivered. Pakistanis also remember that the world and Afghanistan abandoned 2 million refugees in Pakistan. The Pakistanis also note that the world does not support the liberation of Kashmir
To put salt on open wounds, the US signed a Nuclear deal with India, not the major Non-NATO ally (Pakistan). Many wonder why $30 Billion were offered to Turkey to support war in Iraq, while Pakistan only received 1 billion to Pakistan for fighting Al-Qaeda and the Talibaan.
The American Declaration of Independence proclaimed the need to fight the War of Independence against the occupying power Britain because King George III had 'kept among us standing armies' that committed intolerable 'abuses and usurpations.' Today our government's army is committing abuses and usurpations in Iraq, Afghanistan and perhaps Pakistan. The American people are sick and tired of "perpetual mimetic" warfare. Pre-9/11, the US military maintained over 700 foreign military bases and almost a quarter of million soldiers in 130 countries. 70% of Americans do no support Empire building. Today we are behaving like an empire and our press is a partner in this enterprise.
Discussions of the inner politics of Pakistan as if it were a colony or a province of America confound many in Pakistan. Democratic forces in Pakistan are saying "Yanki ghar jaoo". If you don't know what that means, ask the professional anti-Pakistan elements in your team.
Incursions may ignite a fire that may not be containable.
Do we want to deal with cardboard caricatures, or do we deal with reality?
One forgets that this is the fourth largest country in the world, nuclear armed and in certain regions of the country the entire population is armed. Does sanity suggest that we antagonize 160 million people? For what and for whom? For getting OBL? One of the worst case scenarios is if Americans are taken hostages and then attempts are made to rescue them. This would be embarrassing for the USA and Pakistan.
The risk vs. reward may not be worth it.
Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophe where many Pakistani civilians die as a result of a strike. An accident could occur. If the Pakistanis are not aware of a strike missiles could be launched which could start a regional war. Pakistan and India are nuclear armed. In such a case, all bets are off, and the result would be horrible for the planet.
Pakistan has a 10 division well trained and well equipped army, one of the most professional armies in the world. Most of the officers were trained in the UK, USA, and Australia etc. The army has a centralized control with intense loyalty to the officer corps. More than 500,00 soldiers are in reserve, and like Israel all Pakistani high-schoolers (11th and 12th grades) are trained in basic two year military training called NCC (National Cadet Corp).The army is armed to the teeth, with local arms production M-16, Kalashnikovs, heavy artillery and now airplanes (knockoff of F-16s called JF-17 Thunder). They also have one of the best missile programs in the world, better than that of India.
“The Regime” consists of the army support, an elected National Assembly and Senate with representation of all the political parties including a heavy and intense presence of the MMA, PML and PPP opposition.
Now to eliminate all this would require a full scale invasion. 400,000 American soldiers and mercenaries (contractors) could not do it in Iraq, which has one fifth of the population and was sanctioned for ten years.
Now let us talk about invading Pakistan. Whose army is going to do it? One will need at least two million soldiers to occupy the country partially, and no one in 5000 years has been able to hold it.
Before the country is attacked many unnamed capitals and cities may go up in smoke, the Gulf of Hormuz would be blocked (ending supply of oil to the world), the Suez Canal would be choked, and many oilfields would be radio active for the next ten thousand years. This would mean the end of life as we know it. MAD (mutually assured destruction is the wave of the future).Any takers?
Pakistan may also decide to re-realign itself with Russia and China and leave the USA high and dry.
Peace is the only way. Let us build bridges of harmony and rethink the strategy of war and “taking out nukes”
Pakistani pleas for sanity in Afghanistan were ignored. Those who want to understand the irked Pakistani must know that the in 2001the US installed a non-Pashtun, anti-Pakistan government in Kabul. The must also know that NATO allows the puppet Karzai government to continue to bark at Pakistan. The Pakistanis also know that despite being clod war allies for 50 years, Pakistan was threatened with annihilation in 2001. They also remember that $450 million paid for F-16s was never returned. Neither were the planes ever delivered. Pakistanis also remember that the world and Afghanistan abandoned 2 million refugees in Pakistan. The Pakistanis also note that the world does not support the liberation of Kashmir
To put salt on open wounds, the US signed a Nuclear deal with India, not the major Non-NATO ally (Pakistan). Many wonder why $30 Billion were offered to Turkey to support war in Iraq, while Pakistan only received 1 billion to Pakistan for fighting Al-Qaeda and the Talibaan.
Your grasp of Middle-Eastern history & current events is weak and short-sighted. That region's problems go back much futher than the recent intervenings of the US. I encourage you to educate yourself on the history of the Middle East. It is a cauldron of war & conquest that predates the USA's existence by many centuries.
Oh, by the way, it's "THERE truly is" not "THEIR truly is.
No more Uneducated Texans in office, please. We've had enough.
