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Opinion Destroying Pakistans democracy
Brian Cloughley
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The writer is a South Asian affairs analyst.
During the few years of its existence in which Pakistan has experienced elected governments there was little if any social improvement. The governments were tossed out by the army in bloodless coups with the approval of the vast majority of the population. But then the military men tasted political power and relished it and wanted to remain top boys. They failed to prepare the country for workable democracy, and when they left, either in disgrace (General Yahya Khan), through a mysterious accident (General Zia), or by losing a constitutional battle with the judiciary (General Musharraf), the ensuing civilian administrations were unskilled in leading a nation and exercising authority.
The present government in Islamabad continues to flounder, but much of the lack of direction is hardly its fault. Beset by bigoted fanatics whose suicide bombings are indiscriminately savage, and besieged by international preachers who lecture Pakistan about not doing enough to combat terrorism, the government has a hard row to hoe. The worldwide crisis caused by greedy banksters in the US and Europe has not helped an economy that looked as if it was getting off its knees before it suffered the double whammy of internal insurrection and external battering by the crooked casinos of the west.
Sure, its depressing to know that so many of Pakistans MNAs have become dollar millionaires since they were elected, although theyre only following the habits of, for example, the rotten lot of Members of Parliament in London who have been ripping off the taxpayer for years with fraudulent claims for expenses. But the other day the MNAs in Islamabad took up their patriotic cudgels and decided it was time that Pakistan should assert itself against foreign domination.
In an admirable display of solidarity the politicians Strongly asserted that unilateral actions, such as those conducted by the US forces in Abbottabad, as well as the continued drone attacks on the territory of Pakistan, are not only unacceptable but also constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and humanitarian norms and such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith...
Now this is the parliament and people of Pakistan speaking to the most powerful country in the world in no uncertain terms. These democratically elected politicians are telling the United States of America that enough is enough. They declared that as from 14 May 2011 there must be no more illegal killings in their country by foreigners. The Constitution of the United States is precise about condemning such action.
But then, predictably enough, there came the slap in the face. The US delivered the ultimate insult to Pakistans democracy. Because it was reported barely 48 hours later that Two US drone strikes targeting a militant compound and a vehicle in Pakistans lawless tribal district of North Waziristan killed at least nine people on Monday [16 May].....the drones fired two missiles into a militant compound, and minutes later another drone fired two missiles at a vehicle nearby. Get the message?
The message is clear, in that the Parliament of Pakistan can pass what resolutions it likes, but the United States of America will ignore them. Not only was Pakistan humiliated over the Davis affair, when that CIA thug killed two citizens of Pakistan and got away with murder and was spirited out of the country instead of facing criminal charges, but the US is intent on grinding Pakistans dignity even further into the gutter. The 16 May drone strike was followed the next day by an attack on two Pakistan army checkpoints near Miranshah by foreign helicopters. Two soldiers were injured. No apologies, of course.
The United States cares not a fig for Pakistans democracy, or for any other democracy, come to that. The Obama administration has shown that it is ludicrously hypocritical by attacking Libya, which is ruled by a whacky dictator who persecutes his citizens, while maintaining the US Gulf Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain, which is ruled by a whacky dictator who persecutes his citizens. The only difference between these two places is that the western media concentrate on Libya and are not permitted to say anything bad about Bahrains savage king. Mercenaries from other Arab states have been brought into Bahrain to subjugate its citizens, while in Libya Nato swooping jet jockeys have fun while trying to assassinate Qaddafi.
Parliament in Islamabad is powerless against the arrogant might of the United States. It can pass resolutions until the drones come home, and nobody in Washington will pay the slightest heed. It seems that for Pakistan legislators to declare such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith is practically an invitation to increase the carnage. Pakistan cant do a damn thing about this blatant provocation. The indignity inflicted on Pakistan is not only insolent and illegal, it is lip-smackingly, sneeringly triumphal.
Pakistans democracy is shaky. It needs all the help it can get both domestically and internationally if it is to prove that Pakistan can govern itself properly and for the long term. But on the international scene Pakistans democracy is being torn to bits. Its not just being ignored its being held up to the world and ripped to shreds by drone-fired missiles and the rockets and bombs from foreign aircraft sweeping illegally over its borders.
Economically it would be disastrous for Pakistan to cut ties with its savage paymaster. But these kill-crazy video-game desperadoes who gaily bombard the world without fear of retaliation just might take pause if Pakistan did one thing: stop, instantly, the entire flow of war material passing through Pakistan to Afghanistan, and forbid all flights through Pakistans airspace by any aircraft destined for Kabul. Another course could be to issue orders to the Pakistan Air Force to shoot down the drones. This it is quite entitled to do under international custom. (Imagine what the US would do if an armed Venezuelan drone were to zoom over Arizona.)
These might seem extreme retaliatory measures. But a country cant just sit back and be treated with the derision, disrespect, and insolent contempt that Pakistan is suffering at the moment. Enough is enough. If democracy is to survive in Pakistan and heaven forbid there be a rerun of past years then democracy must be seen to be supported and defended.
