A cobweb of myths

[Solomon2]

A cobweb of myths

Anger has focused on sources which have much less to do with our problems than we think​

Dr Tariq Rahman
Thursday, 14 May, 2009 | 08:32 AM PST

NOW that a military operation is going on in the Malakand Division it is imperative that it should be supported by the people and that the IDPs should be looked after with all resources at hand and be treated with compassion and respect.


Unfortunately, we have many myths and conspiracy theories which prevent clear thinking and that need to be debunked.

Myth 1: America wants our nuclear weapons and is destabilising Pakistan through the Taliban.

This myth is dangerous because those who subscribe to it also believe that America pays the Taliban to destabilise Pakistan to create an excuse to take away our nuclear weapons. This makes it difficult for the government to fight the Taliban while accepting American aid as the whole thing seems to be a cruel hoax to ordinary Pakistanis.

The US has over 5,400 nuclear warheads and it is thousands of kilometres away from this country. Moreover, it allowed Pakistan to develop these weapons. America would not gain if Pakistan is destabilised because then Al Qaeda would be strengthened and that would threaten America.

During the 1971 war America warned India not to overrun (West) Pakistan because it was not in America’s interest to destabilise South Asia any further. In 1999 during the Kargil episode America helped Pakistan to cut its losses without further bloodshed.

During the Afghan war the US wanted to defeat the Soviet Union and paid Pakistan to do so. Pakistan helped because it needed the military aid and money (and Ziaul Haq wanted American support). And now, once again, America wants to defeat the Islamic militants because they threaten America and Pakistan needs the money. That is what the Kerry-Lugar bill is for and that is precisely why the IMF and the Friends of Pakistan consortium have lent Pakistan billions of dollars. It is not in America’s interest to destabilise Pakistan because if it breaks up or is Talibanised it will be a threat to America.

So, while America’s policies might not be the most productive, it makes no sense to claim that the Taliban are US agents in a conspiracy against our nuclear weapons.


Myth 2: Nothing gets done in Pakistan unless America wants it to happen.

This is a different version of the previous myth and it is not true. No country is so powerful that it can get everything done. Pakistan made friends with communist China against America’s wishes. Later, it was the US which sought American help to develop its own relations with China. Pakistan also developed nuclear weapons against American wishes. During the lawyers’ movement America was a supporter of Musharraf until he turned weak and it was no longer in America’s interest to support him.


Myth 3: The Taliban want Islam in the country but their approach is wrong.

This depends on personal interpretations of the Sharia. The Taliban want to impose their version of it. However, it is not only a matter of approach, it is also a matter of the interpretation of the Sharia. In fact the Taliban version of the Sharia would make life joyless for all and a torture for women. Secondly, the country would lose a pool of talent to other countries. Thirdly, productivity would decrease as Pakistan would be isolated.

Fourthly, science and technology, indeed all knowledge, would suffer as creative minds would be stifled in an atmosphere of fear. Fifthly, either the US or India or Iran would be so alarmed as to attack us or stop all foreign aid to us because such a regime would be a threat to their way of life and religious practices. Lastly, the Taliban is a name for disparate groups and gangs. They would fight for power, making us another Afghanistan.


Myth 4: If Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan there will be peace.

Nato forces should withdraw from Afghanistan as a matter of principle but this will not end Talibanisation. Indeed, if Nato forces withdraw, parts of Afghanistan will be ruled by the Taliban once again. If Pakistan sides with them it will be isolated by the rest of the world. If it does not, it will have a hostile neighbour. In either case the Taliban worldview will be strengthened in Pakistan.

The groups seeking power in order to enforce Taliban-style Sharia in Pakistan will continue their attempt to succeed. This will mean that the danger to girls’ schools, women’s freedom of choice in moving around, dress code, art and music will remain under threat.

However, in addition to the principle that one does not want any country to occupy another, one would want America to withdraw since the occupation creates a backlash. So, even at the risk of strengthening the Talibanisation of the Pashto-speaking areas our government and thinkers should raise their voice for a Nato withdrawal. When this happens Pakistan will find it easier to fight the Taliban because Pakistanis will stop calling it an anti-colonial war.