To the person who said "Let's not forget that they've got nukes and all they got was a slap on the wrist," let us not forget that we actually used our nukes and hardly nobody looks back in anger.
We get it already. Hardly anybody likes Bush/Cheney anymore. But we usually manage not to publish the same opinion in the same place 10 times in a row.
Let's understand technology before we irritate everybody, mmm'kay?
It's interesting how people like Aamir react to pieces about Pakistan by lashing out at other countries instinctively. No arguments against the actual issue raised? This can be seen it the other piece on Pakistan too. Surely someone from Pakistan can come up with a sane counterpoint???
I think the Bush/Cheney Administration has destoyed the Middle East. Their truly is no trust with any allies. We have truly used terror as tool not for peace but for war for OIl.
Pakistan is the unfortunate inheritor of a turbulent and violent past.It must be understood beyond the veneer of Islam as practised by its people.In many ways Islam has very little to do with what is going on in this hapless country . What are being perpetrated in that country are rooted in a culture of tribal violence and lawlessness which the founding fathers have failed to address all these years.
I agree that Pakistan is a very dangerous place. It is NO threat to the world as compared to Israel. Why? Because Pakistan cannot make US politicians do anything, but Israelis can make US presidents and the two parties that select them do anything they want them to do. Start a 2 Trillion dollar war? No prob, Bob. This is the engine driving ALL the chaos in the middleast, NOT Pakistan.
The main difference between India and Pakistan is that the former has had a commitment to non-violence going back 2,500 years to Buddha and Mahavir. While this commitment has made India militarily weak, resulting in 600 years of rule by a Muslim minority followed by 200 years of British rule, it has also made it much easier to adapt to modern notions of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It has paid off.
So "Anon" in Ireland thinks most Irish people think the USA is the most dangerous country in the world? I do business there and I don't get that impression at all. The ones I meet like America and Americans a lot and love visiting here.
I think Iran would be a lot more peaceful if it's name was changed to the more historically correct "Persia".
Once that occurs, the Vatican will probably make a request to set up a small consulate from the Knights Templar in Constantinople.
Of course, the Pope would never put a pussy like Gerard de Ridefort in charge again, so things might be different. Particularly since a modern day Saladin simply doesn't exist in that area. If he did exist, he probably moved to the U.S. so as not to suffer at the hands of the fools currently running most of the countries of the Middle East these days. No offense.
On another note, Persian women are very smart and beautiful, but my Iranian friends claim they're all spoiled and therefore a real PITA to be around. I can't confirm or deny this, as I find the company of Teutonic women to be superior. No offense to anyone else out there.
All Comments (73)
ndpqs aigp pcai vsprwn nujvz cevwxgp pmgeowid
March 1, 2008 6:04 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on March 1, 2008 06:04
ndpqs aigp pcai vsprwn nujvz cevwxgp pmgeowid
March 1, 2008 6:03 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on March 1, 2008 06:03
ndpqs aigp pcai vsprwn nujvz cevwxgp pmgeowid
March 1, 2008 6:02 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on March 1, 2008 06:02
World Muslims must read their own history before they try to write any opinion.
Present illegal States like Qatar, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arab, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and all other States were created by Britain with power of money and military power with the help of some greedy and hungry Muslims for temporary Worldly power who and whose descendants became illegal rulers as those land belong to only one State i.e. Caliphate and Pakistan also was part of that State for several hundreds years beginning from Umayyad Caliphate. And it is great pity for World Muslims that they do not know their own State and even Gandhi was killed for his support of Caliphate and Indian Muslims where as present rulers including founder of Pakistan opposed the Caliphate. This is the problem and problem is World Muslims and their leaders. More is in:
http://www.upublish.com/book.php?method=ISBN&book=1581128770
Thanks,
November 8, 2007 9:53 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 8, 2007 21:53
Insightful article. For the life of me I can't understand how our government compulsively throws its support and our dollars behind every third world dictator-tyrant who happens to "share" our interests. I'm convinced that our government is incapable of learning from past mistakes; in recent memory alone our government's gross incompetence leaves a trail of death and destruction in far away lands as Iran, Vietnam, Iraq and, perhaps also, Pakistan.
November 8, 2007 1:58 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 8, 2007 13:58
Insightful article. For the life of me I can't understand how our government compulsively throws its support and our dollars behind every third world dictator-tyrant who happens to "share" our interests. I'm convinced that our government is incapable of learning from past mistakes; in recent memory alone our government's gross incompetence leaves a trail of death and destruction in far away lands as Iran, Vietnam, Iraq and, perhaps also, Pakistan.
