[mukto-mona] Speaking all truth to the establishment

Dear Moderator,
 
Please find the attachment for possible publication in your esteemed website.
 
 
With kind regards,
M. A. KABIR
 

Speaking all truth to the establishment

Md. Anwarul Kabir

Speaking all truth to the establishment, especially in public, is not that easy and some time it is risky too. Here the term establishment signifies people at the power centre who run the state machineries and their cohorts.

The establishment, since the ancient time seldom likes to embrace unpleasant truth voluntarily. If we probe into the ancient history, it will reveal that in 399 BC, the great philosopher Socrates had to face trial and subsequent execution when he was nearly 70 as he spoke the truth following his conscience to the establishment. His unconventional attitude and expressions towards divinity contrary to the established norm of Athens at that time angered the people at the power centre. The quote from 'The lives of Eminent Philosophers', authored by Diogenes Laertius of the 3 AD supports this assertion. He explicitly pointed out that "Socrates discussed moral questions in the workshops and the marketplace." Often his unpopular views expressed disdainfully and with an air of condescension, provoked his listeners' anger. Laertius further stated that "men set upon him with their fists or tore his hair out," but that Socrates "bore all this ill-usage patiently." Eventually Socrates was tried and convicted by the courts of democratic Athens. He was charged of corrupting the youth and disbelieving in the ancestral gods as he exposed his truth that went against the belief of the establishment.

The history of the Semitic religion has revealed that Jesus Christ (7–2 BC—26–36 AD) had to undergo Jewish and Roman trials and was sentenced to death by crucifixion as he introduced new truth concerning religion contradicting Judaism and pagan Roman beliefs which the establishment at that time followed. The prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (sm) (570-632 AD) also had to face much struggle and hardship as he attempted to introduce monotheistic belief replacing the prevailing pagan polytheistic religion despite the fact that he was born into the Koreish, the leading tribe of the establishment in Mecca of his time. Ironically, his preaching of Islam was not accepted even by many powerful members of his own tribe and so eventually he was forced to leave Mecca in 622 AD with his followers and had to take refuge in Medina until he along with his followers succeeded to conquer Mecca in 630 AD.

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), the great scientist also fell under the rage of the establishment of his time while he tried to reveal the truth of science observing physical reality by stating, "I hold that the Sun is located at the centre of the revolutions of the heavenly orbs and does not change place, and that the Earth rotates on itself and moves around it." In this context it is worthwhile to note that throughout Europe, the church still held the core power of the establishment during Galileo's time. And the new discovery of Galileo contradicts the biblical creed which holds the notion of earth centric universe. So, after his scientific write-up entitled "Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World - Ptolemaic and Copernican" containing the new discovery discarding the divine quotes of the Bible was published, Galileo was condemned to lifelong imprisonment.

In ancient and medieval times, religions played crucial roles in establishments and so speaking the truth cost enormous suffering for those who following their conscience revealed the truth. However, in modern age too, due to fanatic opposition of religious bigots especially in the Muslim world including ours, many free thinkers undergo miserable sufferings in their lives. For instance, we can mention the name of Araz Ali Matabbar (1900-1985), an eminent self educated intellectual who tried to judge the religion rationally and asked unpleasant questions in his write-ups, became a victim of the establishment during the pre-independent period of Bangladesh. Even after the independence in 1973, poet Daud Haider was set upon by mullahs and their thugs for a poem in which he had raged at God for allowing the massacre of three million Bangladeshis during the liberation struggle and criticized leading religious leaders including Muhammed (SM). The Government of Bangabandhu, hailed for guiding Bangladesh to the path of secularism, imprisoned Daud for 'his own protection." Later in 1979, during Zia's regime after being released from the jail he had to flee to India for saving his life from fanatic groups as his passport was impounded and later, he took asylum in German.(Still he is in German). For viewing religion through their rational lens, litterateur Ahemed Sharif (1921-1999), Humayun Azad (1947-2004) and some others in our country had to face much struggle including death threat from the religious bigots. In all cases the establishment took least interest in protecting these freethinkers showing little respect to freedom of expression.

