True Stories

Sameer: I ran behind the bus. Saved the fare. Five rupees.

Saeed: You could run behind a taxi. You would have saved fifty.

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Recession and War

Do you think the continuing wars had anything to do with the recession?

I suspect so because the money flow has been pushed outward faster by the wars in an already debt-based net importing economy. Obama admin responded by increasing money flow in the domestic market, but that’ll either increase inflation or make countries that hold US dollars unhappy or both. They obviously won’t like to be taxed by the US govt.

This is not the first time that war has ravaged an empire.

CIA and the Bombings in Pakistan: Theories and the Search for a Deeper Malaise

There has been a flurry of suicide attacks in Pakistan in recent months.

Suspicions that it is CIA that’s behind all these suicide attacks in Pakistan have been making rounds.

The reason, they say, that it is highly unlikely that a religious group, no matter how fundamentalist, will never target Muslims for the fear of hellfire. Two, that the targets are tactically wrong. They de-legitimize them. Mosques, Muslims, markets. Apart from ISI headquarters, which, they argue is curiously accused of collaborating with the Tehreek. They argue that these attacks are to rile up Pakistani population so that they consent to fight against their own people, destabilize the country and then take out the nuclear weapons. US has now allied with India, they say. Thirdly, that it is impossible for the ISI to do anything independent of the CIA, given the history of the two organization in the last three decades. Whereas it is possible for CIA and other covert organizations to work independently of the ISI.

All that are valid arguments. I see no tactical reason why US would not engage in such actions. (Plenty immoral, but makes tactical sense.)

However, to have credibility, these will have to be proved and not just thrown into the air.

One might also ask- why is it that we mostly complain, and not do anything to mitigate the more deeper cause? Even if the CIA is doing all this, they are able to find people poor/desparate enough that they will do what they are doing.

Whoever is doing this (CIA or no CIA) are doing their part. But the larger, more important question is- are we doing our part?

60% of Pakistani population are born stunted. There is a tremendous gap- monetary as well as social- between the rich and the poor. Whereas it is for the service of the poor that we are given our excess provisions for.

It is not merely a Pakistani problem, although it is the most acutely affecting their society at the moment.

I hope that there is a serious push towards universal education, ennglish as a second language and stronger and better local public schools in the districts.

Having seen quite some of the world, I can say with some confidence that it is better for the entire society if there is equal opportunity for everyone. The elite may think that it is not in their interest. But it is. Not only in the other-worldly sense. In this-worldy sense as well. A community, where the power and wealth is accumulated is singularly weak and vulnerable. All one has to do is to take out the few powerful guys, and there you have it. The society loses all it’s power. And trust me on this one, the have-nots will not come to aid the havs. Perhaps justly so. (Unless, perhaps, it is the poor who take out the greedy rich criminal leaders among them- obedience is only in good, according to one Hadith.)

Whereas in an equal opportunity society, everyone has a stake in the well-being of the entire society. It’s one that’s much harder for anyone to take down.

I wish somebody takes this seriously, and starts empowering their own society. We are as strong as our societies are, by the Will of Allah.

as-Shaheed

One paramilitary soldier was killed as he tried to tackle the suicide bomber. In Karachi, Pakistan.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayahi wa raji’un.

I wonder why the so called “Pakistani Taliban” is doing everything possible for people to hate them. It’s almost as if they intend to be hated. I am also surprised at that they are being described as religious.

Allow alJazeera English to Download in India Petition

It’s a shame that the Indian government does not allow this wonderful channel to downlink. What are they afraid of? Truth?

Please sign, and spread the word:
Allow alJazeera English to Download in India Petition

An Appeal to the Government of Egypt

Please allow George Galloway to pass into Gaza, and do not stain your hands in the blood of Gazans- a people under seige. Muslims and non-Muslims.

It’s a tremendous crime to cause death of innocents, if you fear the last day.

*I am not sure if any from the government will ever read this. But that I leave to Allah.

Rupert Merdoch, Owner of Fox News Buys into Saudi Media

It’s not a good decision to allow Rupert Merdoch, one of the most Islamophobic figures in the world to buy into Rotana media, owned by one of the Saudi princes.

