Al-Qaeda is not the name of an individual, actually this is a way of thinking. Their sole aim is to destroy the world. The rulers may not accept this fact at the moment, but this is the reality Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
It is ironic to note that the terrorists have been killing the innocent people in tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, but the rulers still insist there is no Al-Qaeda. Just to keep himself in power US President Bush has also been playing into the hands of terrorists. Many of his allies in this war on terrorism are those people, who have close connections with terrorists. It seems impossible that the US President may not be aware of Al-Qaeda activities in Pakistan, but he has been befooling his countrymen. Most of the tribesmen demand that now the truth must come to the fore.
Politicians, journalists and generals are in total confusion in Pakistan as the terrorists have been gaining strength. According to a newspaper comment: In another devastating suicide attack on security forces on Thursday, seven officers of the Pakistan Air force were killed and many more were injured, including civilians, when a suicide bomber rammed his motorcycle into a PAF bus.
In the fortnight since October 18, when more than 130 people were killed in a bomb attack on the mammoth rally for the returning Benazir Bhutto, there have been a number of major attacks on security personnel including those in Tarbela Ghazi and Rawalpindi. In between, there have been almost daily reports of killings and kidnapping particularly from the FATA and NWFP areas.
Security personnel as much as political forces are being equally targeted and clearly there is no regard for ‘collateral damage’ in the form of scores of innocent victims. Amidst all this, there is also a lack of clarity on whether this is even our war.
Consider that on Thursday again, while government sources claimed killing around 70 militants in Swat, there were reports citing a spokesman for the militants in Swat that 44 men from the Frontier Corps Dir scouts had surrendered. Only about two months ago, on August 30, approximately 300 personnel from the Pakistan Army and Frontier Constabulary (FC) surrendered to the pro-Taliban militia of Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan.
Then as now the question arises as to why soldiers in relatively large numbers would surrender without a fight. Motivation and morale would seem to be an issue here. There is a widespread perception that Pakistan is fighting America’s war in its tribal areas. What is happening across the border and the presence NATO forces in Afghanistan help strengthen this view. Many of those fighting the militants in the tribal areas may well share the perception.
We could have made better choices; if not in terms of our external alliances, then certainly in the nature of the relationship. And, of course, many of our policies in the tribal areas over the years should have been of a different order. Facilitating the formation of an MMA government in the NWFP and a government alliance with politico-religious parties were not the best of policy options to have been taken up in this critical period.
But whatever the route by which we have arrived at this point, the fact of the matter is that it is now a war with far greater implications for us than for anyone else, including the United States. The extremism that is now beginning to make an impact even in our more developed urban centres, unleashing a regime of terror within, threatens not only democracy but also the very fabric of society and the integrity of the state. There are no easy answers anymore.
We do know that an exclusively military response will not get us very far. We have to look no further than Iraq and Afghanistan to recognise the truth of that contention.
That brings us to the ongoing debate in Pakistan regarding the future political dispensation, crucial to our success or failure in facing up to the current challenge and, perhaps, to our survival.
Recent developments had suggested an anti-extremist alliance made up of disparate elements presided over by President Pervez Musharraf and the PPP leader Benazir Bhutto. This was an arrangement endorsed by the West and underwritten by the United States. For nearly everyone concerned, it was a matter of choosing from among a number of fairly dismal options in a situation that does not offer very many.
The National Reconciliation Ordinance has been challenged in court and the ‘deal’ is seen in many quarters as rank opportunism and bereft of moral content. However, a large number of ordinary voters do not hold the deal against Bhutto as demonstrated by the over a quarter million crowd that turned out to greet her in Karachi on October 18.
But that may also have tilted the balance in the establishment against her. As long as Musharraf was the guarantor of her place in the new dispensation, the level of discomfort in these quarters was probably not that high. But the show of peoples’ power in Karachi carried with it troubling intimations of autonomy. In the follow-up, the deal’s many detractors within the PMLQ, not least the Chaudhrys in the crucial province of Punjab, seem to have persuaded Musharraf to reconsider and go the Emergency/Martial Law route instead.