November 8, 2007 1:47 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 8, 2007 13:47
Pakistan, a most dangerous country? It is a big joke. Or, it is all a handiwork of the ambush-journalism, now plaguing the world media. I ask Andoni to tell readers about how much extra is being paid by Al Jazeera to its staff posted in Pakistan offices in the name of "Dangerous Station Allowance"? Real and truth of the situation can easily be verified from the US Foreign Office, UN HR Department, or administration Department of any international organization employing staff on world-wide assignments about what rate of "difficulty allowance" or dangerous duty station multiplying factors to the salaries and emoluments, are being applied and paid to the staff by these organizations for their staff posted in Pakistan. Similar figures for other difficult countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Sierra Leone, etc., can be obtained and compared with those related to Pakistan.
There are various other indicators available on several reliable web sites about prevalence of social and moral crimes in different countries. Pakistan is not prominent in such lists. For example, South Africa is presently the world leader in such crimes. Even Great Briton is very high on the list of armed robberies, where a major robbery is being committed every 3 minutes! It would interest the readers to know that, according to the "List of countries by homicide rate per year per 100,000 inhabitants", published by the "National Center for Health and Vital Statistics". dated Dec. 2006, Pakistan is listed at the bottom of the list, with only 0.05 homicide cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Following selection from the list of 112 countries can give a very good idea about the defamation attempts being made in the international media against Pakistan:
Country = Score = Position
Jamaica = 46.59 = 1
South Africa = 34.50 = 3
Thailand = 8.47 = 22
US = 5.90 = 38
U.K = 2.03 = 69
Saudi Arabia = 0.93 = 97
Pakistan = 0.05 = 112
There is another reliable indicator named Happy Planet Index (HPI), which is an index of human well-being introduced by the "New Economics Foundation" in July 2006. The index is designed to challenge well-established development indicators like, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Human Development Index (HDI), which do not take sustainability into account. Particularly, GDP is inappropriate, as the aim of most people is not to be rich, but only to be happy and healthy. Interestingly, the US is ranked 150th in the list of 178 countries, with Zimbabwe being the lowest ranked at 178. Pakistan is ranked 112th, with China at 31, UK 108 and India 62.
Above facts sufficiently prove that, Pakistan is one of the safest places in the world and by contrast, the US is one of the most dangerous.
November 8, 2007 11:36 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 8, 2007 11:36
Islamic extremism is Saudi brand of Islam i.e. Wahabism that they have spread through heavy funding of Madressah's (over a period of years) in Pakistan . Wahabism follows Bush's doctrine "If you are not with us you are our enemy /infidel and we will be-head you".
November 7, 2007 6:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 18:44
Lamis Andoni's piece is cogent and very insightful.
Pakistan is indeed the most dangerous counry on the planet: a toxic brew of nuclear weapons, Islamic extremism, and a puissant hatred of India.
Democracy and Pakistan should not be mentioned in the same sentence. Musharraf is a master manipulator, he knows how to play the cards to suck money from this US administration just like all his predecessors. Way to go Mush!
November 7, 2007 6:10 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 18:10
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
November 7, 2007 3:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 15:46
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
November 7, 2007 3:46 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 15:46
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
November 7, 2007 3:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 15:44
One question remaining unanswered is what is the appropriate response if democracy is established in a country and the people then freely elect a fanatic, Islamist government dedicated to violent and dangerous confrontation with the US and the West? Principle then comes face-to-face with security and I'll bet security wins every time.
November 7, 2007 3:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 15:44
There is no better antidote to extremism than respect for human rights and economic development. The whole emphasis on application of military might creates conditions for more extremism.
November 7, 2007 2:36 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 14:36
Excellent post!
November 7, 2007 12:29 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 7, 2007 12:29
Lamis Andoni and much of the Middle East and South Asia press seem to assume that the US only has short-sighted goals that hinge on security in the present versus the institution building that will produce long term structural peace. Infact the US does and always has championed institution building and the long-term. The problem is that the governments of the region are so brittle and the consequences of their fall are likely to produce region wide chaos and threats to American security, that the US has little choice but to support the status quo. I'd be nice if for once, the region's journalists and intelligensia would quit blaming the US for all woes and realize that the US is now (and always has) acted in its own self-interest. Sometimes that self-interest has had unintended consequences (i.e. post-Soviet Afghanistan)...but these were unforseen by everyone and cannot be laid solely on the US. The region in the end is responsible for its own fate provided that it does not endanger anyone's national security. Unfortunately, the chattering class of the region seem more eager to blame the US than fix their own problems. The US will be eager to help--provided it is in its interest to do so. Make your case so that the US becomes a partner rather than an easy excuse to avoid your problems.
November 6, 2007 9:57 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 21:57
Foreigners dont have solutions to Pakistani problems and neither do they care.
November 6, 2007 7:33 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 19:33
Exactly what sort of institution building would Ms. Andoni recommend? Perhaps of the sort witnessed in Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Libia, Sudan, Yemen, Iran, or so many other happy examples. Exactly what "Pankistani interest" does she claim have been betrayed? Would Bhutto represent any change or not?