Myth 5: Islamic militancy is created by poverty and ignorance.

This is only partly true. The family background of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Musaib al-Zarqawi (killed in 2006) — all leading lights of Islamic militancy — cannot be called a poverty-stricken one. Osama’s family is among the richest globally. Zawahiri comes from a distinguished Egyptian family. Zarqawi’s father was an army officer and mayor of a town in Jordan called Zarqa.

Nor is the leadership illiterate. All were educated though not in the liberal arts or the social sciences. The fact is that their ideas about using militancy to defeat what is perceived as western domination (called ‘Crusaders’ by them) and the corrupt ruling elites of the Muslim world emanate from Sayyid Qutb of the Muslim Brotherhood and Abd al-Salam Faraj of Egypt. Indeed, they go back to Taqi Uddin Ibu Taymiyya (1263-1328) who lived during the tumultuous time of the Mongol invasions.

The leadership disseminates ideas about the permanent grievances of Muslims, such as Israel’s domination of Palestinian land, to young people who burn with a sense of outrage. Here the poverty nexus does come in since the ordinary rank and file of militant movements come from poor, unhappy, violence-prone households. They want money, respect and justice and these are promised to these deprived angry young men. They then become cannon fodder for the militants.

If we understand these and other myths and realise that we have created our own Frankensteins and not foreign countries; that most of the militants are our people and not foreigners (though some are); that foreign countries may help militants but are not powerful enough to keep them alive for ever; that we made mistakes in the past of which we are reaping the harvest — then we can still make Pakistan safe for our children.

 

[muse]

We are inundated with these myths, which serve to confuse Pakistanis and serve the interests of Islamist terrorists.

Why do some find these myths appealing, why do they like to think of themselves as powerless automatons in the pay of foreign powers, where is their self respect?

 

[Bill Longley]

A cobweb of myths

Anger has focused on sources which have much less to do with our problems than we think​

Dr Tariq Rahman
Thursday, 14 May, 2009 | 08:32 AM PST

NOW that a military operation is going on in the Malakand Division it is imperative that it should be supported by the people and that the IDPs should be looked after with all resources at hand and be treated with compassion and respect.


Unfortunately, we have many myths and conspiracy theories which prevent clear thinking and that need to be debunked.

Myth 1: America wants our nuclear weapons and is destabilising Pakistan through the Taliban.

This myth is dangerous because those who subscribe to it also believe that America pays the Taliban to destabilise Pakistan to create an excuse to take away our nuclear weapons. This makes it difficult for the government to fight the Taliban while accepting American aid as the whole thing seems to be a cruel hoax to ordinary Pakistanis.

The US has over 5,400 nuclear warheads and it is thousands of kilometres away from this country. Moreover, it allowed Pakistan to develop these weapons. America would not gain if Pakistan is destabilised because then Al Qaeda would be strengthened and that would threaten America.

During the 1971 war America warned India not to overrun (West) Pakistan because it was not in America’s interest to destabilise South Asia any further. In 1999 during the Kargil episode America helped Pakistan to cut its losses without further bloodshed.

During the Afghan war the US wanted to defeat the Soviet Union and paid Pakistan to do so. Pakistan helped because it needed the military aid and money (and Ziaul Haq wanted American support). And now, once again, America wants to defeat the Islamic militants because they threaten America and Pakistan needs the money. That is what the Kerry-Lugar bill is for and that is precisely why the IMF and the Friends of Pakistan consortium have lent Pakistan billions of dollars. It is not in America’s interest to destabilise Pakistan because if it breaks up or is Talibanised it will be a threat to America.

So, while America’s policies might not be the most productive, it makes no sense to claim that the Taliban are US agents in a conspiracy against our nuclear weapons.


Myth 2: Nothing gets done in Pakistan unless America wants it to happen.