Meanwhile, Bhutto has left the country, ostensibly to visit family, at a time when the Supreme Court verdict on the eligibility of Musharraf to contest presidential polls is due any moment. If the court does not find in his favour, there is greater likelihood of the emergency option being taken. With the growing success of the militants in not only confronting the military and para-military forces of the state in the tribal areas but also terrorising the country at large, those arguing for a non-democratic route would have acquired a stronger voice in any case.
One can only hope that Musharraf is not tempted by the false logic of the argument that the situation warrants the military running the show. It was the military government of Zia-ul Haq that got us started on this perilous path of extremism that today challenges not just the writ of the state but its very integrity. And with another military dominated government over the last eight years we have only seen the problem grow to such formidable proportions.
Muhammad Khurshid, a resident of Bajaur Agency, tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border is journalist by profession. He contributes articles and news stories to various online and print newspapers. His subject matter is terrorism. He is also heading Voice For Peace working against terrorism in tribal areas. The aim of the Voice For Peace is restoration of peace in Bajaur Agency, tribal areas and whole world.
Somehow we are supposed to be shocked that there is an armed rebellion in a Moslem country against an arrogant dictator running a corrupt government who also sucks up to an Islamophobic warlord named George Bush, who has everyone's worst interests at heart.
But that's because we are fed comic book versions of reality, of evil terrorists versus "us". I said a couple of months ago that the attack on the Red Mosque would be the potential first step to disaster. Now stupid politicians in Washington and the Musharaff government want to repeat these errors exponentially.
Yes, Pakistan has a serious problem, not anywhere near the Armaggedon Muhammad is describing, but pretty bad. That is because Musharaff has been playing the West's game and has managed to alienate millions of Pushtans and other ethnic, religious or political groups. This has led to real, brutal conflict with more and more casualties on both sides. So as things worsen, we have the Devil's Advocate, the White House, telling Musharaff he now has to go all the way and launch an all out war, thus pouring more gasoline on the fire. Well, we have seen what that leads to in Afghanistan and Iraq, pure Hell, no solutions, and millions of casualties and refugees. That would be an Armaggedon of sorts.
Meanwhile, Muhammad seems to be cheer-leading this all out strategy, but he is going to have a hard time living with himself if this strategy takes root and the piles of dead bodies on both sides start to stretch toward the heavens, while the rot spreads across the land. But George Bush will be happy, because there will be a lot more dead Moslems. Muhaamad, are you prepared to see your country torn asunder?
That's what this is all about, bottomline, in Bush's Evangelical, Skull and Cross-Bones programmed brain, destroy Islam so Christ will be pleased enough to return and usher in the Millenium over a billion dead bodies. But this will come to pass only if Jesus has become Freddy Kruger.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 7:45:33 PM
I am having much difficulty in verifying your hyperbolic assumptions or even your supposed facts about AlQaeda actions against Pakistani forces in any of the usual sources on the web. Even the attack on Benezir Bhutto has not been claimed by any AlQaeda force.
Further I am puzzled why any group that has received shelter within Pakistan would go to such lengths to outstay that welcome. This diatribe, sir, sounds more like it was inspired by Pervez Musharrif than by any supposed journalistic attempt to post news.
In the history of this person , here at OpEd, I have many times been puzzled by what he writes, and have expressed such reservations before. It is a real pity as a truth teller actually on the ground there might contribute much to this site. I suspect, more and more, that we get these posts, not from sone remote province in Pakistan, but from a cubicle in the Pentagon.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Saturday, November 3, 2007 at 9:21:16 PM
So Mr. Khurshid you think a Civil War is not brewing in the USA? Isn't it about time they kicked Mushareff out? He is a dictator, a military nut, a crackpot who supports the Bush Cabel.
He was not elected, and he is forcing the Supreme Court to recognize his authority? He is alienating people, giving cause to consider that Alqaeda is not really a terrorist organization, but victims to madmen in Washington who will do anything to hold on to power in the USA.
These very Bush people killed 3,000 Americans on September 11th in 2001. They blamed binLadin who did not do it. In fact it was a row over how Saudi Arabia was to protect itself from Russia, since binLadin was successful in expelling Russian troops from Afghanistan. How is a defenseless country Saudi Arabia to stop Super Power Russia without nuclear defense?
