Loud Thinking

Posts Tagged ‘US’

A must read letter published in the daily DAWN titled “Paris of East”: a US guidebook.

WE may gripe about things in Karachi and consider it a very crowded crime-plagued city. But that was not always the case. I recently chanced upon an information booklet about Karachi published for the benefit of American soldiers stationed here during World War II.

Entitled ‘A locally produced information booklet for US soldiers for Karachi’, published in 1942, it speaks of Karachi as the “Paris of the East” because it says it is “the cleanest city in the whole of India”.

After giving information about the city’s political status – capital of the Sindh government with a population of 400,000 – the guidebook says Karachi is called the ‘Gateway to India’ because as a port it serves not only Balochistan, Punjab and UP but also Afghanistan.

Very few of us know that Karachi used to produce grapes. While talking of the Gandhi Gardens, the guidebook says “grapes grown in the gardens are famous not only in Karachi but outside also”. Malir, now part of Karachi, is referred to in the booklet as being “12 miles from Karachi” and is “well-known for its fruits gardens”.

The Clifton beach “is considered by some as the best in the whole of India. It has a parade made of cement concrete and red stone. The beach extends about seven miles and is a very fine place for sea bathing and excursions in the moonlight”. It also dwells on Sands Pits and refers to Hawks Bay “as the best spot in Karachi”.

The museum the book refers to is still there where it was in 1942, but very few Karachiites know or it bother to visit it – at Burns Road. Called then Victoria Museum, it contained Moenjo Daro relics, a variety of fighting arms and tribal dresses for men and women.

Transport finds repeated mention in the guidebook and gives details of bus and tram routes and the fares. The newspapers then published were Sindh Observer and Daily Gazette, besides two evening papers — Karachi Daily and Sindh Observer’s evening edition.

Fascinating to read are advertisements. Some of the shops mentioned are still there, but many have disappeared. As for eating houses, old Karachiites will miss restaurants which have disappeared — Café Grand, Café Oxford and two Chinese restaurants — Chunking and Victory.

All that has happened to Karachi is not all negative. Karachi has flourished into a major industrial centre, it is a dynamic city, its educational institutions continue to increase, and it has an enviable philanthropic establishment. Let us work to restore Karachi to its glory and make it a crime-free city.

S. MOHAMMAD SIBTAIN Karachi

My old comments on a TOI news of 21 September, 2012 and latest observations of a senior US army general about the influence of the Indian army over its government.

Greatness of a general doesn’t lie in waging and winning a war. Rather, in avoiding the war.

Indian Army chief opposes PM’s trip to Pak (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-chief-opposes-PMs-trip-to-Pak/articleshow/16482507.cms#write )

Here, I Remember what Winston Churchill said about the generals, “war is too serious a business to be left to the generals”. Adding to that I will say “peace is even more serious a business to be left to the generals, who by their training are mostly prone to their myopic and tunnel vision.”

I wonder, if the Berlin wall would ever have been removed, if the decision was left to the generals.

So Gen. Bikram Singh should also know that it’s not Siachin, but the future of 1.5 billion humanity of sub continent which is at stake. If, the blood has been shed on a foolish act in the past, why not take action to stop further shedding of blood, for the noble cause of peace & eradication of ignorance and poverty, in the sub continent.

The thinking of such generals, can delay the emancipation of Indians and Pakistanis, but can never permanently deny the divends of peace to such a large world population, which is no more interested in continued acrimony, between the two neighboring countries.

Now,the peace loving people of both the countries have decided once for ever, that they will no more remain the prisoner of the past.

If any body wants to observe the dividends of peace between the neighbors, just look at Europe, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.

Now, I invite the attention of all those people towards the following eye opening comments of a senior US army general, reported on 29 July, 2013 by the TOI, who say within and outside Pakistan, that Pak army is very influential in exercising its authority over the civilian governments in Pakistan, with reference to the major policy issues of the country.

WASHINGTON: The Indian Army is by far the most influential in the Asia Pacific region, a top American General said as he stressed on the importance of building military-to-military relationship between the two countries.

“As is in many of the Asia-Pacific countries, the army is the dominant service in those countries. India is a prime example. It is by far the largest service. It is by far the most influential,” US Army chief of staff General Raymond T Odierno said.

Link:- http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/Indian-Army-most-influential-in-Asia-Pacific-region-US-General/articleshow/21465988.cms

Look at the level and difference of Pakistani government’s slavery to America, compared with Afghanistans.
Afghanistan’s government, which is an occupied country, stopped NATO supplies for 17 days (July 22 to August 07) into their own country from Pakistan, for non payment of a paltry sum of Rs.80 million i.e. Pak Rupees 8 Crore. 
In contrast to the Afghan government’s action stated above, Pakistani government doesn’t even thought of stopping NATO supplies, for the years of over due payments, of billions of US dollars. 
Even now, the US has not paid any amount, due since last June 2011. 
Under the circumstances, it can be easily said that, Pakistani government of a nuclear nation, has allowed the US to treat Pakistan, worse than the occupied Afghanistan, which doesn’t even have a regular army.
The moral of the story :- The sovereignty of a nation is not dependent on the nuclear power or the strength of its armed forces, rather, on the guts of the government.

