Wednesday, June 23, 2010

The US Occupation and the Afghan Wealth

Prologue:
The East India Company, initiated as a trading company to pursue trading with the East Indies but ended up trading primarily with Indian sub-continent and China. It started its trading business in early 1600 and had sought after trading all the valuable natural resources of these lands from silk, cotton, indigo, dye, saltpetre, tee and even opium to the European lands up until 1757 when the Company Rule in India began. The company itself was dissolved in 1874 owing to the Indian Rebellion and the British Raj took over.


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"The United States has recently discovered untapped natural mineral deposits worth nearly $1 trillion", says a report by New York Times. The reserves are so vast that it could "fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and the war itself". So much so an internal Pentagon memo suggests that the Central Asian country could become the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” a precious raw material used in the making of batteries for laptops and mobile phones.

The Russians were aware of this fact and they, along with some Afghan Geologist, during the 1960's had put in great effort to discover these natural resources. Alas, this finally puts in place the real motive of USSR's Afghan-War in 1979. They might have intended to forcefully occupy the poor and barren land to fill their monetary aims. However, a more resilient and rugged Afghan rebels had a fighting reply to their incursion.

Of course, one cannot omit the vast and generous clandestine support of the United States in driving the Soviets out of Afghan. They had poured in numerous weaponry along with financial aids to counter the Russian onslaught. And they had with them the 'ever-abiding' and truly loyal ally, Pakistan.

One ponders the extreme generosity exhibited by the Americans and Pakistanis towards an utterly poor, backwards and extreme stubborn nation like Afghanistan. What vested interest could they possibly have in rescuing them from the Soviets. Was it out of compassion and humanitarian ethics to save an oppressed nation at the hands of Soviets. Or was it out rivalry against the number 2 World Power. Or probably was it because the US had other, and better, plans for a war torn country.

After successfully ridding the Soviets out of Afghanistan, the US embarked on a similar yet more conspiring mission in the Central Asian country. Under the banner of 'War-on-Terror', the United States along with support from NATO barged into Afghanistan and upset the balance of power, overthrowing their only opponent - Talibans. The Taliban were the key in countering the Russian invasion and had gradually gained power as the dominant force in Afghanistan since the exit of the Russian forces. During their seven year rule in Afghanistan, they had enforced a 'Perfect' Shariah system. Though, many anti-Muslim critics have condemned their rule and bolstered enormous accusations against some of their policies, however, the facts were far from the truth.  

The US had sought the opportunity and yielded in. Of course, yet again, they could not have been successful in their campaign without the humming support of their closest and utterly disliked ally, Pakistan. The  current US occupation in Afghanistan is showing reminiscence of the colonization of the sub-continent by the East India Company.

Though, undeniably, the driving motive for the staunch US occupation in Afghanistan could be to evade the terror threat posed by Al-Qaeda. However, one cannot negate the fact that exploiting the 'Afghan Riches' would not have been possible with the Taliban sitting on top of them. They needed pro-US government and policies that would favor their stakes in the indigenous wealth of that country.

It has been nine years since the US military occupation started its devious efforts under the covert war, they have met more remorse than success. And since now it has become more evident that the wealthy Afghan soil is potent enough to emerge as one of the most influential mining centers of the world, the war will see a more difficult route ahead. Out-numbered and out-classed by a high tech  and sophisticated weaponry, the Afghans have always thought of the US occupation as an illegle incursion into their land but now it becomes a matter of personal prestige, pride and honor to secure the blessed Gift from God onto their land.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Diet or DIE-IT!

Within the last few decades there has been countless discussions, arguments and debates regarding the perfect dietary lifestyle to follow in order to achieve perfect health. Consequently, people around the globe have been flummoxed into pondering which diet plan to follow?what sort of foods to be taken? how regularly should one eat?

With the advent so these questions lingering around peoples minds, especially those people who are so inspired by the present 'size-zero' models or those who munch on crunchy chips in their body-tight track suites watching Aerobic workouts on televisions, the debates and arguments have yielded enormous types of diet-plans . Atkins-Diet plans, 1800-Calorie-A-Day diets, Low-Carb Diets and the list is endless.

I do not question the practicality or effectiveness of these diet-plans, since they have been engineered by professionals, however, I have seldom met anyone who has actually benefited by following any one of these diet regimes. The most prominent reason being that people are unable to regularly keep-up with these diet plans. Either they are too complex for a common man to comprehend and keep-up or they seem too harsh a punishment for one who is accustomed to enjoying the 'sweet' delicacies of life.

It is evident that dedication to any such diet-regime is a must but how can one deny himself the luscious pleasures of a hot, baked, cheesy pizza or even a mouth-watering, juicy, well-seasoned double beef burger with extra cheese dripping from the sides along with large freshly fried soft and tender French Fries and an Up-sized ice-cold Pepsi.