When BinLadin wanted to have nuclear power for his Country Saudi Arabia, the USA denied it; simply because the USA wants to control Saudi Oil. So binLadin got the Taliban to support his company efforts to get Oil from the Afghani region, instead of the USA. This caused Enron to collapse, and the Bush CIA anger; unleashed their attack on the WTC.
This is what prompted the USA to setup the attack on the WTC to blame binLadin. I can never believe this guy did 911. It was Bush, and now Mushareff are complicit in their dictatorial claims. If Mushareff had an ounce of brains in his head, he would realize he was setup, and see the truth. It is not binLadin it is Bush, the CIA, and those so called high tech murderers who want to divide Pakistan, by supporting Mushareffs mistaken claim to power.
He needs to end his Marshall Law plans, and step down. He is only making it worse each and every day. He can not win, but more and more will die just like Israel and Palestine.
The terror ends when sides refuse to kill each other, and realize no man has the power of the State. Power of the State is what? The RIGHT TO KILL WITH A MILITARY. That is no power. Power is the ability to stop fighting. You need to convince Mr. Mushareff his time is over. He needs to think of the people first. If he does, the people will honor his decision, and take him as theirs as one who shuns violence, but supports the efforts toward reform and support. Leaders come and go....that is their function.
How they act determines if they are good for the people or bad. So far Mushareff has been proving to be bad along with Bush. He can change. Tell him to change.
by
Dom Jermano (20 articles, 0 quicklinks, 40 diaries, 930 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 5:46:26 AM
Here in the US, we have fundamentalist religious extremists supporting a protofascist anti-democratic administration. The two forces of anti-democratic fascism work together.
In Pakistan, similar forces compete with each other for power.
On one side, there is Musharaf, a dictatorial military tyrant.
On the other side, there are the taliban and al qaeda, brothers in extremist, fundamentalist Islam, wanting religious rule.
I don't see any other options in the fight in Pakistan, except for Benazir Bhutto and I don't k now what kind of support or potential she has.
I don't see many good options there.
We know that if the Taliban take over we will see a country that looks like taliban Afghanistan or Iran. I don't see that as an improvement over Musharaf. Once a leadership and government like that comes into power, only violence will remove it.
I'm not sure it's any better with Musharaf, except, his leadership cannot last. The question is, will it be replaced by Islamic Sharia law of the Taliban or by a democratic leadership, perhaps headed by Benazir Bhutto.
My read of Muhammad's report does not see hyperbole nor advocacy for anything that woud suggest support for the forces Mac suggests. It does not lead me to think he as a fake. My personal correspondences with him, swapping of family photos, etc. have made me confident he is for real.
I challenge ardee and mac to get specific. What has Muhammad said, here, in this article that supports your claims?
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Rob Kall (869 articles, 4006 quicklinks, 344 diaries, 1843 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 8:01:50 AM
I will certainly review his articles and post that which makes me suspicious, as I have just moved I havent the time at present but will do so at my earliest opportunity.
Meanwhile, Rob, I suggest you reread his contributions and note the incessant support of Bush claims and clarion calls to war against Islamofascists.
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ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 9:45:26 AM
Muhammad regularly describes the situation in Manichean terms, the terrorists this, the terrorists that, and then he will use the al Qaeda stigma as a final stamp of condemnation. But al Qaeda has not taken control over millions of Pashtun tribesmen. All the tribal elders have not sworn allegiance to Osama bin Laden, who I think is dead anyway. The tribes are genuinely peeved with Islamabad on their own account.
Al Qaeda, moreover, is not a death cult that wants to blow up the world, another cartoonish mischaracterization by Khurshid. It is, to the extent that it is not influenced by other players that we can only speculate about, a violent anti-Imperialist movement. Its basic ideology has always been the militant defense of Islamic countries from the West. How does Muhammad now morph that into James Bond's SMERSH? Well, what about 9/11 one might ask? Yes what about that? There is now enough body of evidence to seriously consider that 9/11 was smoke and mirrors, that al Qaeda, while involved, was a patsy, and that players in the Pakistani ISI, who would have likely been the prime manipulators of al Qaeda, the United States and possibly Israel, were the masterminds.
