posting for pakistan study week

what is the connection between pakistan and afghanistan from a conflict perspective.

they started having skirmishes on may 13th 2007 when the Afghan national army open unprovoked fire, says military spokesman major-general waheed arshad.. They alledgedly opened their fire on 5 or 6 pakistan border posts. They have been having small battles ever since because they cannot figure out who caused it and thus, it never ends. It is definitely a high-pressure zone in which citizens do not want to get involved.

The Use of Drones in Pakistan

The recent use of drones (flying robots used as assassins; no joke) that the United States has sent to Pakistan is a source of great conflict and debate both ethically and logistically. America is responsible for 42 recent strikes targeting the Taliban and Al Queda leaders (more were carried out over the past several years). Approximately half a dozen heads of militant groups plus hundreds of people under them and have been killed along with some civilians, according to CNN. A poll conducted in August shows that only 9% of Pakistanis approved of the strikes while 2/3 remained in opposition. (1) The already flagrantly negative view of Americans held by most Pakistanis has only been worsened by this policy of blind murder. My conclusion would be that although we may have contributed to security by taking out these terrorists, we could be putting ourselves in more danger by making an enemy. But, hey, what do I know, right?

These machines are, on the other hand, an amazing feat of modern technology. They do save our troops from having to go from the frying pan and into the fire. It would be nearly impossible for our men to go into terrorist camps, kill the leaders, and come out alive. We are simply spread out too far in our occupations of other countries to send more men into more locations. These drones can save lives and be very practical if you squint your eyes and stand on one foot.


However, Phillip Alston, a human right investigator for the United Nations, has said that targeted assassinations that "accidentally" (big oops) get civilians is most likely a violation of international law (who would've thought?!). Two counter-insurgency experts wrote in the New York Times in May that drone attacks "killed some 700 civilians. This is 50 civilians for every for every militant killed, a hit rate of 2%." According to them, 98% of the targets were innocent civilians. On the flip-side, Bill Roggio, the editor of Long War Journal, has maintained that only 10% of those killed were civilians. (1) CNN's report indicates that 760-1,000 people have been killed, only 20 being leaders of Al Queda. They believe that perhaps 260-320, or one-third, were civilians. A possible reason for these contadictory analyses is that not all militants are wearing uniforms but appear to be ordinary citizens. However, it's obvious that certain people would rather tone down the numbers to paint a rosier picture. In either case I think it's safe to assume that the cost of taking a life (militant or not) should be paid by having to live with that memory. The process of sending out machines to do your dirty work for you seems to violate war ethics by giveing people the ability to kill haphazardly without knowledge of who they are going to hit or what they even looked like. If we are going to try to justify murder in the name of national security and justice then we should at least be forced to hear our enemies' last words and see the look on their faces as they are about to be slaughtered.

"Can anything be more ridiculous than that a man has a right to kill me because he lives on the other side of the water, and because his ruler has quarrel with mine, although I have none with him?"~Blaise Pascal

1. CNN News "Pakistan drone war takes a toll on militants- and civilians" by Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann October 29, 2009

Gunmen Storm UN Guest House in Kabul

This is a story I saw on Yahoo! this morning in case you guys haven't seen it already. The second paragraph features one of our boys in Kansas City who held off gunmen and saved several lives; yeah. That's what I'm talkin' about. :)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan

I realize this is Afghanistan and that we are on Pakistan now but I was wondering if any of you guys had any insight as to why this happened.

Here is another Yahoo! story on a car bombing in Pakistan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091028/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

what Pakistan's border is like

(This information from MSNBC) KABUL, Afghanistan - In a recent debate leading up to the presidential elections here, the first question was not about terrorism, or violence, or even opium. It was about how candidates viewed a jagged line casually drawn on a map 115 years ago by British colonial rulers.

For the West, this border separates Afghanistan from Pakistan, and it is a source of great frustration that neither country seems able or even willing to enforce it. But for many Pashtuns, the most powerful ethnic tribe here, the line runs through what they call "Pashtunistan" and is no more legitimate than the border that once divided East and West Germany.

in 1893 the Durand line was drawn right through the pashtun tribal lands who have been fighting ever since.

Taliban from the inside

While doing a bit of background reading on the situation in Pakistan, I found this video produced by the New York Times. It is a compelling short about a reporter kidnapped. It is compelling and worth the 5 minutes it will take for you to watch it.

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2009/10/20/world/asia/1247465280261/held-by-the-taliban.html If the link does not work, search Held by the Taliban New York Times and you will find it. The NY Times also has an interesting blog called" At War Blog" that has good background and other videos such as this one.

