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Pakistan Dispatch - Newspaper pick ups
So, everyone know's who.. sorry what.. Kerry Lugar is, right?
There have been some references in the comments section about the Pakistani military's public relations efforts. Londonstani can only assume the following article by Kamran Khan of The News is the kind of thing we are talking about here:
KARACHI: When the top military commanders declared their serious concern regarding clauses of the Kerry-Lugar Bill impacting on the national security, the top brass had knowledge and evidence that a few elements within the government deployed resources to lobby several key United States congressmen for inclusion of anti-military and anti-nuclear programme segments in the controversial US aid bill, informed officials said.
“This is actually an attempt to cripple the Pakistan Army and the ISI and it is not the first or last attempt. There are some elements with clandestine job in all this,” said an informed official, who disclosed that Pakistani security officials were constantly getting information from their sources in Washington that illustrated vast difference between the public and private positions adopted by individuals and organizations representing Pakistan’s national interest in Washington.
There you have it people, you just can't trust the politicians to protect the country, apparently.
"There you have it people,
"There you have it people, you just can't trust the politicians to protect the country, apparently."
That even seems true in Hamastan:
Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Investment opportunities are rare in the Gaza Strip. So when Nabila Ghabin saw one last year, she pawned her car and jewelry and put $12,000 into a network of tunnels that brought in supplies smuggled from Egypt.
She was one of about 4,000 Gazans who gave cash to middlemen and tunnel operators in 2008 as Israel blocked the overland passage of goods. Then Israeli warplanes bombed the tunnels before and during the Dec. 27 to Jan. 18 Gaza offensive and the investments collapsed.
Now investors, who lost as much as $500 million, want their money back from Hamas, which runs Gaza. Hamas Economics Minister Ziad Zaza says about 200 people were taken into custody in connection with the tunnel investments; most have been released. Hamas is offering a partial repayment of 16.5 cents on the dollar using money recovered from Ihab al-Kurd, the biggest tunnel operator.
More at the link: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aFLJhn4jQA3k
Wow, that's the most
Wow, that's the most interesting financial wire story i have ever read..If the security
If the security establishment continues to believe that using proxy forces hostile to the United States in Afganistan is critical to Pakistani security then we're at cross purposes.
I have the The Nation (the
I have the The Nation (the Pakistan English paper) in my Rss feeder. I can't believe how many stories they are pushing out about the military's opposition to Kerry Lugar.
Three different stories on it just today and the day is not over yet. The number of stories on the subject have been building day by day. Pretty soon they won't be reporting on anything else.
This was the major story of the day (so far) http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Po.... Short excerpt...
The Obama Administration believes that there is no threat to the democratically elected Government in Islamabad in view of the Pakistani Army’s public opposition to the Kerry Lugar Bill which is not in line with the official position of the Zardari Government. “I don’t think it is a threat to to the civilian government in Pakistan,” Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs told reporters when asked about the differences that has emerged between the army and the Zardari Government on the Kerry-Lugar Bill.
There is this one http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Re.... This one is pretty short, but it is also kind of shocking. If I read the bad English right, Mr. Basit is telling his people that they can take the money with out abiding by the conditions laid down by Congress. I think that is just setting up everyone for bad feelings down the road.
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit on Thursday clarified that accepting the terms and conditions attached to an aid legislation, Kerry-Lugar Bill, approved by the US Congress, was not necessary for Pakistan, report said.
And there is this one http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Is.... Its not really worth reading, but I offer it up as proof that there were three articles on the subject and the day is not even half done.
The army has been running
The army has been running the country for decades and has the most extensive media manipulation ability. Some of their favorites are very explicit about their pro-army views and frankly say that every politician in Pakistan is a traitor and the army and ONLY the army can save pakistan (Ahmed Qureshi and Zaid Hamid and the rest of the "paknationalists.com" crowd would fall into this category), some are more "nuanced" (Shireen Mazari, Kamran Khan, Ikram Sehgal) and I am sure there are some agent provocateurs who rant AGAINST the army on behalf of the army. So efficient is this operation that CIVILIANS in Pakistan are currently ranting AGAINST the Kerry-Lugar bill because the bill asks for civilian oversight of the army!
I hope one condition of the
I hope one condition of the Kerry-Lugar aid is that Pakistan will shut down the Quetta shura.
Londonstani, do you hear that Zardari and the Pakistan Paliament may not accept the Kerry-Lugar aid?
To Visitor: In which
To Visitor:
In which parallel universe is Shireen Mazari considered "more nuanced"? even in her own opinion she is no such thing. To be fair to her, she has never even attempted any such subterfuge and has been consistantly pro army.
To Ape Man:
Shireen Mazari has recently been apointed the Cheif Editor of "The Nation". I hope that puts things in better prespective for you.
at what point do we start
at what point do we start playing political hardball with the pakistani's, tell them they need to get on board with these reforms, or we cut off all funding? Just like in January when we told them they needed to take on the Taliban in the Swat valley or we would be forced to go in ourselves, or like in '01/02 when Armitage was reported to have gotten very tough on Mussarif in getting on board againt the Taliban (at least initially). How is it that we have spent huge amounts in propping them up, yet have such little leverage? At what point do we tell them to get on board or we will start actively focusing on undermining their capability and containing them as a potential cold war threat (which to me seems they already are)?
