Raiwind IX

This is what`s in store for homo jihadis`r`us...

POSTCARD USA: Stand behind that line —Khalid Hasan

To be the bearer of a Muslim name is not convenient these days. What has happened is that there are numerous databases containing information of all kinds. Who knows what triggers an alert. It could be one’s name, part of one’s name, one’s date of birth, the travel stamps in the passport, the place of birth, the country last visited

Profiling at US airports is now a fact of life. Although routine denials, whose frequency has decreased with time, are still made from official quarters, no one denies their existence, indeed their necessity. Almost every time, I have gone in or out of the States, I have been singled out for special attention, which is flattering, though when they ask you “to please follow me,” some people do look up to see if the third deputy of Osama bin Laden’s fourth cousin has finally been nabbed.

To be the bearer of a Muslim name is not convenient these days. What has happened is that there are numerous databases containing information of all kinds. Who knows what triggers an alert. It could be one’s name, part of one’s name, one’s date of birth, the travel stamps in the passport, the place of birth, the country last visited. Once that happens, the passenger is asked to step aside, taken to an area where he may be interrogated, sometime for hours, or he may just be asked to sit down while his papers are looked through and cross-checked with whatever had triggered the alarm.

Since 9/11 many eminent Pakistanis arriving in the United States have been given the treatment, including the present Governor of the NWFP, Lt-Gen. Ali Jan Orakzai, when he was still corps commander at Peshawar and had arrived in the US on the official invitation of CENTCOM. The fact that he was an official guest of the US military had no effect on those ascertaining whatever they were trying to ascertain. I recall that the then press secretary to President Pervez Musharraf and head of ISPR, Maj.-Gen Rashid Qureshi was subjected to the same kind of treatment. Some of our ministers will also have similar stories to tell.

That being so, I am not surprised at the reception accorded to noted Pakistani-American academic Prof Mumtaz Ahmed of Hampton University, Virginia recently. In a speech at a conference, he spoke about his questioning at Tel Aviv airport some years ago, when he was returning after a study tour of the region. Since he had met some members of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza, he merited special attention, notwithstanding the fact that he had also interviewed Israeli officials and academics. He was asked to hand over the notes that he had kept in Urdu, but he refused. In the end, he was allowed to board his flight.

Prof Mumtaz Ahmed writes, “But low and behold, while the Israelis were considerate enough not to subject me to body search or to look into my baggage and search my papers, the Homeland Security Department of my own country was not so considerate. It so happens that I share my last name Ahmad with at least 150 million other Muslims, including someone who is on a suspect list of the Homeland Security Department. So during the last two years, whenever I return from my overseas travels at any port of entry — whether it’s Chicago, Los Angeles, or JFK — I am picked up by an Immigration Officer, escorted by him/her to some back room at the airport, and interrogated by the Homeland Security people. The first time it happened to me, I was returning from a research trip to Pakistan and Bangladesh, and I was carrying extensive notes of my interviews with all kinds of Islamic leaders and activists with me. And this time, the notes were not in broken script; they were in regular, legible script in Urdu. And I know that FBI and Homeland Security have hired many people since 9/11 who can read Urdu.

“Anyway, they asked me some questions, and then, without my permission, opened my suitcase. Then they started opening my files, taking out sheets of papers, making photocopies of all the papers that I had with me, including the newspaper clippings. And — you guessed it right — all my newspaper clippings were on terrorism, on militancy, on radicalism. They were so excited that they got their man. Everything they were looking for was right there — screaming headlines of suicide bombing, vociferous anti-American statements of Islamic militants, roaring calls for Jihad, it was all there! Then they asked for my wallet, and they took my credit cards and photocopied them. But then they started photocopying the entire deck of the visiting cards that they had earlier taken from my suitcase. That made me very upset. There were so many people I met in Pakistan and Bangladesh who were not even my research subjects; they were people I met casually at some reception, or in a meeting or at a dinner, and with whom I exchanged cards as people usually do when they meet for the first time ... And I thought, ‘My God, all their names are now going to be on the list of the Homeland Security and FBI, and they will curse me for the rest of their lives! Every time they will apply for a US visa or enter the United States, their names will be there.’ The problem was that all my research notes — my interviews with some of the “radical leaders” in Bangladesh — were photocopied, and now they are probably with the Homeland Security Anti-Terrorism Task Force. If there is anyone from that agency present here, please return my notes.

