American and Hindu “bomb” to rule the world

By Alok Mehta -- The Milli Gazette

There may be strong difference of opinions between Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi over extreme Hindutva; but USA is, on a large scale, Promoting Hindutva through indoctrination or propaganda. State’s financial support for research on Hindu scriptures, and exhibition of “Bhagwan Vishnu” paintings at government expense prove the active role of state machinery. Such hardcore extremists are in America who subscribe to India’s nuclear capability and term it as “Hindu bomb” and who are spewing venom for a nuclear world war through a 50-page monograph and websites.

America has liberally contributed towards propagation of Hindu ideology. In Orlando, in 1993, a “Hindu University of America” got formal recognition. It was given a land grant of 9.7 acres in 2000 when BJP-led NDA government came to power under A.B. Vajpayee. Two years later it acquired additional two acres of adjoining land. In December 2003 its branch in Bangalore came into existence. The Florida University has a residential campus for undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD studies. In other American universities also courses on Hindu scriptures and its propagation have been introduced. Catholic Church in Navada runs a “Hindutva syllabus” under which Hindu gods and goddesses, Geetha, upnishads, Hindu culture and civilisation are being taught and degrees are being awarded. It is reported that attempts continue to support and propagate Hindutva by distorting such indoctrination.
During BJP leader A.B. Vajpayee’s US visit as Prime Minster in 2000 such state grants for Hindutva studies were sanctioned. In one of such functions, Kalki Gaur, an ideologue of Hindutva, presented a book and CD of his research to the Prime Minister and the then Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. Since then Kalki Gaur is continuously churning out books on “nuclear weapons” and disseminating war-mania through his research. What is surprising is that neither America nor India has done anything to impose any kind of ban on this war hysteria.
Kalki Gaur is very active in New York, Washington, Houston. He never publishes his photo on books or websites. he was never denied access to Indian leaders visiting America. He is also trying to get a foothold in American politics. This hardcore activist has emphasised in a recent book the necessity of giving a Hindu bias to India’s nuclear programme and to the armed forces so that at the time of the World War, India might join America. This might be called as obsession of an extremist. But there are several organisations active in defending Hindutva and engaged in “constructive role” with such agenda. There are Hindu museums and temples of Hindu gods and goddesses. There are Hindu museums and temples in Michigan and San Diego. On the other hand, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has become more active and stronger. American Vishwa Hindu Parishad is playing a significant role in promoting international cooperation network. It offers liberal grants to Hindu academic institutions and camps for promoting Hindutva ideology. There are sincere dedicated volunteers. It also sends grants to India for Hindu youths and children.

Davis case: Diplomatic immunity or a licence to kill

Legal experts in Pakistan opine that Raymond Davis is a murderer who has no diplomatic immunity. Many Pakistanis are suspicious about Davis, who was arrested with loaded weapons, a GPS satellite tracking device, photographs of Pakistan`s defence installations and tribal areas, while American authorities are still silent about his role in Pakistan.

By Ghulam Asghar Khan

Islamabad is under growling US pressure to release Raymond Davis, an American national, responsible for gunning down two Pakistani youth at an open market place in Lahore on January 26. A murder case was registered against him the following day after he was arrested. A rescue mission was immediately launched by the Lahore Consulate to whisk away Davis from the spot. A third man, Ibadur Rehman, was killed when the vehicle sent to save Davis was speeding in the wrong direction on a one way street. The consulate members ran away from the spot to avoid public anger. The driver of the vehicle that killed a bystander Rehman was also booked for murder and is yet to be arrested, but is believed to have fled the country mysteriously. The initial version of the manslaughter by Davis was that he killed the two innocents in self-defence because they wanted to kill him. The post-mortem report has revealed that both of Davis’ victims were shot from the back. The question is, were those two young men chasing him, or he was chasing them. As propounded by the local police authorities, it was a clear case of murder for which the American target shooter was incarcerated legally without any malice by the local police. It is one of their ardent duties to protect their citizens from onslaughts of American sharp-shooters who have infested the country with non-diplomatic visas. Davis is not a lone ranger, but there are thousands of such hired guns who move freely in all the four provinces and cause disruption. How come this that our Embassy in Washington is so lavishly issuing such visas without any verification? It is the foreign office that owes an explanation to the people of Pakistan. Thomas Hobbes says, “A state that cannot provide the security of life and property to its citizens forfeits its right to rule them.” The US embassy in Islamabad claimed that he was a member of the technical staff and as such was entitled to diplomatic immunity under Article 37 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The embassy has aggressively trumpeted some facts about diplomatic immunity to make the point, knowing fully well that Davis wasn’t on a diplomatic visa, and what technical work was he doing at a market place in the Punjab Metropolis? The US officials and Congressional leaders have suggested that the US aid to Pakistan be curtailed and cancelling of an impending visit to Washington of Pakistan President in March, at the same time threatening to downgrade whatever one-sided relations US has with Pakistan. The preconditions are; Davis is immediately set free, all incriminating charges against him withdrawn and is allowed to leave Pakistan. Islamabad seems to be under overwhelming pressure to bow before the master’s command or face the dire consequences. Last weekend, Pakistan’s overenthusiastic foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was refused an audience with the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Munich security conference, shattering Mr. Shah’s illusion that he had mesmerised the Secretary of State with his charm. In an explicit gesture and calculated insult to Pakistan’s civilian government, she, however, met the COAS of the Pakistan army. The Davis issue seems to have created yet another predicament for the profoundly ostracized Pakistan government, which in addition to a raft of economic and law and order problems faces mounting popular opposition because of its collusion in the crimes of US imperialists in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Earlier, Cameron Munter, the US ambassador in Islamabad, had met President Zardari to reiterate Washington’s demand that Davis be released on the grounds of diplomatic immunity. The Diplomatic Immunity agreed upon in Vienna convention in 1961 was drafted by the governmental legal experts to puff diplomats up with as much power as possible to, violate at will, the sovereignty of the host state. It had so many lacunae that bestowed upon the diplomats not just immunity but impunity, covering every crime and transgression committed during foreign assignment, whether or not in course of duty. This resulted in providing “impunity” to foreign officials, their spouses, children and even chauffeurs to fearlessly engage in serious crimes, using their inviolable embassy premises and baggage for drug and gun-running and money laundering to assist groups with whom their state is in political sympathy. This “Diplomatic Immunity” law is obviously much wider than is necessary to protect the essential function of a diplomatic mission. Some years back, even ‘Scotland Yard’ reckoned that 40% of the unrequited crimes were committed by family members or wives of foreign diplomats. The US, plagued by more diplomats than any other country, has recently adopted a novel approach to their unpaid parking fines. It tallies the penalties incurred by every embassy and deducts the total from that country’s foreign aid. Isn’t it strange that for every requited or unrequited crime committed by the American diplomats the host country has to pay one way or the other? The myth that state dignity would be lowered if its officials were prosecuted abroad for blatantly indulging in un-diplomatic escapades is just meaningless. The judgement at Nuremburg lays down that crimes are committed by individuals, not by states. When they are committed by diplomats with impunity, the notion of “diplomatic immunity” is just oxymoronic. While insisting on Davis’ immediate and unconditional release, Washington and its embassy in Pakistan have refused to answer any questions about the target shooting and as to what was he doing in Lahore at a crowded market? Without elaborating his mission in Pakistan, they only said that he was part of the “technical and administrative staff”. Davis did not cooperate with the local police and refused to state where he was going when the shooting took place. Washington’s conduct in this entire sordid affair is to secure his release and speedy return to the US. What is so mysterious about this VIP killer who is enjoying all the perks and elite privileges in the ‘Kot Lakhpat’ prison? The official US version of events lacks consistency and credibility. According to a report by ABC News, Davis runs a shadowy Florida-based Security firm “Hyperion Protective Consultants,” heightening suspicions that he is an operative for, or otherwise, linked to the CIA. Some reports suggested that he might have been working on behalf of the notorious Blackwater that had also been operating in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The manner in which he gunned down the two victims indicates the modus operandi of an elite agent with advanced firearms training. The men were shot with sniper-like precision, and a back up vehicle immediately appeared to whisk the killer away. As the misfortune had it, the backup car killed another man and failed to accomplish the mission. The triple-murder in Lahore has roused the anger of the people all over the country and has further exacerbated anti-American sentiments as it has provided an added illustration of the impunity with which the CIA operates in Pakistan, blatantly violating its sovereignty with utter indifference to the destruction it leaves in its wake. The US insistence that Pakistani courts be not allowed to test and adjudicate Davis’ claim that in gunning down two young men he was acting in self-defence harkens back to the extra-territoriality, enshrined in ‘unequal treaties’ in the heydays of colonialism and gun-boat diplomacy. Islamabad’s neither here nor there response over the killing of not two but three citizens of Pakistan by a mercenary is yet another example of its subservience to Washington and callous indifference to the sovereign rights of the people of Pakistan.

