Justice Done

“Justice has been done”: these were the words that personified the US’s achievement in the war on terror with the killing of Osama bin Laden. Justice — with regards to avenging the deaths of nearly 3,000 people that were killed in the 9/11 attack. The entire world was shell shocked at seeing the epitome of US business and glory crumble down into dust. The entire US nation had mourned for their beloved ones for nearly a decade and finally they were served with JUSTICE — they sought their REVENGE.

But has the killing of Osama brought about any feeling of content or satisfaction among the bereaved? How has killing him redeemed the many who had lost their loved ones in such a dreadful attack? This is surely hard to answer.

However, perceiving the celebrations that erupted soon after President Obama’s announcement, there did seem a heightened sense of satisfaction and relief.

Bin Laden had wronged in killing the thousands of innocent people, not only in the US but the world over. His ideology of seeking ‘blood for blood’ was inhumane and outrageous. He justified his acts saying they were instigated as a result of the US policies, in particular Palestine. However, he voiced his concerns in a very different perspective and in an unusual way, to say the least. Probably because he realised that there were not many listeners and so he had to do something out of the ordinary to grab everyone’s attention. He thus transformed into one of the most feared terrorist in the world.

The US should have tried to capture Osama and put him on trial, just like they did with Saddam. Instead of shooting him in the head, they could have shot him in the arm or the leg or even immobilize him using one of their ingeniously created weapons.

Putting him on trail in a US court would certainly not have resulted in capital punishment. However, many elusive facts could have been revealed and even more conspiracy theories would have generated. I feel that the US feared losing Osama more than capturing him and putting him on trial.

Nevertheless, though there is a feeling of respite and relief among many who suffered at the hands of Osama, Martin Luther King Jr. said it best:

“I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that”.

Security Breach!!!

FBI’s most wanted terrorist was killed in a covert raid by the US forces on Pakistan soil with no information or assistance from the Pakistani Military or Intelligence. Though the US vehemently claims that it had received no backing from the Pakistani authorities to conduct its raid there lacks credible evidence in support of it. The mere merchants of governance in the already fluttering regime of Pakistan have seconded their claim possibly to avoid any sort of backlash from the militants, which does seem as imminent as ever, and to void any connection in aiding Osama’s hiding or even knowing his whereabouts.

It is rather difficult to fathom how any operation on a foreign soil could have been conducted without any or little involvement of its authorities, especially in the mysterious region of Pakhtunkhuwa whose thick long mountainous belt has eluded everyone. Even the widely controversial and criticized Drone Attacks over the North Waziristan area have been possible only with the intel and support of Pakistan Military. It has been a long established fact that the US has always been weary and skeptical of the Pakistani Intelligence and its alliances with the Afghan Taleban especially after the 1998 incident when US intended to bomb and kill Osama and his elites in one the Al Qaeda Training camps in Afghanistan and miserably failed after, supposedly, being tipped off by Pakistani authorities as they had been notified of the cruise missiles flying over their airspace. Though, again, there has been lack of material evidence supporting this notion.

If one reasons it out, there is less to blame the Pakistani intelligence for its dual personality. The ingrained bond with the Afghan Taleban was seeded by the CIA during the Soviet Invasion. However, over the years it has strengthened primarily to secure much of Pakistan’s own sovereignty at home and importantly also to maintain a higher degree of influence in Afghanistan than from India. However, the duality had its price. Allying with the US in the war on terror and allowing its soil to be used against the Afghan Taleban shredded its sovereignty into pieces and shifted the balance of influence over to India.

The US has on countless times threatened, and many a times even harmed, Pakistan’s sovereignty. However, with this secretive raid in Abbottabad has the US breached Pakistan’s security? It has done so a million times, does this one make it any especial? It does only if the claimants are true. A cross border raid using stealth technology at a town not far from the capital is a dithering sight for Pakistan security and its intelligence. It is a direct assault and shame on the Pakistan Military and Intelligence whom we savior for our protection. Furthermore it is an embarrassment to our leaders who have gone so much into the lucrative US aid that they have foregone their country’s sovereignty and security for its sake.

Stalled Mid East Talks

The Middle East peace talks have stalled, yet again. The Obama administration has blatantly accepted its failure in continuing the peace efforts it started twenty months back. It does not surprise since it was only a matter of time that another deadlock to the peace efforts came into place.

The Israeli government is hell bent on colonizing the shrinking patches of land left to the Palestinians, paying no heed to the international calls, and uses its military brute force to contain any resistance.

