Breaking News: September 11, 2001

Eklavya #426

Samina,
I second that.

I came across an advertisement in Today`s NY-Times - ``Together as One.`` It was supposed to take place tonight at 7 p.m. - 5th Avenue at 55th Street.

``An Interfaith Service of Prayer and Reflection`` by Christian, Jewish and Muslim Clergy of
``A Partnership of Faith`` in NYCity.

shankar #312: Your analysis is quite interesting. But I am afraid, I cannot completely agree with you. I wish I could completely agree, but I can only partially agree.

Pakistan-US relationships have been based on Pakistani expectations, that you have articulated. However, things haven`t quite worked out that way, when all is done and over with. Pakista`s US embassy used to be flooded with high-ranking US officials during the Afghan war. Pakistanis soldiers were getting free training in the US by the hundreds. Even I, as a lowly lieutenant, got a chance to do a military course in the US, during that time. The US gave the Pakistan military everything it wanted, including the coveted F-16 (with a promise of 200 more). It suspended the dreaded Pressler amendment. It recognized a Martial Law (not a benevolent one, like the current one, but quite a brutal one) as legitimate. Etc. etc.

Pakistanis soldiers shed blood with US soldiers in Afghanistan. This is the ultimate bond. Yet, as soon as the last Soviet tank left Afghanistan, the Pressler amendment was back in, and Pakistan was out the door. In return for all of this, Pakistan inherited the brunt of the after-effects of the war in Afghanistan. There weren`t any klashnikovs and religious militants in Pakistan before the Afghan war. Nor were there any Taliban.

India was the first to explode an atomic device. Pakistan had shown restrain, and only exploded one afterwards. However, since the Indian market is a bigger attraction, the US is going to drop the sanctions against India, but keep them against Pakistan. So on and so forth.

Musharraf needs to play his cards very carefully. Under no circumstance should he get Pakistan involved in a war between the US and Afghanistan, in the hope that the US will give Pakistan something back in the long run. If Pakistan actively gets involved, Afghanis and Taliban will put Pakistan in the same bucket as the USA, i.e. people who attacked Afghanistan. And the next terrorist attack will be against the Habib Bank Plaza. Imagine the damage that could be done to a neighbor like Pakistan. Will the US come to Pakistan`s aid, in the long run, once the US has achieved its objective? The precedences point in the opposite direction.

At the same time, Pakistan must assist the US also. Morally, because US human rights have been violated by this act of terrorism. And in realpolitik, because there is no point in pissing off the US.

So what should Mushy do? He is a smart guy, no doubt. And quite good with the media, as the BJP found out to its astonishment in Agra. The later is his biggest strength.

If possible, he needs to do something that bypasses the American govt. (very fickle, selfish and unreliable) and reaches the hearts of the American people (quite reliable and genuine). He needs to get into the US living rooms (even if it is for only half and hour) and show himself, his govt. and the Pakistani people as a group of people who are genuinely assisting the US (which Pakistanis will do and have done many times before). This could be anything from allowing US planes to fly over Pakistan upto Musharraf actually going personally and attempting to negotiate with the Taliban for extradition of individuals (if OBL is the guilty party, and Musharraf can negotiate for him, then he is set for life, and Pakistan will definitely come out smelling like roses). While on US TV, Musharraf needs to put on his most liberal western face (which is his natural side) and tell everyone that his son lives in Boston etc. All the above will be genuine since that is what most Pakistanis want.

Pakistan (the old US ally) is all of a sudden important again. Bill Clinton drove on the wrong side of the Islamabad highway, and now Colin Powell is trying to reach Musharraf. The world works in strange ways. Hopefully, the US will now realize that it is not a good idea to throw away old allies like Pakistan, after they have served their usefulness. Who knows when they will be needed again.

So, Sadna [Sadhna} still carrying on this and ten other Forums around the world!

Where did you learn German, French, and Russian? You know, you have quite an international reputation now. I admire you hugely. Of, ``If you do something, do it well``, you are the best example I know.

Jus Dhillon and I were talking about your work last saturday and he too was full of praise for you. He says he has left his position. Is it correct or is he still practicing his ``intelligence`` on me?