Bal Thackeray decide if Pakistan can play final in Mumbai

You all know Sena chief Bal Thackeray`s views. If the Pakistan team reaches the final ( scheduled in Mumbai), whether to allow them to play, the Sena chief will decide, party leader Manohar Joshi .

The extremist Indian party, Shiv Sena, has once again threatened Pakistani cricketers few hours before the opening ceremony of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi while talking to reporters here on Thursday said, "Bal Thackeray will decide whether to allow Pakistan team to play or not".

This is the latest expression of extremism by the Shiv Sena leaders as Joshi clearly put question mark on the staging of ICC World Cup final match if Pakistan would qualify for it.

"You all know Sena chief Bal Thackeray's views. If the Pakistan team reaches the final, whether to allow them to play, the Sena chief will decide," Joshi told reporters.

Thankfully, Pakistan and India are placed in separate groups otherwise the controversy would have erupted the mega event at its very early stage.

The renovated Wankhede Stadium of Mumbai will host the World Cup 2011 final on April 2, 2011.

Shiv Sena have had objected Pakistan-India cricket ties in the past and in 1991, Shishir Shinde along with other extremist Hindus dug up the pitch in the Wankhede Stadium in a bid to stop India playing cricket with Pakistan.

To make Davis more controversial

US President Barack Obama weighed in on spat, insisting that detained official, Raymond Davis, enjoyed diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention and should be released at once. Speaking at White House press conference, the US president said, Washington respects envoys and expects Islamabad to uphold the Geneva Convention governing would diplomats status and recongnise Davis as a diplomat.

AMERICAN national, widely believed to be an under-cover secret agent, Raymond Davis had already become a symbol of hatred because of the gruesome murder of two innocent Pakistanis in Lahore and subsequent suicide by the wife of one of his victims. However, he is being made more detestable figure because of follies on the part of various PPP functionaries.

Following the statement by former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi that he was dropped from the new Cabinet because of his principled position on the question of diplomatic immunity to the killer, several PPP leaders directed their guns towards him and adopted a stance that was seen by majority of people of Pakistan as an attempt to defend the American. And on Monday, PPP’s Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab crossed all limits by claiming on the beat of the drum that the killer enjoyed diplomatic immunity, raising questions about the real intentions of the ruling Party on the issue that has overwhelmed the entire nation because of its gravity and perversity. Sensing the damage that Fauzia did to the Party by churning out uncanny remarks, Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar quickly came out with a clarification that these were personal views of Fauzia and had nothing to do with Party policy. The timely notice taken by the spokesman helped dilute the fury that was brewing up across the country over these senseless remarks. No doubt, the issue has assumed many dimensions but it is also relevant to point out that the Government is mishandling the entire episode as a result of which it is becoming more complex with the passage of time. Apart from Americans who issue statements after statements aimed at browbeating Pakistan on the controversy, the Government has also allowed all and sundry to make statements on the issue despite the fact that it is sub judice. If Foreign Secretary believes that it is for the High Court to determine the question of immunity then who is Fauzia Wahab to give a conclusive opinion. Such statements are, in no way, serving the cause of Pakistan-US relationship but creating more obstacles in resolving the issue in an amicable manner.

Yemeni president resorts to US for maintenance of power

The British paper, Times, said that currently US drones violate Yemen`s airpace; and conduct military and reconnaissance operations in different regions of Yemen under the pretext of campaign against the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, similar to operations that the US drones conduct in Afghanistan and Pakistan soil.

The Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, has called on the US to raise its financial assistance to San'aa to obstruct the spread of popular uprising in Yemen. The Yemeni president who is deeply concerned that popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt may spill over to his country, has granted a number of concessions to the Yemeni people and has vowed to step down in the next round of presidential elections, while making every effort to safeguard his rule in the face of recent developments, with the support of the US.
Meanwhile, an American official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, has emphasized that the US financial assistance to Yemen will be doubled, while adding that the US president Barack Obama has earmarked $120 million for military and economic assistance to Yemen in the US annual budget for the year 2011.
Meanwhile, the so-called anti-terrorist operations coordinator of the US administration, Daniel Benjamin, has said that the report released in the year 2010 shows that US financial assistance to Yemen had totaled $67m, while Obama has called to raise this financial assistance to Yemen to $106.6 million in the new year.
The US financial assistance to Yemen is rising while a British paper has recently revealed that the US wants a military presence in Yemen under the pretext of campaign against Al-Qaeda.
The British paper, Times, said that currently US drones violate Yemen's airspace; and conduct military and reconnaissance operations in different regions of Yemen under the pretext of campaign against the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, similar to operations that the US drones conduct in Afghanistan and Pakistan's soil.
In the view of numerous political experts and even Yemeni people, the Al-Qaeda group and other terrorist groups in Yemen have been shaped and organized by the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and the US and Zionist regime's intelligence and security organizations in a bid to obstruct the growth of Islamic beliefs in the region, under the pretext of suppression of these groups.
The plundering of Yemen's huge undiscovered oil deposits and Yemen's geopolitical position are the other reasons behind the US and Zionist regime's efforts to dominate this country.