November 6, 2007 6:35 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 18:35
How little you understand bears.
November 6, 2007 4:56 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 16:56
The F-15 story of being grounded looks like a smoke screen for a carrier (the USS Enterprise?) to be repositioned to the North Arabian Sea without panicking Islamabad. The US is preparing for a suden hostile force having the nuke and it ain't Iran. A Pakistani revolution (and doesn't Washington love planning them) looks like having the potential to turn very nasty very quick. The US/Brit plan for Bhutto on the seat has failed plan B looks very bleak.
November 6, 2007 4:03 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 16:03
Nations founded as a result of a coup never last.
November 6, 2007 3:02 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 15:02
*******************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
Wow, some people just have to see the glass half-full.
Look on the bright side, if we can be at war with Pakistan and Iran in addition to Afphanistan and Iraq, my Hallibuton, Boeing, and Lockheed stock will go through the roof!
C'mon, chin up!
*******************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
November 6, 2007 1:32 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 13:32
Roy, Chiapas Mexico wrote: "In my opinion, the world's most dangerous country is The United States of America for obvious reasons."
Yet Mexicans risk their lives to sneak into, and illegally live in, "the world's most dangerous country". One has to wonder why they do it if your statement were true.
Andoni wrote "Pakistan today is a reminder of the danger of blindly choosing security and military measures over institution-building."
No, Pakistan today is a reflection of the madness created when religion trumps civility, ends justify means, and the faithful blindly support others who murder. Pakistan is a reflection of itself, you just do not want to believe Islam can create such madness. Yet we see the madness in Iran where hostage taking is a sport as is stoning. We saw it in Afganistan where the Taliban enforced strict sharia law, cutting off hands and executing people for minor crimes in public. We see the madness today in Iraq where Sunni ethnically cleanse their neighborhoods of Shia, and visa versa. We see it in Lebanon where Hezbollah is willing to work outside the democratic institutions to get what it wants. It is the islamists who are choosing military measures instead of institution-building to solve what they perceive as problems.
By blaming the government you apologize for the radicals. You need to see where the evil lies, but like most Muslims I've met you cannot get your head out of the Quran long enough to see that its teachings are formenting the evil you ignore in Pakistan and elsewhere. You only see evil in civility. Islam will not survive if it continues on this course because history shows that those religions and civilizations that rely on violence to solve problems die out. Unless Islam reinvents itself as a peaceful religion, I give it 200 years before it ends up on the trashheap of history. Christianity made its choice against violence centuries ago and so remains viable today. When will Islam? And who will lead the change away from vilence toward peace and tolerance? I have not seen a hint of a leader though millions are crying out for a leader. I have talked to Muslims who say that Islam is being used to justify killing children as a way to heaven. That they say is insanity but that is what they are hearing and being taught and they see no one standing up to the madness. They are caught between wanting to be civil and also be muslim.
November 6, 2007 8:35 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 08:35
The stock has gained 150% from Oct 8, 2007 to Oct 22, 2007.
By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/
November 6, 2007 1:31 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 01:31
The stock has gained 150% from Oct 8, 2007 to Oct 22, 2007.
By the way check this company MDFI. Their stock is set to increase because of their association with Apple iphone and Complete Care Medical. Find more about this company and stock http://www.growurmoney.com/medefile/
November 6, 2007 1:30 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 6, 2007 01:30
Hikayat Shah writes -
"Who make this country dangerous?
The United stat Of America, India, Saudi Arabia, Iran. The all 4 country have good continuation for the such subject"
Pakistan chose the path to destabilization by themselves. Bhutto and then Zia embraced fundamentalism in their quest for power and the common pakistani citizen silently condoned the wahhabization of their country. Pakistan has always had an inferiority complex when it comes to all matters pertaining to India and all their actions (good or bad) since Independence have been based on their perceived need to protect themselves from the Indians.
In the 60 years since Independence, Pakistan has fought 3 wars, carried out a genocide in current day Bangladesh, embraced foreign money and ideology in lieu of their freedom and independence and are still struggling to understand their own ideology. Pakistan has had and will continue to have many many dictators simply because in their quest for recognition and meaning they sold their soul to the Devil - radical thoughts and ideologies for the money and (perceived) power it bought them. The worst part is, the common man did not see any of this wealth- it was simply shared amongst their elite.
A nuke-armed country, with a history of irrationality, proliferation, radicalism and a perennially unstable leadership is undoubtedly the most dangerous country in the world.
November 5, 2007 8:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 5, 2007 08:41
The dangerous country in the world is Pakistan Not Iraq
Some of our country men and women are dislike the position
of No 1 dangerous country
Lts us say if not No 1 make it No 7
We must agree It is a danger country not to day it is from last 3 decades
Or more
Who make this country dangerous?