Link :- http://dawn.com/2012/08/09/afghanistan-restores-nato-supplies/

QUETTA: The Afghan authorities restored on Wednesday Nato supplies after private companies paid a customs duty of Rs80 million.

Nanhiali Faizi, a senior official of Afghan Customs, said the issue had been settled and now there was no restriction on the entry of Nato containers into Afghanistan.

Later, 20 containers were allowed to cross the Chaman border into Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials in Chaman confirmed that the Afghan authorities had restored Nato supplies.

Afghanistan had put restrictions on the entry of Nato containers on July 22 for non-payment of duty.—Staff Correspondent (DAWN).

Turkey Approves Indictment of Israeli Commanders : Why Can’t Pakistan Try NATO Commanders?

A report published today (29 May 2012) in a news paper, tells that a Turkish court has approved an indictment, seeking multiple (8000 to 18000) life sentences, for the four Israeli military commanders, over their alleged involvement in the 2010 killings of nine Turks on a Gaza- bound aid ship. The indictment accuses Israel’s former COGS Gabi Ashkenazi & three other retired senior military commanders, of involvement in the raid on the Turkish aid ship. Turkey had previously said, it would try to prosecute all Israelis responsible, for crimes committed during the raid.

Now, coming to NATO Salala check post attack, which resulted in the killing of 26 & not 24 Pakistani soldiers and dozens others were injured, why can’t Pakistan also indict NATO commander and other responsible soldiers, for a far more serious crime than the Israeli attack on Turkish aid flotilla? Here, we must also remember that Pakistan has deployed its forces on the Afghanistan’s border, on specific request of NATO, to help them in their created WOT. So, by all means, killing the helping forces of Pakistan, attracts and deserves double the punishment, than in normal circumstances.

However, we hope that the news attributed in media to the Prime Minister of Pakistan (elected by 180 million Pakistanis), that the “Killed soldiers now can’t be back alive with US apology” is absolutely false. In the mean time, we are also hoping that the same worthy PM of Pakistan, will soon issue a defamation notice to the concerned news agencies, who reported that our PM during his latest visit to UK, purchased only 3 coats worth Rs.80/- lacs. At the same time, we are still waiting for the denial of the news, about the last time purchase in UK, of items worth about Rs.8 crores by the honourable wife of our P.M.

So, long live the cherished democracy in Pakistan, which is looking after our leaders and their families in a befitting manner. Long live our chosen democratic leaders.

For the dying poor Pakistani civil and military mortals “Democracy is the best revenge”.

                              Revenge of Supreme Court’s Punishment?

Since the Supreme Court of Pakistan punished our beloved P.M. (elected with a two third majority of the parliament) for a few seconds, he seems to have decided to go on a revenge policy, to punish the entire 180 million people of Pakistan, with virtual cessation of electricity supplies, in this extremely hot season.

And, after putting the general public on hot burner, the worthy convicted P.M. has himself left on a sojourn, to watch the Queen opening the session of the UK parliament.

I will request with my folded hands, to the honourable judges of the SC, to kindly condone the punishment of our beloved P.M.,  so that in return, the general public of Pakistan is released by the government from the perpetual sentence, of being condemned to the hell. Otherwise, the general public will remain hostage, with this highly honest & efficient government.

Moreover, it looks the government is hell bent to prove  the U.S. Senator correct, that Pakistan is a failed state, under this highly competent government of PPP.

The news reported in the daily “Pakistan Today” (link:- http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/09/pakistan-has-97-billion-dollars-in-swiss-banks-director-swiss-bank/#IDComment194865889) that Swiss banks have 97 billion dollars, is a smoke screen to mislead the general public. By no means this figure can be less than 200 billion dollars i.e. more than three times the existing foreign debt of Pakistan.

Leaving aside the exact amount of Pakistan’s money in the Swiss banks, our civilian government & parliament, military establisment, bench and bar & the media must devise some mechanism (following the US government’s successful initiative with the Swiss government) to very strongly take up the issue with Swiss government, to immediately return back our money deposited in Swiss banks.

This is all the more necessary for the very survival of Pakistan (Indian defense budget is going to increase from 36 billion dollars to 60 billion dollars in next few years versus Pakistan’s current defense budget of 4-5 billion dollars). Moreover, Pakistan’s economic growth and development is absolutely necessary to stabilize the country to successfully fight the war on terror for the entire world. And we will not be demanding any charity from the Swiss government.