Raymond ‘Rambo’ Davis

For those who continue to compare Davis with Rambo and do so without having any idea what Rambo represents should in my opinion be forced to see all the Rambo moviees one after another for three days  in a row without being allowed to fall asleep.

By Dr Syed Mansoor Hussain

On January 27, Raymond Davis of the US Consulate shot two people and killed them in the city of Lahore. The basic facts are that Davis was driving by himself in a congested urban area when he was accosted by two men riding a motorcycle. According to some eyewitnesses interviewed by TV crews at the crime scene, these men tried to rob Davis at gunpoint and he shot them. Both of the men shot eventually died and Davis was arrested as he tried to flee the scene. The rest is a confused mass of disinformation, misinformation, conjecture and hyperbole.

Whether Davis has diplomatic immunity as the US insists is something that is being questioned by one and all, including those who have never heard of Vienna or any conventions concerning the said matter ever held there. To muddy the proverbial waters a bit more a senior Punjab prosecutor who stated that Davis acted in self-defence has since relinquished his position. Subsequent suicide of the wife of one of the victims has made matters worse.

For the last two weeks the media has devoted considerable space to this incident. A couple of days ago some religious outfit even had a smallish rally on the Mall Road in Lahore to demand that Davis be hanged immediately. Such outlandish demands by religious outfits are always a source of bemusement. Vociferous saviours of the faith and national honour are always relentless in their demand that all those who offend them must immediately have their heads dispatched to places different from the rest of their bodies, laws be damned. But when it comes to one of their own, every legal resource known to Pakistani law and a few illegal ones are used to prevent the separation of the aforementioned head from the attached body.

It was also interesting that some ‘intrepid’ journalists started to refer to Davis as ‘Rambo’. Clearly none of them had ever seen a Rambo movie. Rambo, as they should know, is always on the right side of morality, always gets his man, always escapes the clutches of evil, sadistic and clearly bigoted oppressors and tormentors by killing most if not all of them. And yes he never wears a shirt. So for those who continue to compare Davis with Rambo and do so without having any idea what Rambo represents should in my opinion be forced to see all the Rambo movies one after another for three days in a row without being allowed to fall asleep.

So, what it boils down to right now is whether Davis acted in self-defence thinking that he was being attacked by armed robbers or worse by ‘terrorists’ out to get him. Whether we like it or not the fact remains that armed robbery as well as terror attacks are now so commonplace in Lahore that it would be difficult to blame Davis for thinking that he was a victim of such an attack. It is also entirely unreasonable to expect that a person confronted by two men pointing guns at him should wait to be shot at before shooting back.

If Davis did not think that he was under attack, then why did he shoot these two young men? The reason offered for such behaviour by the ‘Rambo’ school of thought is that the American just went berserk. There are even some interesting conspiracy theories floating around. It was reported and then denied as expected that these two men who were killed were really agents of some Pakistani secret agency and were following Davis around as he went about on an important spying mission for the US. Mozang, after all, as all Lahoris know is a hotbed of international intrigue. And Davis had to get rid of these two ‘agents’ to protect either his ‘sources’ or the nature of his mission.

My personal assessment is that if it was not fear for his life then it must have been one of two things. Road rage at being stuck in traffic, another fact of daily life in Lahore or else anger at something else. What this something else might have been is at best speculative. Perhaps Davis saw these men wearing ‘counterfeit’ US brand tee-shirts and jeans and killed them to make an example of them for all those young men in Lahore who go around wearing such clothes. Or could it be that he just did not like the looks of these two men, who knows.

That said, what Davis was doing in Mozang all by his lonesome self, why he was carrying a loaded weapon and why he did not inform the police that he was travelling unaccompanied in the city are also important questions. The latter though seems a little disingenuous, especially after a member of his own security detail assassinated the late governor of Punjab just a few weeks ago.

The Davis scenario is getting progressively complicated. The reason is politics. Anti-American sentiment is rampant in Pakistan and anything which even remotely reeks of pro-Americanism is immediately seized upon by the religious parties and politicians of a ‘certain’ predisposition to vilify the present government of Pakistan. The US State Department is of course also doing its thing by making demands that seem quite unreasonable. What the US must understand is that the harder it pushes, greater will be the resolve of the Pakistani authorities to rest any US demand that is considered excessive and ‘overbearing’.

The question whether Davis has ‘diplomatic immunity’ should of course be sorted out based upon accepted diplomatic norms. And the press and the politicians should take a breather and let the courts do their thing. However, the US State Department as well as Davis must be thankful that nobody has yet charged Davis with making ‘blasphemous’ remarks as he shot these young men. If such a charge is ever brought up then this will definitely become an ‘open and shut’ case.

The writer has practised and taught medicine in the US. He can be reached at smhmbbs70@yahoo.com

Rahat arrested after failing to come up to RAW’s expectations

Pakistani singer and composer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Known more as disciple of famous Pakistani singer late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, has been arrested in India for keeping illegal currency in his possession. The arrest took place after Rahat developed certain difference with the Indian Intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing ( RAW ) that had hired Rahat for an anti-Pakistan project, through a RAW funded Indian channel`s music programme Chottay Ustad.

Findings have indicated on 28th july, 2010 that After years of speculation, finally Indian Intelligence Agency RESEARCH & Analysis Wing ( RAW ) appears to has found a smooth operator in the form of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from Pakistan, on whose shoulder`s they can land their gun and put forward the agenda of making the concept of two-nation theory completely evaporate from the minds of the Pakistani children, make them dance at the tunes of one nation, one world, through it`s recently initated project Chhote Ustaad, a so called kids` musical competition show on India`s Star Plus TV while it is being reproduced back in Pakistan by a local TV Channel that is already doing some joint venttures with the known anti-Pakistan Indian Newspaper The Times of India reveal the investigations of The Daily Mail Newspaper.

The desire to rob the Pakistanis of their very identity was on the minds of RAW for decades but it is only now that the agenda has found a vent through where the very idea can be materialized, infecting the young minds with the idea that their culture is but the same as the Indian one. And what better way than to initiate a supposed talent hunt putting a music legend of Pakistan; Rahat Fateh Ali on it`s pay roll, to make him dance on the tunes of unity, preaching the idea that two-nation theory is all but a lie.


The Pakistani kids taken in for the programme are in fact, being used by Rahat Fateh Ali, like camel jockeys, sold on the hands of the RAW, all belonging to poor families and Karachi for that matter, only one being that from Faisalabad.


Star Plus latest season of song based reality show Chhote Ustaad has taken in 10 kids from Pakistan, rather Rahat Fateh Ali has taken them to India RAW`s fresh covert project against Pakistan for which he has been Paid in millions. Some unconfirmed reports suggest that he has been paid equalling fifty million Pak rupees for one season while the RAW plans to continue it for at least ten seasons. The entire season 2010 is going to be a combo of Pakistani and Indian young talent on the surface but the reality is quite the opposite. Not only this, but the judging panel has Sonu Nigham from India and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from Pakistan, the latter having no affiliation for the Pakistani kids in the show for he has already nsold them for the worse.