This is a different version of the previous myth and it is not true. No country is so powerful that it can get everything done. Pakistan made friends with communist China against America’s wishes. Later, it was the US which sought American help to develop its own relations with China. Pakistan also developed nuclear weapons against American wishes. During the lawyers’ movement America was a supporter of Musharraf until he turned weak and it was no longer in America’s interest to support him.


Myth 3: The Taliban want Islam in the country but their approach is wrong.

This depends on personal interpretations of the Sharia. The Taliban want to impose their version of it. However, it is not only a matter of approach, it is also a matter of the interpretation of the Sharia. In fact the Taliban version of the Sharia would make life joyless for all and a torture for women. Secondly, the country would lose a pool of talent to other countries. Thirdly, productivity would decrease as Pakistan would be isolated.

Fourthly, science and technology, indeed all knowledge, would suffer as creative minds would be stifled in an atmosphere of fear. Fifthly, either the US or India or Iran would be so alarmed as to attack us or stop all foreign aid to us because such a regime would be a threat to their way of life and religious practices. Lastly, the Taliban is a name for disparate groups and gangs. They would fight for power, making us another Afghanistan.


Myth 4: If Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan there will be peace.

Nato forces should withdraw from Afghanistan as a matter of principle but this will not end Talibanisation. Indeed, if Nato forces withdraw, parts of Afghanistan will be ruled by the Taliban once again. If Pakistan sides with them it will be isolated by the rest of the world. If it does not, it will have a hostile neighbour. In either case the Taliban worldview will be strengthened in Pakistan.

The groups seeking power in order to enforce Taliban-style Sharia in Pakistan will continue their attempt to succeed. This will mean that the danger to girls’ schools, women’s freedom of choice in moving around, dress code, art and music will remain under threat.

However, in addition to the principle that one does not want any country to occupy another, one would want America to withdraw since the occupation creates a backlash. So, even at the risk of strengthening the Talibanisation of the Pashto-speaking areas our government and thinkers should raise their voice for a Nato withdrawal. When this happens Pakistan will find it easier to fight the Taliban because Pakistanis will stop calling it an anti-colonial war.


Myth 5: Islamic militancy is created by poverty and ignorance.

This is only partly true. The family background of Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Musaib al-Zarqawi (killed in 2006) — all leading lights of Islamic militancy — cannot be called a poverty-stricken one. Osama’s family is among the richest globally. Zawahiri comes from a distinguished Egyptian family. Zarqawi’s father was an army officer and mayor of a town in Jordan called Zarqa.

Nor is the leadership illiterate. All were educated though not in the liberal arts or the social sciences. The fact is that their ideas about using militancy to defeat what is perceived as western domination (called ‘Crusaders’ by them) and the corrupt ruling elites of the Muslim world emanate from Sayyid Qutb of the Muslim Brotherhood and Abd al-Salam Faraj of Egypt. Indeed, they go back to Taqi Uddin Ibu Taymiyya (1263-1328) who lived during the tumultuous time of the Mongol invasions.

The leadership disseminates ideas about the permanent grievances of Muslims, such as Israel’s domination of Palestinian land, to young people who burn with a sense of outrage. Here the poverty nexus does come in since the ordinary rank and file of militant movements come from poor, unhappy, violence-prone households. They want money, respect and justice and these are promised to these deprived angry young men. They then become cannon fodder for the militants.

If we understand these and other myths and realise that we have created our own Frankensteins and not foreign countries; that most of the militants are our people and not foreigners (though some are); that foreign countries may help militants but are not powerful enough to keep them alive for ever; that we made mistakes in the past of which we are reaping the harvest — then we can still make Pakistan safe for our children.

The mainstream media in Pakistan leaves much to be desired.

Here are some of my thoughts on a recent article in the DAWN newspaper:

Regarding the article, I agree partly that the first one is a myth. America, in my view, does not wish to destabilize Pakistan. However, if it did not want to de-nuclearize Pakistan then the US would not have conducted so many war games on seizing Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and would not have trained so many Special Forces soldiers to penetrate Pakistan's nuclear facilities.