The US has been unable to counter it, either willingly or unwillingly. Will the US be able to crack the nut and restart a fresh series of talks? Will it be able to drag both parties to agree on common ground? The answers to such questions remain skeptical.
The Obama administration’s inability to contain the Israeli demographic clock - that had been waiting to start ticking - is yet another glimpse of ingrained bias in US politics, which remains the prime factor in discontinuing the peace process. The unwarranted political support towards Israel and US media that tends to be more pro-Israeli than pro-Arab makes it highly unlikely that US will ever be seen as an even-handed peace broker. Moreover, the plights of the 1.3 million Palestinians who are left in a virtual prison in the Gaza strip have been ignored in every aspect making matters even worse. Their refusal to negotiate with a democratically elected Palestinian government (Hamas - which was elected in the 2006 elections prompted by the US but later rejected it when it did not like the results) makes the peace efforts look half-hearted and half dealt. Though it is not hard to estimate the difficulty of the task Obama has in hand, one feels the US is trying to merely tackle the issue for the moment. Whether they succeed in developing yet another temporary solution or a lasting one remains to be seen. However, the current motives do not predict any changes in the Middle East peace process.

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The above blog appeared in Khaleej Times Letters to the Editor on 18th Dec, 2010

Leak-gate an Eye-opener

The latest documentation dump by Wikileaks representing the massive sampling of the daily traffic between the US State Department and some 270 embassies and consulates, truly serve as an eye-opener for a common man deluded by the mainstram events around the globe. It is true that many of the revealed secrets do not reveal BIG secrets.

Many of these might already be lingering in the back of our minds; however they shed palpable light on the nature of the US foreign policy and its imperial intrigue. It should be not be surpriseing that the US State Department has turned into a vast net of spies, collection information not only on personnel but also important miliatry locations. This turns to depict how the US seeks to safegaurd its influence in other countries.

It may make the world dislike the US a little bit more. Authentic evidence substantiating the cover aims of the US administration have been disclosed and laid bare for the common man to contemplate and ponder.

The US, ostensibly fumed over the exposure of these ominous leaks and weighing up the inherent damage, has issued statements opposing the act of illegally obtaining the cables and publishing them with no regard to the threat it would pose to it's international relations and operations.

Though, in principle, the very act of stealing secrets and confidential documents is wrong, the US has been involved in criminal activities in Iraq and Afghanistan on a massive scale. It thus becomes equally essential for organisations (such as Wikileaks) to present to the world a clear and vivid understanding of these operations.

It is also shameful that the mainstream media did not bring these to forefront. The US administration has already initiated the recovery program and this time around it is making efforts to ascertain the halting and derailing of any such 'leaks' in the future.

The US foreign policy, which is in the limelight for the past few days' courtesy Wikileaks, will not deter much in wake othese events. The administration and policies are intrinsically well entrenched to be shaken off easily.

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The above post also features in Khaleej Times 'Open Space' on 3rd Dec, 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.

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.

Obama's Challenge

It certainly is worthy of praise the efforts that President Obama has set forth for the reconciliation of the Middle East peace process. Though at one point in time the efforts were meagerly comprised of words and promises, it is commendable that those words have taken shape given the hefty Pro-Jewish American ideology. President Obama is to be applauded for identifying the Israeli-Palestinian dispute as a key foreign policy priority and his stepped up efforts.

Nonetheless, as rightly identified, the mammoth task of comprising and settling the debate for ‘settlement freeze’ is the first and the primary head stone in the peace reviving efforts. Both, Netenyahu and Abbas, have concreted a stern stance on their objectives and persuading the men to sit in the same room constitutes a kind of breakthrough.
It is evident that this time round President Obama has sided with the Palestinians; favoring their stance on settlement freeze, and views it essential for the peace process to advance. This is where the challenge steps in. He has already made glimpses for his support towards the Palestinians and promised to ‘… make right the wrongs’ and issued blunt warnings to Jerusalem to halt its illegal settlement activity in the occupied West Bank (land designated for the Palestinians by the UN Charter) saying “…(it) undermines efforts to achieve peace”. Provided the strong and fortified Israeli lobby within the US administration, his going might get tougher as he might not only receive criticism from within but also from the European allies of Israel.

The question for Obama is how long he can go without having something tangible to show for his engagement. Arab states have balked at making gestures of normalisation towards Israel as long as there is no movement on the settlement front - an issue of enormous symbolic significance that is seen as a test of Israel's good intentions.