Perhaps the most heinous slap on freedom of expression in the world occurred in the case of the feminist writer Taslima Nasrin who wrote Taslima some columns that have exposed how the medieval traditions of Islam have become major obstacle on the way to women emancipation and empowerment in our contemporary society. The Islamic goons of the country did not tolerate and subsequently they started agitation. Portraying her as Murtad they declared bounty for her head as it was in the case of Salman Rushdi. Instead of protecting Taslima from the rage of the Mullahs, the then government banned her book 'Layjja' and in 1993, she was charged with blasphemy. An arrest warrant was issued and Taslima went into hiding. After two months she surrendered to the High Court and immediately after receiving bail left Bangladesh. Since 1994 she has lived in many countries in exile including France, Sweden and India. However, the acts of the government on Taslima's issue did not translate that the government did all the things due to its love for Islam. Rather, in our country, all governments patronize Islamic fanatics for political reasons—for safeguarding its vote bank.

Religion is a sensitive issue, especially in the contemporary Muslim world and so the establishments there do not take risk to give freedom for expression that goes against long practised religious culture and beliefs. But what is the freedom of expressions in democratic secular world? Are people there free to speak all truth to the establishment? Take USA , the most powerful 'democratic' country in this uni-polar country, as an example. Are Americans free to talk all truth to the establishment? To get the answer to this question first we need to unmask the reality in USA establishment. Who represent the US government? Either Democrat or Republic? But both the two major parties Republic and Democrat are patronised by the big multinational companies. As the other political parties who stand against capitalism and who campaign for the working class including 13% of the people who are under poverty line cannot succeed in the election, mainly due to crisis in party funds. It may be noted here, in the developed countries also money is the most powerful instrument in the national electoral process most like the practice in our country. So, this assertion becomes evidential when we see that over the half of presidents of the USA came from the wealthiest 3% of the Americans while at least a dozen sprang from the loins of elitists in the top of 1%. Statistics from 2005 shows that 143 of 435 US representatives and one in three senators were millionaire. These people, no doubt, were connected to the corporate world in one way or another. Presumably, recent statistics will reveal the similar pattern of representatives in the US government. So, in reality, deviated from Lincoln's philosophy, the USA has redefined its democracy as "government of the rich, for the rich and by the rich"

Due to their inherent background, the representatives of US government exert strong influence in formulating policies in favour of corporate interests. If we investigate then no doubt it will be revealed that the government of US itself follows the corporate structure. In this context, we may argue that US is leading towards fascism in line with Mussolini's fundamental definition of fascism: "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." The dangerous implication of this is corporatism of the mainstream media, the major tool for making public opinion. Presumably, speaking the truth that goes against corporate interest has no access to the mainstream media. So, when Bush administration imposed unjust war on Iraq, many humanitarian intellectuals who were against the war opposing the corporate interest got little access to mainstream media. Peace loving intellectuals at that time vastly relied on alternate media but due to its limitation they failed to create public opinion against fascist Bush and his cohorts. Due to this failure Bush could succeed to get elected for the second term to run the administration in a fascist manner.

Naomi Wolf, in her famous book 'The End of America: A Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot (2007)', with concrete evidences revealed the fact how the US controls the press. Referring the Committee to Protect Journalists she points out that the arrest of US journalists is at an all-time high. Contemporary US historian Prof. Carolyn Baker in her book "US History Uncensored" (2006) has rightly argued that over the decades US has turned into a close society from an open one. In a close society, as we observed in the case of former communist USSR and its folds, speaking all truth to the establishment was quite impossible. So, Russian free thinkers like Andrei Sakharov (1921-1989), Boris Pasternek (1921-1999) and many other had to face much hurdles and pains for expressing truth to the establishment.