Terrorism is What the Right Hoped for

After Fort Hood, came the Virginia Five, and then the attack by another Nigerian man.

What more the right wingers could hope for? They got their perfect weapons to move the country in a more reactionary direction.

It’s sad to see these incidents that nothing but harm the ummah.

Why Netenyahu is Building More Settlements in Defiance of US Government

Israel-US relations is complex. Israel, in 1972 attacked an American military ship. Almost sank it. Last year, several cases of spying was uncovered against suspected Israeli agents. One would imagine how come they are still allies?

Obama’s administration put it’s reputation at stake when it said in public that they demand a full settlement freeze. In response, Netenyahu (the Israeli prime minister) recently authorized newer settlements in East Jerusalem.

One would imagine that the relation between Washington and Israel would waver, and US will reduce it’s lever of support for Israel. There should be some blowback.

There hasn’t been anything like it. Instead, the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton retreated from her earlier position. Hence the puzzle.

Why is Netenyahu is doing such things? Yes he is a fanatic, but he’s no stupid. He knows if the support of the US is lost, then Israel will not be able to continue what it’s doing, including the occupation of Palestine. The reason they think they “need” to continue occupying Palestine, I believe, are mainly twofold-

• One- it gives them a strategic military depth vis-a-vis it’s neighbors, namely Syria and Jordan. Israel is a tiny country surrounded. If it ever comes to war, the first place to take hits will not be Israeli cities where it’s economy, it factories and it’s socio-political fabric is located. Instead, the first place hit will be Palestine and the Israeli settlements- losing which does not significantly alter the strength of the Israeli government.
• Two- the occupied Palestinians actually contribute to Israeli prosperity. The starving Palestinians make cheap labours. It’s one of the reasons why Israeli leadership is doing everything they can to break the Palestinian businesses that are independent of Israel. Farming is one example. It’s being broken by snatching lands and denying water. Did you know that it is illegal to build water tanks in their farms by Palestinians?

However, in spite of all this, maintaining US support is a higher priority (than occupying Palestine) for the Israeli government. Without it, they will have to deal with the neighbors as equals, and accept an Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.

Here is one possible reason why Israel is not cooperating with the present US government-

Netenyahu’s real allies in Washington are the neo-cons. Netenyahu knows that his racist government is fundamentally at odds with Obama’s (at least overtly) non-racist government.

The neo-cons on the other hand are trying to discredit Obama as a leader.  Their ally and tool in this is the veritable Netenyahu and his racist government.

In showing the US government a big banana, Netenyahu is essentially saying- Obama is an ineffective leader, taking his halo away, making it easier for his allies in Washington to take over. They can hope to come back to office and finish the unfinished “jobs.”

Why is Obama tolerating this? Because the are strong lobbyists on whom his party depends for funds. Probably the pro-democrat lobbyists also are unhappy with Netenyahu’s policies, but they will not accept US government taking actions against the Israeli government. Obama can berate Netenyahu, but not take action against Israeli government.

It’s a deadlock, if that’s the case.

Obama and his team are smart people, and I hope they find a way.

One of the ways to get out of this crisis would be to develop strong ties with countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and not aiding the repressive regime in Egypt.

How does that help?

It’ll send a message to Israel (without hurting it- thus no lobbyists could object) that US does not depend on Israel solely in the middle east.

That’ll soften Netenyahu.

(No) Climate Change Deal at Copenhagen because of Rich Countries

At least the worst has not happened at Copenhagen. The developing countries stood together, and prevented a bad deal pushing the poor countries to pay for the rich ones.

Sadly, my own country used to be with the poor and now it serves the rich. Although we are one of the poorest countries. For shame.

Obama, on the other hand lectured everybody on what they should do while his country pledged only 3.6 billion dollars. Remember how much he paid for the bailouts? Approx a trillion. Even japan pledged to pay 11 billion dollars. In his country, when the rich make mistakes, they are rewarded. Actually Wall street did not make mistakes. It is more like crime when they committed.

In one Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) reminded us, one of the things that devastated past nations is their different treatment of the poor and the rich.