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COVER JAN 31ST 2009

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Bouquets, Boots and Bush
BY: RAM PUNIYANI

War Not the Best and Most Effective Option
BY BALRAJ PURI

Bouquets, Boots and Bush
BY: RAM PUNIYANI

During the press conference in Iraq a Iraqi journalist, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, in an act of protest, hurled his shoes at George Bush. (December 2008) One does not know how the American President took it but one knows that the Iraqi people, were very elated at this insult hurled on their aggressor. Since the second Gulf War, 2003 the condition in Iraq has been worsening rapidly to disastrous proportions. By the way, one must introspect and correct the terminology, war. It was not a war; it was an invasion by the US on Iraq.

Just to recapitulate US, in its dreaded role as the global imperial power has been attacking country after country in a reckless manner. After the collapse of USSR, the other super power, the US has pursued its ambition of controlling and exploiting oil of the gulf region nakedly, apart from its overall hegemonic behavior all around. The US governments irrespective of their being Republican or Democrat, have been keeping the US war machinery on the boil. Many a countries in the gulf region have been the victims of US designs. Iraq in particular has come under the chopping block since the Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. Iraq as such had been supported strongly by US during its war against Iran. During that time Saddam Hussein not only waged the war with Ayatollah Khomeini's regime but also committed atrocities on the helpless Kurds in Iraq. These deeds of Iraq were staunchly and materially supported by US, as at that time for US, Iran was supposed to be the major problem in the region. This more so after the Ayatollah overthrew the US puppet regime of Raza Shah Pehlvi.

After the Iran-Iraq war ended in1988, US felt that the large army it had helped build in Iraq will be a threat to its domination in the gulf region and should be demolished. Iraq foolishly walked into the trap laid by the US. Through its allies in the region Saudi Arab and Kuwait, it put severe economic pressure on Iraq, which made Iraq think of invading Kuwait. When Saddam Hussein talked about his plans to US ambassador April Glaspie, she categorically stated that 'we have no opinion on your border dispute', meaning there by, you are free to go ahead, we won't interfere.

As soon as Iraq invaded Kuwait and declared that Kuwait is the 24th state of Iraq, US jumped to shout that Kuwait Sheikh's sovereignty has been violated and that Iraq will be taught a lesson. Iraq pledged to withdraw its troops. Ignoring that, US went for a decisive strike, blockading Iraqi soldieries, who were willing to withdraw, and stopping supplies to Iraq. Betraying the worst of imperialist greed Iraq was bombed by US, its electrical systems and sewerage plants were destroyed, with the result that millions of Iraqis perished due to war, the accompanying sanctions and spread of diseases. Blinded by its greed the US secretary of state Madeleine Albright affirmed that all this destruction was worth to save the Sovereignty of Sheikh of Kuwait.

After the 9/11 2001 and the consequent attack on Afghanistan, US came back to old goal of expanding its hold on oil zone by occupying Iraq. It decided to build up its case of attacking Iraq by declaring that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction. UN, though not a political force any more, deputed its inspectors to find if Iraq had such weapons. None could be found. That was not to deter the tyrannical empire. It went ahead with its preparations of the war. It went on to add the excuse that Iraq is supporting Al Qaeda. It was a common knowledge that Saddam had no link with this organization, which any way was the creation of US itself. As a prelude to war US leaders started saying that Iraqi people are fed up of the tyrannies of Saddam and they need to be liberated. Dick Cheney, the US Vice President went on to say that US troops will be welcomed as the liberating forces by Iraqis and will be greeted with bouquets. A good pretext was laid; a sense of mission was put on as the mask.

The invading US armies were resisted but the resistance fell through against the might of the formidable army. Still resistance was on through various forms till the total occupation took place. The occupying army unleashed a reign of terror for which the US leaders need to face the court of human conscience. The tip of iceberg of atrocities was displayed to the horrified world when it saw the US army torturing Iraqi soldiers. In Abu Ghraib prison they were stripped naked and made to form a human pyramid! Arrogance of the occupying army of the most democratic and civilized state of US! An international jury, disturbed by the goings on in Iraq, put together a tribunal, International tribunal on War crimes in Iraq (2005). This Jury of Conscience from 10 different countries heard the testimonies of 54 members of the panel of Advocates who came from across the world, including Iraq, the United States and the United Kingdom. This global civil initiative came to an end with a press conference at the Hotel Armada where the Chair of the Jury of Conscience, Arundathi Roy, announced the Jury's conclusions, "The attack on Iraq is an attack on justice, on liberty, on our safety, on our future, on us all."(http://www.worldtribunal.org/main/?b=93)

Why is the world witnessing such a massive erosion of human values, the trampling of international norms, conventions? US after its humiliation in Vietnam had decided not to send its armies to outside countries for some time and during that time, to counter the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, it propped up Al Qaeda type terrorists. From last three decades its aggressive designs are rampaging not only the countries of the world but also the spirit of humanism as a whole. The undermining of United Nations by US arrogance has been a major reason contributing to miseries of the World today. US actions to couch its politics in the language of religion, to prop up the theory of Clash of Civilizations, to demonize Islam and Muslims can be regarded as one of the worst sins against humanity in contemporary times.

As per US claims that wherever it intervenes it brings in democracy, lesser said the better. Earlier when the Colonial powers came to plunder the colonies they wore the mask of 'civilizing mission', of carrying the burden of civilizing the colonies. Now US while pursuing its role of plundering the oil resources of the world is putting on the mask of 'exporting democracy'. Let's remember democracy or for that matter no social system can be exported. USSR in it's hey days was claiming to export socialism. Social systems can nurture themselves if they develop from within. What British colonial powers did in India was to plant the poisonous seeds of communalism and what US is doing in countries it invades is to bring in sectarianism. It has, during its occupation, promoted ethnic and tribal cliques. It has heightened the divides on the lines of Shia-Sunni, and other narrow identities. The economic condition of Iraq has worsened and the number of lives lost due to US misdeeds runs over millions.