In contemporary West Europe, especially in the UK, the scenario of freedom of speech is relatively much better. Still the situation there in this context is not unquestionable. The Civitas, an independent think tank has expressed its observation (2006), "For centuries Britain has been a beacon of liberty of thought, belief and speech, but now the freedom of its intellectual and political life is being subjected to a subtle form of 'censorship'"

The world's largest democratic and our neighbouring country India although comparatively better than other sub-continental countries, restricts freedom of expression in many political and religious aspects. No political party there can boast of respecting the freedom of the press. There have been numerous instances of newspaper offices being vandalized and editors and journalists being roughed up by political flunkeys for publishing articles that were critical of their leaders. Banning of books is not uncommon by the central or state government. For instance the ban on Dwikhandito, a book written by Taslima Nasrin by the West Bengal Government can be cited.

Apart from the religious issue like many other countries, speaking truth on other secular issues that go against the interest of the establishment is also difficult in Bangladesh. So, for implicit reasons our writers/journalists dare not unveil the fact on Chittagong Hill Tracts turmoil or the much debated issue of 'cross fire.'

In conclusion, we can argue that the freedom of speech or right to speak to the establishment will not be translated into reality in this planet unless we work out for it. For this, we need to go a long way overcoming all hurdles and pains following the footstep of the free thinkers of the past. For this, we need to nurture the courage of our own conscience so that we can make our planet a place blessed with the freedom of expression.

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Dear Alochoks

Here is my response to a letter in the New Age.

Regards

 

Ezajur Rahman

 

http://www.newagebd.com/2008/oct/16/oped.html

The citizen makes fun of Dr Kamal possibly joining AL (New Age 14/10/08). I don’t want him to join but if he does it will be only for the reason that such men believe they must stay in the fray to make a difference. It is the only reason why a man of the caliber of Kamal Hossain, in spite of his flaws, would consider sitting regularly with the kind of people who make up the AL central committee. The citizen treats AL like a saint who will choose whether or not to bless Kamal Hossain. The blessings of such a saint are often purchased and traded. It is not Kamal Hossain who needs good luck – it is time for this tired tiger to rest. It is Bangladesh that needs luck as it waits for the reformation of the central committees of AL and BNP.

Ezajur Rahman

Kuwait

 

  

 

Dr Kamal’s intention to become AL partner

New Age 14/10/08

Sure, he would like it very much. Being in the limelight with flip-flop views on social and political life of Bangladesh, this old and confused fellow misses real power, both intellectual and political. The AL may offer him the last opportunity. Good luck to Dr Kamal.
   A citizen

 

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[mukto-mona] Who won the third presidential debate? No one!

The outcome of final presidential debate is in the eyes of the beholder!

 

A.H. Jaffor Ullah

 

Many Americans were psyched up for the third presidential debate that was slated for the evening of October 15, 2008.  The Hofstra University located at Hempstead, Long Island, NY was the venue for the historic event, which was moderated by CBS's veteran newsperson, Bob Schieffer.

 

The format of the debate was very different from the first two.  The two candidates sat closely for 90 minutes next to the moderator.  Therefore, it was expected to be a non-confrontational meeting of the two candidates.  The other thing worth noticing is that each candidate could retort to any comments made by his opponent.  Also, the moderator was in full control of the debate unlike the second debate held about a week ago at Belmont University campus in Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Many political analysts have rightly predicted that Senator McCain who had been trailing by as much as 10-12 percent in some blue states and by 5-6% in some tossup states will be on the offensive in tonight's debate.  Since both the financial market and economy in America are going through some rough weather to put it in milder terms, the entire debate was on domestic policy and in particular on uncertain future from the perspective of ordinary Americans vis-à-vis jobs, home values, credit market, recession, etc.

 

Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama performed well in the debate but the Republican candidate did well in the first 30 minutes and Senator Obama performed a tad better than McCain in the last 30 minutes.  McCain was very focused on economic issues while Obama handled the healthcare, education, job creation, and energy issue rather well. 

