The Landlords of Defence To Pakistan's Defense

#45 Posted by harish_hyd on July 10, 2009 8:55:12 am
{"Salim yaar, just because the Paki army created the Taliban does not mean that it shouldn't fight them now. Right now, it isn't even worthwhile to question the army's motives. It is important to fight and eliminate the Taliban because otherwise, the Pakistan as it exists now will be gone forever."}

Dear Harry,
Please don't misunderstand me. I am all for letting, even helping, the firefighters put out the fire - even if they are the arsonists. Once the fire is extinguished, I do ask for some accountability regarding why these public servants started a fire that they had to put out.

#43 Posted by dost_mittar on July 10, 2009 8:54:00 am
{"Salim:
You are wrong in combining JI with Al Qaida and BJP with Bajrang Dal. JI and BJP are communal parties but do not advocate violence to achieve their agendas while Al Qaida and Bajrang Dal do use violence as a weapon."}

DM Sahib,
Right or wrong, I am convinced that the less violent ones are the political facade for the more violent ones. The BJP after all orchestrated the violent destruction of the Babri Masjid that led to the slaughter of thousands of Indian citizens. JI is always there to encourage and finance the more radical elements that include the Tally Ban and possibly Al Kayda. I think it's just a matter of degrees and scope - domestic violence is not any nobler than violence in foreign countries.

#44 by BChellaney

Sir, are you the same as Brahma Chellaney, the military analyst? If so, it is a privilege to have you here.

Salim yaar, just because the Paki army created the Taliban does not mean that it shouldn't fight them now. Right now, it isn't even worthwhile to question the army's motives. It is important to fight and eliminate the Taliban because otherwise, the Pakistan as it exists now will be gone forever.

And when comparing the Paki army with the Indian army in one of your posts, you have completely missed the nuance. Which is a pity because you're way above the league of the mediocre and only they have the luxury of indulging in the murder of common sense.

Salim Sahib,
I have interacted with you a few years ago on this board on a different avatar. I used to think you are one of the sanest voices (right next to DMji), if not --the-- sanest voice. Alas, I see you are a different person, with lots of anti-India hostility.

What happened? Since you are deeper into the hole have you decided to join the rest of the bandwagaon?

DMji is referring to groups coming to kill people in a neighbouring country and you respond by blathering about groups who indulge in violence in their own country.

I thought the tuberculous leader got you a separate country?
Or are you still part of India?

If I understand correctly DMji is asking about Punjabi Muslims coming to India to shoot and bomb unarmed muslim and Hindu citizens of India. You respond by talking about Guharati Hindus killing Gujarati Hindus in India?

Isn't this intellectual dishonesty of highest calibre or what? Does it EVER occur to you such dishonesty and double standards are the source of growth of the very groups you talk about?

Salim:

You are wrong in combining JI with Al Qaida and BJP with Bajrang Dal. JI and BJP are communal parties but do not advocate violence to achieve their agendas while Al Qaida and Bajrang Dal do use violence as a weapon. Even Bajrang Dal is not comparable to Al Qaida/LeT, etc., the former is a danger only to the host society while the latter have a universal agenda.

#41 Posted by malikrashid on July 10, 2009 8:42:48 am
{"Pakistan army cannot be redeemed but it would be useful to cut the size, power and share of the army to a bare minimum as Pakistan has A-bomb as a deterrent. Pakistan army should be no larger in size than the Canadian army. ...
Well written. Impressive vocabulary."}

Rashid Sahib,
I appreciate your comments and thank you for the encouragement. For starters, allow me to suggest that the Pak Army be based in Labrador. :)
I totally agree with you about the need to curtail its numbers - thanks to the nukes. A. Q. Khan Zindabad.

Pakistan army cannot be redeemed but it would be useful to cut the size, power and share of the army to a bare minimum as Pakistan has A-bomb as a deterrent. Pakistan army should be no larger in size than the Canadian army. Other governmental institutions with a specific focus on the needs of the people and the country must be established and strengthened.
Well written. Impressive vocabulary.