Zee TV took up the initiative earlier, in inviting Pakistani handful of kids and humiliating them onscreen and now it’s Star Plus’ turn to do some more. Also the name has been modified from ‘Star Voice of India Chhote Ustaad’ to ‘Chhote Ustaad – Do Desho ki Awaaz’. One tends to smell rotten fish right from the very idea of picking up kids from Karachi only, just one being taken in from Faisalabad. Karachi is not the whole of Pakistan anyway! Pairing up kids of Pakistan and India itself is a game to malign the very image of two-nation theory in the minds of the Pakistani kids so that, through the years, they even forget their very identity. This could be evident from the phrases that our kids were given to learn, for speaking at the show, being that once they got off the flight, they felt right at home in India. Then again, the question arises, why has the background of the Pakistani kids shown, all belonging to bleak and rather poor families? Was it the criteria of the programme to project the poverty-ridden image of Pakistan? Well, with RAW involved, one can always expect the unexpected. That all was at the back of the minds of the RAW bigwigs and a lot more.

Pakistani songs have been illegally twisted and turned to be used in Bollywood flicks. The Bollywood industry has been funded by the RAW and thus, through promotion and making the films available in Pakistan through the black market, our Lollywood industry has never been let to surface. And now the RAW is landing it’s claws over our music industry, being our singers for Bollywood songs and this time, going an extra mile and using a music maestro to hum the tunes of one nation, one goal bullshit, raising the very question in the minds of our kids that what was the need of partition anyway? And to top it all, instead of condemning or banning such an activity at large, Geo has decided to get a little taste of the RAW’s salt and increase it’s earnings to a notch!

When contacted, a former spy agency official stated “The need is for ISI to take the matter in its hands. Black marketing of Bollywood flicks should be curtailed till the RAW agrees to put on Lollywood flicks as well in India and the same should be done to their channels at once. They should not only be banned in Pakistan where their most of the sale is done till they air our programmes on their channels. The joint productions between the two countries should also be given a close check at immediate basis but at the foremost, people like Rahat Fateh Ali should be taught a lesson for cranking his neck at Indian tunes, destroying our music scene at large and making our kids too, sing just the Indian tunes, as if we have no music here. Besides, in all our reality shows, Indian songs should be banned and contestants should be let to perform on our tunes only. 

The ISI and other related agencies like the Intelligence Bureau and PEMRA should take strong note of this project and should not let anyone make mockery of the two-nation theory, our identity and culture at large”

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had twisted a couple of months back and had started asking RAW to make a 10% to 20% increment in his annual payment for the coming 9 years. These investigations indicate that around three to four rounds of talks between RAW officials and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan were held at different venues including Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai and at RAW funded restaurant in Colaba area of Mumbai since November, 2010 to February, 2011. The Daily Mail’s investigation further indicates that in their last meeting the RAW officials presented Rahat Fateh Ali Khan with a special project to be carried out in Pakistan on the eve of Valentine’s Day to dent Jinnah’s two nation theory. The Daily Mail’s investigations revealed that the said RAW project was aimed at organization a live singing gala at the eve of Valentine’s Day with the collaboration of a leading Pakistani channel and an Indian TV channel through which Pakistani boys and girls were supposed to express their love with the Indian boys and girls and vice versa. However, irony to the RAW’s expectations, Rahat demanded a very hefty amount and refused completely to bargain, hiding behind the notion of being given very short notice. At this stage, according to The Daily Mail’s findings, Rahat developed serious differences with Indian intelligence agency, the threats of RAW official’s remained strict to his demands and eventually landed into a well calculated plan of RAW. 

Famous Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was arrested on Sunday by the Indian authorities at New Delhi Airport before departure for Pakistan allegedly for carrying $ 124,000/-, which is statedly violation the Indian Foreign Currency Act. 

Major Indian music awards winning Pakistani singer was arrested with his Manager separately carrying $24,000/- and $100,000/- respectively, at IGI airport by revenue intelligence personnel Sunday.
Rahat Fateh along with two other men was detained for carrying a huge amount of undeclared foreign currency. Officials say investigation is underway.
 
Source:The Daily Mail

Stupid indians: Krishna reads out Portuguese Minister's speech

External affairs minister S M Krishna was caught in a public gaffe when he inadvertently read out the speech of the Portuguese minister at a UN Security Council meeting here but rectified the error after an Indian official drew his attention.



Speaking at the United Nations Security Council at a debate on security and development yesterday, Krishna read out the wrong speech for about three minutes before being corrected by India's envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri.

Krishna read Portuguese foreign minister Luis Amado's speech, without realising his mistake, apparently because the first portion related to general issues pertaining to the UN, development and security.

But a few lines did go out of place. "On a more personal note, allow me to express my profound satisfaction regarding the happy coincidence of having two members of the Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), Brazil and Portugal, together here today," was one of them.

Krishna could have said this thinking it fit because Brazil holds the current presidency of the Security Council. "The European Union is also responding in this manner in coordination with the United Nations," he said, before Puri intervened.

"You can start again," Puri told Krishna following the faux pas.
The Portugal minister had already spoken before India. Krishna is here on a two-day visit to push India's agenda for Security Council reforms.

Raymond Davis criminal employee of infamous Blackwater

Davis is certainly a member of infamous Blackwater or a CIA agent who had been frequently visiting Pakistan illegally under a fake name, address and designation. It has now been ascertained that he runs a small private security company in Las Vegas in Colorado.As such he has nothing to do with diplomatic circle. Considering the objectionable weapon, specialized ammunition and equipment that was recovered from his vehicle which had a fake number plate and precision with which he shot and killed the two moving motorcylists from inside his moving car is a clear indication that he is a well trained marksman and adept in terrorism. One deceased had four bullet holes in his body and the other had three. Davis is also indirectly responsible for the death of Ubaid and Shimaila.
_________________________________________________________

By Ali Ashraf Khan



The Pakistani public is upset about the Lahore incident in which an American Raymond Davis’ whose actual name is yet not confirmed attached to the US Consulate in Lahore behaving like a barbarian without any civilization but armed with guns, mask and photography equipment murdered two Pakistani youth in broad daylight while his rescuers rushing to the scene killed a third one by crushing him to death with their vehicle. Now there is a stand-off prevailing between the US embassy who is defending their murderous citizens and the Pakistani state who actually would not have cared so much for the lives of three young Pakistanis – they don’t do that in so many other cases in Karachi, Peshawar or Balochistan – but for the public rage which in the light of the happenings in Tunisia and Egypt might take a turn against them in Pakistan also. The cases of killing of former governor of Punjab and its aftermath have already highlighted the substantial divide between the people of Pakistan and their government because people fail to understand why our leaders become spineless before Americans who consider Pakistanis as their slaves.