It's a shame that in the name of civilizing missions, exporting democracy etc., few powerful nations have brought in misery to these victim states in particular and human society in general. It is high time the world wakes up to the threat of this barbarism, the brute force trampling and causing miseries all over the World. The need for democracy amongst the nations, the concept of non alignment at global level and strengthening of United Nations through World Peace movement is the need for the hour. Bush rightly deserved the humiliation for what his/US policies have brought in to Iraq. Muntadhar al-Zaidi, who threw his boots, is rightly being hailed as a hero by Iraqis and many others. What US administration wanted to believe that it will get bouquets, was a make believe to invade. The boot it is getting now is what these invasions deserve. The crime against Iraq and humanity as a whole, is one of the serious tragedies of our times.

War Not the Best and Most Effective Option
BY BALRAJ PURI

India’s anger over Mumbai terror attack is understandable and legitimate. That it originated from the soil of Pakistan has been confirmed by intelligence agencies of some world powers. The initial reaction of Pakistan government was very positive. Its president Zardari shared India’s shock over the terrorist attack but also offered to send ISI chief to Delhi for joint investigation into the tragic event, but soon retracted his offer. In fact, he changed his positions on all related matters regarding house arrest of Jamat-ud-Dawa Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and wanted more evidence about Lashkar-e-Toibas involvement in the Mumbai attack.

Meanwhile tension started mounting through the media and statements and counter statements in both countries. A fear psychosis has been built in Pakistan for possible military action by India. What lent credence to this impression was report of an international agency, Globe Intelligence, which suggested that India may carry out strikes in Pak administered Kashmir. In response to this report, a defence official of Pakistan said, Pakistan is not afraid of India’s preparations for war. Pakistan has, in fact, always nursed a feeling of fear from its much stronger eastern neghbour.

Moreover Pakistan’s army and ISI got an opportunity to assert its power against a nascent and fragile civilian government. Army chief, for all practical purposes, is the man whose finger is on Pak’s N-button. Though in conventional war Pakistan is no match to India, it would be tempted to use nuclear weapon. In a nuclear war nobody is a winner. But the colossal damage it causes to human life and entire socio-economic fabric can hardly be imagined.

India has many better and effective options than military action against Pakistan. India is far stronger than its western neighbour in the fields of diplomacy, economy, political and economic stability, India’s cause has already received massive international support. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited India to express solidarity of her government with India and its people. She went to Pakistan to remind it of its responsibility to check terrorist activities on its soil. John Kerry, USA senator and close to the president elect Barrak Obama, with equal bluntness, asked Pakistan to close down terror camps and properly prosecute whoever was involved in the Mumbai strikes. He favoured linking of American military and economic aid to Islamabad’s behaviour in dealing with terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba . Pakistan’s economy and military are so precariously dependent on the US aid that none can survive without it.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who also visited the sub-continent during this crisis said that three fourth of terror plots in the world had links to Pakistan. Russia has testified that Dawood Ibrahim had provided logistic network to prepare and carry out the Mumbai attack. Its president Mehdev had earlier visited India to express solidarity of his country. European Union members have supported India’s case against Pakistan. Even China, on whom Pakistan was banking for support, voted for India’s resolution in UNSC to hold Pakistan based Jamaat-ud-Dawa responsible for the attack on Mumbai.

On the top of mounting evidence, collected by Indian intelligence and of the world powers, Geo, a TV channel of Pakistan, exposed the reality and located the home place in Faridkote in Pakistani Punjab of Amir Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of the terrorists who attacked Mumbai and is in custody of the Mumbai police. The Geo representative interviewed his father who confirmed that Kasab was his son and had left home some years back. Similarly, Nawaz Sharief the principal ally of the PPP in overthrowing the army rule of General Musharraf, disclosed to Geo TV that he had himself checked that Ajmal Kasab’s house and village had been cordoned off by the security agencies and his parents were not allowed to meet any body. He noted that Pakistan was getting isolated in the international community. Pakistan, he added, presented the picture of a failed and ungovernable state.

India has no reason to be disappointed with the possible action that it can take with the cooperation of the world powers and therefore need not be in a hurry to resort to military action against Pakistan. US has for instance, toughened its stand. It summoned Pakistan national security advisor Mumtaz Ali Durrani to Washington. A top American advisor told him that the US was not satisfied with what Islamabad had done so far for eradicating terrorism from its soil after the Mumbai attack which was not an ordinary event that could be swept under the carpet. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice told him that Pakistan had not done enough. US Chief of the Joint Staff visited Islamabad to convey similar concern of his government.

In view of mounting evidence in favour of India’s case internationally, any unilateral action against Pakistan by India would tend to isolate it from international community and unite all heterogeneous groups within Pakistan. Pakistani Talibans, who control most of its frontier region bordering Afghanistan, would come closer to Pakistan government and its people to face the common threat. Talibans have already offered cease fire to Pakistan government so that its army could defend the eastern border. The Pakistan army chief is reported to have asked one lakh of its forces to be ready to move from the Afghanistan border to the Indian border. An army spokesman said that there were some misunderstanding between Pakistan army and Pakistani Taliban leader like Batul Massod and Fazalullah which can be removed.

A Talibanised establishment and a nation would not only be catastrophe for Pakistan but also a threat to the whole world. India has, therefore, a special responsibility to avoid Indo-Pak war, particularly when it has many better and more effective options.

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