Pakistani Jihadis on Kerry-Lugar Bill, Nobel Prize

Pakistani Jihadis on Kerry-Lugar Bill, Nobel Prize

Posted using ShareThis

Missle shield

U.S. accused of seeking monopoly of space. It was reported that the two military satellites launched by the United States recently would provide its missile shield with the capability for tracking ballistic missiles worldwide and information transmitted by the sensors of the satellites would be used by the U.S forces for intercepting missiles.

Minju Joson Friday observes in a signed commentary in this regard:

This goes to prove that the U.S. strategic scenario to get a monopoly of space in a bid to establish military hegemony and put the world under its domination by force of arms has entered the phase of its implementation.

To this end the U.S. is making much fuss about "missile threat" from someone in an effort to use this as a pretext for deploying a missile shield in space.

It is the calculation of the U.S. that by unilaterally rounding off and expanding the missile defence system without let-up it will be able to neutralize other powers' retaliatory capabilities and other means and reinforce its military hegemony.

The U.S. is, at the same time, openly deploying a missile shield in space under its military scenario and stepping up the development of satellites equipped with interceptor missiles in real earnest.

The arms race sparked by the U.S. through its launch of the military satellites at a time when the world is making positive efforts to create a peaceful environment cannot be interpreted otherwise than a blatant challenge to humankind's desire for peace and a criminal act of seriously threatening and wrecking the global peace and security.

The U.S. is seeking not global peace and security but aggression, war and showdown of strength.

With nothing can the U.S. justify its policy of arms race and moves for a war of aggression.

North Korea news w/diffrent bias

I found this North Korean news website (its from North Korea so it's kind of biased)
and thought it quite interesting.
www.kcna.co.jp

North Korea in context

I can not figure out how to imbed a link, but thies aljazeera story does a super job of giving context to the news of more missile launches by North Korea. I recommend that you check it out and get contextual clues to the news.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/05/20095294403287112.html

This blog that i have linked has some great videos to show you what is really happening in Afghanistan. After watching it I have this strange feeling that no one is quite sure what we are doing in Afghanistan.

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/fighting-uphill-in-afghanistan/

Kalo

Cara: United States reaction to Honduran Coup

Latin America is facing a regional crisis unseen since the early 1990's. President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was seized from his executive mansion on June 26 by Honduran military, and forcibly exiled to Costa Rica. Believing that they were acting to protect democracy legislators incited a political crisis that isolates their country and implicated the United States. Contrary to this, the United States condemned this coup immediately. The United States is acting appropriately to the Honduran Coup, and it proves to be a good opportunity to promote its commitment to democracy and freedom of speech.
Trust of American democracy has a ways to go before being respected in Latin America. This wariness is not unfounded. The root of the doubt can be traced back to 2002 when the United States backed a failed coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The United States credibility was damaged at a time when United States forces were battling for democracy in Afghanistan. Although Chavez was an active adversary of President Bush, and a dominant figure in Latin American resistance of America, he remained to be elected by democratic process, and thus a product of democracy. This current crisis in Honduras is an excellent opportunity for the United States to reiterate its dedication to democracy and portray its want of democracy for Latin America. While Zelaya did provoke the Honduran congress by trying to amend the constitution to lengthen presidents terms, he was democratically elected. The United States should challenge the coup and the legitimacy of the congress's actions based on the fact that it should have gone through the government. The words and the actions of the United States stress that they are reacting to the flagrant violation of Honduran Democracy, and thus they are justified and acting appropriately.

Honduras links.

I have collected a number of articles and sites that I thought would be good for the blog members to look at.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ho.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8267982.stm

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/10/200910517155738223.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8291214.stm

Hope they do you good.

Kalo.

What is the relationship between Taliban in Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan? Is the ISI involved with the Taliban in Afghanistan?

Regular reporting indicates Pakistan provides both military and financial assistance to the Taliban. Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, primary goals are to achieve strategic depth with regard to India, and securing access to Central Asian Trade Routes. Cultural ties also exist between the Taliban leadership and Pakistan where several Taliban leaders lived for many years following the 1979 Soviet Invasion. Pakistan fears a complete Taliban victory may incite irredentist aspirations within its own Pashtun population, and will likely attempt to pressure the Taliban into moderation of some of its policies.

The Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. They came to power during Afghanistan’s long civil war. Although they managed to hold 90% of the country’s territory, their policies-including their treatment of women and support of terrorists- ostracized then from the world community. The Taliban was ousted from power in December 2001 by the U.S. military and Afghani opposition forces in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the U.S.