Have you been to the South lately? Did you notice that whereas the government buildings of the British times were still okay, the huge church was in disrepair. Reason: the permission to repair has been sitting in the municipal offices since last one year. Do something for the poor Christians. The Church, after all, is part of the symbols of your earlier days.

dir ghayou

You friend

SD

If anyone is interested in signing a petition to The United States government, that asks them to take a non-violent approach to reaching a resolution, log onto: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction

no wiseguys, either.

Message for Muslims who had decided to say Friday pryers in US Masajids:

Please check with your local Masjid - Many prayers are being cancelled because of credible threats - Please be safe.

And please remember the behaviour some of our Indian interlocutors have displayed during this atrocity. Above all, be safe. There is a tomorrow.

Re: veeresh

Where do you get off implying that we temper our remorse and horror because similar events have happened elsewhere too? You didn`t see those towers collapsing in front of your eyes with 50,000 people in them...you probably didn`t know people who worked there...you were not in an airplane a few miles away from one that was hijacked...you aren`t breathing the smoke from the site. So please, keep your lid locked. I realize you don`t owe America or Americans anything. But the least you can do is not try to belittle our horror.

Could someone please explain to me why Osama Bin Laden wasn`t captured or killed when he was interviewed by CNN (I believe) and other news agencies some years ago?

As far as I can remember, he clearly threatened the United States with terrorism in those interviews.

I think the American government, the media, and the CIA are as much responsible for terrorism as the actual terrorists themselves. They could have been wiped out years ago.

Some Pakistanis have written me emails complaining off and pointing out the hateful bigoted behavior of Indians on Chowk... which clearly the most shameless display till now....

The truth is that it is time to accept what for long we didnt want to.... Indians on chowk donot possess humanity... Indians on Chowk are without regard for any human tragedy... Indians on chowk are vile opportunistic inhuman creatures who are showing us precisely that side to us at this critical moment...

It is clear that entire Indian Propaganda effort in the United States is to somehow wrongly implicate Pakistan and somehow lead US to war against that country.

But there efforts have been foiled, and Pakistan has once again become a frontline ally... so read and weep Indians!

I am quitting chowk now... atleast for next several days... I find it below me, and my values to engage in debate with senseless insensitive idiots who are acting out of spite and hatred against Pakistan.

I shall not be party to desecrating the memory of those who lost their lives in New York anymore!

Long Live USA

Long Live Pakistan

Down with Terrorism

Down with Bigotry

Down with Hindu fanaticism ie Gowardhan

Down with Islamic Fanaticism ie Ossama

To Indians who have been most kind and caring for others, and who have written me heart warming emails of concern:

THANK YOU.

To all Pakistanis,

We should back our country in it`s quest to do whatever it can to help the United States find the

evil men who did this.

I think this is a great opportunity for Pakistan to clean it`s closets, and work towards building a

better country.

Colin Powell`s message about Pakistan was great to hear.

Rsaxena,

You are justified at being angry (we all are), but you should also be ashamed to use this tragedy to spew your venomous hatred for Muslims and Pakistan.

Hate begets hate, and there`s too much of it going around already.

Of the Muslim population in the world, only a small percentage supports terrorists, and an even smaller percentage actually takes part in terrorism.

You with your hoity toity Ivy League education should be smart enough to figure that one out, right?

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romair:

u r talking about pakistani cooperation with USA. What sort of cooperation would it be? do u think Pakistan would still insist on the legality of Taliban govt? Do u think Pakistan woould back away from its persistent stand that Talibans should be accepted? I think, in any case, Pakistan army is bringing shame to pakistan much more than the 1971 and Kargil time. This is the 3rd time, any major policy failure by army is about to come.

We all know that Americans are lenient with Saudis (even though they support Talibans), but hard on Pakis. But whom r we fooling? Saudis produce oil, what we produce? Dont we know we have to have a policy according to our size and strength?

Chowkies:

I was in my office in the World Financial Center when the plane struck. I immediately came out of the building and was looking up at the World Trade Center when the second plane struck. I walked home and got home after 2 hours. I saw people jump out of the first tower. A horrific sight.

RSexsena,

I`m beginning to suspect Ylh wishes you`d snuffed it in the towers and then cosigned to hell.

Ylh,

Your attempts to find saving grace for Pakistan in the face of this tragedy is revoulting.

Accept the fact, Land of the Pure is an evil entity.