So Muhammad is depicting this as SMERSH vs Civilization and pushing, as best as I can tell, for Musharaff to annihilate the Satanic enemy. But the reality is that there is a popular rebellion against Islamabad going on in the Agencies and seething resentment against him throughout Pakistan, though not totally, because Musharaff still has strong support in some sectors. In some ways the Pashtun-heavy revolt against Musharaff is like the Kurdish revolt against Turkey and/or Saddam Hussein when he was alive. They would probably just as soon secede from Pakistan if they could.
This is still largely an Agency revolt, and the idea that the Pakistani "Taliban" (if we can even assume that there is this central leadership) can just sweep into Islamabad is exaggerated, given that the Pakistani military is very large and well-armed, with tanks, jets and helicopters. But the X-Factor is that if a popular movement to overthrow Musharaff sweeps through the country, the military might jump on the band-wagon and force Musharaff out. If other sectors of Pakistani society revolt against Musharaff too, then the composition of the rebellion will continue to change. It is very possible that what started as an Agency rebellion led by Taliban types will turn into a widespread revolution with a number of players.
Meanwhile, we in the West are sitting atop Mount Olympus ponitificating about whether to back another creepy dictator and egg him on to war on his own people, or to allow the forces of evil to capture the Golden nukes, a false dichotomy, as usual. There has been no genuine global effort to work for peace in the region. We only have the maniacal White House whispering into Musharaff's ear "KILL THEM ALL. APOCALYPSE NOW", like Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now.
We are also ignoring the ethical reality that the means does not justify the ends, because the means becomes the ends. This is really also about levels of consciousness. Fearful people live in a fearful world, projecting their fears onto the world and extrapolating that information from the world that reinforces their fears. This is George Bush. Hostile people live in a hostile world, projecting their hostility onto the world, verbally or physically, and, when one gets punched back, shouting "See, they're against me!" This is also George Bush.
If we are Progressives, we have to develop a consciousness of peace, love and unity and project that unto the world, saying, wait, stop all this insane bloodshed and fear and hate-mongering and sit down and earnestly talk.
This almost happened at the Red Mosque a few months ago. Talks were getting somewhere, before Musharaff, probably after some phone call from the White House, suddenly opts for the John Wayne solution. Muhammad was all for the "crack down on the terrorists" approach, and I was telling him that you will be lucky if this doesn't lead to a civil war. Well, the bitter fruits of violence and hatred have sprouted again. Here we are , close to a civil war.
So now Muhammad is apparently opting for the total war option. This will all but guarantee a conflagration and we, as usual, won't know what the unforeseen consequences of unleashing the dogs of war will be, but it won't be anything good.
Popular support is clearly not with Musharaff or the idea of total war either. Here is an excerpt from Syed Saleem Shahzad's recent article in Asia Times:
"And a full frontal war would be unpopular among the masses, where Musharraf's standing is already low. The US-based World Public Opinion (WPO) revealed in a recent poll that fewer than half of urban Pakistanis support attacking al-Qaeda and cracking down on fundamentalists, and Pakistanis overwhelmingly rejected the idea of permitting foreign troops to attack al-Qaeda on Pakistani territory.
WPO reported that four out of five Pakistanis said their government should not allow US or other foreign troops to enter Pakistan to pursue and capture al-Qaeda fighters. And three out of four opposed allowing foreign troops to attack Taliban insurgents based in Pakistan. The findings also reveal that a majority of urban Pakistanis believed their government's decision to attack militants based in the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in July was a mistake.
A suicide attack on Tuesday, meanwhile, in a highly sensitive military zone, sent a strong warning to the government of the militants' strength. The bomber set off explosives about a kilometer from Musharraf's offices in Rawalpindi, killing seven people, including himself, and injuring at least 14 others." (source)
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 2:11:25 PM
I was just rereading some of Muhammad's articles and have to say that I am not really sure exactly what his current position is on a proposed frontal war or total war against the pro-Taliban movement by Musharaff. His statements from article to article are not the same, but the situation is fluid too.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 3:16:28 PM
Dear Rob,
Thank you very much for your kind words about me. Actually I am also confused as the situation is very fluid. I have just been writing about the confusion in Pakistan. Niether I am a supporter of President Bush nor President Musharraf, but I have been writing about the events in Pakistan, which have also been affecting me and my areas. I want to bring in the notice of Mr Mac and Mr Ardee that I have been trying to bring truth to the fore. Sometime there might be confusion in writing, but this is not my fault as the situation is confused. I have been living in state of total choas. Just forgive me if you feel that there is something wrong in writing.