Other, and equally important, reason is that after, more-or-less, successfully trimming into shape, people switch back to their original dietary habits and gain more than what they had shedded off. And when they urge themselves to revert back to their diet-plan they are unable to. Annoyed and frustrated, they unleash the hungry beast inside them craving for those scrumptious meals they had been denying themselves. Consequently, people around them noticing the abrupt change often ask: "I thought you were trying to get into shape?" To which they confidently reply: "I am. The shape I've selected is a triangle!"
People usually question, "Should we cut down on eating meat and take more fruits?" Ever heard of Logistical-Efficiencies. Well, here is an example, What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Need to add green leafs in your diet? Beef is  a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).

I always believe one should eat whatever he desires. Eating is a leisure that God has bestowed unto us and one should not deprive himself. However, there is this thing called 'balance'. A balance should be maintained in almost every aspect of your lifestyle, even eating. If you off-set that balance you are bound to title the equilibrium on either end and the further it tilts the harder it gets to put it back in place. Instead of following any particular diet-plan, it would be essential to make one yourself. You know what you need to eat and how much. One should Eat to Live not Live to Eat

Monday, June 14, 2010

Dr. Mukhtar Mai

Recently Laurentian University of Canada has decided to award Mukhtar Mai with an honorary doctorate degree in recognition of her services for promoting education to girls and broadening the process to improve women’s right in Pakistan.


Mukhtar Mai is just one of the many women victims that have survived the brutal social malaise that is inherent in Pakistan’s rural communities. A victim of gang rape as a form of honor revenge. By custom, such women, especially in rural societies, commit suicide or bury the incident within them to avoid shame and disgrace; instead she defied all odds and spoke up against the ruthless and inhumane form of justice which carried out this gruesome act to avenge the honor of other tribe.

Though her case is still held up with Pakistan Supreme Court, her bravery and courage has certainly collected accolades and acknowledged globally. She was rewarded for her bravery and turned her tragedy into opportunity for women and girls and set up Mukhtar Mai Women’s Welfare Organization to promote education in view towards raising awareness to prevent future honor crimes.

Mukhtar has deeply offended the local feudal elites by championing the poor and pointing out the degree to which corruption protects the elites when they rape or abuse poor women. It’s no secret that some of those feudal families would like to see Mukhtar put in her place, even killed. Despite all this she is still steadfast on her mission.

It is vital for us to appreciate her in her cause, as the international community is doing, and lend her the helping hand in creating awareness among our people of the true status of women and their rightful place in our communities and lives. Without this we would be looming in darkness and prospects for our generations to come shall falter as the remaining half of our society (women) will remain deprived of the moral and social necessities of life.

The Israel Lobby

The US on Thursday (10th June, 2010) issued a statement that is has deep and binding interest in Israel security, confirming yet again their undaunting and unwarranted support for Israel. Their clandestine approach in denouncing the inhumane act by the Israeli forces on board the Gaza flotilla earlier this month is an outright show of the authority and influence of ‘The Israeli Lobby’ that exists as strong as ever within the United States and governs not only the state itself but practically dictates its foreign policies, especially Middle East.

One might assume that the unwavering support for Israel is based on mutual strategic interests; instead it is an imperative derivative of the powerful functioning of the Israeli Lobby (such as AIPAC), which actively steer the US foreign policy in favor of Israel. Covertly commanding almost every institution from Newspapers, News Channels, and Educational material in universities and colleges to top ranking officials in Congress and even in Capitol Hill, this coalition of individuals and organization has embossed on the US minds that their security is heavily dependent on the political and economic support to Israel’s existence.

Also, it has shaped the idea that both the countries are facing a common terror threat, and thus their mutual collaboration against that common enemy in ever imminent in countering it. This claim has the casual relationship backwards. The US has a terrorism problem in good part owing to its support for Israel and not the other way round. Though it is not the only source of anti-American sentiments across the globe, it is yet an important one and many terror organizations are motivated with Israel’s presence in Palestine and the US’s inability to resolutely condemn Israel, as it does for any other country.

Rest assured, the terrorist organizations that threaten Israel do not threaten US except when in intervenes against them. Moreover, the so-called Palestinian terrorism or Hamas activities are random violence directed against Israel or West; it is largely a response to Israel’s prolonged campaign to colonize the West Bank and Gaza strip, who believe that they have no other way to force Israeli concessions.

The US must realize that its uncalled support for Israel would not only jeopardize its own security but that much of the rest of the world. In order for it to portray itself as a true world power and leader it has to shun away such influences among its quarters and develop a prospective that is just and unbiased.