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POPSPak-US Ties Vital For Regional Peace About the recent incident of firing across the LoC, he said there had been three such incidents in the Batal sector, including the one that happened on Sunday. About UN probe into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the spokesman said that modalities were being worked out and an announcement was expected in a couple of weeks. He said Dr Khan had retired a long time ago and has no say in the nuclear programme now. Pakistan's nuclear programme, he added, is fully secure, under maximum security arrangements, which are the best security practices all over the world.
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POPSFailed States Index 2008 The Best And Worst
Bangladesh took this year’s hardest fall, set off in part by postponed elections, a feuding, deadlocked government, and the imposition of emergency rule that has dragged on for more than 18 months. These political setbacks were followed by greater economic hardships after a devastating cyclone in November flooded large swaths of cropland and left 1.5 million people homeless. In nearby Pakistan, also one of this year’s worst performers, a beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf sparked waves of violent protests when he dismissed the head of the Supreme Court and declared martial law. In a tragic close to the year, the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto left many wondering about the future prospects of this fragile, nuclear-armed state. Ironically, Pakistanis constitute the largest national U.N. contingent operating in Liberia. More than 9,000 Bangladeshi troops wear U.N. blue helmets around the world, a third of them in the Ivory Coast.
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POPSI Call It Wishing the Enemy Would Attack Us The McCain campaign is desperate. They are openly stating that it would take terrorist attack to save McCain now. It sounds like a wish and an open invitation for our enemies to attack us. McCain denounced this statement. But that's hardly enough. He should fire Black as an adviser to the campaign.
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POPSAngry Afghan President: Will No Longer Tolerate Cross-Border Attacks. Analysts said they doubt military action by Afghanistan is imminent, but Pakistan's prime minister said the threat "will not be taken well." A Taliban spokesman warned that the Afghan army would be defeated by thousands of armed tribesman. Speaking on the grounds of his fortified presidential palace, Karzai told a news conference that Afghanistan has the right to self defense, and because militants cross over from Pakistan "to come and kill Afghan and kill coalition troops, it exactly gives us the right to do the same." Then, Karzai warned Pakistan-based Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud that Afghan forces would target him on his home turf. Mehsud has been accused in last year's assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. "Baitullah Mehsud should know that we will go after him now and hit him in his house," Karzai said. "And the other fellow, (Taliban leader) Mullah Omar of Pakistan, should know the same," Karzai continued.
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POPSKarzai Says He'll Send Troops to Pakistan Karzai said in recent fighting in the Garmser district of Helmand province - where hundreds of U.S. Marines have been battling insurgents the last two months - that most of the fighters came from Pakistan. Karzai called Pakistan a "brother government" and "friend," but also urged it to "act against those elements that are making Pakistan and Afghanistan insecure." He said it was better for Afghan troops to be killed during offensive operations into Pakistan than in militant attacks in Afghanistan. His comments come as Pakistan is seeking peace deals with militants in its borders, including with Mehsud. The deals have come under criticism from U.S. officials, who warn they will simply give militants time to regroup and intensify attacks inside Afghanistan. But Pakistan insists it's not negotiating with "terrorists," rather militants willing to lay down their arms. Karzai is talkative and good for nothing
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POPSThe Economics Of Democracy In Muslim Countries The Status of Democracy Index (SDI) measures each country's progress toward democratic governance through multiple variables. First, it measures governance through four variables: how heads of state and members of the legislature are selected; political party development; suffrage; and the maturity of civil liberties The Status of Democracy Index rates each of these nine variables on a three-point scale: 0 (nonexistent), 1 (emerging), or 2 (fully present). Some of the variables, such as media freedom, religious liberty, and respect for human rights, are easy to quantify, whereas measuring human development is more subjective. Economic freedom can be scored on the level of governmental interference in the economy: 0 (strong), 1 (moderate), and 2 (low). It is then possible to convert the totals to a percentage for ease of digestion. Only three of these countries—Mali, Guyana, and Suriname —are considered full democracies. http://www.meforum.org/article/1921
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POPSPakistan President Won’t Step Down Final results from this week’s parliamentary poll were expected later Wednesday, but with the count nearly complete, two opposition parties have won enough seats to form a new government, though they will likely fall short of the two-thirds needed to impeach the president… Musharraf’s spokesman Rashid Qureshi said Tuesday the president intends to work with the new government and will serve out his term that expires in 2012 — rejecting opposition calls for him to resign.
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POPSBhutto Died From Bomb Blast Not Gunshot, Scotland Yard says. The British officers faced serious difficulties. They were not able to examine the body of Mrs Bhutto and vital evidence had been destroyed at the crime scene when it was hosed down after the attack. It is understood that the officers reached some preliminary conclusions from studying the car and conducting analysis of video footage and other material. Its detectives have not inquired into who carried out the attack nor why it was mounted. Stuff like this, is how conspiracy theories are born.
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POPSThe Miracle of Jihad This is the opposite perspective that any American should consider very carefully, especially if they espouse military strategy. Although we see them as "Evil" and "Terrorists" of course, they don't see themselves that way. Since the Napoleon's expedition in Egypt, the Islamic world has found itself besieged by overwhelming European Empires. Although once the dominant force that defeated Europe, with the decline of the Ottoman and Persian Empires, they found themselves weak and helpless against the Europeans. During the 20th century, when much of the Islamic world was colonized, this anxiety became acute. Now, against an overwhelming enemy of superior strength, they are winning back ground. To us it is a disaster, but to them it is a miracle. It is to some in the Islamic world what the American Revolution was for us - a victory of the people. Ask yourself: If I were not blinded by my social context, would I still believe as I do?
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POPSHouse Arrest Is Not Free We talked to President Musharraf about the judges held in their homes or neighborhoods. In Davos, all questions are not about the economy.
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POPSBhutto's niece speaks out against aunt, system Granted, her mother blames Benazir Bhutto for her father's violent death, but these comments are still interesting. Charges of systemic corruption are more credible when they come from somebody who's not actively seeking office.
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POPSYO.....BINLADEN... ZAWAHIRI: THE CLOCK IS TICKING... NEW GOVERNOR FOR PAKISTAN'S TRIBAL REGION: MUSHARRAF ABOUT TO GET VERY TOUGH BBC: Key Pakistan governor steps down The new governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani, has been known for his tough action - which often took the form of brutal force - against Baluch nationalists. If his appointment indicates anything, it must be that for the Pakistani authorities, the use of force is still very much an option in dealing with militancy in the tribal areas. * THE HAMMER IS ABOUT TO COME DOWN ON THE ANVIL. * IT'S LONG OVERDUE. STAY TUNED...
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