Solomon2
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Tonight's reading was about former French President Francois Mitterand:
A very deceiving and accomplished center-leftist, early in his political career he faked an assassination attempt on his life, was discovered, and yet his career recovered.
As PM he co-opted the French Communists to better marginalize them.
He encouraged and empowered U.S. president Ronald Reagan to undertake acts of economic sabotage in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
He threw a tantrum in Washington to establish the rule that the cuisine served by the White House should never be superior to the cuisine served at the Champs Elyssés.
After a few years as PM he made a complete reversal of economic policy, from an emphasis on state planning to "l'austere", the opening of free markets - since he couldn't get socialism to work.
All while he kept the cancer that eventually killed him a state secret from his own countrymen.
The French accepted all this - they even savoured the changes! What can I say? The French are not Americans.
The French aren't Pakistanis, either, but the Mitterrand story set me to wondering, what if Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan decided to totally change their outlook and recognize Israel tomorrow? What would the reactions of Pakistanis be? Would some support their leadership? Would there be mass demonstrations on the street? Would there be a sense of relief and quiet support that Pakistan had finally begun to regain its sanity? Or would people remain quiet because, like after OBL was discovered, the primary feeling would be one of utter shock?
A very deceiving and accomplished center-leftist, early in his political career he faked an assassination attempt on his life, was discovered, and yet his career recovered.
As PM he co-opted the French Communists to better marginalize them.
He encouraged and empowered U.S. president Ronald Reagan to undertake acts of economic sabotage in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
He threw a tantrum in Washington to establish the rule that the cuisine served by the White House should never be superior to the cuisine served at the Champs Elyssés.
After a few years as PM he made a complete reversal of economic policy, from an emphasis on state planning to "l'austere", the opening of free markets - since he couldn't get socialism to work.
All while he kept the cancer that eventually killed him a state secret from his own countrymen.
The French accepted all this - they even savoured the changes! What can I say? The French are not Americans.
The French aren't Pakistanis, either, but the Mitterrand story set me to wondering, what if Nawaz Sharif or Imran Khan decided to totally change their outlook and recognize Israel tomorrow? What would the reactions of Pakistanis be? Would some support their leadership? Would there be mass demonstrations on the street? Would there be a sense of relief and quiet support that Pakistan had finally begun to regain its sanity? Or would people remain quiet because, like after OBL was discovered, the primary feeling would be one of utter shock?