 

There were some lively interactions going on between the two candidates as they spar on many domestic issues.  John McCain had more to gain by winning the debate; therefore, he went ballistic from the very start.  Barack Obama on the other hand wanted to play safe; therefore, he remained calm and behaved like a professor throughout the debate.

 

At the end of the debate, CNN had corralled a whole bunch of political pundits from both sides of the aisle.  The Republican ones thought that their man (McCain) have done better than Obama; whereas, the Democratic-leaning analysts thought Obama performed better overall.  The CNN also placed about 30 independent voters in Columbus, Ohio, who get to vote and talk immediately after the debate.  There, about 12 undecided voters thought Obama came out victorious as opposed to 6 undecided voters.  I am of the opinion that Senator McCain gave his best performance in the final debate as compared to the first two debates.  Senator Obama was calm and calculated and he did not give an inch to McCain; he rebutted his opponent at every possible opportunity.

 

To illustrate how testy was the debate, I will provide here the dialogue that took place between the two when the question was who is running a negative campaign?

 

"One hundred percent, John, of your ads, 100 percent of them have been negative," Obama shot back in an uncommonly personal debate less than 20 days from Election Day.

 

"It's not true," McCain retorted.

 

"It absolutely is true," said Obama, seeking the last word.  

 

Senator McCain played the role of aggressor from the very beginning of the debate, accusing Obama of waging class warfare by seeking tax increases that would "spread the wealth around." 

 

The Republican candidate also demanded to know the full extent of Obama's relationship with William Ayers, a 1960s-era terrorist and the Democrat's ties with ACORN, a liberal group accused of violating federal law as it seeks to register voters. And he insisted that Obama disavow the recent remarks by Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat, who accused the Republican ticket of playing racial politics along the same lines as Governor George Wallace, a segregationist of the past.

 

Struggling to escape the political liability of an unpopular Republican incumbent, McCain also said, "Sen. Obama, I am not President Bush. ... You wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago."

 

Obama was very agile while returning each volley, and brushed aside McCain's assertion to full political independence.

 

"If I've occasionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people — on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities — you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush," Obama said. 

 

There were quite a few skirmishes that took place between the two candidates.  Thanks to the format of tonight's debate that made the usually dull confrontation into an exciting one. 

 

As I alluded to earlier, no one had under-performed tonight.  Being an underdog John McCain came to Hofstra University campus to have a knockout win, which never did happen.  Senator Obama came out slightly bruised over 1960-era terrorist, Bill Ayers, issue.  Senator McCain could not say how his running mate, Sarah Palin, is uniquely qualified to be the president. 

 

Therefore, should I call the debate a draw?  No, I won't.  I think Senator Obama did a fine job defending his liberal policies to American voters.  Most polls in America are pointing for a landslide victory for Obama-Biden ticket.  It will be a shocker if McCain-Palin ticket could come out victorious on election night.  In my earlier write-ups I have mentioned that whoever would win the state of Colorado would become the next president of America.  The Obama campaign thus far has run a flawless election drive nationally.  They were quick to reply to any allegation against their campaign.  More and more Obama looks more presidential than Senator McCain.  The sign of sea change is everywhere.  Perhaps the era of neo-conservative movement a la Ronald Reagan is over.  The birth of neo-liberalism is about to happen after November 4 election and that is an exciting development after ruination of American economy by Bush-Cheney Administration.

----------------------------

Dr. A.H. Jaffor Ullah, a researcher and columnist, writes from New Orleans, USA

 

 

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[mukto-mona] [Bangla Article] Oshombhober Biggan

http://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/avijit/oshombhober_biggan1.htm   thanks, Avijit

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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

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MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona 
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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[mukto-mona] "Walking fish" reveals fresh evolutionary insights

"Walking fish" reveals fresh evolutionary insights

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081015/sc_nm/us_fish_land

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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh

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Daily Star publishes an interview with Mukto-Mona
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MM site is blocked in Islamic countries such as UAE. Members of those theocratic states, kindly use any proxy (such as http://proxy.org/) to access mukto-mona.