Actually what has happened should not be a matter of surprise at all, Pakistani governments at all times feeling insecure and in need of assistance for one reason or the other saw their so called support coming from the US which has resulted in a submission and sell-out of Pakistani Sovereignty and national interests to the US starting from the fifties and reaching a height under Ziaul Haq. This situation has been topped by the decision of General Musharraf in 2001 to finally give up any claim of independence by joining the US war ‘against terror’ unconditionally, by allowing US troops into Pakistan, by ceding airports and airspace to them, by allowing drone attacks upon Pakistani population and allowing private security agencies from the US to settle down behind Islamabad and ‘train Pakistani security forces’ as it is officially called and under this cover perhaps recruit civilians and go around spying out Pakistani nuclear and military installations, a link of which is reported to have been unearthed during investigation and examination of recovered material used in Lahore incident.

The current government has not only perpetuated this policy of the previous one but has topped it by actually allowing any amount of visas being issued to Americans uncontrolled without authentication or clearance, which resulted in US secret service and security firms making their head quarter in Pakistan while claiming to be attached to the embassy staff entitled to ‘diplomatic status’. For the last two or so years they are moving around as if at home or even worse, as if in their colony, because they would have never behaved like this at home in New York as what they did in Lahore.

This situation has strengthened the anti-American feelings of the broad population who better than their rulers understand the real character of this occupational force and it has invited a hoist of terrorist attacks including the attack on the Marriott in Islamabad and then on Mosques and Moharam processions in Peshawar, Lahore, Karachi and elsewhere killing dozens of innocent people. One thing is strange that so far no wine shop, club or similar spot has come under attack.

They do better understand the nefarious character of US presence because their sight is not darkened by the money which the US is giving to Pakistan as a token for all this freedom to go on rampage; this money has never reached them it is the rulers of Pakistan because by inviting Americans to Pakistan the Afghan war has been imported to our country also. It is the ruling elite only who are filling their pockets with US money and that is why the US presence is so dear to them. Pakistani people have never seen a single penny; they are aching under the burden of inflation at least partly released by the mistaken policy of IMF and World Bank. That why they have no stake in American presence.

An almost amusing fact is that Americans are quoting international treaties and conventions which would prevent Pakistan from keeping the murderer of Pakistani citizens in custody. Have Americans at any time headed any international agreement? Guantanamo, Palestine, Iraq war without UN sanction, attack on Afghanistan, Abu Gharaib, torture cells in Bagram, Syria, Poland and other places. What a joke! They are trying to pull our muscles by threatening to invoke these treaties and conventions and imposing sanctions by stopping aid. While the popular demand to start trial of George W. Bush for genocide in Afghanistan and Iraq has no value or relevance for them who are now pressurizing Pakistani government for just one American soul. As for Pakistan and this government the only way out is to try these criminals under the law of land and punish this murderer and his accomplices - in order to prevent further such incidents – cancel all visas of American citizens including the so-called ‘embassy staff’ and make them leave the country within a week. After the heat waves have settled one can think about letting in a limited number of diplomats after proper check-up. As an American dependency Pakistan has no future. Our only way out is to emancipate ourselves.

If the government again succumbs to US pressure it will not only undermine its own existence, it will invite a new wave of terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil and may be an Egypt like situation though the unfolding of events after two weeks of public uproar appears to be dwindling to take Egypt out of the Israeli and American clutches and accept only face changes.

One has to keep in mind that the main cause of this turmoil in Middle East is high economic disparity the balance of which is now shifting and soon a big chunk of poor and hard hit people are going to multiply their income and resultantly their purchasing power due to increase in agricultural yields, then the curse of slavery will die its natural death. If the government again succumbs to US pressure it will not only undermine its own existence, it will invite a new wave of terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil and may be another Tunis & Egypt like situation under the changing circumstances.

Arabs Winds of change

Mass protests and general strikes have taken place in Bangladesh. There is hardly any country where the working masses have not been affected and inspired by this movement in the Middle East. But some of the most scintillating repercussions are being witnessed in Pakistan in the present period.
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By Lal Khan

As the Arab revolution rages on from the coast of the Mediterranean to the waters of the Arabian Sea, shock waves have ripped through the echelons of power from Washington to Beijing. The despotic rulers of the region strenuously urged Mubarak to hold on. They were well aware that if the despot of the largest economy and country in the Arab world fell, their fate is sealed.

The Saudi monarchy seems to be particularly worried. It is riddled with conflicts of succession. The Saudi Arabian population, deprived of basic freedoms and unemployment close to 10 percent, could be vulnerable to the Tunisian and Egyptian syndrome.

As Karl Marx remarked, “When there is a revolution from below there are reforms from above.” Most of these regimes, from Jordan to Morocco and from Algeria to Yemen are offering reforms and concessions. They are announcing increased subsidies on basic goods, from petroleum to flour and making promises of pay rises.

Yet the impact of the revolutionary events refuses to relent and in one country after another there are unprecedented uprisings. In Kuwait the youth are calling to launch a resistance movement against the regime. In the Palestinian territories another intifada is looming on the horizon. Linked with this pan-Arab revolt it will have much larger reverberations than ever before. Hamas has been exposed in the Gaza strip, as is the Palestinian Authority that is rapidly losing its social base amongst the Palestinian masses.

Demonstrations in support of the Arab revolution have been repressed in several countries of the Middle East, including the West Bank and Gaza.

However, the most significant development of the Egyptian revolution is the entrance of the proletariat into the arena of history. Factories in Alexandria have been occupied and the workers of the Suez Canal have gone on strike. These developments are symptoms of the depth the movement is gaining.

The Islamic fundamentalists are in no position to control the uprising. That is one of the reasons why Hamas is not enthusiastic about the upheavals in Egypt. In a recent article in Time Magazine, Bruce Riedel — an experienced CIA official — actually came out in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. This is an important sign of the policy the imperialists are contemplating.

At the present moment in time they are extremely worried about the unfolding events in the region and behind the scenes at least important sections of the US ruling class are hoping for the exhaustion of the movement. They are talking about a “harmonious transition”.

However, the democratic set-up they want to impose would be “of the rich, for the rich and by the rich”. It would not solve any of the problems that were the real causes of this mass rebellion. With the exacerbating economic crisis poverty, unemployment and deprivation will only worsen.

Apart from the Arab despotic regimes the Zionist “democratic” regime in Israel is no less worried by the revolt. They have openly come out in support of Mubarak, which says a lot.

Interestingly this mass upsurge has had repercussion across the planet. One of the countries that have severely suppressed information about these events is China. Just by searching the word “Egypt” on China’s main Twitter service, Sino Weibo, produces a warning that “according to the relevant laws, regulations and policies, the search results have not been displayed”. This depicts the fear mass movements evoke in the regime that has been restoring capitalism in China.