The United stat Of America, India, Saudi Arabia ,Iran
The all 4 country have good continuation for the such subject
America was the no 1 they use Pakistanis and Pakistan against
Communist USSR during cold war and hot war after that Saudi Arabia Influence
the radical Wahabies to permute it is ideologies
Iran influence The shiest to permute there ideologi and India was not behind to
Dig the grave for this country.
November 4, 2007 10:22 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 10:22
Who created this mess? There is nobody who wants to tell the truth. Pakistan was a secular state till Mr Bhutto bowed to the pressures from Mullahs at the end of his rule to get popularity vote from the masses and then came General Zia a very dear friend of US who led the country to the chaos Pakistan is facing now. The Afghan war against the Russians was blessed by the US and their western allies as the holy war and Mujadeens were projected as the freedom fighters and who later evolved into Taliban and then all the way down to the current situation in Pakistan. This religious extremisms was brought to that part of the world with the blessing of the West and guess who is complaining now?
November 4, 2007 9:24 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:24
All leaders pursue personal ambitions of power at the expense of their own people. Duh!!! It's called greed and it's one of the seven deadly sins. But guess who ends up dead?
November 4, 2007 9:18 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:18
To Moin Ansari:
You're kidding right? I mean honestly, you're joking right? Do you think ANY superpower in the world has the least bit of fear of Pakistan? You speak of that bitterly divided country as if it were on Par with REAL Nations? Make no mistake, at the push of 1 red American button, your country's existence would become an distant memory. Even if we chose not to completely annihilate you with our vastly superior nuclear arsenal, we could simply cruise missle your country to death from the comfort of our missle carrier ships & submarines hundreds of miles away. (Not to mention Stealth Bomb and Smart bomb you dust.) Also, as many soldiers as your country has, India has much more. You exist because the world permits you to exist. A few nuclear missles, does not a SuperPower make. Know your place, peon.
November 4, 2007 9:05 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:05
I thought this article was going to name the United States as the most dangerous country.
November 4, 2007 9:00 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 09:00
Ms Andoni should be aware of the fact that it was the petro-dollar of the Arabs which was siphoned to the so-called Mujahideen fighting the American proxy war in Afghanistan. Like America, Saudi Arabia wanted to promote dictatorship in Pakistan and financed the sunni mosques and madresshas to spread their brand of Islam - Wahabism.
November 4, 2007 8:57 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 08:57
I agree with Lamis Andoni when she says Pakistani leaders pursue personal ambitions of power at the expense of Pakistani interests. But I must say that General Musharraf never was a leader. This is the 'lust of power' which forces dictators like General Musharraf to take extra-constitutional steps like he took on October 12, 1999 and on November 3, 2007, when he declared martial law in the country. How a martial law can be viewed and accepted as a 'Constitutional' step? In his televised speech late night yesterday he said he respected the judgement of the supreme court when it reinstated the chief justice of pakistan. He never accepted the decision and he was waiting for the appropriate time to strike. To challenging his re-election as President in uniform was a purely constitutional matter and he should have fought it according to the constitution of pakistan but he chose to use the force which, naturally shows the mindset of a General. The Supreme court was hearing the arguments of the parties concerned very professionaly and because the case was of such importance that it needed time to make a judgement purely according to the constitution. Why General Musharraf was so 'desperate' last evening to raise objections on the 'leave' issue of a senior judge who wanted to physically attend the wedding of his daughter. Under which law a General can decide when to allow or not allow a senior judge of the supreme court to take his private life decisions. I mean this is absurd. General Musharraf reacting like a 'spoiled child'.
Pakistan is now facing a far more seriuos external and internal dangers and I request all those forces who have influence on General Musharraf, please don't support him.
November 4, 2007 5:25 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 05:25
Lest anyone forget, Pakistan has nuclear bombs. Ghandi new that no good could come from forming Pakistan.
November 4, 2007 1:46 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 01:46
Pakistan is a failed state without a future. India will have to work hard to secure its borders, otherwise it risks its ascent to joining the ranks of the developed world.
November 4, 2007 12:07 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 4, 2007 00:07
Someone mentioned America role in WWII in "saving the world".
Yup "join the fun late when things are nearly over, bomb innocent and ready to surrender Japanese into submission with nuke devices, lend/lease to rip the Europeans off, and then stay around in Italy, Germany, and Japan for example for 60 years past the end of WWII.
November 3, 2007 11:26 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 23:26
Well said.
Now how about writing articles on such class acts as Libya, Jordan and Egypt, for example, where the family dynasty rule has made a mockery of democracy.
After all the people of Pakistan can when they want to go out on the streets and protest.
In Egypt all street protests have been banned since Sadat's death.
Students have to hold rallies within the walls of their educational institutions.
November 3, 2007 11:19 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 23:19
To: Moin Ansari;
When you say "we" are you speaking as an American or as a Pakistani? It seems that you are confused about your own identity. I doubt that you are an American, judging from your extreme hate and anger at the entire world, including America.