by
Muhammad Khurshid (298 articles, 31 quicklinks, 194 diaries, 158 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 10:54:38 AM
to me, that those who are living in the States feel that they are better informed and qualified to speak about the events in Pakistan than someone who is a Pakistani citizen living on the Pak-Afghan border. That kind of presumption is bewildering, to say the least. While I believe that readers of OpEdNews are well informed, and tend to get their news from alternative sites rather than the MSM, to attack Muhammad's reporting, or calling it biased, is off target.
Over the last few months, Muhammad has become increasingly vocal in his disappointment and disgust of Bush and the alliance between Bush and Musharraf. He has lumped the two together on more than one occasion under the title of liars and being part of the problem in the increasing bedlam that is spreading across Pakistan. Hardly someone who is sitting in a cubicle at the Pentagon. Please re-read Muhammad's pieces -- all of them -- in full, to see that he is no longer a supporter of Bush.
Rob Kall goes over every Khurshid article with a fine-tooth comb, as do I. Additionally, Mr. Kall would not continue to publish Muhammad's pieces if he hadn't verified his authenticity -- all part of being a publisher and executive editor. After all of his years in the business, I highly doubt Mr. Kall is easily hoodwinked.
Muhammad is doing his best to report what he is bearing witness to, providing excerpts from other Pakistani journalists, and all in a language other than his native tongue. For anyone here to suggest that they know better than those reporting from Pakistan leaves me with the question: where are you getting your information and what makes you better qualified as to the goings on in Pakistan, what the citizens are experiencing day to day -- unless, of course, you are reporting from Pakistan?
Again, go back through Muhammad's articles to see the obvious transition from originally sounding as though he supported Bush and his "war on terror," to what he now writes. Very different viewpoints -- as he is now highly critical of the U.S. government and his own.
While I think we need to look at articles posted here with a sharp eye, and at times, certainly, things should and need to be questioned and/or challenged, to presume that we know more of what is unfolding in another country than one of its citizens is beyond presumption and, I think, unfair.
by
Jan Baumgartner (52 articles, 137 quicklinks, 10 diaries, 252 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 11:20:43 AM
I agree with you that Muhammad has evolved in his writing over time at OpEdNews, but just because he is in-country does not mean he has the final say over things. I have often argued with him that he is stereotyping events and people. His is just one more perspective that we have to weigh.
Did you ever see the Japanese movie Rashoman, where four witnesses to a rape, then murder, all have differing accounts of the same events? Even eye-witnesses only see what they want to see, so we need as wide a body of opinion as we can get here, whether we live in Pakistan or not.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 2:36:44 PM
that Mr. Khurshid is actually in country as you believe him to be. I have seen no verification of this and, if you have, you have kept it to yourselves.
What I have seen are articles that are uneven at best, seem to support the branding of a world wide terrorism as factual, one that he claims in a recent article to be dedicated to the destruction of the entire world..(PLEASE), This seems to be Muhammad allying himself with the Bush "war on terror" that, in my own opinion, is nothing more than an Orwellian assault upon the power of the Constitution and Legislative branch of our government.
Rob was correct in asking for meat in my criticism yet you post without such content and ask that we swallow the whole cloth of this writers message. As this is an OpEd forum and as the "Op" stands for opinion I would suspect that my suspicions fall within the criteria of such a forum. I did not and do not attack Mr. Khurshid personally but , in this era of lie and distortion, of ceaseless propaganda. of perpetual war for ever more profit I believe it the duty of every supporter of our nation and its ideals to be very suspicious of ideas and "facts" that seem to run contrary to evidenciary reports not to mention common sense.
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 4:20:56 PM
I know that some readers do wonder if Muhammad is exactly who he says he is. It would set minds at ease if he, or OpEdNews did something to prove this once and for all, such as a digital photo of himself in an obvious Pakistani location.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 5:07:23 PM
If you Mac, were an agent for Musharaf, it would be very handy to have a picture of Muhammad with an indentifiable background so you could hunt him down.
by
Rob Kall (869 articles, 4006 quicklinks, 344 diaries, 1843 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 7:06:00 PM
I thought Muhammud said the authorities already know who he is. He did say he had even been to the US Embassy in the past. His photo is already all over the Internet.