Mass protests and general strikes have taken place in Bangladesh. There is hardly any country where the working masses have not been affected and inspired by this movement in the Middle East. But some of the most scintillating repercussions are being witnessed in Pakistan in the present period.

The revolutionary events in Tunisia had a deep impact on the struggle of the power sector workers of the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC). The courage and militancy they gained from the Tunisian workers and youth helped them win an important victory by the reinstatement of 4,300 fired workers.

Similarly, the events in Egypt have been instrumental in the sudden explosion of the struggle of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This was one of the most privileged sections of the Pakistani proletariat. The attempt to privatise some routes of the PIA has given vent to other grievances of the employees. The incumbent regime will most probably have to retreat in this conflict too.

There are already simmering movements in telecommunications, postal services, WAPDA, railways and other state sector enterprises and institutions. If the struggles of the workers can unite in a large scale national movement this could unleash political upheaval.

As the Keynesian economic model of propping up capitalism began to crumble in the late 1970s, the “trickle-down” economics of Thatcherism was blindly followed by the ruling classes of these former colonial countries. State owned enterprises are considered unprofitable in a global economy with debilitating state intervention and massive public deficits. The ferocious forces of the market create razor sharp competition that makes the survival of state capitalist companies difficult. Hence the mantra of the dominant media and intelligentsia is privatisation, restructuring and deregulation.

In the last 30 years we have seen and experienced the disastrous results of these policies. The only way out of this crisis is the complete transformation of the market economy into a socialist planned economy under the democratic control and management of the workers.

The opinion makers of the ruling class are dismissing the possibility of an Egypt or Tunisia type revolutionary movement in Pakistan. They cite the religious, national and ethnic conflicts in society that would hamper such an outcome. Yet they forget that just days before the upheaval Egypt saw attacks on Coptic Christians and their churches. The same kinds of conflicts in Pakistan were cut across by the class unity of the working classes during the 1968-69 revolution.

There is an old saying of the Arab caravan guides, “The darkest hour of the night is its last hour.” The Arab revolution is piercing through that last part of the dark night of coercion and oppression of the working people. A new epoch has dawned. A new resilience of the class struggle has arisen. It is a new beginning.

The writer is the editor of Asian Marxist Review and International Secretary of Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign. He can be reached at ptudc@hotmail.com

The nuclear balance between India, Pakistan

The Pakistannis have significantly accelrated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them. After years of approximate weapons parity, Pakistan has now edged ahead of India. It also says that these figures make Pakistan the world`s fifth-largest nuclear power.
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By Afshain Afzal

Washington Post, quoting non-government analysts, reported on January 31, 2011, that Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal now totals more than 100 deployed weapons, a doubling of its stockpile over the past several years. It also claimed that the Pakistanis have significantly accelerated production of uranium and plutonium for bombs and developed new weapons to deliver them. New Delhi and Tel Aviv must offer thanks to the daily that it helped them in their joint plot against Pakistan. Intentional or unintentional, what ever the case may be, Washington Post has questioned the peacefulness of Pakistani nuclear programme by blaming Pakistan of having edged ahead of India with over 100 deployed nuclear weapons. In fact, Washington Post has acted on the directions of Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and Indian intelligence mafia that it has confirmed the blame of New Delhi despite the fact that there is no proofs either about the claim that Pakistan has made any further addition to its nuclear arsenal in the recent years or its nuclear programme is for some other purpose than to meet its growing energy demands. If we recall, last year, Indian Army Chief, General Deepak Kapoor also claimed that Pakistan’s nuclear assets had surpassed the limits of deterrence and that Islamabad’s capabilities needed to be verified, after that New Delhi could think about reviewing its own nuclear strategy. Without going into the details, it is, in fact, western countries, which most of the time mislead New Delhi not only about Pakistan but also about China and other countries about increase of their capabilities from maximum level of deterrence. The question arises, why US or any other country would pose Pakistan more powerful than India, despite the fact that it is an open secret that Washington and other western countries have very long term objective in and with India. The interest shown by the western nations, especially US in Indian economy and their plans to support Indian development programmes with provision of high tech defence and nuclear equipment worth billions of dollars speaks of Washington long term policy for Indian Ocean. One wonders when India has its own signal interception units including facilities at Embassies and Consulates, Radio Interception Units, setups of Intelligence, G installations as well as stations in other countries why it should accept intelligence inputs and later dictations from other countries. New Delhi cannot deny the fact that never any hostile move was ever intercepted by its personnel operating in India and elsewhere. No doubt, it is CIA and other western agencies which had been feeding self-engineered intelligence inputs on the basis of the activities of its own agents in the target countries, interpreting as activities sponsored by target governments. Interestingly, despite the fact that top Indian scientist A P J Kalam claimed that the test of the hydrogen bomb in 1998 was a success, there are reports that a lot of discussions are taking place among Indian nuclear scientists that it might need another test to validate the thermonuclear device. Washington has reportedly promised India to help her in developing additional nuclear weapons. There are unconfirmed reports that Washington is also planning to shift portions of its aging nuclear arsenal in India. It is important to mention here that the instead of making efforts to denuclearize and clear the world from nuclear weapons, the western nations are providing opportunities to countries to come into competition with other countries. Plans have been unearthed where some Arab countries having alliance with US are also being encouraged to have their own nuclear facilities. It has become a matter of routine that unfounded blames are leveled on Pakistan that it is politically fragile. It has been pointed out by Washington Post that US administration fears of proliferation or possible terrorist attempts to seize Pakistan’s nuclear materials but probably it is forgetting that US highly secure Pentagon had been successfully targeted by certain American nationals that resulted in killing of over 300 US officers in a single attempt. US cannot claim to be terrorist free country? There are more chances that the nuclear weapons of US are taken over by the terrorists than that of Pakistan. Then why black propaganda is carried out that Washington fears proliferation or possible terrorist attempts to seize Pakistan’s nuclear materials. Washington, Israel and some western countries are trying to enhance India’s nuclear capabilities so that it can counter China and Pakistan but if Allah forbid the nuclear race in South Asia starts whole responsibility would fall on US. No doubt, all the countries of the world have right to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes. It is generally believed that US recent attractive offers to India as well as Indo-US Nuclear Cooperation Agreement is in favour of India but it is other way round. In fact, US could not find resources to monitor Indian nuclear and missile programmes but in the garb of cooperation Washington has got a golden opportunity to send its watch dog tentacles inside India. Interestingly, US firms are also openly recruiting India youth to collect information from various nuclear power installations. It is important to mention here that US has plans to bring into effect a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and endorse a ban on enrichment and reprocessing equipment to India. No doubt, in the pursuit to become more powerful than Pakistan India has tied its hands in the shape of secret agreements. There is no doubt, that US is slowly and gradually curbing Indian nuclear weapons programme and will also not allow to carryout development in the field of nuclear science. India is using west to cap Pakistan nuclear programme and enhance its nuclear capabilities but so far it has only compromised its sovereignty and credibility in the eyes of old friends. The speculative reports by National Maritime Foundation, Institute of Science and International Security and Federation of American Scientists are without proofs. In the past, such organizations in collaboration with western intelligence agencies leveled serious allegations on Iraq and Afghanistan for possession of fissile material and Weapons of Mass Destruction but despite mass killings and invasions not even single evidence could be traced. Although, Wikileaks are mere an attempt to divert the war crimes and human rights violations of US and its allies in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere but the revelation by Wikileaks and the statements of Indian leaders like Rahul Gandhi that Hindu militant organization Rashtriya Sevak Sangh (RSS) was a thousand times more dangerous than the Al-Qaida put a question mark on India’s security. One wonders how India is safe to be allowed to carryout nuclear development and Pakistan is not? The fact cannot be denied that India has larger quantity of stockpiles of fissile materials that can be used for the development of nuclear weapons. Washington, instead of helping Pakistan to balance the situation, further enhanced New Delhi’s capability by striking US-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. On the contrary, the US administration has disapproved similar deal with Pakistan. Islamabad is rightly suspicions that the US, Israel and many western countries aim to destroy its nuclear programme and are favouring India for its own long term objective in the region. In the present scenario, international community as well as United Nations needs to be vigilant that proliferation of nuclear weapons does not take place and Washington does not attempt to transfer its nuclear weapons or nuclear fissile materials to India.