Today Pakistan's greatest enemy is Pakistan itself. All of Pakistan's major institutions are in open conflict with each other. The only thing you are proud about is that you have nuclear weapons. How about good education, individual freedom, democratic institutions and good relations with your neighbors?
If you think of USA in such negative terms then why has Pakistan been begging and pleading for finacial aid and debt forgiveness and accepting American dole to the tune of ten's of billions dollars and continues to beg for more?
You seem to be proud to threaten the world with Pakistan’s capacity to blow up other nation’s capital cities and even the gulf of Hormuz with a nuclear attack. Then you ask a maniacal question “Any takers?” It is such hateful talk that has resulted in Pakistan earning the dubious reputation of being the most dangerous country in the world.
Instead of this hatred I wish Pakistan will give peace a chance and try to be a good neighbor. If you look to the east, you will find in India a willing partner to work in improving the lives of all people in the subcontinent and make the world safer.
November 3, 2007 9:59 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 21:59
The American Declaration of Independence proclaimed the need to fight the War of Independence against the occupying power Britain because King George III had 'kept among us standing armies' that committed intolerable 'abuses and usurpations.' Today our government's army is committing abuses and usurpations in Iraq, Afghanistan and perhaps Pakistan. The American people are sick and tired of "perpetual mimetic" warfare. Pre-9/11, the US military maintained over 700 foreign military bases and almost a quarter of million soldiers in 130 countries. 70% of Americans do no support Empire building. Today we are behaving like an empire and our press is a partner in this enterprise.
Discussions of the inner politics of Pakistan as if it were a colony or a province of America confound many in Pakistan. Democratic forces in Pakistan are saying "Yanki ghar jaoo". If you don't know what that means, ask the professional anti-Pakistan elements in your team.
Incursions may ignite a fire that may not be containable.
Do we want to deal with cardboard caricatures, or do we deal with reality?
One forgets that this is the fourth largest country in the world, nuclear armed and in certain regions of the country the entire population is armed. Does sanity suggest that we antagonize 160 million people? For what and for whom? For getting OBL? One of the worst case scenarios is if Americans are taken hostages and then attempts are made to rescue them. This would be embarrassing for the USA and Pakistan.
The risk vs. reward may not be worth it.
Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophe where many Pakistani civilians die as a result of a strike. An accident could occur. If the Pakistanis are not aware of a strike missiles could be launched which could start a regional war. Pakistan and India are nuclear armed. In such a case, all bets are off, and the result would be horrible for the planet.
Pakistan has a 10 division well trained and well equipped army, one of the most professional armies in the world. Most of the officers were trained in the UK, USA, and Australia etc. The army has a centralized control with intense loyalty to the officer corps. More than 500,00 soldiers are in reserve, and like Israel all Pakistani high-schoolers (11th and 12th grades) are trained in basic two year military training called NCC (National Cadet Corp).The army is armed to the teeth, with local arms production M-16, Kalashnikovs, heavy artillery and now airplanes (knockoff of F-16s called JF-17 Thunder). They also have one of the best missile programs in the world, better than that of India.
“The Regime” consists of the army support, an elected National Assembly and Senate with representation of all the political parties including a heavy and intense presence of the MMA, PML and PPP opposition.
Now to eliminate all this would require a full scale invasion. 400,000 American soldiers and mercenaries (contractors) could not do it in Iraq, which has one fifth of the population and was sanctioned for ten years.
Now let us talk about invading Pakistan. Whose army is going to do it? One will need at least two million soldiers to occupy the country partially, and no one in 5000 years has been able to hold it.
Before the country is attacked many unnamed capitals and cities may go up in smoke, the Gulf of Hormuz would be blocked (ending supply of oil to the world), the Suez Canal would be choked, and many oilfields would be radio active for the next ten thousand years. This would mean the end of life as we know it. MAD (mutually assured destruction is the wave of the future).Any takers?
Pakistan may also decide to re-realign itself with Russia and China and leave the USA high and dry.
Peace is the only way. Let us build bridges of harmony and rethink the strategy of war and “taking out nukes”
Pakistani pleas for sanity in Afghanistan were ignored. Those who want to understand the irked Pakistani must know that the in 2001the US installed a non-Pashtun, anti-Pakistan government in Kabul. The must also know that NATO allows the puppet Karzai government to continue to bark at Pakistan. The Pakistanis also know that despite being clod war allies for 50 years, Pakistan was threatened with annihilation in 2001. They also remember that $450 million paid for F-16s was never returned. Neither were the planes ever delivered. Pakistanis also remember that the world and Afghanistan abandoned 2 million refugees in Pakistan. The Pakistanis also note that the world does not support the liberation of Kashmir
To put salt on open wounds, the US signed a Nuclear deal with India, not the major Non-NATO ally (Pakistan). Many wonder why $30 Billion were offered to Turkey to support war in Iraq, while Pakistan only received 1 billion to Pakistan for fighting Al-Qaeda and the Talibaan.