There is a deep history between Taliban and the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) since the Taliban was assisted in their creation solely by the ISI to thrust their influence upon neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistan agreed to suspend military offensives and impose Islamic law in part of the northwest region known as the Malakand region. Among the participants in the agreement were pro Taliban clerics who authorities said would return to ISI and tell militants there to disarm, although there was no mention in the agreement for extremists to give up their weapons. In all reality ISI is the first official region of the future Taliban government that will take over more areas of Pakistan.

 

Sources:

Infoplease.com: “Who Are The Taliban?” by: Laura Hayes, Borgna Brunner, and Beth Rowen

National Security Archives: Pakistan: “The Taliban’s Godfather?” posted- August 14, 2007, edited by: Barbara Elias

Terroristplanet.com 

Force or Freedom?

The author of the previous blog used a poem by Daw'ud Mannion to express the Afghans' point of view toward America and democracy. Out of curiosity, we looked up Daw'ud Mannion, the author of the poem. We thought that we would share our findings. Daw'ud Mannion grew up in the United Kingdom, and, under freedom, became a converted Muslim. He does not live in a country where his liberties are denied, in fact, he has been actively involved in politics.

After reading the poem, we realized that the author said nothing against freedom, but against Christianity. He seems to have the false impression that Americans will force Muslims to turn to Christ. This is absolutely not the case. Christianity and freedom go hand and hand, which is why Mosques can be built in the United States.

Life in Christ is about choice, not about force. God bless the missionaries and our soldiers.

"Crusaders"

I realize we are not on the subject of Afghanistan anymore, but I thought this poem was interesting. Although it's talking about missionaries, I think that the same message might apply to American troops trying to bring democracy and stabilization to Afghanistan. I have been under the impression that a lot of the people there are not interested in being told what to do or how to live, even if the U.S. has good intentions. I think that some of us Americans are of the mindset that we are crusaders for democracy, which can look bad to people in other countries.

Note: if you react badly to anti-Christian sentiments, don't read this. It is not bad, but I could see how it might offend someone.

“Crusaders” by Daw'ud Mannion

With fire, cross and sword,once to Muslim lands you came,now with bombs, cross and bullet,once more you are trying to do the same.

But still you see not,the destruction that you bring,children's lives and limbs destroyed,as Crusader's Christian hymns you sing.

"It's for your own good!"you say as lives and riches you openly steal,but you will never realize that for us,death's better than to the Christian cross to kneel.

So keep your missionaries back,No non-combatants in this war,Soldiers only steal lives but missionaries steal souls,the greater crime has a greater punishment in store.

You think this is now finished?Think now your done and can soon go home?Flying your stars and stripes over this land,where once Imam Hanifa as a boy did roam.

Soon just like the Soviets,you will be made to taste defeat,your wasted corrupt lives finished,in deserts and mountains your nemesis to meet.

All then left of these young men is the ragged remains,The US a once great nation nursing a generation's losses,Leaving behind so many hastily buried dead,that soon enough you'll run out of your Christian crosses.

Virgin Of Suyapa- Honduran hope

Honduras' serious political situation with the accompaning distress of the people has galvanized the population with the idea that the only way forward requires divine intervention. Many of the population are calling on the The Virgin of Suyapa. a 3 inch statuette of the Virgin Mary , nicknamed La Morentia, or little dark one . This La Morenita , found on a hillside in 1747 makes its home in a small church near the capital and has been credited with many miracles.

The home of the statue has become a fire point of its own. The Cardinal Oscar Rodriquez, an ex-instructor of the exiled president , Zelaya went on television asking him not to return to Honduras. This did not sit well with the supporters of Zelaya. An angry mob tried to storm the church where the La Morenita is housed. Last Sunday parishioners gathered for their first Sunday Mass since Zeleya has returned to the country. It is reported that police circled the church housing la Morenita with rifles in the air duing the mass. The Wall Street Journal report on Oct 2, 2009 that " Many stood before the altar, waving framed portraits of the Virgin as an assistant sprinkled holy water. Father Ruiz led the services.... and said," With all of the uncertainty now in the country , we beg for your help. Honduras is like the baby held by King Solomon in danger of being split in two by its current president and its ousted one. Maybe the virgin should be president. She is only 6 centimeter tall, but she has greatness."

I join with those praying for divine intervention in Honduras. It will take the wisdom of Solomon to reason a way forward and help from above to traverse this most difficult dilemna. I agree with Father Ruiz that greatness is required. The two presidents, the intervening politicians and diplomats will all need to put self and ego in a secondary position to their countries pressing needs to find a way forward. I pray they do so speedily as greatness would demand.