With respect to the second myth, I again partly agree. Although America does not decide everything that happens, it has a bigger influence on Pakistan than any other foreign country. The current military operation in the north-west is a direct result of American pressure.

On the third myth, the writer states that "the Taliban version of Shariah would make life joyless for all." Life in Pakistan is already joyless and has been joyless for six decades. This absence of joy is not because of Taliban or Shari'ah. The writer is connecting two points that are unrelated. He also states that science and technology would suffer under the Taliban. But science and technology have suffered in Pakistan even without the Taliban. When corruption is so high and literacy is so low, of course science and technology will suffer. This has nothing to do with the Taliban or with Shari'ah.

Regarding the fourth myth, I disagree with the writer when he says that the Taliban will rule Afghanistan if NATO withdraw. The Taliban could only rule Afghanistan when it was supported by Pakistan. So Taliban rule in Afghanistan is not inevitable unless it is given money and weapons by the Pakistani army and intelligence. Even with Pakistani support, the Taliban was not able to control all of Afghanistan. The Northern Alliance (which was supported by Russia, India and Iran) continued to control the north part of Afghanistan, and continued to fight against the Taliban.

The writer also states that Pakistan will be isolated if it sides with the Taliban. But Pakistan supported the Taliban from 1996 until 2001, and Pakistan was not isolated by the rest of the world. It was only isolated by the US, and this isolation was unrelated to the Taliban. It had to do with nuclear weapons development and testing. Even Saudi Arabia and the UAE had ties with the Taliban and they were not isolated by the world. The Afghan Taliban is still supported by Pakistan. Mullah Omar, the leader of the Taliban, has his headquarters are in Quetta, Pakistan. He is protected by ISI, the Pakistan's main intelligence agency. Jalaluddin Haqqani, a Taliban commander in Afghanistan, has been referred to as a "strategic asset" by General Ashfaq Kayani, the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff. The US is aware of all this, but it still has not isolated Pakistan.

I agree with the writer that NATO should withdraw its military from Afghanistan. But I believe that the civilian component of NATO should remain in order to help re-build Afghan civil society, schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure. Western civilian aid to Afghanistan is not a threat. The danger is when Western militaries drop bombs on innocent people. To kill 10 terrorists, the US air force is willing to kill 95 children who may be standing by. The military component of NATO should be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

I disagree with the writer when he says that Pakistan should fight the Taliban once NATO withdraws. The Taliban have no quarrel with Pakistan other than the fact that Pakistan supports NATO's mission in Afghanistan. The Taliban (whether Afghan Taliban or Tehrik Taliban Pakistan) did not carry out a single attack on Pakistani soil when Afghanistan was unoccupied by Western forces. So there is no need for Pakistan to fight the Taliban. Fighting only creates death, destruction, displacement, hatred, and more violence.

Finally, the writer's analysis of the fifth myth is correct. But he fails to acknowledge that the grievances such as Palestine have indeed been created by foreign countries. The UN partitioned Palestine without the consent of the Arab and Muslim countries. Israel is supported by the US (a foreign country). Thus, the grievance is legitimate because this "Frankenstein" has not been created by Muslim countries. It is a direct result of injustice and oppression by the foreign countries. The writer wants to create the impression that Muslims are to blame for militancy. But Islamic militancy did not exist before Islam's third holiest site became occupied by Jews. The writer appears to lament Islamic militancy more than he laments Israel's brutal and inhumane treatment of the Palestinians.