November 3, 2007 6:48 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 18:48
The American Declaration of Independence proclaimed the need to fight the War of Independence against the occupying power Britain because King George III had 'kept among us standing armies' that committed intolerable 'abuses and usurpations.' Today our government's army is committing abuses and usurpations in Iraq, Afghanistan and perhaps Pakistan. The American people are sick and tired of "perpetual mimetic" warfare. Pre-9/11, the US military maintained over 700 foreign military bases and almost a quarter of million soldiers in 130 countries. 70% of Americans do no support Empire building. Today we are behaving like an empire and our press is a partner in this enterprise.
Discussions of the inner politics of Pakistan as if it were a colony or a province of America confound many in Pakistan. Democratic forces in Pakistan are saying "Yanki ghar jaoo". If you don't know what that means, ask the professional anti-Pakistan elements in your team.
Incursions may ignite a fire that may not be containable.
Do we want to deal with cardboard caricatures, or do we deal with reality?
One forgets that this is the fourth largest country in the world, nuclear armed and in certain regions of the country the entire population is armed. Does sanity suggest that we antagonize 160 million people? For what and for whom? For getting OBL? One of the worst case scenarios is if Americans are taken hostages and then attempts are made to rescue them. This would be embarrassing for the USA and Pakistan.
The risk vs. reward may not be worth it.
Then there is always the possibility of a catastrophe where many Pakistani civilians die as a result of a strike. An accident could occur. If the Pakistanis are not aware of a strike missiles could be launched which could start a regional war. Pakistan and India are nuclear armed. In such a case, all bets are off, and the result would be horrible for the planet.
Pakistan has a 10 division well trained and well equipped army, one of the most professional armies in the world. Most of the officers were trained in the UK, USA, and Australia etc. The army has a centralized control with intense loyalty to the officer corps. More than 500,00 soldiers are in reserve, and like Israel all Pakistani high-schoolers (11th and 12th grades) are trained in basic two year military training called NCC (National Cadet Corp).The army is armed to the teeth, with local arms production M-16, Kalashnikovs, heavy artillery and now airplanes (knockoff of F-16s called JF-17 Thunder). They also have one of the best missile programs in the world, better than that of India.
“The Regime” consists of the army support, an elected National Assembly and Senate with representation of all the political parties including a heavy and intense presence of the MMA, PML and PPP opposition.
Now to eliminate all this would require a full scale invasion. 400,000 American soldiers and mercenaries (contractors) could not do it in Iraq, which has one fifth of the population and was sanctioned for ten years.
Now let us talk about invading Pakistan. Whose army is going to do it? One will need at least two million soldiers to occupy the country partially, and no one in 5000 years has been able to hold it.
Before the country is attacked many unnamed capitals and cities may go up in smoke, the Gulf of Hormuz would be blocked (ending supply of oil to the world), the Suez Canal would be choked, and many oilfields would be radio active for the next ten thousand years. This would mean the end of life as we know it. MAD (mutually assured destruction is the wave of the future).Any takers?
Pakistan may also decide to re-realign itself with Russia and China and leave the USA high and dry.
Peace is the only way. Let us build bridges of harmony and rethink the strategy of war and “taking out nukes”
Pakistani pleas for sanity in Afghanistan were ignored. Those who want to understand the irked Pakistani must know that the in 2001the US installed a non-Pashtun, anti-Pakistan government in Kabul. The must also know that NATO allows the puppet Karzai government to continue to bark at Pakistan. The Pakistanis also know that despite being clod war allies for 50 years, Pakistan was threatened with annihilation in 2001. They also remember that $450 million paid for F-16s was never returned. Neither were the planes ever delivered. Pakistanis also remember that the world and Afghanistan abandoned 2 million refugees in Pakistan. The Pakistanis also note that the world does not support the liberation of Kashmir
To put salt on open wounds, the US signed a Nuclear deal with India, not the major Non-NATO ally (Pakistan). Many wonder why $30 Billion were offered to Turkey to support war in Iraq, while Pakistan only received 1 billion to Pakistan for fighting Al-Qaeda and the Talibaan.
November 3, 2007 6:48 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 18:48
Pakistan's problems should be solved by Pakistan.
Americans and westerners.. STAY OUT! You've done enough damage with your dreams of democracy and your zeal to make everyone like you.
Keep your culture to yourself and reflect on your society's ills before criticizing others.
If Islam is the problem then Islam will be the solution. Honestly, Islam is the solution in Pakistan. Obviously, a more moderate, Islam.
November 3, 2007 6:44 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 18:44
Dear Ann Chamberlain,
Your grasp of Middle-Eastern history & current events is weak and short-sighted. That region's problems go back much futher than the recent intervenings of the US. I encourage you to educate yourself on the history of the Middle East. It is a cauldron of war & conquest that predates the USA's existence by many centuries.