“Since then, I have realised that I probably cannot maintain confidentiality as long as I am not cleared from the Homeland Security Department. Now I have started writing my notes in Punjabi — and not even in Punjabi, but in a dialect of Punjabi that only I and my mother speak. So this for me is the safest way to maintain confidentiality of my research subjects. Confidentiality is very, very difficult in terrorism research, particularly in the United States where laws have been passed that can compel disclosure of any information that the government wants. And if I refuse to comply, then I am in trouble. Of course, as in legal practice, I will have no qualms about disregarding the confidentiality principle if a law is going to be broken or when human lives are at stake. But that’s where the line should be drawn.”

So that is the way it is folks, out here.

Khalid Hasan is Daily Times’ US-based correspondent. His e-mail is khasan2@cox.net

#214 by GT

Hahaha GT ... so one of your guests sneaked on that message when you took a loo-break?

Haha .. AMANUL ZINDABAD ...

#213 by GT

GT, BDs are great cricketers, particularly in batting. There were some in our corporate cricket team a while ago and I was amazed. All they needed was confidence and some coaching which they`ve got now. I have no doubt they`ll emerge as another Sri Lanka.

As for Ireland/Pak, everyone knows Pak was a sort of a `B` team and in fact they shouldn`t have participated in WC at all with such an understrenghth team as many had suggested. Pak`s strength is and has always been bowling, and they don`t have a single world class bowler right now. On the other hand, India`s is a full-strength team which was roasted by the BDs. They`ll have to wok hard in the coming matches.

Re: # 221

k might not have banega Pakistan but India stinks ... we lost to bong land, what can be worse? you stink too like zee.

peemax is all talk and no action..typical of pakis..it`s just like behram who pretended to be a hotshot entrepreneur but was outed as an affirmative action small time contractor..peemax himself is a brit-paki..which means he is probably on welfare and his kids are at the bottom of the educational ladder..

if all of peemax`s braggadocio was actually true and pakis really did have any intestinal fortitude, kashmir would have banega`ed pakiland by now, wouldn`t it?

Re: # 219

zee, you stink.

#209 by subhashjoshi

Curiously you never get peeved at Pakis posting pictures of dead Indian soldiers.

You mean this one?



Or like this?



Or even this?

The offensive character who sent 214 had not even btushed his teeth when he did so. An now my wife and kids are off with them to have some stinking indian food .. i need a drink to soote my hedache.

#194/6 subhashjoshi,

Mr. bhindidick, these photos don`t tickle us at all because we`ve been seeing them since 1971 in both the Pakistan press as well as the Pakistan TV ... :~)

#209 curiously you never get peeved at Pakis posting pictures of dead Indian soldiers.

first, only zeemax does that as far as i have seen. second, i in fact did ``get peeved`` with zeemax on that. third, far from getting peeved, i was offering you and arjun a tea break, since you were getting breathless in ranting about pakis.

i just thought i would correct your factual errors. you can now go back to voicing your contempt for us cowardly pakis and your Great Victory of 1971.

#%@**&^
chowk staff delete 214.

We have been partying in GT`s place all night and we kicked his ass real hard. We shall win the cup
- Amanul

Salim the Great Chauhan:

Do not make fun of us - the jingoistic cricket lovers. Not today! I wish Pakistan had won, at least then I could throw my bile (with a very high alcohol content) at them .... bloody loosers all of them. Where are the Bangladeshis on this site ... if no one comes forth then Subroto shall qualify.

by atif2 on March 18, 2007 5:08am PT
#11 - excuse me injun! pakistan was defeated by just 3 wickets. India got clobbered by 5 (FIVE!) wickets
take that! ``}

So, the PPPs are down to this?
Claiming victory over the Injuns for having only three wickets inserted up their ass instead of the 5 the Injuns inhaled rectally.