39 Posted by dost_mittar on July 10, 2009 6:52:02 am
{"Salim:
Entertaining and well written as is expected from you. Now, can we expect another article from you criticizing those who have created those other 'monsters' - JeM and LeT who have been classified as terrorists by the UN but are still, in effect, protected by the state? Or are you going to wait until they too start bombing Lahore and Islamabad?"}

DM Sahib,
Thank you for reading and your kind comments and feedback. My opinion regarding the JeM/LeT/SeS/JI/JUI/JUP/Tally Ban/Al Kaida is well-established. I lump them all together just as I consolidate the BJP/VHP/RSS/JS/BD/SP/SS goons as one menace and a single plague which afflicts its host nation.
Any group that resorts to violence and uses hatred as a medium needs to be more than condemned - let's ban such groups and make their leaders accountable for the great harm they cause.

Salim:

Entertaining and well written as is expected from you. Now, can we expect another article from you criticizing those who have created those other 'monsters' - JeM and LeT who have been classified as terrorists by the UN but are still, in effect, protected by the state? Or are you going to wait until they too start bombing Lahore and Islamabad?

#22 Beej Bhayya,
Very careless and cavalier of you to poke fun at the Turks. How quickly you forget Mahmud, Mohammad, and Zahiruddin. Even now a thousand miles of Iran and Pakistan may not be a wide enough buffer for your protection. :)

{"#32 Posted by laddu on July 9, 2009 6:02:13 pm
Salim,

The day Pakistani Awaam can initiate a court martial of those who have plotted and conducted coups .. I would accept that Pakistanis have been able to properly channelize themselves.

Unfortunately, I only see them on the road to self destruction at the moment."}

Laddu Maharaj,
May you live long enough to see that blessed day. Of course there is no need to court martial the Indian military for their humanitarian efforts in East Pakistan, Kashmir, and Hyderabad, Punjab, and controlling the wanton slaughter of innocent Sikhs in Delhi.

#31 Posted by hamidm2 on July 9, 2009 4:56:17 pm
{"salim mian,
shabash naujawan!
......... but being of the turkish persuasion i am sure you understand why we have the army that we eserve .........."}

Hamidumdum Sahib,
A compliment from you is almost as significant as getting kissed by Altaf Bhai. LOL
Yes, I can understand the Pak Army being an anchor on Pakistan's progress, but seriously, sir, the Turkish armed forces at least have some redeeming value - Cyprus, the War against the Greeks in the '20s, and the defeat of the Kurdish terrorists. A major difference is that the Turkish Army consists primarily of conscripted young men. Thank God for the Turkish military or we would all be assuming the Greek position.

#30 anil, {"You owe it to your generation and your kids generation to find more alternatives than the three you have mentioned. First thing is to cut strands with each of the three thinking, to be free to choose, and be free to see and create new alternatives."}

Anil Sahib,
I agree with both your sentiment and your advice. Many nations and people have their own Waterloos. India flirted with religious extremism - even blessing the hate-mongers with a clear democratic election victory. Germans too had their love affair with Nazis, as the Russians benefited and lost thanks to the world domination nightmare of the Commies. Iran is playing with Ayatollah Martial Law, while the US has overdozed on playing the international cop for its friends and supporters So, Pakistanis have to shrug off the seduction of religious extremism, reinforced by militarism, and blamed on foreign interests whenever the answers get tough and personal. Thanks

#29 Posted by Afat on July 9, 2009 1:22:05 am
{"Errr.....
The figure I heard , though not substantiated by anyone so far was 16 Billion not 10 Billion ."}

Aafat,
A billion here and a billion there and pretty soon it all adds up to real money (Thanks, Sen. Dirksen) Yes we need a system of accountability that is totally credible and reliable.

Re: # 31

Hamidm2 miaN, there is a little Turkish hiding inside every one of my Pakistani bhais!

In fact, I will go one step further and acknowledge openly that there is a whole turkey inside each one!

:):):)