Oh, by the way, it's "THERE truly is" not "THEIR truly is.
No more Uneducated Texans in office, please. We've had enough.
November 3, 2007 6:08 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 18:08
To the person who said "Let's not forget that they've got nukes and all they got was a slap on the wrist," let us not forget that we actually used our nukes and hardly nobody looks back in anger.
November 3, 2007 4:51 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 16:51
Dear, i want to write for Post Global guide me how i can start it? thanks.
November 3, 2007 4:34 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 16:34
Dear Ann,
We get it already. Hardly anybody likes Bush/Cheney anymore. But we usually manage not to publish the same opinion in the same place 10 times in a row.
Let's understand technology before we irritate everybody, mmm'kay?
November 3, 2007 4:15 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 16:15
It's interesting how people like Aamir react to pieces about Pakistan by lashing out at other countries instinctively. No arguments against the actual issue raised? This can be seen it the other piece on Pakistan too. Surely someone from Pakistan can come up with a sane counterpoint???
November 3, 2007 2:50 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 14:50
Dear Ann Chamberlain,
You say *We have truly used terror as tool not for peace...*
*Terror* as tool for *peace* (!)(?) What does it mean ??
November 3, 2007 2:43 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 14:43
I think the Bush/Cheney Administration has destoyed the Middle East. Their truly is no trust with any allies. We have truly used terror as tool not for peace but for war for OIl.
Ann Chamberlain
Texan for Change
November 3, 2007 1:40 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 13:40
its jamaat e islami
and yes its terror full circle for pakistan
November 3, 2007 12:20 PM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 12:20
I think pakistan is a safe country because there is nothing any dangerious thing
November 3, 2007 11:46 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 11:46
This is a very thoughtful and intelligent piece.
November 3, 2007 11:33 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 11:33
Pakistan is the unfortunate inheritor of a turbulent and violent past.It must be understood beyond the veneer of Islam as practised by its people.In many ways Islam has very little to do with what is going on in this hapless country . What are being perpetrated in that country are rooted in a culture of tribal violence and lawlessness which the founding fathers have failed to address all these years.
November 3, 2007 11:06 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 11:06
I agree that Pakistan is a very dangerous place. It is NO threat to the world as compared to Israel. Why? Because Pakistan cannot make US politicians do anything, but Israelis can make US presidents and the two parties that select them do anything they want them to do. Start a 2 Trillion dollar war? No prob, Bob. This is the engine driving ALL the chaos in the middleast, NOT Pakistan.
November 3, 2007 10:03 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 10:03
The main difference between India and Pakistan is that the former has had a commitment to non-violence going back 2,500 years to Buddha and Mahavir. While this commitment has made India militarily weak, resulting in 600 years of rule by a Muslim minority followed by 200 years of British rule, it has also made it much easier to adapt to modern notions of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It has paid off.
November 3, 2007 9:24 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 09:24
So "Anon" in Ireland thinks most Irish people think the USA is the most dangerous country in the world? I do business there and I don't get that impression at all. The ones I meet like America and Americans a lot and love visiting here.
November 3, 2007 9:19 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 09:19
I think US has Pakistan well under its leash, completely neutered of it nuclear contraband.
November 3, 2007 9:03 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 09:03
I think Iran would be a lot more peaceful if it's name was changed to the more historically correct "Persia".
Once that occurs, the Vatican will probably make a request to set up a small consulate from the Knights Templar in Constantinople.
Of course, the Pope would never put a pussy like Gerard de Ridefort in charge again, so things might be different. Particularly since a modern day Saladin simply doesn't exist in that area. If he did exist, he probably moved to the U.S. so as not to suffer at the hands of the fools currently running most of the countries of the Middle East these days. No offense.
On another note, Persian women are very smart and beautiful, but my Iranian friends claim they're all spoiled and therefore a real PITA to be around. I can't confirm or deny this, as I find the company of Teutonic women to be superior. No offense to anyone else out there.
November 3, 2007 9:01 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 09:01
Pakistan's true cultural heritage is Hindu-Buddhist and not Islamic.
Once it rejects Islam which is Arabic imperialism in disguise there will no longer be subject to the internal dichotomy that is rending it apart.
First step is to stop calling itself an islamic republic which is an insult to its non-Muslims.
November 3, 2007 9:00 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 09:00
Here in Ireland I think that most people would consider the United States to be the most dangerous country in the world.
America's sense of insecurity seems bottomless, its faith in violence and control seems limitless, and its insular and ignorant arrogance seems total.
That's a very, very dangerous mix.
November 3, 2007 7:41 AM | Report Offensive Comments
Posted on November 3, 2007 07:41
Pakistan is the most dangerous place on the face of t