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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Earth Day:
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Kansat Uprising : A Special Page from Mukto-Mona 
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
http://www.mukto-mona.com/project/Roumari/freedom_fighters_union300306.htm

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German Bangla Radio Interviews Mukto-Mona Members:
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates Darwin Day:

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[ALOCHONA] Daily Star - Baul Sculptures offends Molla Bhais removed from Airport Road

Why must we go to temples and mosques to reach Him?

Love all people and you will reach your

Krishna or your Allah.

Lalon Shah

 

Sculptures near ZIA removed after protests

Staff Correspondent

Daily Star

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=58970

 

The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) were forced to remove five sculptures of Bauls (folk singers) including Lalon Shah in front of the Zia International Airport in the face of protests from an Islamist group.

Sculptor Mrinal Haque told reporters that almost 50 percent task of the Tk 1crore project had been finished at a cost of around Tk 50 lakh.

Two of the five sculptures had been removed by yesterday evening while the rest was to be removed by midnight, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the Airport Police Station Sirajul Islam told the Daily Star.

He said the erection of the sculptures began about a month ago.

Earlier, Murti Protirodh Committee (Sculpture Prevention Committee) led by Khatme Nabuat Chairman Mufti Nur Hossain Nurani gave an ultimatum of 24 hours for removal of the sculptures.

Witnesses said around 2,000 people gathered in the area when the task of removing the sculptures began at about 11:00am.

The OC quoting the committee leaders said they do not want any sculptures in the airport area where the hajj camp is located.

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[mukto-mona] Economic & Political Weekly: Haris Gazdar reports on Pakistan

 

Letter From South Asia

Find Your War, or Risk Losing It

Haris Gazdar

Economic & Political Weekly

October 11, 2008

http://www.epw.org.in/epw//uploads/articles/12736.pdf

 

Pakistan can still win the war against 'jihadi' militancy without having prior political consensus, which is proving elusive, if its security forces function coherently. Victory will be surer, swifter, and achieved on terms more favourable to state sovereignty and democracy if there were agreement among the main political forces in the country.

 

Haris Gazdar (gasht@yahoo.com) is a political economist who works with the Karachi-based Collective for Social Science Research.

 

The war against 'jihadi' militancy is politically divisive in Pakistan even though, or perhaps because, it was always going to be the most important issue facing the state and society. A suicide attack on Islamabad's posh Marriott Hotel killed over 50 people a few hours after the newly-elected president, Asif Ali Zardari delivered his inaugural address to parliament. It was suspected that the intended target was the parliament where the entire political and military leadership of the country was assembled. Then, on the third day of the Eid festivities, the Pashtun nationalist Awami National Party (ANP) chief Asfandyar Wali Khan survived an assassination attempt in Charsadda.

 

Instead of uniting political opinion, these attacks further exposed the fissures. In the meanwhile, pressure mounted along the Afghanistan frontier as the United States (US) troops carried out cross-border missile attacks on suspected militant hideouts killing dozens of civilians including women and children. The US upped the ante by acknowledging for the first time that troops had actually landed on Pakistani soil and killed a number of people including civilians and suspected combatants. The military drive in the Bajaur tribal territory and in Swat district in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) continued. It was reported that militants had been forced to retreat in both these areas, and that Bajaur had become a testing ground for the nerve and stamina of the army. Estimates of people displaced from these areas now run into hundreds of thousands, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) officially declared Pakistan a war zone. Tribal militias were reported to have risen against the Taliban and Al Qaida in a number of regions including Dir, Kurram, Buner, and Salarzai. This was seen as a major new development in the war through much of which the tribes had acquiesced to Taliban incursions and takeovers.

