Loud Thinking

Archive for August, 2013

Few Suggestions for the Consideration of ICC..!

1. In order to enhance credibility and transparency of the game, it should be made mandatory for the TV camera to show the stopped coin after the toss. This will remove any doubt about the rumours that huge money is involved in betting regarding the toss decision, which obviously is not shown these days on the TV screens.

2. Rules regarding the UDRS may be amended so that batting or bowling side may ask for unlimited number of reviews, with a condition that EVERY unsuccessful review will result in deduction of 10 runs from the grand total of the team’s TOTAL score, as UDRS penalty; only for deciding the result of the match.
It is repeated that these penalty runs will not be deducted from the individual scores of the batsmen, but only from the total score of the team, to ONLY just decide the winner of the match.

“Courage isn’t having the strength to go on –
it is going on when you don’t have strength.”

“Confidence sells — people believe in those who believe in themselves. No one wants to be stuck in a room with other people who feel like they don’t deserve to be there. Stop wondering if you’re good enough. Know you are, and start acting like it.”

— Simon Black

Will the US Secretary of State Senator John Kerry consider an honourable action after his categorical statement on PTV about ending drone attacks in Pakistan was rubbished by State Dept?

Please read the full story reported by the daily “Dawn” as below:

US NOT TO GIVE UP DRONE ATTACKS

WASHINGTON: “In no way would we ever deprive ourselves of a tool that would help us fight a threat if it arises,” says the US State Department while explaining Secretary of State John Kerry’s statement that US drone strikes in Pakistan will end soon.

Mr Kerry declared in an interview with Pakistan Television on Thursday the drone strikes in the country would soon come to an end.

“I think the programme will end as we have eliminated most of the threat and continue to eliminate it,” the secretary said.

Asked if there was a timeline for ending the drone strikes, Mr Kerry said: “I think the President (Obama) has a very real timeline, and we hope it’s going to be very, very soon.”

The two quotes were read out at a news briefing at the State Department and spokesperson Marie Harf was asked to give a timetable for ending the drone programme.

The official referred to President Barack Obama’s policy speech in May this year when he said the US had made significant progress against core Al Qaeda by using the drones and as it made more progress, the need to use the drones would also reduce.

Ms Harf said that in his interview to Pakistan Television, Secretary Kerry only “reinforced the changes” that the US expected to take place in the drone programme over time, “but there is no exact timeline to provide. Obviously, a lot of this is driven by the situation on the ground”.

She added: “The goal…is as we have success against Al Qaeda…we need to use this tactic less going forward, and that’s what the secretary was referencing.”

She was reminded that Secretary Kerry talked about ending the strikes, not reducing them.

“Well, clearly the goal of counter-terrorism operations, broadly speaking, is to get to a place where we don’t have to use them because the threat goes away. Now, we’re all realistic about the fact that there is a threat that remains and that we have to keep up the fight in this and other places around the world,” Ms Harf responded.

The secretary’s statement, she said, was “in no way indicating a change in policy”.

The State Department official pointed out that US drone strikes had eliminated a number of key Al Qaeda leaders but “nobody is naive about the threat, certainly, which is why we remain very focused on it, there and elsewhere”.

Asked why the secretary was then talking about ending the use of a tool which the administration regards as so highly effective, she said: “We would all like to get to a place where there is no threat. Now, nobody’s naive about the fact that one still exists, and that we’re going to keep up the pressure.”

If the US will not deprive itself of an effective tool like the drone, will it start using it again even if it was stopped, a journalist asked.

“In no way would we ever deprive ourselves of a tool to fight a threat if it arises,” she responded. “That’s a point I’d like to make very clear.”

The United States, however, would continue to discuss a broad range of counter-terrorism issues with the Pakistani government going forward, she said.

Reminded that keeping the option available meant using it when needed, Ms Harf said: “I would not want to further expand on what it means when I say, ‘We would not deprive ourselves of a tool’. There’s a very different thing between saying we would keep tools that we think help us achieve our goals, and saying we reserve a certain right to do a certain thing in a certain place. I’m not going to commit to the specific hypothetical that you have raised.”

A sensational report by Pro Pakistani..!

FBI Can Remotely Activate Your Android Phone Mic or Laptop Cameras: Report

It wasn’t long ago when whole world was shocked at the revelation that NSA (National Security Agency) and FBI of United States of America has direct access to the servers of Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Skype, Yahoo, Apple and other internet companies, from where they can extract any user information at their will, without any authorization or approval required from justice and legal departments.

Situation has only worsen with this new finding that FBI can remotely activate the microphones and cameras of your smartphones running Google’s Android platform and laptops without users’ consent, reported WSJ.

Report said that FBI has been developing such hacking and surveillance tools for last ten years. Additionally, there are private firms which sell them such tools to spy the users. Without a doubt – as unveiled earlier – FBI has support from technology companies, such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and others.

Moreover, FBI uses spyware tools to record keystrokes or almost any activity on a computer or smartphone.

Report says that there are usually warrants required to undergo such surveillance on suspects, however, it argues that there were instances when FBI had recorded users’ data without any legal authorization.

