A Previous War

Posted on November 5, 2007 by Thanos

From my Mom a Theodore Roosevelt quote :

“It is not the critic who counts nor the person who points out where the strong man stumbled, nor where the doer of deed could have done them better.

On the contrary, the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena — whose vision is marred by that dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up again and again; who knows the great devotion, the great enthusiasm; who at best knows in the end the triumph of his achievement.

However, if he fails, if he falls, at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

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Not a Coup; But Something

Posted on November 4, 2007 by Thanos

Tonight’s Pakistan update —

Benazir Bhutto predicts a year before elections, however she is gathering a coalition, at present tying into two nationalist parties from Balochistan.

Shaukat Aziz is saying that it’s possible the elections will be delayed, but Musharraf has said at other points that they will proceed on time.

MMA, JuI, and PML-N party activists are being rounded up, and the lawyers and media contingents are promising demonstrations. There was a weak demonstration in Karachi today of about 12 people that was quickly broken up. The streets remain quiet at this time. It’s interesting to note that Hamid Gul, an old-guard ISI agitator behind the scenes, was arrested.

Musharraf has shut down the opposition from the Supreme Court and the Lawyers as his first move, moving on JuI activists, Old-guard ISI, and MMA as his second. This successfully counters his political opposition for the short term, and takes the Chaudry Cousins and their bloc out of play temporarily. It also removes some of the leadership more likely to plan violent action in the cities as well.

In a strange twist both the Army hostages that Fazlullah and the TNSM were holding, as well as the 220 soldiers that Baitullah Mehsud’s Pak Taliban were holding have been released. Fazlullah added insult to injury by giving the released 48 soldiers 500 rupees each after they turned in weapons and signed non-agression statements.

The AQAM forces releasing soldiers is strange indeed – is it because they fear now that the PCO is in place? ( I don’t think they fear for themselves, but constitutional rights protections are suspended – there’s nothing to stop Musharraf from rounding up their friends, relatives and supporters.) Or is it because an accomodation has been reached? (Which  is what I think most likely.)

Continue reading →

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Pakistan Update: PCO and NRO Explained

Posted on November 3, 2007 by Thanos

In tonight’s Daily Times there is a well done analysis of the Emergency order and it’s probable outcomes and effects. I normally do not copy articles whole, but this is a historic and important time, so here it is:

News analysis: Where do we go from here?

By Najam Sethi

Several points are interesting and significant about last night’s political rupture.

1: We have a state of martial law, whatever the government may say and however long it may last. The Proclamation of Emergency (PE) and the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) have been signed by the “Chief of Army Staff”, General Pervez Musharraf, and not by “President” Musharraf or Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. In fact, a PCO is an extra constitutional deviation and only an army chief can order it.

2: The constitution has accordingly been “held in abeyance”. But significantly, the PCO says that the country will continue to be governed, “as nearly as possible” by the constitution. But where there is any other departure from the constitution apart from what is contained in the PCO and the PE from now onwards, it will be at the behest of the “President” and not the COAS. In other words, General Musharraf’s presidency has been confirmed and upheld by the PCO.

Continue reading →

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Pakistan Emergency Rule Analysis

Posted on November 3, 2007 by Thanos

WARNING: This is neither news nor fact, this is 100% speculation on my part, I could be partially or wholly wrong in any of the following.

The timing of the Emergency Rule declaration leads me to believe that Musharraf has tired of the court’s dragging out of the challenges to his election as President of Pakistan. Come November 15th, he would be outside of constitutional authority if he did not either remove the uniform or resign as President. He wants to ensure that he has some position in directing Pakistan’s future, but there are only 12 days to go until he would hit the limbo of being uncertain of any position.

If he waits and they don’t make the decision and he hung up the uniform before the Supreme court decided, then he could be declared illegal as a candidate for president, and lose both the fallback of Chief of Army staff, and the future as President. I suspect he got tired of waiting on his long time political opponents, the Chaudry’s, to decide. It also makes me wonder if he had not given the court a deadline to decide by.

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State of Emergency in Pakistan: Constitution Suspended

Posted on November 3, 2007 by Thanos

sc-roadblock.jpgThe Globe and Mail is reporting that Pakistan’s President Chief of Army Staff Musharraf has declared a state of emergency and suspended the constitution of Pakistan. This gives him near-dictatorial powers, and is highly concerning for the future freedom of the state.

UPDATE: Musharraff as The Chief of Army Staff declared the state of emergency, not as President Musharraf — this could be a Coup in the shaping; or it could be a ploy to get the court to finish the deliberations on the challenges prior to the November 15th date when Musharraf’s holding of two offices definitely becomes unconstitutional. (note: although Musharraf was elected President and has appointed a successor as COAS, he’s still technically the Chief, so the state of emergency IS from Musharraf, but under the office of Army Chief of Staff)

Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom, Journalism | 4 Comments

The Shirley McClaine Question

Posted on November 1, 2007 by Thanos

This one needs no comment or set-up…

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Pakistan Update: Swat Truce Crumbles

Posted on November 1, 2007 by Thanos

In Swat the truce has broken down and a series of violent events have taken place across the country. Al Qaeda and the Taliban continue to roadblock the path to democracy by fighting against the current government of Pakistan. Their goal is to create a chaotic state where they can rule in areas through intimidation.

In Swat the Army attacked the militants after receiving fire on a recon helicopter, killing between 15-18 and a close aid to Fazlullah. TNSM threatened suicide bombers over their illegal FM radio station.

In Miranshah the AQAM (Al Qaeda and Allied movements) forces attacked outposts with rockets, initiating return fire from the Army that destroyed a hotel, killing four civilians.

In Rawalpindi motorcycle gunners shot at a police patrol after they were flagged down, injuring one officer.

Continue reading →

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Don’t Fear the Reaper

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Thanos

Don’t fear the Reaper — unless you are Taliban it seems. I thought I would post a tune to honor the Reaper’s first combat kill.

Story from Air Force Times:

Air Force Times Staff report
Posted : Monday Oct 29, 2007 18:59:06 EDT

The Air Force’s use of remote-controlled aircraft passed another milestone Saturday with the first air strike flown by an MQ-9 Reaper, the service’s newest unmanned plane.

According to Central Air Forces, an MQ-9 fired a Hellfire missile at Afghanistan insurgents in the Deh Rawood region of the mountainous Oruzgan province. The strike was “successful,” CentAF said.

Based at Kandahar Air Field, Reapers have been flying over Afghanistan since Sept. 25. Like the smaller MQ-1 Predator, pilots and sensor operators in Nevada use satellite links to guide the planes on attack and reconnaissance sorties. A second set of deployed aviators control the planes’ take offs and landings.

The Reaper can carry up to 3,000 pounds of weapons while the MQ-1 is limited to 500 pounds of munitions.

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Benazir in Larkana

Posted on October 30, 2007 by Thanos

Sky News video of Benazir Bhutto as she visits her ancestral home near Larkana.

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Soldier’s Angels Annual Fundraiser is ON!

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Thanos

Soldier’s Angels has started their annual fundraising drive, so it’s time to help out the brave soldiers who have put everything on the line for us, and who been harmed in the process. We can never give enough to them.

Please stop by if you have a blog and sign up for your favorite branch of the military, or hit the sidebar and scroll down to see some of their specific teams and efforts, every bit of help large or small is well-appreciated.

Soldier’s Angels

I’m signed up with the Army effort and if you care to donate then scroll down my right sidebar to contribute via the widget. Army has the lead for now, let’s keep it up! 

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