Swat Operation & The Lahore Blast

Three weeks into the conflict and the devastating aftermath of the Swat Operations are on the forefront. The Lahore blast can easily be documented as a Prime Beginning into the retaliation by the Talibans.
Pakistan government had marshaled 15,000 troops into the swat valley to eliminate and annihilate the “existential threat” consuming the US war in Afghanistan.

Apparently, and for all reasons logically perceived, Pakistan had never been a part of the ongoing War on Terror, though there had been claim of Pakistan being a close ally of the US on the war, its actual participation had yet to be compromised. The Bush administration had tried its utmost tactics to indulge Pakistan with itself, yet their threatening attitude brought them no gain. On the contrary, the recent Obama administration, realizing the fact that Pakistan’s involvement is the certain key to its triumph in Afghanistan, sought to boisterously aid Pakistan and buys them into the bargain.

The onslaught by the Pakistan army in the Swat Valley is a prime war tactic profoundly utilized by large armies battling out insurgencies. The fleeing Afghan Talibans sought refuge in the North Frontier Province of Pakistan in the homes of their Pakhtun brothers who would help and aid them in their resurgence. The clan-brotherhood of the Pakhtuns is one of a kind in the world. Thus these lands were converted into rendezvous points and it was through these lands that the recent uprising of Taliban began.

The US having little access to these lands had no other option but to pile up pressure on the Pakistan government and force them into launching an assault

The end to the Swat Operation is as uncertain as its success or failure. Yet, the repercussions have started its toll. Pakistan risks greater backlash and further destabilization in the country. The Pakistan army may make short-term gains, but it risks increase terror-like attacks on more stable areas of eastern Pakistan. The very indiscriminate nature of military response may well be storing up resentment elsewhere and ability of Taliban-like-groups to quickly inflate in other areas as they are squeezed in Swat is of particular concern.

The Taliban and its allies will resort to increase terrorist attacks elsewhere in Pakistan and then there will be two questions left with Pakistan. One is whether the army and police can hold the territories it has conquered, and secondly – more questionably, will they go on to reconquer other areas on the Afghan Frontier (rendezvous points) as the US would like.

The only, materialistically viable solution for a long-term stability in Pakistan is dependant on the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan and not merely reinforcing Pakistan army and police and pumping in aid to undercut insurgency. It is the US presence in Afghanistan that is feeding the insurgency in Pakistan and eventually in Afghanistan.

Gaza Carnage and why Israel attacked Gaza

As I sat on my lazy-chair, straight resting crossed legs, I could only frown my eye brows in discomfort, squinted my eyes in disgust and wept in agony when I saw the grotesque images of the savagery unleashed on Gaza.
Cease-fire agreements fail to be reached consistently under the notion “…Israel has the right to defend itself”
A narrow strip, measuring 10 km by 45 km, has been locked out from all sides and turned virtually into a prison.
As the images of racing ambulances, crying children, screaming women, blood-drenched corpses flashed on the TV, I was coincidently struck with the question: WHY?
If one was to answer that question quoting Tzipi Livni, ”we want to liquate Hamas and its rocket attacks”, it would advisable for to remain silent and be thought a fool then to speak out and remove all doubt.
Or if one accords with the GW Bush, “I understand Israel’s desire to protect itself. The situation now taking place in Gaza was caused by Hamas”, it would be surprising how every fool finds a better one to admire them.
Out of the many genuine reasons, the one that promptly adheres to mind is the nearing election season in Israel and the dampening poll rating of the ruling Labor Party. It is surprisingly evident, that though the Israelites are not very much content with the present government body, the best way for Mr. Ehud Olmert to regain their support was to eliminate the single greatest threat to the country and erase Palestine!
Another thoughtful reason is the timing. The new US government has sought to bring about ‘Change’, effectively in the US policies in Middle East. Israel, while still time and US permitting them, waged the greatest onslaught on Gaza in history.
Lastly, and the most defining reason, is the continued hind-sightedness and ignorance of the current Middle East leaders to the illegal occupation of Israel on the Palestinian land. Had there been a collective and positive effort in the past, the US would not have been able to create Israel into such a monster that is currently haunting the entire region. And it is a fact very much acknowledges by these leaders, yet they refuse to indulge themselves into cooperative society that could avert such crisis.
Now, at best, all we could do is remorse within ourselves and sympathize with our fellow brothers and sisters there. May God Help them.