Understanding the Pakistani
Understanding the Pakistani military establishment’s objections to the Kerry-Lugar conditionalities -
"If it’s hard to determine the exact cause of the uproar in Pakistan over the Kerry-Lugar Bill, it is because there are many. Simply put, every quarter in Pakistan is using it as a stick to beat its opponents. While all the outrage over being insulted (via Zeitgeist Politics), having sovereignty disrespected and being distrusted by the United States contributes to the heat, dust and entertainment, the most important question is why did the Pakistan Army—and there were reports that the navy and the air force differed from their terrestrial colleagues—publicly throw up its hands in protest?"
http://acorn.nationalinterest.in/2009/10/08/why-general-kayani-is-angry/
What do other people think of this analysis? It's 'outside in', so, is it on the mark at all?
it's long been past time to
it's long been past time to help the democratically-elected civilian government in pakistan execute an effective coup against and seize power from the military-intelligence-industrial complex there. unfortunately, we're so good at doing the opposite that i'm not sure if we could actually manage doing the right thing for once...
16.5 cents/dollar is better
16.5 cents/dollar is better than what many MBS got at firesale. Who knew Hamas was a better investment than american housing. This proves once again, best way to beat extremists is to let them govern.
Islo Elite: Shireen Mazari
Islo Elite: Shireen Mazari is "nuanced" compared to Ahmed Qureshi and Zaid Hamid> Have you ever heard those two raving lunatics? But OK, nuanced is too nice a word for the Brahma Chellaney of Pakistan (I have also heard her being described as the Ann Coulter of Pakistan)..
Madhu, That piece from India is pretty much on target. I think the biggest reason for the fuss is that the army feels this is the start of civilian control over the glorious armed forces, but the other factors (preserving india-specific jihadis, getting a seat for the "good taliban" in Kabul) are also there in the background. What is not clear to me is what the army hopes to publicly achieve via this fuss(what they achieve behind the scenes is another matter)? just cut Zardari down to size or actually get rid of him? They have already cut him down a few notches just by making this fuss (after all, he has not fired his army chief, which is what would happen in any real country in no time if the army chief acts like this) but do they want more? I can see no way they can get the US congress to go back and change even one word in the bill, neither can they expect a US spokesperson to actually SAY that such and such provision is just for show. So they will get whatever bribe they settle on in secret, but in public, its this bill or nothing and I am betting "this bill"...
To sayke: All the champions
To sayke:
All the champions of democracy left us standing alone in our struggles against military dictators! only two years ago musharaff was feted as an enlightened dictator in all western capitals, while he defiled the constitution and dragged the judiciary through the streets. For so long we have struggled for civilian rule, long and hard, without any moral or material support . Any external interference now will only be counterproductive.
The path to democracy is paved with the painstaking building of institutions and not "seizures of Power" or "civilian coups." this anti-military, pro-democracy mantra needs to be toned down, as it is actually helping the military paint itself a victim and a target of external conspiracies to de fang it. The time to really do something is when they actually are in power, and are readlily cooperating with your governments, by either fighting the soviets or bundling al qaeda off to Gitmo.
I just heard from "reliable
I just heard from "reliable sources" (aka the rumor mill) that this is all disinformation and smoke being blown to provide the army adequate cover as it prepares to launch an operation in Waziristan. If they launch an operation without this kind of prep, they will get blamed for being "american lackeys". This way, their anti-american bona-fides are bolstered, Zardari (and all the liberals) have sleepless nights, all the other politicians are once again exposed as pathetic tools AND the military still does what they have been told to do in Waziristan. This sounds no less plausible to me than all the other theories being floated....
They probably wanted to make a pre-emptive strike against the "civilian oversight" provisions of the bill anyway, so its a case of "two birds with one stone". If this theory is correct, then we should see a Waziristan operation anyday...
That still leaves the matter of "India specific jihadiis" and the good taliban. There may be some bargaining going on about those two items...I still love President Obama, but his public wavering over Afghanistan has definitely given an opening to the military to push for concessions which will be bad for peace in south asia, bad for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan and even bad for the military rank and file (who will have to fight more jihadis someday because they foolishly protected some of them today). Oh well...
To Omar: "I just heard from
To Omar:
"I just heard from "reliable sources" (aka the rumor mill) that this is all disinformation and smoke being blown to provide the army adequate cover as it prepares to launch an operation in Waziristan."
Sitting here, no "reliable sources" are required to see that the popular consensus still holds against the the local brand of Taliban, TTP. The military does not need a complicated subterfuge to launch the SWA operation (already underway). Anyways, the question is not why they "doth protest too much" but more importantly, who has allowed them, (quite successfully, I am afraid) this oppertunity to paint themselves as "anti-american bona-fides" and saviours of "Pak sovereignty."
Come on, be fair. The GHQ was expected to exploit an advantage, when they see one. But we have to fix the culpability in this bothched affair. This, ofcourse, is going to die down, within a week or two. But some heads must roll for this debacle in public diplomacy. Somebody's got to go. I think our man in Washington should be dispatched off to his rightful place-Brookings, Rand, or even CNAS, maybe?
Islo, That was half in jest,
Islo, That was half in jest, but I think you may underestimate GHQs fascination with pysops (another sin you can lay at the door of the Americans. Of course, the biggest disaster was opening NDC and having army officers, already unable to distinguish between BS and reality, learn terms like "strategic depth" and "threat perception"...the country really had no chance after that). Anyway, if it will blow over, who will care if X head rolls or not?
That head, btw, is smarter than most who have held this august office, I would not count out such a talented person.
Omar, Now sure why are you
Omar,
Now sure why are you so allergic to the term strategic depth but if you have slightest sense of history then you would realize that the idea is not grounded in mere fantasy but has very compelling reasons behind it.
The talented person you are
The talented person you are refering to is definitely talented but read his bio and you will find out why he arouses suspicion.
To Visitor 8:32 Agreed. A
To Visitor 8:32
Agreed. A tad too clever for our purposes, I am afraid. A real " talented Mr. Ripley", he is. What do you think of re-hiring Maleeha Lodhi for the job. She was good with the crongressional hearing, recently.
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