Pakistan: Now or Never?
Perspectives on Pakistan
Guest contribution-Pakistan should shudder; Afghanistan should despair
The following is a guest contribution. Reuters is not responsible for the content and the views expressed are the author’s alone. The writer is a commentator on South Asian political and military affairs and author of “A History of the Pakistan Army”.
By Brian Cloughley
The trouble with the contest to become president of the United States is that it affects us all. No matter how appalled we might be about machine politics of a foreign presidential election, driven and at the mercy of money supplied by staggeringly powerful business interests, the bottom line (literally and figuratively) is that the entire world feels (and sometimes reels from) the influence of the US President. For the past seven years we have witnessed and been gravely affected by economic mismanagement; insolent and malevolent disdain for those who object to “You’re with us or against us”; and an arrogant policy of global military domination to an extent never even dreamed of by the Caesars, Genghis Khan, Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler or Stalin.
It might have been hoped that in November this year the American people would elect a man or woman for all peoples. A person with vision, compassion, a deep knowledge of the world that America dominates, and, above all, that most important of human attributes: informed Common Sense.
It is not to be so.
Leaving aside Senator McCain, who may well be elected in spite of his manifold deficiencies and war service that focussed on bombing cities in North Vietnam (OK, so I served in Vietnam ; but at least I realise I was wrong), I had hoped that Senator Obama – young, intelligent, seemingly forthright, in tune with the modern age – would be elected. But on reading his recent speech I am in despair on many accounts, and particularly concerning his proposed policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
If he is elected, Pakistan should shudder. And Afghanistan should despair.
Mir Bhai,
Allah Bhagwan is watching all who carry out death and destruction of the innocents Afghans, Indians and Pakistanis – all of whom come from one mother. We are all Allah\’s flowers of different colors and scents who are getting butchered by the Pakistani merchants of death, but may Allah be my witness, they will one day reap what they sow, as they will be pushed into the Hellfire by Allah where they will beg all those whom they killed to please forgive and them and help them out, but to no avail.
Mir I share your disgust and pain, and hope Allah/Bhagwan gives all people in power and influence to be good and do good.
Peace.
Nathuram Waghmare