The Gaza Tragedy - Time to Speak Up!!

Mr. Ehud Barak’s address to the parliament affirmed Israel’s intention for the Invasion of Gaza strip as the continued air strikes drew a horrible blood-bath leaving the International Community in tears and zipped mouths. . In wake of hitting critical Hamas targets, Israel has flattened schools and government buildings, refugee camps, University Buildings killing women and children remorselessly to salvage and protect their territory from Hamas rockets. Almost the entire Arab & Muslim world seems as silent as the grave and have turned away their eyes from the terrorizing onslaught and massacre of the innocent Palestinians.
The tally of the death nearing 400 and almost 1500 injured requiring immediate medical attention in hospitals that are almost incapable of functioning and those facilities are now bleeding every resource available owing to the Israeli sanctions. Israel have taken up a strategy what the world refers to as ‘Terrorism’ – instilling fear for an ideological goal and deliberately targeting, and disregarding the safety, of non combatants. This is as much an act of terror as a suicide bomber rips apart a market place.
It is the sole responsibility of our Arab and Muslim leaders to join hands and voice as one a common stand against such carnage. These concerns can no better be addressed to the world powers, who blindly support not only the Israeli occupation but also approve of the onslaught by stating that: "Israel has the right to defend itself", by our current Muslim leaders, especially the Arab League as they hold with them the Key to driving their economies. Not as a threat rather a stern warning.
It is also vital for the Muslim world to realized that if Israel could hamper the UN resolutions and care less about the International Criminal Laws and deem the Invasion of Gaza as its right, it could very well breach their borders to further secure itself from potential threats; since Israel has vividly indicated that "... it is in continuous threat from its neighbors"
This is the time for the Muslim Leaders to set side their differences and stand united against a common cause, for their fellow brothers and sisters, for humanity and for themselves. Help yourself, Help your brothers and sister, Help Gaza - if is after all a part of us.

Mumbai Attacks - A different Perspective

In the latest developments of the mystique Mumbai Attacks, Pakistan has, after intense pressure from the US and continuous pinching from India, arrested the accused masterminds and reassured every critic eye its complete ‘Focus & Commitment’ towards fighting global terror.
It is intriguing how the Indian government has put forth ‘baseless’ claims and delicately entangled Pakistan through the universal blame-game-strategy to pacify an enraged and anguish population which had immediately become skeptical of its present government policies and demanded quick results. Baseless - because the claims have been derived on the authority of the statements of one of the captured gunmen who is ostensibly a Muslim, whose own name is a mystery (is it Mohamed Ajmal Amir or Ajmal Amir Kasav?), who is accountable for spreading terror and killing innocent people, who earlier posed as a Mujahidin from Deccan and later a Jihadi from Faridkot, who had been a thief for the good part of his life and who feels no regret nor remorse for such a merciless act. How credible could he or his information be? How rationale would it be to indulge in political confrontations? I would grade his information as worthless and insignificant.
Would be it interesting to view the entire scenario as a complete fabricated plot devised by the Indian government as an elusive attempt to destabilize LeT operations in Kashmir, amid the election season, by pressurizing Pakistan to have their chief arrested since the Indian Security forces have failed to gain control and avert the menacing situation. Or is it a blatant message from Raj Thackery to the North Indians to exit Mumbai.
The Indian authorities should refrain from making any accusation towards Pakistan's involvement as the balance of speculation could shift either way.

JIHAD - understand it!