afshainafzal@yahoo.com

Egypt’s impact over Palestine

This fact also is responsible for the continued Zionist occupation of Palestine and genocides there. Without this disunity, Israel and the US could not abuse Palestinians in the manner in which they have for decades, and without this disunity the US could not have invaded Afghaistan through Pakistan and Iraq. This is for this reason the US-Zionists are arrogantly seeking to invade Islamic Iran! However, it is unlikely that the Arabs will suddenly unite themselves. May Allah help them and  save Muslims!

By Dr. Abdul Ruff

Fragile nature of the pathetic existence of Palestinians calls the PLO for extra caution to defend the interests of the defenseless Palestinians sandwiched between a turmoil Egypt and a fascist Israel now occupying larger parts of Palestine. Obama promised a “new beginning” with Islamic world during his historic Cairo address in 2009- heralding a new era in US Mideast diplomacy. Most critics saw a new phase in Palestine state establishment and some of them supported Zionists’ illegal settlements proliferation against the aspirations for a genuine Palestine state. Along a top U.S. foreign policy priority in Mideast as well as ties with Egypt has been the free flow of oil. Because of its longtime support of Mubarak, the US faces the hard task of midwifing a “transition” while staying arm’s-length from the waning regime. Does US want to make Egypt a perfect puppet like Pakistan, Afghanistan or Iraq that are now being remotely controlled from Washington? Protests are continuing in Egypt with the aim of ousting president Mubarak. But Mubarak, happy that no replacement impossible in Egypt for now, thinks his nominee Suleiman as Vice-President would continue to rule on his behalf until the turmoil settles down and he would resume his “duties” in due course. Mubarak perhaps thinks people want reforms and polls more than his own exit. The anti-government demonstrations in Egypt which had appeared to have lost some steam were re-energized on Feb 8 with an estimated 250,000 people filling Tahrir Square in Cairo. Reports from the scene indicated protestors dismissed the announcement by Suleiman that two committees are being established: one to propose constitutional changes and one to monitor implementation of reforms. Suleiman also promised that protestors will not be harassed by police or pro-Mubarak gangs. Palestinians look all Arab nations, including Egypt, for support against an occupier nuclear Israel, a fascist regime trying to control the Mideast. Israel talks ill of Islamic rule and wants military to take charge everywhere as arbiters and is opposed to an Islamic governments in Iran and Turkey; and Islamization of Palestine. The Egyptian army is reminded by Israeli agents of what happened to the Iranian generals when the Shah fell, and what is happening to the Turkish army as Turkey is Islamizing. Mubarak harmed the Palestine interests in a crude manner by using the terror blockades to squeeze the defenseless Palestinians, who are otherwise being crushed by Israeli aggressions. Mubarak has been for three decades the well-paid enforcer for the US and Israel, sealing off Gaza from the outside world and preventing aid flows across the Egyptian border. Mubarak and his family have become multi-billionaires, thanks to the American taxpayers, and the US government, both Republicans and Democrats, do not want to lose their heavy investment in Mubarak. Many Egyptians live in the Gaza Strip, so there are family ties; Many Gazan students go abroad to study in Egypt. These days Egypt has shut its official border crossing with Gaza, making the life of Gazans more miserable. Hamas security personnel guarded the other side of the border, however, preventing Palestinians from crossing into Egypt. At least 50 Palestinians wishing to exit Gaza were turned back by Hamas forces. The escapees for purchasing essentials came back bearing stories of torture and mistreatment by the Egyptians, fueling popular antipathy for Egypt’s ruler. Mutasem Al-Quqa, who earlier spent seven years in Egyptian prisons, said he was arrested on his way from Gaza to Cairo on charges of belonging to the ruling Hamas, which is outlawed in Egypt. Gazans suffered a great deal at the border crossing with Egypt. They often have to bribe soldiers, but the Egyptians had no mercy on people, whether leftists or Hamas members. They turned back even the patients who came for treatment.” Many Palestinians focus on the cultural and familial ties between Gazans and Egyptians, a result of geographic proximity and 19 years of direct Egyptian control between 1948 and 1967. Uncertainty in Egypt has forced the Palestine groups against taking any position as they always look forward to Egypt’s help to contain Israeli aggression. It seems both Fatah and Hamas leaders are afraid of any similar demonstrations against their own leaderships. Demonstrations of solidarity with the Egyptian people have been ruthlessly suppressed in both the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip and the PLO-controlled West Bank. Youth in Palestine are being wooed by Mossad agents to go for liquor culture instead of Islam. Private as well as personal wealth making among leaders has proved the PLO freedom movement to be illusory. In fact, the PLO was founded in 1964 as a bourgeois nationalist movement on the initiative of the then-Egyptian President pro-West Gamal Abdel Nasser. Today, the PLO and its pro-West faction, the Fatah headed by Abbas, have been reduced to the status of willing tools of American imperialism and the Israeli regime, and therefore are extremely hostile to the Palestinian masses. Hamas was founded in 1986 as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood which is not able to take the lead in the revolution. Since they look forward to stronger ties with Egypt, no matter who rules there, Hamas and Fatah are both hesitant to take sides over the turmoil in Egypt. Despite the economic distress the unrest has created, some Gazans remained cautiously optimistic about Egypt. People here generally sympathize with what’s going on in Egypt. In Gaza, where the Islamic Hamas movement rules, officials were mum on the mass protests, which have brought Egypt to a standstill and forced President Husni Mubarak to dismiss his cabinet. In the West Bank, where the Fatah-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA) is in control, police blocked a demonstration backing the Egyptian protestors. The Palestine Authority (PLO) by the pro-West Fatah faction in West Bank obstructed a small demonstration in solidarity with the opposition across from the Egyptian embassy in Ramallah. Human Rights Watch reported a few dozen protesters were met by 20 armed police, who tried to confiscate cameras and intimidated demonstrators. Similar demonstrations would have taken place in Gaza, too, but people feared a crackdown by Hamas. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank expressed both hope and anxiety as unrest went into third week in Egypt, a country that has acted as a lifeline to besieged Gaza and a patron to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank but also as the object of anger and resentment. The Gaza Strip is completely dependent on Egypt for gasoline and other essential items. The price of gas coming in from Egypt was one Israeli shekel (28 cents) per liter, compared with 6.50 shekels for Israeli gas, a price beyond the reach of most Gazans. The chaos in Egypt is complicating life in Gaza as fighting between troops and protestors in northern Sinai closes the roads between Cairo and Gaza that bring commodities to the tunnels. By Monday, tunnel traffic had ground to a halt and gasoline reserves quickly ran out, forcing filling stations to shut down. Fearing a fuel shortage and ignoring government pleas against hoarding, Gazans flocked to filling stations over the weekend filling gas tanks and plastic containers to the brim. Even when the Egyptian gas runs out in the gas stations, there will still be plenty of Israeli reserves that the Hamas government has barred gas stations from filling containers to prevent stockpiling. Gaza’s diesel-fueled power stations were also likely to suffer from the smuggling halt, with power shortages to be expected in the coming days. Despite the antagonism between them, both Fatah and Hamas organizations of PLO (PA) represent the interests of rival wings of the Palestinian corporate class against the genuine interests of the freedom movement. Stability in both Gaza and the West Bank must be preserved and leaders fear that protests could “create chaos.” Even though Hamas has links to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is half-heartedly supporting the Egyptian demonstrations, the organization obviously fears that the mass movement could spread to Gaza and threaten its own rule. On the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, has imposed a complete ban on solidarity demonstrations with Egypt. Underlying the ban is the close relationship between Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, whose overthrow would place the regime in Ramallah in considerable difficulty, as well as the fear of an uprising against the PLO’s own rule. Nevertheless, several hundred people took to the streets of Ramallah on February 5 to demonstrate their solidarity with the Egyptian protests. As they began to chant: “From Ramallah to Tahrir Square, the people want change”. World cares about 80 million people who yearn for freedom in Egypt. The Egyptian political system is entirely broken and the departure of Mubarak alone would start the search for a consensual political arrangement acceptable to the majority of Egyptians. The current parliament should be dissolved. Reforms and reshuffling will not be sufficient to make the state functional once again. In fact, the longer the current pre-transition phase lasts, the greater the damage to the security, political and economic elements essential for an orderly transition. The Egyptian economy is in free fall. Its key economic drivers: foreign commerce, tourism, banking and trade services have all been paralyzed. The growing uncertainty has led to a regional stock market crash, rising oil prices and other economic damage. The military—the one institution in Egypt that can guarantee an orderly transition and a stable security environment—is in a difficult position. Its passivity during the violent clashes in Tahrir Square has affected its reputation; this will complicate matters further. So far, the western terrocracies control the rest of the world. Touring the Mideast region to support anti-Islam regimes in the name of democracy and regime change, which would benefit the GST nations led by the US-UK, William Hague, the UK foreign secretary has warned Middle East peace process could become a “casualty” of the calls for change sweeping across the Arab world. Hague’s bold language appears to be a reflection of his frustration at Israel’s refusal to compromise on settlement building in and around Jerusalem, and the Obama administration’s failure to set a clear timetable for negotiations. Hague said it could “lose further momentum” if international focus shifts to countries like Tunisia and Egypt and urged Israel to avoid “belligerent language” and called for “bold leadership” from the USA. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to “reinforce the might of the state of Israel” whatever the outcome of the unrest. Time for bold leadership on Middle East Peace Process from the US and equally bold steps by Israelis and Palestinians. Turkey is pursuing the Palestine cause against Israeli advice and the shift by Turkey toward Iran and Syria, etc. have now compelled Israeli terror strategists to fear that the more time passes, the more the neighbours of region are against Israel. Then, today’s arrogant power Israel would have to listen to everybody. After losing Turkey as an ally, Israel has just seen Hezbollah come to power in Beirut and the Palestinian Authority stripped of its credibility by the Wikileaks exposure of its groveling to America and Israel. Now Israel faces the near certainty of a more hostile Egypt. Zionism exists illegally and kills Palestinians by illegal means. Like all Jews anxiously want, Israeli Netanyahu also expects a pro-Zionist and essentially anti-Islamic terrocracy to replace Mubarak regime with which the Zionist regime could continue the terror-blockade operations against Gaza Palestine; and a continuity in Egyptian regime even with a new leader the Mossad and CIA could establish secret deals with Egypt’s secret outfits against Palestine and Arabs. Israel is already opposing Islamic Iran and Netanyahu has warned of the dangers of an Iranian-style regime in Cairo led by “Islamic extremists” arising out of the political chaos sweeping through Egypt. By “stability” Netanyahu means the unimpeded ability of Israel to continue oppressing the Palestinians and stealing their country. Mubarak has been for three decades the well-paid enforcer for the US and Israel, sealing off Gaza from the outside world and preventing aid flows across the Egyptian border. However, notwithstanding all this, emerging pressure situation has further reduced Israeli options to prolong the occupation and illegal settlement proliferation in Palestine, Tel Aviv would still like to consider, rather haplessly, if there are still some more options other than the peace “talks” and deal. Today, unfortunately, no one is seen rushing to make a deal with the badly divided Palestinians. Mubarak was one of Mahmoud Abbas’s key allies and the Palestinian leader has already been reeling from the Al Jazeera-leaked documents from the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, and from the general perception that he had failed to make progress in the negotiations or to secure a freeze on Israeli settlements. Without an agreement with Hamas, he is in an even more difficult position to deliver and sell an agreement given the inevitable compromises. There has been a positive sign as more and more statesmen around the world rightly think if arrogant Israel makes peace with Palestinians, not only a peaceful Palestine state would emerge to raise the children without fear of aggression, but also a more prosperous and enlightened region would emerge too. This thinking is not new, though. It seems the western powers, including US and UK, are urging the Zionist regime now led by hawkish Netanyahu to “urgently” address the deadlocked peace negotiations with the Palestinians in light of the volatile situation in Egypt which could adversely affect the Israel’s future operations in Palestine. Arab disunity has long been the means by which the Western countries have dominated the Middle East. This fact also is responsible for the continued Zionist occupation of Palestine and genocides there. Without this disunity, Israel and the US could not abuse the Palestinians in the manner in which they have for decades, and without this disunity the US could not have invaded Afghanistan through Pakistan and Iraq. This is for this reason the US-Zionists are arrogantly seeking to invade Islamic Iran! However, it is unlikely that the Arabs will suddenly unite themselves. May Allah help them and save Muslims!

abdulruff_jnu@yahoo.com