Some interesting observations regarding the World Cup matches.



Started by Salim_Chauhan on March 18, 2007 9:22am PT

Sun Tani and Jeemax,

I have been following your wet dreams about a united Poonzab and honestly, I find myself in total agreement with you. The forced departure of the noble Sikhs from West Punjab created a vacuum that has resulted in this unfortunate half century of hooliganism, PPP misbehavior, corruption, and deadly violence. The brave Sikhs had a history of administration and culture and provided a rule of law and order under the glorious Sikha Shahi based in Lahore.

Having said that, I noticed several problems and being land-locked would be the least of your miseries. I have been following the interesting results of the world cup cricket matches in Maghribi (Pachim) Hindustan. Here are some observations:

Physique was not a factor in the outcome of the two significant matches - The team with the better physique won in the Ireland/Pakistan match, but the team with the better physique was defeated in the Bangladesh/India contest.

Height was not a factor - the taller Irish beat the shorter Pakis, but the shorter Bengalis beat the taller Injuns.

Skin color was also not a factor - the white-skinned Irish beat the dark Pakis, but the dark-skinned Bengalis whipped the lighter-skinned Injuns.

Islam was definitely not a factor - the Catholic Irish beat the crap out of the Muslim Pakis (including a recycled apostate), but the entirely Muslim Bengalis humiliated the mostly Hindu Injuns (there was only one Muslim on the losing Injun side).

The number of Punjoo players on each team was a definite factor - The victorious Irish included no Punjus, the losing Pakis were mostly PPP (Paki Punju Paindoos). The successful Bengalis included no Punjus, but the defeated Injuns had a few Punjus. The side with the most Punjus performed the poorest of all four.

These are the facts - now do you really want a united Punjab and field a team consisting of ALL Punjus?

Re: # 208

Dear tahmed:

My nationalism is confined to the Indian cricket team ..... so do allow me to rant. It may be the same for quite a few others ..... so the day is ours. WE SHALL RANT - THE WORLD IS COMMING TO AN END :(

Re: # 205 Tahmed

Nahin Janaab, shukriya. Chai aap peeyen apney jihadi zunooni bhateejey Zeemax key saath. I am content with my cup of Glenmorangie.

Curiously you never get peeved at Pakis posting pictures of dead Indian soldiers.

#207 ``no more live pakistan cricket team``

are you planning to make them all dead then?

it is not bad to get attach with the religion but according to me religion is a personal matter as the article show ..... so it should not be impose on someone ...... i do practice that is better for me i don`t practice i will be paid the result in the end .... but now i really feel like this team is typically Raiwind 11 (with excuse to Raiwindis)i don`t know what do they learn there.......match fixing ...... de-moralize the emotions of nation behind .... i don`t get anything......
absoultly ridiclous......
that was the biggest embarassing moment of pakistan cricket history..... and i believe they took the advantage of current circumstances of pakistan...the fixed the match and lose it in a gamble ..... it was the last world cup of inzimam so he thought to take the full advantage so he got success....
long live pakistan and no more live pakistan cricket team

#204 all these generalizations simply because of a cricket match?

arjun/joshi: some more tea?

Pakistan and India ..... I feel like writing a lot but am not able to write anything. Full of individual talents yet big zeroes as teams. As `organization` is increasing in importance we see both of them slip. One thing though .... the teams truly represent the state of their countries. In India for example, the jokers` problems start and end with TV rights ... everything else is personal. The team looses a string of mathces - fine bring in Vengsarkar or Saurabh and all existing problems are supposed to vanish. No clear understanding of the existing problems. These jokers seem to get their management lessons from newspapers - GM had a problem and it was resolved after they got so-and-so. It sucks.

#198 by subhashjoshi on March 18, 2007 1:42am PT


A Paki Max is nothing more than a tough talking rat.