But maybe the situation is different now. That would be his call.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 9:16:04 AM
Dear Mac,
I am in the field of journalism for the last 18 years. I think there will be no difficulty for you in finding. Just visit Peshawar, the capital of NWFP and ask any journalist he will give my address. I also invite you to visit Bajaur Agency, tribal areas where I have been living with my family. I have made all my life open. There is nothing secret in my life. I think the CIA and FBI officials will also be knowing me. The officials of US Consulate in Peshawar also know me.
I again invite you to be my guest in Bajaur Agency. I can provide you full security. Please consider my invitation. Thanks
by
Muhammad Khurshid (298 articles, 31 quicklinks, 194 diaries, 158 comments)
on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 12:14:15 PM
Thank you for answering this. This should abate concerns some have about your whereabouts. If I get the opportunity in the future to travel to Pakistan, I will take you up on your offer. This is not in the cards right now, however.
by
Mac McKinney (48 articles, 78 quicklinks, 180 diaries, 1137 comments)
on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 1:08:51 PM
First Mr. Khurshid says he lives openly , then below he notes that he is always being chased...this aint Denmark but I cannot help but think that something stinks.......
by
ardee D. (6 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 2377 comments)
on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 6:50:58 AM
Dear Jan,
Thank you very much. Actually I have been doing my work with great difficulties as I have always been chased. The officials have been terrorising me. It is because of support of people like you that I have been doing my work. Believe me I have lost everything in my war on terrorism. I am even unable to give attention to my children and wife. Actually I have been living in state of terrorism. Anyhow thank you very much for your kind words for me.
by
Muhammad Khurshid (298 articles, 31 quicklinks, 194 diaries, 158 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 11:54:02 AM
I can easily see ALL sides that were presented in comments
The use of counterintel pro and "bent" media by successive US administrations has left a pretty bitter taste in everyone's mouths. I've read some of the truly TERRIBLE pysops/disinfo coming out of the Green Zone posted on even the 'illustrious' International Clearing House site. It can get pretty toxic!
You'd have to be very very "dead" to not be totally angered, saddened and upset at what passes for "progress" in Pakistan when you know the entire story since 1947 - not unlike reading what the US has been "up to" Iran, really. It's just that in Pakistan, the person holding up the US for ca$h to line their pocket$ is from both opposition parties - the press here is REAL SILENT about why Benazir's hubby didn't go with her. But some of us KNOW. We also KNOW about the manipulation of Pakistan by Henry Kissinger, who of late, is swanning around the area AGAIN, doing his double agent routine. Meanwhile the mainstream press leaves everyone scratching their heads! The bankers are FULL of glee, however - the can further manipulate the markets to their liking while expecting the people at the bottom to pay the cost for so-called "development" while millions starve and are the victims of genocide. Sigh.
It makes no "logical" sense for the US to get another front of war going on in the Middle East, BUT with the chickenhawks so firmly in control of US foreign policy and their geopolitical strategy (CONtrol the oil to keep the US/Israeli jets fueled as long as possible) complete toast, things have really gotten right out of hand. Musharraf's synthetic terror events the past two weeks didn't accomplish for him just what he desired so now the whole world gets to pay. WHO in their right mind wants to see martial law anywhere?? Another sad chapter in Pakistani history gets written.
I hope some day that there is a living legacy of P E A C E in Pakistan and everywhere else, but it doesn't look like that is going to come about any time soon, very sad to say.
All we can do is KEEP COMMUNICATING and grieving our collective losses together. We ALL deserve better than this .. some lasting legacy to pass on to our children that life did, indeed get better during our time on the planet.
Keep on working for P E A C E. And remember this - the nasty ones never win, not REALLY. Sorry, brother, I am so sad that this is your "world" about you today ... but I do hope hope you understand why some people would rather take up arms than to go "quietly into that good night" and would rather "RAGE! RAGE! against the dieing of the light .."
by
ladybroadoak (38 articles, 20 quicklinks, 12 diaries, 391 comments)
on Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 12:39:38 PM