 

Just as the war intensified so, paradoxically, did the debate over whose war it was anyway – America's or ours. This debate was made all the more sharper with the exit of Pervez Musharraf. Opposition to him had obscured the major divisions between his opponents on the war against jihadi militancy. In particular the two main protagonists – the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) – had been able to blur over the gap between their respective positions. The PPP had denounced Musharraf for not fighting hard or consistently, while the PML-N had accused him of adopting a needlessly aggressive approach at the behest of the Americans. In the political spectrum the ANP and the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) – both avowedly secular – stand with the PPP. The PML-N position is supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Imran Khan and what seems like a majority of opinionmakers in newspaper columns and television talk shows.

 

Outrageous and Outlandish

The "right-wing" argument – for want of better shorthand – is that Pakistan should stop fighting America's war against jihadi militancy. Instead, there should be positive political engagement with the militants and a negotiated settlement. Some variants of this argument stretch to actually confronting the US and Kabul. It is assumed that once Pakistan stops supporting the US the militants will end their attacks against targets in Pakistan, and will withdraw to a peaceful life. There seems to be an unshakeable belief, perhaps born out of desperation, that jihadi militants do not nurture political ambitions within Pakistan.

 

This discourse tries to rationalise all glaring evidence of jihadi stridency as defensive actions. When rationalisation runs out of steam there is always the option of blaming someone else: it is not the jihadis, but miscreants, trying to defame jihad (including Indian and Israeli agents!), that have been blowing up girls' schools and publicly beheading lowly public officials and local residents who do not fall in line.  There seems to be only one rule in the evolution of this narrative: the more outrageous the crime, the more outlandish

the rationalisation. "This is not Pakistan's war" also happens to be the stated position of Al Qaida. According to Adam Yahiye Gadahn, reputed to be a spokesman for the shadowy terrorist outfit:

 

The Pakistan Army and the professional spreaders of lies at their service are trying to make us believe that the state of Pakistan has turned a new leaf. These are not the leaders Pakistan wants and deserves. They are the leaders America wants and preserves in order to reach its policy objectives, hinder the jihad against the crusaders in Afghanistan ... and ensure that nuclear-capable Pakistan remains docile, contained and 'shariah'-free. Their battle has always been and remains to be America's battle, not Pakistan's. And this battle (against militants) is what has brought Pakistan to the verge of break-up.¹

 

The mindless millions who voted for the present leaders must obviously await an Al Qaida approved list of leaders that Pakistan "wants and deserves" while suicidal assassins go about eliminating the "professional spreaders of lies".

 

History of Deceit and Betrayal

Why is a major chunk of the political mainstream unwilling to take the jihadis head on? What explains the confusion of a good part of the intelligentsia about something that is seen by virtually everyone outside the country as an existential threat to the state? Two factors are salient. First, for generations of Pakistanis who have grown up with American lies, duplicity and double standards, it is the cry wolf moment. They remember a time when Afghan jihadis and their sponsors in Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and beyond were America's favourite freedom fighters. Al Qaida was but a register of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)-backed Arab fighters brought to Peshawar to confront the Soviet Union in Afghanistan.

 

For those with shorter memories the run-up to the Iraq war is a more recent reminder of American deceit. At home, Pakistanis saw the neocons propping up Musharraf while waxing lyrical about democracy. Subsequent US course correction, particularly after Republican defeats in the Congressional elections in 2006, meant greater attention to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The long-drawn US engagement with the PPP leadership in order to effect a transition to democracy and the passing of the Biden-Lugar bill were all part of this course correction.² Pakistanis who felt betrayed once too often by US perfidy, find it easy to believe in the jihadis' war.

 

Second, and more importantly, the confusion in the political mainstream is a reflection of the pro-jihadi policy of the state over the decades, particularly since the late 1970s. The symbiotic relationship between the state security apparatus and jihadi militancy – in Afghanistan, Kashmir, and within Pakistan – was widely publicised and acknowledged by all military leaders since general Zia-ul-Haq. The jihadi infrastructure, however, does not consist only of training camps, weapon depots, and secret channels of finance. It was supported by an ideological infrastructure that promoted extreme and violent Sunni sectarianism, mixed with a narrative of perpetual worldwide conspiracies against Muslims. The militant world view draws upon elements that already exist within the theological and political mainstream, but creates an explosive mixture when combined with the praxis of armed struggle.