The foreign countries may not have created the militants, but they gave the militants a reason to come into existence. And the foreign countries' unjust policies continue to provide life support to Islamic militancy the same way that a respirator forces air into the lungs of a dying man. The writer states that the foreign countries are not powerful enough to keep the militancy alive forever. He is mistaken. As long as the foreign countries continue to exploit and oppress Muslims, the militancy will stay alive forever. The writer wants to make Pakistan safe for our children. It is not the Taliban that is to blame for the lack of security for Pakistani children. The Pakistani military and intelligence are to blame for creating the Taliban. The writer apparently did not worry when the ISI helped the Taliban made Afghanistan unsafe for Afghan children, but now that Pakistan is threatened, the writer is worried about the well-being of Pakistani children. The writer's lack of empathy for the children of Palestine and the children of Afghanistan is striking. It is sad that such ignorance is allowed to grace the pages of a supposedly respectable publication like DAWN. And it is sad that this incredibly biased article is what passes for intellectual discourse in Pakistan these days.

 

[muse]

Mr. Longley:


You seem to have misunderstood, the author of the lead article is not suggesting that he (the author) thinks that the myths he (the Author) outines have any measure of validity - they are utterly false.

Just because the U.S armed forces train for CONTINGENCIES, does not mean they actually want the circumstances of the contingencies to exist. You seem to be confirming myth 2, since the American trains for it, it means he can actually achieve it and that his intelligence service and the product it creates is without equal - which goes to explain his great success against the Talib?

 

[Bill Longley]

Mr. Longley:


You seem to have misunderstood, the author of the lead article is not suggesting that he (the author) thinks that the myths he (the Author) outines have any measure of validity - they are utterly false.

Just because the U.S armed forces train for CONTINGENCIES, does not mean they actually want the circumstances of the contingencies to exist. You seem to be confirming myth 2, since the American trains for it, it means he can actually achieve it and that his intelligence service and the product it creates is without equal - which goes to explain his great success against the Talib?

btw its not my comment it was published in allvoices - events, people, places that matter - tell us your news

 

[Bill Longley]

http://mbik14.blogspot.com/2009/05/answering-dr-tariq-rehmans-cobweb-of.html
In every era there were people who challenged old idea. Protestants in Christianity, Wahabis in Islam and so on. a Superb article appeared in Dawn news Paper written by Dr Tariq Rehman. Dr Tariq tried his best to deny what he called "Conspiracy Stories and Myths which have enveloped the whole Nation of Pakistan.

I find his article interesting, but dare to challenge his arguments. There fore I will try to answer his arguments step by Step.

Myth 1: America wants our nuclear weapons and is destabilizing Pakistan through the Taliban.

1. America doesn’t need Pakistani Atomic weapons and I agree. But it’s a truth that US is directly and indirectly trying to Destabilize Pakistan. 1 small example is Brehamdagh Bugti is hiding in Kabul. Kabul is under US Puppet Karzai government’s control. US never noticed it may be because Chinese involvement in Gawader development and Pakistan’s Strategic friendship is sin enough for Pakistan to be Punished by giving refuge to Terrorists fighting in strategic Balochistan province against Pakistani State.

2. US drones hit leaders of Taliban who are Pro Pakistan but on repeated requests from Pakistani authorities for give anti Pakistan Takfiri forces and Thugs like Baitullah Mahsud. According to American bias
Website www.longwarjournal.org.Baitullah's Group was only attacked 5 times since Drone attacks started in 2005. According to one report in Dailytimes Baitullah Ran away during army operation to Afghanistan where he met RAW officials and came back with new campaign of suicide attack against Pakistanis. If the report is true then why in the hell US did nothing to stopped RAW from financing the TTP. BTW afghan Taliban Leader Mullah Omer Forbade Pakistani Militants not To attack Pakistan but Baitullah and His thugs continued and at last Mullah Omer had to sacked him from leadershi of TTP.
3. Pakistan is Facing Taliban threat but the hype which US made in media about the Talibani advance was just un natural. May be the reason was to push Pakistan for war against Taliban. Pakistan Launched offensive Operation Rah e Haq and so far more then 1300000 people have become refugees in their own land. I reckon Taliban should be eliminated but the way US has forced Pakistan is resulting in ill will amongst Pashtuns. US Knows well what effect such operations are having. The biggest reason for rising Taliban power in region is American presence in the region, according to Graham E Fuller, Ex CIA station Chief of Kabul. And Taliban movement is changing Swiftly into Pashtun Struggle
4. Strategic Location of Pakistan and New game in Central Asia demands Division of Pakistan for which it’s in very much favor of Americans to destabilize Pakistan.
5. Chinese Presence in Balochistan means china at a junction which joins Central Asia with Middle East and South Asia.... and China is Pakistan Ally and America’s rival.