With plenty of criticism about NSA’s PRISM program, this new hacking and spying practices from US law enforcement agencies are going to further hike the distrust level of technology users.

It merits mentioning here that there are over 900 million users with Android devices.

These revelations also raise serious questions about the privacy of individuals, which is seemingly brutally murdered by American government and agencies and buried hundreds of miles down under the turf.

Third world citizens are in desperate position, who had embraced these emerging technology gadgets and software for simplifying their lives, but ended up only to be watched by the American government.

Our own government, which can question American government about such shameless practices, is busy doing so many other use-less things.

“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.”

— Nido Qubein

Recognize Your Moment of Obligation

People who successfully tackle big problems are often driven by a specific event or time in their lives when they felt compelled to act. These “moments of obligation” can drive you to start working on a problem, and keep at it when you might feel like giving up. They help us shape meaningful careers and lives. Here’s how to recognize your own mission-defining moment:
It’s strong. The experience will invoke intense feelings. The moment itself doesn’t necessarily need to be dramatic, but what it brings up in you is.
It’s personal. Moments of obligation are often connected to your own experiences, or the experiences of people you care most about.
It takes hold. These moments often scream for your attention, creeping into your mind when you are minding your own business — sitting on the couch, watching TV, or trying to sleep.

Adapted by HBR from “Find Your Moment of Obligation,” by Lara Galinsky.

A 2009 email to Ex. Deputy Assistant of Defense for Counter Narcotics USA suggesting a Marshall Plan for Pakistan.

(President Asif Ali Zardari met Mr. John Kerry US Secretary of State on 1 Aug, 2013 and asked for a Marshall Plan for Pakistan).

Richard J Douglas,
Ex. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter Narcotics,
U.S.A.

ASSALAM-O-ALIKUM.

I am immensely touched by your article titled ‘ The Pakistani Soldier ‘ published in the daily ” THE NEWS ” dated June 20, 2009. The reason being that, it is a genuine tribute to the many hundreds of thousands of Pakistani armed forces personnel, who are sacrificing their today for a better tomorrow, not only of Pakistan, but of the entire peace loving humanity of the world.

In fact, right from day one of the inception of Pakistan, its soldiers have relentlessly served the cause of peace in & outside Pakistan. One example must be still fresh in the minds of the freedom loving Americans. I am referring to the daring act of rescue of US soldiers in Somalia, by the brave Pakistani troops, who defied dangers to their own lives, to serve the cause of the humanity.

Now, what about the beautiful & capable Pakistan, of THE PAKISTANI SOLDIER. If you really want to serve the cause of peace & make this world a tranquil place, don’t treat Pakistani people as pariah of this world. If you have any doubts just go to the US airports and see how (legal Pakistani entrants ) are treated at your entry points ( my email, attached below, addressed to David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to the President of the USA, on the subject remains non replied till date). If no other nation of the free world, at least America owes we Pakistani people, a debt it can never repay (which I need not mention here, because we didn’t take on the USSR as a favour to USA. We stood for the cause of liberty & freedom only).

Today, Pakistan is paying a very heavy price for taking on the cause of liberty & freedom. In fact, the country is profusely bleeding from its wounds of terrorism.

As many Americans admit the mistake of leaving Pakistan in the lurch, after the Afghanistan war. Now it is high time to rebuild Pakistan. The world must come forward to make another Japan of Pakistan. And this objective can’t be achieved through loans & aid. No nation can be build with loans & aid. Rebuilding of Pakistan needs a 10 year Marshall plan (it may not cost more than one or two years defense expenditure of war in Afghanistan), which must broadly include the following strategy.

Ø Writing off the entire Debt of country.
Ø Allowing 100% duty free imports of Pakistani goods in all the countries.
Ø Revamping of entire Pakistani educational system on modern lines.
Ø Providing of world class health care system.
Ø Development of world class transportation infrastructure.
Ø Focus for development on small & medium size industry.
Ø Development of agriculture, livestock & dairy sectors on world standards.
Ø Settlement of Kashmir, water, Siachin & all other issues between Pakistan & India.
Ø Building of Maximum possible dams on the river system.
Ø Development & exploration (as per world standards) of natural resources.
Ø Development of wind energy to the maximum potential of the country.

I am very optimistic that under the visionary leadership of Mr. Obama & his dynamic team, the above proposals for helping Pakistani nation to stand on its feet, for the larger cause of the peace & freedom of this world, may not be a farfetched idea.

With best wishes and kind regards,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad.

The biggest achievement of Mian Nawaz Sharif…!

The statement of Mr. John Kerry that ‘He hopes US drone strikes in Pakistan will end ‘very soon’ is the biggest achievement of Mian Nawaz Sharif in his new tenure as PM Pakistan.

The above statement of US Secretary of State is too good to be true and are even more dramatic than President Obama’s stunning words in Mumbai,during his last trip to India, when he said “Pakistan was an enormous country” and let us hope that it will not be retracted.

I am sure the Indians must have been stunned and they must be exerting pressure on America to withdraw these words of Senator John Kerry.

Good luck Mian Nawaz Sharif Sahab.

“Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.”

— Ella Wheeler Wilcox