 

Is the Military on Board?

There is a third source of confusion that is the least debated, but is the most critical in determining the outcome of the war. It is too early to tell if the state security apparatus has actually reformed or even significantly diluted its position vis-à-vis jihadi militancy. If the Pakistani military continues to see the jihad infrastructure as an asset for future use within Pakistan and outside – in other words, continue with the double-game in the US-led war on terror crafted by Musharraf – there will be reasons for sections of the political mainstream to persist with a softer line too. A clear and unambiguous change of heart in the military will be the surest tonic for the confused civilians.

 

It is not surprising that the PPP, ANP and to some extent the MQM have taken an unequivocal position on the war against jihadi militancy, while parties of the "right" with stronger historical connections with the military remain ambivalent to say the least. The former have their genesis in political battles against Islamic radicalism, and do not need to wait for the military's redefinition of the national interest – this time away from jihadi militancy – in order to determine their own political views. The latter, particularly the PML-N, will have to find a way to reverse their rhetoric if they see that Pakistan's military too has made the shift.

 

PML-N can either lead the "right" to a national consensus or wait to see if the military is on board. Taking the lead will strengthen the hands of the civilian democrats vis-à-vis the military and the US. A wait-and-see approach has two possible outcomes. If the military is on board, the war will be won but with greater kudos to the generals and more concessions to the US than need be the case if the political mainstream were united. If the military is not on board the war is as good as lost regardless of what the PML-N decides – and the idea of a sovereign, let alone democratic, Pakistan will begin to fade. For PML-N the choice between leading and waiting ought to be a no-brainer. Going by past record, however, I will cross my fingers but not hold my breath on this one.

 

Notes

1.       'US Still Runs Pakistan: Al Qaida Figure,' Dawn, October 5, 2008.

2.       The Biden-Lugar bill promises $ 15 billion in assistance to Pakistan, linking the aid with strengthening democracy and de-linking it with military operations.

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[ALOCHONA] Wash Post - At Indian Call Centers, Another View of U.S.

At Indian Call Centers, Another View of U.S.

As Economy Falters, Debt Collectors Hear Sobering Stories From the Land of Plenty

By Emily Wax

Washington Post Foreign Service

Tuesday, October 14, 2008; A08

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302701_pf.html

 

GURGAON, India -- With her flowing, hot-pink Indian suit, jangly silver bangles and perky voice, Bhumika Chaturvedi, 24, doesn't fit the stereotype of a thuggish, heard-it-all-before debt collector. But lately, she has had no problem making American debtors cry.

 

For the past three years, Chaturvedi has been a top collection agent at her call center, phoning hundreds of Americans a day and politely asking them to pay up. As the U.S. financial crisis plunges Americans into debt, her business is one of the fastest-growing sectors in Indian outsourcing. It is also one of the few sectors of outsourcing in India that is still hiring aggressively.

 

Sitting in a narrow cubicle, her head-set switched on, Chaturvedi listens every night to increasingly disturbing tales of woe from the other side of the globe.

 

"My mortgage payments are just too high, honey. I just can't make the payment this month," a weeping woman with a Southern accent recently told her in response to a call for a $200 credit card payment. "I'm sure y'all heard about the credit crunch and gas prices. I'm flat broke."

 

"Ma'am, I am here to help you," Chaturvedi calmly said. "Ma'am, maybe you could make a small payment, $100 or $50, anything that you can."

 

Few places in India absorb and imitate American culture as much as call centers, where ambitious young Indians with fake American accents and American noms de phone spend hours calling people in Indiana or Maine to help navigate software glitches, plan vacations or sell products. The subculture of call centers tends to foster a cult of America, an over-the-top fantasy where hopes and dreams are easily accomplished by people who live in a brand-name wonderland of high-paying jobs, big houses and luxury getaways.