Website is Brian Cloughley
Brian Cloughley
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The writer is a South Asian affairs analyst.
During the few years of its existence in which Pakistan has experienced elected governments there was little if any social improvement. The governments were tossed out by the army in bloodless coups with the approval of the vast majority of the population. But then the military men tasted political power and relished it and wanted to remain top boys. They failed to prepare the country for workable democracy, and when they left, either in disgrace (General Yahya Khan), through a mysterious accident (General Zia), or by losing a constitutional battle with the judiciary (General Musharraf), the ensuing civilian administrations were unskilled in leading a nation and exercising authority.
The present government in Islamabad continues to flounder, but much of the lack of direction is hardly its fault. Beset by bigoted fanatics whose suicide bombings are indiscriminately savage, and besieged by international preachers who lecture Pakistan about not doing enough to combat terrorism, the government has a hard row to hoe. The worldwide crisis caused by greedy banksters in the US and Europe has not helped an economy that looked as if it was getting off its knees before it suffered the double whammy of internal insurrection and external battering by the crooked casinos of the west.
Sure, its depressing to know that so many of Pakistans MNAs have become dollar millionaires since they were elected, although theyre only following the habits of, for example, the rotten lot of Members of Parliament in London who have been ripping off the taxpayer for years with fraudulent claims for expenses. But the other day the MNAs in Islamabad took up their patriotic cudgels and decided it was time that Pakistan should assert itself against foreign domination.
In an admirable display of solidarity the politicians Strongly asserted that unilateral actions, such as those conducted by the US forces in Abbottabad, as well as the continued drone attacks on the territory of Pakistan, are not only unacceptable but also constitute violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, international law and humanitarian norms and such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith...
Now this is the parliament and people of Pakistan speaking to the most powerful country in the world in no uncertain terms. These democratically elected politicians are telling the United States of America that enough is enough. They declared that as from 14 May 2011 there must be no more illegal killings in their country by foreigners. The Constitution of the United States is precise about condemning such action.
But then, predictably enough, there came the slap in the face. The US delivered the ultimate insult to Pakistans democracy. Because it was reported barely 48 hours later that Two US drone strikes targeting a militant compound and a vehicle in Pakistans lawless tribal district of North Waziristan killed at least nine people on Monday [16 May].....the drones fired two missiles into a militant compound, and minutes later another drone fired two missiles at a vehicle nearby. Get the message?
The message is clear, in that the Parliament of Pakistan can pass what resolutions it likes, but the United States of America will ignore them. Not only was Pakistan humiliated over the Davis affair, when that CIA thug killed two citizens of Pakistan and got away with murder and was spirited out of the country instead of facing criminal charges, but the US is intent on grinding Pakistans dignity even further into the gutter. The 16 May drone strike was followed the next day by an attack on two Pakistan army checkpoints near Miranshah by foreign helicopters. Two soldiers were injured. No apologies, of course.
The United States cares not a fig for Pakistans democracy, or for any other democracy, come to that. The Obama administration has shown that it is ludicrously hypocritical by attacking Libya, which is ruled by a whacky dictator who persecutes his citizens, while maintaining the US Gulf Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain, which is ruled by a whacky dictator who persecutes his citizens. The only difference between these two places is that the western media concentrate on Libya and are not permitted to say anything bad about Bahrains savage king. Mercenaries from other Arab states have been brought into Bahrain to subjugate its citizens, while in Libya Nato swooping jet jockeys have fun while trying to assassinate Qaddafi.
Parliament in Islamabad is powerless against the arrogant might of the United States. It can pass resolutions until the drones come home, and nobody in Washington will pay the slightest heed. It seems that for Pakistan legislators to declare such drone attacks must be stopped forthwith is practically an invitation to increase the carnage. Pakistan cant do a damn thing about this blatant provocation. The indignity inflicted on Pakistan is not only insolent and illegal, it is lip-smackingly, sneeringly triumphal.
Pakistans democracy is shaky. It needs all the help it can get both domestically and internationally if it is to prove that Pakistan can govern itself properly and for the long term. But on the international scene Pakistans democracy is being torn to bits. Its not just being ignored its being held up to the world and ripped to shreds by drone-fired missiles and the rockets and bombs from foreign aircraft sweeping illegally over its borders.
Economically it would be disastrous for Pakistan to cut ties with its savage paymaster. But these kill-crazy video-game desperadoes who gaily bombard the world without fear of retaliation just might take pause if Pakistan did one thing: stop, instantly, the entire flow of war material passing through Pakistan to Afghanistan, and forbid all flights through Pakistans airspace by any aircraft destined for Kabul. Another course could be to issue orders to the Pakistan Air Force to shoot down the drones. This it is quite entitled to do under international custom. (Imagine what the US would do if an armed Venezuelan drone were to zoom over Arizona.)
These might seem extreme retaliatory measures. But a country cant just sit back and be treated with the derision, disrespect, and insolent contempt that Pakistan is suffering at the moment. Enough is enough. If democracy is to survive in Pakistan and heaven forbid there be a rerun of past years then democracy must be seen to be supported and defended.
Website is Brian Cloughley