Myth 2: Nothing gets done in Pakistan unless America wants it to happen.

Although America does not decide everything that happens, it has a bigger influence on Pakistan than any other foreign country. The current military operation in the north-west is a direct result of American pressure.
Our leaders and elite follow Commandments of US more then they follow that of God

Myth 3: The Taliban want Islam in the country but their approach is wrong

Life in Pakistan is already joyless and has been joyless for six decades. This absence of joy is not because of Taliban or Shari'ah. The writer is connecting two points that are unrelated. He also states that science and technology would suffer under the Taliban. But science and technology have suffered in Pakistan even without the Taliban. When corruption is so high and literacy is so low, of course science and technology will suffer. This has nothing to do with the Taliban or with Shari'ah.

Myth 4: If Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan there will be peace.

let me quote again Fuller who served CIA station chief in Kabul and a former vice-chair of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council.
Only the withdrawal of American and NATO boots on the ground will begin to allow the process of near-frantic emotions to subside within Pakistan, and for the region to start to cool down. Pakistanis experienced in governance and is well able to deal with its own Islamists and tribalists under normal circumstances; until recently, Pakistani Islamists had one of the lowest rates of electoral success in the Muslim world.
But US policies have now driven local nationalism, xenophobia and Islamism to combined fever pitch. As Washington demands that Pakistan redeem failed American policies in Afghanistan, Islamabad can no longer manage its domestic crisis.

Myth 5: Islamic militancy is created by poverty and ignorance.

To some extend its right. Poverty gives frustration and Hopelessness. Many try to find hope in religion and Frustration makes Radical ideology more Attractive to frustrated minds with no hope. No wonder areas infested by Taliban are poor areas. Swati Taliban represents class conflict with in Swati society. (Battle for swat, by Sirtaj Khan, Frontier Post, Nov 21 2008)
http://mbik14.blogspot.com/2009/05/answering-dr-tariq-rehmans-cobweb-of.html

 

[Skeptic]

LOST IDENTITY: ANSWERING Dr. TARIQ REHMAN'S " A cobweb of myths"
In every era there were people who challenged old idea. Protestants in Christianity, Wahabis in Islam and so on. a Superb article appeared in Dawn news Paper written by Dr Tariq Rehman. Dr Tariq tried his best to deny what he called "Conspiracy Stories and Myths which have enveloped the whole Nation of Pakistan.

I find his article interesting, but dare to challenge his arguments. There fore I will try to answer his arguments step by Step.

Myth 1: America wants our nuclear weapons and is destabilizing Pakistan through the Taliban.

1. America doesn’t need Pakistani Atomic weapons and I agree. But it’s a truth that US is directly and indirectly trying to Destabilize Pakistan. 1 small example is Brehamdagh Bugti is hiding in Kabul. Kabul is under US Puppet Karzai government’s control. US never noticed it may be because Chinese involvement in Gawader development and Pakistan’s Strategic friendship is sin enough for Pakistan to be Punished by giving refuge to Terrorists fighting in strategic Balochistan province against Pakistani State.