The on going War-Against-Terror by the US and its Allies in Afghanistan and Iraq and the troubled tribal areas of Pakistan by it well-fashioned army against the Al-Qaeda network has instinctively cultivated and further nurtured a great misconception and blemished one of the fundamentals of Islam – JIHAD. The Al-Qaeda fighters, termed as ‘Jihadis’ – the one who fights for the cause of Jihad, have deteriorated the very meaning of Jihad and convinced feeble minds in the west, and across the globe, in affirming the fallacy and delusion portrayed about Jihad and Islam.
JIHAD – commonly translated as the ‘Holy War’, however, recently it has become synonymous with a vision of marching band of religious fanatics with savage beards and fierce some eyes, brandishing swords and attacking infidels wherever encountered and pressing them under the sword of the sake of Islam. This awry and deceitful vision is the courtesy of those benefactors of ours who are engaged in an extremely unholy war to attain the mere joys of the worldly lure. Their fight and struggle is not for God but for their contentment and pleasure. They have manufactured regulations to deceive the innocent minds to take up guns and wrap explosive belts and justify their approach and confuse the understanding of Islam.
True Meaning of Jihad
Islam is neither a religion nor Muslims a nation since it nullifies the true essence of Jihad (which is known as ‘The best of all Prayers’). Islam is a revolutionary ideology and program which seeks to perfect the social order of the whole world and rebuild its conformity with its own tents and ideals. Muslim is a revolutionary party that is organized by Islam to carry into effect the revolutionary program. And, Jihad is a revolutionary struggle by Muslims to achieve this objective. The most nearest and correct meaning, in layman terms, would be “to exert one’s utmost endeavor to promoting a cause.” Islam established an ideology for the welfare of not just a common man, a community, a Nation but for the entire Mankind. Towards this end, to press all forces either speech, pen. Spending good, physical effort or, lastly, by the power of sword and a composite term for the use of all of these forces is JIHAD.
Conditions of Validity
Jihad is not merely a struggle, it is a struggle ‘in the way of God’, which is the essential condition that governs the validity of this struggle. Many have without a thought, sorted to the literal translation of the condition and have misled their mindset. However in Islam the expression undermines all such work done for the collective well-being of mankind and in which functionary has no vested interested other than to attain the pleasure of God. A person devoted to bring about a revolution in the system of life and establish a new system in conformity with the ideology of Islam, his / hers struggle should be free of any self-fish motives.
Current Scenario
The current scenario and misconception poses a great threat to the Muslims and if not rectified it shall eventually lead to a bigger hatred towards the Muslims. It has become the utmost responsibility and a paramount duty of all the Muslims to educate and spread the reality of Jihad not only to the far west but also, and most significantly among those feeble minded young enthusiastic Muslims - ready to lay their lives - trapped deep within a labyrinth of an unholy war manifested by those seeking only their equanimity. I hope my message reaches out to those far and wide and to those lost.

Pakistan engulfed in Terror War

The US led war-on-terror spilled over from Afghanistan into Pakistan as heavily armed US commandos ambushed a village near the Pak-Afghan border in elusive attempt to regain supremacy in the lost war and since then the drone attacks on Pakistan soil have become much consistent and even more dominating. The Bush administration appears prepared to lash out at its most cordial ally to war-on-terror, Pakistan, who it blames for the humiliating failure to crush Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. This current scenario is synonymous with the situation during the Vietnam War when after failure to contain the North Vietnam Army, US urged invasion of Cambodia.
Though the path leading to the end of the terror-war is no different than the Vietnam-War, the dear consequences of more US attacks on Pakistan soil can be far more catastrophic than being imaginable to any extent. Firstly, such attempts are counter-productive, on the contrary defy the very basis of cooperation between Pakistan and US and might further fuel the fire of hatred and violence Pakistani government is eagerly trying to diminish.
Secondly, these attacks would eventually result in widening the Anti-US war and merging it with Afghanistan’s resistance to western occupation. Also, Pakistan army might chip in for retaliation in view to preserve their national sovereignty and protect national pride.
Lastly, it might reignite the old irredentist movement to reunite Pashtun parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan into an independent state – Pakhtunistan, which will pose an even greater and more powerful threat to the US coalition forces.
The entire civilized human history, till date, has witnessed the catastrophes incurred by the use of force to gain dominance and reign supreme over the weak. There ought to be better thought out ways to tackle the insurgents residing in Pakistan and the war-on-terror and its eventuality be reevaluated before the world witnesses another setback to the great world power.

Karadzic and Saddam: The difference

And so, after thirteen long years of hunting, Radovan Karadzic has been captured and transferred to The Hague where he will stand trial on the charges of genocide. Karadzic went into hiding by drawing upon a false identity of Dr. Dragan Dabic, with a big hairy beard. A scenario much similar to the tale of the Middle East villain, Saddam Hussein, yet the disparity is drastic.

The invasion of Iraq by the US troops led to the capture of Saddam. He was then handed over to a local court in Iraq to be tried for his part of crimes where there were dim chances of a fair trail to be held. Although his crimes were against humanity, were far less heinous than those by Karadzic, at no point were the American prepared to have him tried in an International Court. Probably since the verdict of the capital punishment by a local court would sound much reasonable and far less debatable. Capital punishments around the world have been abolished by democracies and Karadzic would probably be jailed not executed if found guilty.

It would be interesting to see if Karadzic would end up the same fate that of Pinochet and Milosevic or Saddam Hussein.