 

But collection agents at this call center outside New Delhi are starting to see the flip side of that vision: a country hobbled by debt and filled with people scared of losing their jobs, their houses and their cars.

 

"Lately, 25-year-old Americans are telling me that they are declaring themselves bankrupt," said Chaturvedi, raising her eyebrows in shock. "These days the situation is so emotional, so fragile. We have to have so much empathy and patience."

 

"It's like people are totally drowning," said Omkar Gadgil, 24, who goes by the alias Richard Rudy and was a math major in college. He is brainy and considered the office expert on the intricacies of debt collection. "There has just been years of overspending and now: the crash."

 

In the past, debt-saddled customers were often annoyed by Chaturvedi's calls from the open-air office at Aegis BPO Services. But now they seem depressed, defeated. Even the men sob into the phone, several agents said.

 

Under the pseudonym Carol Miller, Chaturvedi's ability to deftly work around the standard line, "The check is in the mail," is now being challenged by clients throwing out new responses: "How do you expect me to pay? This is the worst crisis since the Great Depression."

 

Chaturvedi said she has never seen it so bad. Many of the young employees say they are flabbergasted at just how widespread the financial ruin appears to be.

 

Talking to so many anguished Americans has taught these agents an important lesson: Live within your means. Agents with credit cards are vowing to pay them off every month, even during the upcoming holiday shopping season, when malls feature neon signs advertising flat-screen TVs and air conditioners.

 

Managers of this call center say they have recently added a seminar on the economic crisis, with PowerPoint slides that graph the financial mess as well as updates on other events that could affect the ability of U.S. debtors to pay their bills, including natural disasters such as Hurricane Ike. The presentation is intended to enable collection agents to bond with their clients, and possibly deflect their excuses.

 

Since the crisis began, agents have seen call times shoot up dramatically because late payers often want to talk more. More callers have moved. More phones have been disconnected. Clients have started bargaining with agents for discounts on their debts "as if they were haggling at an Indian vegetable market," said Rhoit Chug, assistant vice president of training for Aegis.

 

India handles an estimated $16 billion -- or about 5 percent -- of delinquent U.S. accounts. More complicated health insurance bills and mortgage payments are still largely handled inside the United States, industry executives say.

 

But the debt collection business will continue to grow as debt rises and companies look to cut costs, industry experts said. Aegis, which handles nearly a fourth of debt collection outsourced from the United States, is undergoing a rapid expansion. The company is erecting a second office building for 5,000 employees, many of them to be hired over the next few years. Most employees are college-educated and in their 20s. They earn about $5,000 a year, a competitive starting salary in India, but less than a fourth of what their American counterparts make.

 

Inside the Aegis call center, there is a clean, colorful cafeteria with round tables and darts to relieve stress. Because New Delhi is about 10 hours ahead of the eastern United States, there is an espresso machine and candy counter to keep the young workers awake while calling through India's night.

 

Aparup Sengupta, global chief executive officer and managing director of Aegis, encourages his debt collectors to use a "hospitable Indian touch," meaning less arm-twisting and more emotional therapy.

 

"This business is a performing art," Sengupta said. "We are part therapists because the core of the issue is that every human being wants to be honorable in life. We don't just push someone into a bad situation. We try to create a real solution."

 

Decorating the office are dozens of yellow smiley faces with the words, "Happy People. Happy Customers. Happy Investors," along with other posters that read: "Connect and Collect."

 

"How is the car running?" asked Parul Malhotra, 25, who goes by the alias Michelle Jones.

 

"It's a real piece of junk," the customer shot back, his voice registering more depression than anger. "It was in the shop. The electric's all messed up. And I have no money now. Plus, we have an illness in the family."

 

"Times are hard. I wish for everyone a speedy recovery," said Malhotra, trying to be cheerful. After a pause, she got back to business: "But let's try to work out a payment."

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