2. US drones hit leaders of Taliban who are Pro Pakistan but on repeated requests from Pakistani authorities for give anti Pakistan Takfiri forces and Thugs like Baitullah Mahsud. According to American bias
Website www.longwarjournal.org.Baitullah's Group was only attacked 5 times since Drone attacks started in 2005. According to one report in Dailytimes Baitullah Ran away during army operation to Afghanistan where he met RAW officials and came back with new campaign of suicide attack against Pakistanis. If the report is true then why in the hell US did nothing to stopped RAW from financing the TTP. BTW afghan Taliban Leader Mullah Omer Forbade Pakistani Militants not To attack Pakistan but Baitullah and His thugs continued and at last Mullah Omer had to sacked him from leadershi of TTP.
3. Pakistan is Facing Taliban threat but the hype which US made in media about the Talibani advance was just un natural. May be the reason was to push Pakistan for war against Taliban. Pakistan Launched offensive Operation Rah e Haq and so far more then 1300000 people have become refugees in their own land. I reckon Taliban should be eliminated but the way US has forced Pakistan is resulting in ill will amongst Pashtuns. US Knows well what effect such operations are having. The biggest reason for rising Taliban power in region is American presence in the region, according to Graham E Fuller, Ex CIA station Chief of Kabul. And Taliban movement is changing Swiftly into Pashtun Struggle
4. Strategic Location of Pakistan and New game in Central Asia demands Division of Pakistan for which it’s in very much favor of Americans to destabilize Pakistan.
5. Chinese Presence in Balochistan means china at a junction which joins Central Asia with Middle East and South Asia.... and China is Pakistan Ally and America’s rival.

Myth 2: Nothing gets done in Pakistan unless America wants it to happen.

Although America does not decide everything that happens, it has a bigger influence on Pakistan than any other foreign country. The current military operation in the north-west is a direct result of American pressure.
Our leaders and elite follow Commandments of US more then they follow that of God

Myth 3: The Taliban want Islam in the country but their approach is wrong

Life in Pakistan is already joyless and has been joyless for six decades. This absence of joy is not because of Taliban or Shari'ah. The writer is connecting two points that are unrelated. He also states that science and technology would suffer under the Taliban. But science and technology have suffered in Pakistan even without the Taliban. When corruption is so high and literacy is so low, of course science and technology will suffer. This has nothing to do with the Taliban or with Shari'ah.

Myth 4: If Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan there will be peace.

let me quote again Fuller who served CIA station chief in Kabul and a former vice-chair of the CIA’s National Intelligence Council.
Only the withdrawal of American and NATO boots on the ground will begin to allow the process of near-frantic emotions to subside within Pakistan, and for the region to start to cool down. Pakistanis experienced in governance and is well able to deal with its own Islamists and tribalists under normal circumstances; until recently, Pakistani Islamists had one of the lowest rates of electoral success in the Muslim world.
But US policies have now driven local nationalism, xenophobia and Islamism to combined fever pitch. As Washington demands that Pakistan redeem failed American policies in Afghanistan, Islamabad can no longer manage its domestic crisis.

Myth 5: Islamic militancy is created by poverty and ignorance.

To some extend its right. Poverty gives frustration and Hopelessness. Many try to find hope in religion and Frustration makes Radical ideology more Attractive to frustrated minds with no hope. No wonder areas infested by Taliban are poor areas. Swati Taliban represents class conflict with in Swati society. (Battle for swat, by Sirtaj Khan, Frontier Post, Nov 21 2008)
LOST IDENTITY: ANSWERING Dr. TARIQ REHMAN'S " A cobweb of myths"

Lolz. Solomon was banned for using text and links from the same blog that you referred to in your post - the Long War Journal. I better stay out of this...

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Lolz. Solomon was banned for using text and links from the same blog that you referred to in your post - the Long War Journal. I better stay out of this...

Actually he had quoted from that blog a few days before he was banned - in fact he started an entire thread on that particular blog post, and it was responded to.

He however chose to continue to post excerpts of that blog post on multiple threads, in addition to other 'trollish' behavior.

One blog post is not necessarily enough to earn a ban.

 

[fhassan]

One blog post is not necessarily enough to earn a ban.

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

I was planning to debate with him on his "whats wrong with the taliban" thread. Due to time constraints I promised that I would begin after the 20th of May, and now your telling me he has been banned!

Anyway - as prmoised I will still answer all his rubbish. I believe it is important to answer such outlandish remarks.