This money belongs to the people of Pakistan and the entire nation (including ruling parties and the opposition) is fully united on this issue. Rather, it will be the biggest gift from the Asif Ali Zardari led PPP to the nation for which voters will elect them to serve the nation for at least 100 years. So come on PPP, rise to the occasion, it is the golden chance for you to re-build a new properous & peaceful Pakistan.

An exceptional article publised in the daily ” The Nation ” dated May 22, 2011 titled ‘Osama’s Killing: A Drama or Reality” by Mr. Khawar Munir Haroon, is reproduces below for the benefit of readers who are keenly interested in resolving the mystery of the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Quote. ” According to Dr Steve R. Pieczenik, a psychiatrist who has treated CIA employees, “Osama was dead in 2001” and 9/11 was, in any case, a farce. When a person with the inside knowledge of the American intelligence system says so it is hard not to believe him.

Mr Pieczenik cannot be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. He served on important posts with Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State with the first three and also as senior policy planner under Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance and James Baker. The former US Navy Captain still works as a consultant for the Department of Defence and is recipient of two prestigious Harry C. Solomon awards at the Harvard Medical School, as he simultaneously completed a PhD at MIT. He has a long list of credentials that can be found through the internet. He says: “Osama was suffering with Marfan syndrome”, and he died in 2001, “not because the Special Forces had killed him, but because as a physician I had known that the CIA physicians had treated him and it was on the intelligence roster that he had Marfan syndrome. The US government knew he was dead before they invaded Afghanistan. Bush Jr knew about it, the intelligence community knew about it. CIA physicians had visited bin Laden in July 2001 at the American Hospital in Dubai.”

Marfan syndrome is a degenerative genetic disease for which there is no permanent cure. The illness severely shortens the lifespan of the sufferer.

Then why to dramatise Osama’s capture, his murder and then throwing the dead body in the sea? What is the message sent out? Who gained and who are the losers?

The CIA failed on 9/11 or did it? It is a Zionist plan that is gradually unfolding. It is a pity that the poor Americans are so naive that they cannot read between the lines. They are mechanised robots.

They do not have time to go through the political jigsaw. Most of them only understand what is fed to them by the media, which is primarily owned and operated by the Jews. They are fleecing the people of America who are being practically controlled by Israel. Don’t we know who controls the American economy? Don’t we know about the owners of US gold reserves? Why moves aimed at destabilisation are under way in our part of the world? Who are the actors behind the stage? Who are the supporters of the terrorist groups operating in Pakistan? Are we not aware of the funding channels of these plunderers? The answer is short and crisp. It is the Israeli perpetrators. They are there in the guise of our so-called religious brethren and friends. 

The recent statement of US ambassador to Pakistan that :(ISLAMABAD: US ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter has said that the United States has right to interfere in Pakistan’s economic and governance affairs as the former provides funds to it, Geo News reported.

Addressing a ceremony here, Cameron said that the United States provides largest aid to Pakistan, therefore, it has right to interfere in economic and governance affairs.http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=8937)  has clearly laid bare the American mind set towards Pakistan.

Although, US president calls Pakistan as an enormous country and an ally of America, who has given tremendous sacrifices in fighting the menace of terrorism, yet, Mr. Munter has the audacity to tell us that America has a right to interfere in our internal affairs, just because we are receiving their aid. By this analogy, can the US ambassador to Israel, give the same statement, because that country is the biggest recipient of US aid?

I will ask Mr. Munter, if helping another country is the criteria for interference in its affairs, then Pakistan has all the right to meddle in the affairs of your country. Hope, you remember our greatest favour,   in making America the sole super power. So, before uttering such statements, just weigh our favours to America in monetary terms, and calculate how much you still owe to us, in return of Pakistan’s just one favour to America.

Mr. Munter,  should also know that there is a long list of our favours to his great country, starting from permitting U-2 flights over USSR, facilitating Kissinger’s visit to China, saving American soldiers’ life in Somalia etc. He should not force us  to think that to  call him and his country a friend, is a mistake. Perhaps, he only understand one language taught  by the brave people of Vietnam, Iraq & Afghanistan. True friendship, has no meaning in any of his dictionaries.

The government of Pakistan must immediately take notice of this blatant interference in its internal affairs by the American ambassador and send him back to his country. This punishment will restore the sanctity of our integrity and shall be remembered by Munter, throughout his life. This will also send a message to the world, that Pakistan is an honourable nation and it will not offer other cheek, if slapped on one.

Actually, every individual and nation must understand that, one can only be insulted to the extent, it is permitted. In other words you can’t be insulted, more than you allow.