Yup...if all the paki bravado on the internet were to be translated into real life, Pakiland wouldn`t have been broken up, Kashmir would have ban gaya Pakistan, the paki govt wouldn`t be bombing it`s own people and it wouldn`t put up with US forces bombing and picking up paki citizens on paki soils...

Re: # 38
Mr.Aslam
You have given interesting graph of men and women. It appears women are more efficient and better in all categories in every way according to graph.
Black people have most difference in achivement in sexes and difference is 14 points.indian chinese is difference of 9 to 10 points and general and average points is much higher. After dark skinned people Pakistani differeence is 14 points.
Have they given Saudi arabian information. That can give real light. More suppress women they surpass men in achievemrnts is my conclusion. We expect reverse is puzzle me. India and china women are having more freedom but they they comparatively do not do better than say pakistan where women are more repressed. Clearly law of marginal utility?
It is interesting bar chart . Thanks for giving that it caught my attention.

#200
[[Again, if they like their beards or if they choose to end up in a stripper club, that`s their own perorgative. I won`t say a word of any criticism for them. Yes, I will criticise, if, their performance is poor.]]

Fair enough. But what happens when beards (and the whole thinking behind them) becomes a major reason for poor performence? This article is all about this, not just facial hair but facial hair used to enforce certain religious (but not-cricketing) dictates in the team (for control purposes). Beards used as a way to shield the many technical and motivational short-commings of the Pakistan cricket team that became all too obvious in the team`s first two games in this years world cup.

Interestingly, in the past whenever the Pakistan team had stumbled, ``unIslamic`` things like gambling, drinking and womanizing have been used as the main reasons. However, this time around I think the culprits should be nepotism, denial and delusion based on distorted preachings, forced conversions and a set of idiots taken as ``spiritual advisors.``

So, where do we go from here? I know where Inzi`s going. Straight to Raiwind. And now just watch that beard of his really grow. But this time around, more to save his face rahter than as a weapon against kafirs like Shoaib Akhtar and Danish Kaneria.

NfP

#176 NFP sahib

I am all for ,``to you your belief, to me mine``.

I found this article , exactly opposite of this quote, that`s the main reason I gave my humble opinion about it.

Again, if they like their beards or if they choose to end up in a stripper club, that`s their own perorgative.

I won`t say a word of any criticism for them. Yes, I will criticise, if, their performance is poor.
cheers.

hamidm2
#178

hamdim sahib

There is a famous quote by ME,`` To you your belief, to me mine``.

Another one,`` Live and let live``.

I go by these quotes and never get hyped up for anything in this world.

If, you criticize about Paki players professional lives, I will applaud it with all my honesty.
But, if, you start criticising their ways of private lives, I won`t accept that.

Even if they wish to drink vodka or gin or they choose to pray namaz.........I won`t criticise.
Yes, I will definitely criticise if their performance is poor.

Thanks for your response.

Re: # 197 Further

And they are alive, to boot.

Look at the one on the extreme right, fondly examining his pistol. Couldn`t he steal a moment to shoot himself, to be spared the ignominy? But no, a Paki Max has no sense of honour or dignity or valour. A Paki Max is nothing more than a tough talking rat.

Last one, last one, promise not to spam this board anymore with pics, unless someone gives me an excuse......


O`megosh, a whole horde of them Pakis Maxes...

Pakistan Army Officers lay down their side-arms as a formal act of surrender to the Indian Army in East Pakistan.

Ahhh.......here is another Paki general-max, alive and kicking (perhaps not kicking, but yes alive , all smiles to an Indian General.

The Pakistan Army`s Major General Kazi (left) is all smiles as he surrenders his division to the Indian Army`s Major General Gonsalves in East Pakistan.

What makes a Paki ``max`` such fierce warrior in Cyberspace, while in real world he is just a little rat?

Dear NFP,

Pakistan has been kicked out of WC07 in the first round and that too by a non-test playing nation (Ireland). For the Irish it was a dream come true, first appearance in a Worldcup, beating Pakistan and that too on ST Patrick day. It was like David beating Goliath which leads me to the theory that historians believe Goliath suffered from s