Archive for the ‘Counter-View’ Category
Reality Check on Bruce Riedel’s Afghanistan Approach
Micheal O’Hanlon and Bruce Riedel’s defense of the Afghan situation in the September 1, 2009 edition of the Wall Street Journal is humorously surprising. It goes to show how detached are some of President’s advisers from the reality. Bruce Riedel has been instrumental in giving shape to the Af-Pak strategy of the Obama Administration. The WSJ Article establishes the fact that armchair experts on Afghanistan over-look the obvious reality for the sake of supporting a policy. The article is an attempt to focus on the rays of lights in the overcast Afghan skies; an attempt which does not stand the test of reality. Click to continue…
Burqa, Identity and Democracy: Sarkozy’s Flawed Logic
Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French President since 1848 to address both Houses of the French Parliament. The speech at Château de Versailles was expected to elaborate the President’s policy plans for the second half of his tenure. True to reputation, President Sarkosy’s utterances have evoked another controversy. According to the President, “The burqa is not welcome on French territory. In our community, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen; cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity.”
The President’s comments have been condemned by Islamic groups across the globe, reminiscent of the protests in 2004 against the French law prohibiting the display religious symbols in public places. Click to continue…
Indian Democracy has Many Sides: Enlightening Gideon Rachman
There is a myth that intellectual insight gains greater credence if one attempts to counter popular perception. For most scholars in this age of info boom the best way to gain visibility is to project a view that runs contrary to what the mainstream is saying. Though variety of opinion is always enriching opposition merely for the sake of it can prove injurious to serious intellectual discussions. Gideon Rachman’s recent commentary on the weaknesses and limitations of Indian democracy is one such example of intellectual opposition. All opposing views are not necessarily relevant. This is not an exercise in criticizing Gideon but enlightening him!
Ambassador Husain Haqqani on “How Pakistan is Countering the Taliban”
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Unites States Mr. Husain Haqqani has defended Pakistan’s Taliban strategy in the WSJ today.
Mr. Haqqani has excelled in the performance of his duties as Pakistan’s top diplomat in the U.S.; he has presented elaborate arguments rationalizing the recent policy decisions of Pakistani government vis-à-vis the Taliban. Even though I appreciate Mr. Haqqani’s diplomatic skills I strongly disagree with him. Certain claims made by Mr. Haqqani in his submission are faulty and biased:
According to Mr. Haqqani the panicked reactions of the type witnessed in the U.S. media over the last few weeks — after the Taliban drove into Buner, a town 60 miles north of the capital Islamabad — are not conducive to strengthening Pakistani democracy or to developing an effective counterterrorism policy for Pakistan. The panicked media reactions were not confined to the U.S. alone. The Pakistani media was equally rather more apprehensive of the Taliban’s entry into Buner. The scenes of a little boy selling newspapers on the streets of Lahore while shouting out the headlines as ‘Taliban have entered Islamabad’ reflected the anxiety and fear in the Pakistani media. Moreover, Mr. Haqanni needs to realize that counter-terrorism policy is based on empirical data and critical evaluations rather than merely media reports. Click to continue…
Omar Abdullah: “J&K elections have handed India a lifeline”
Jammu and Kashmir’s new Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah said in an interview to Reuters today that the recent elections in J&K have handed India a lifeline; referring to an opportunity for the Government of India to refurbish relations with the people of J&K. The very premise of his contention is flawed and overlooks the basic cause of discontent in the state. Omar Abdullah’s assumption and rule (in line with his father Farooq Abdullah) is based on the understanding that discontent in J&K can be addressed if the government of India adopts a more emphatic view and caters to the socio-economic development of the state. His analysis skips over a vital intermediary link between the people of J&K and Government of India – the State Government. In the very first place Omar Abdullah’s government will have to win the confidence of the people of J&K and better comprehend their grievances. Click to continue…
Shuja Nawaz on “What Pakistan Doesn’t Need from America”
Shuja Nawaz, in a commentary on PostGlobal makes suggestions for altering the conduct of U.S. policy with regard to Pakistan. His analysis overlooks some important facts which would continue to dictate relations between the U.S. and Pakistan. Counter-View explores some of the flaws in the commentary.