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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (45967)	4/18/2004 12:04:03 PM
From: arun gera	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Iqbal: Trying to understand what is happening in Pakistan. The way I understand it is that the Pak military is the only powerful and disciplined institution in Pakistan. And that was the biggest export of Pakistan. Basically, US and Saudi Arabia have been "outsourcing" work to the Pakistani military for decades. In turn, Pakistani military was further subcontracting work to mujahiddeen, in proxy wars against Soviet Union, Afghanistan, and India. It was clear that Pakistani military/ISI that was controlling or directing the extremists for decades. Are you saying something changed in the last 5-10 years? That the extremists started controlling the Pak military in the last 5-10 years. And now the tide is being reversed by US action in Afghanistan and Iraq. -Arun

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (45967)	4/18/2004 12:29:48 PM
From: arun gera	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Iqbal: Some things don't seem to make sense. You say that the rulers of the Arabic world are running scared now that Saddam is gone. On the other hand, the ordinary people and extremists in Iraq are now less afraid of US and are openly revolting. Iran went out of US control when ordinary people in Iran went against the Shah. By empowering the common man in the Middle East, US loses control over the country. So if democracy spreads in the middle east, US will have less direct control over the middle east and its oil. -Arun

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (45967)	4/18/2004 1:27:11 PM
From: JEB	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

...and now Palestine and Israel are on the table as was promised to the Wahhabi prior to the invasion of Iraq for their support of the invasion. They wanted America more involved in settling the issue of the two and now we are. We are keeping our promise to the Wahhabi, ...to them I say, ...be careful what you wish for, ...you may get it. Dividing the two countries without sending in troops requires eliminating the radical element of the PLO and separating the two countries. It's a birthing process but will finalize the end of major conflict between the two (of which was our promise to the Saudis). Apparently, it is the only avenue left to halt the conflict. We shall see how it works. Oh, ...I almost forgot, ...Syria is back on the table too since Hamas will be wanting to beef up their forces in Iraq and guess which road they'll travel, ...yes, ...the road to and through Damascus. That means US air power will be used more often soon. ;-) JEB

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (45967)	4/20/2004 3:00:38 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

"YOU'VE BEEN STAFFED" BY ZAIN LATIF A head peers over the parapet..Other can only watch in astonishment as the distinct footsteps can still be heard in the distance. The danger slowly passes over and life slowly returns to normal. With the threat now formally over, more heads appear over the horizon. People run about their daily tasks, yet the lingering shadow of doubt can never be removed for "HE" may return at any moment. It is Friday evening in the M&A department at a major US investment bank. The coming weekend encourages plans and the longing for activities outside the office. My sheepishness combined with my acute awareness of my status as an intern ensures that I remain one of the last to break from the "at work perception" position. My intern colleague, Alex, on my right watches me rise and after repeated promises that "HE" is not visible, manages to pull himself up. I offer him a drink as he finally relaxes. His is a sad story. A friends birthday here, a class reunion dinner there, a christening event for a cousin, all of which has been missed, amongst others, in the last 3-4 weeks. The glint in his eye as he told me how he had bought an airline ticket back home to surprise his girlfriend was lost because "HE" intervened. He was adamant that this weekend would be different, this weekend he would be going home. He wanted to enjoy himself and my heart genuinely felt for him. "Assume the position", someone shouts. Like soldiers facing an imminent gas attack, everyone breaks into the "at work perception" position in great haste. "HE" has returned. His steps slower than usual indicated that he were having a look around the room. It was obvious what that meant. Reinforcements were needed over the weekend. Every man for himself as my eyes peer sternly into the screen, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard, head sets on bellowing the mantra of "pushing the business forward" to the research and presentation services. Acting at its finest. "HE" is the staffer, the equivalent of the Borg. The staffer operators on those very principles based on "Resistance is futile" and "You will be assimilated". He has, within his powers, the ability to control, which will be punished, who will be sent to the gallows, which shall be shown mercy. His power is very delicate as it can be used for good or evil, more often than not the latter. Dissension is impossible and respect is gained through fear. The staffers chief weapon is the 3 words that can strike fear into the hearts of men and woman of the investment-banking world "You've been staffed". Combine that on a Friday evening and the effect on any human being is devastating. The prospect of working the weekend, cancelling all plans, knowing that the cubicle that is home during the week, will keep you company again can break any man. Now "HE" was on the hunt and he had his choice of prey. In the distance, moving ever closer, the words "You've been staffed" resonate around us, empathy registering amongst all of us. Silence ensues and intuition tells me "HE" is close to me. Sweat forms on my forehead..then tension unbearable. "You've been staffed", the noise too close for comfort and I take a furtive glance upward to ensure that it is not directed at me. One by one, he moves ever closer maintaining, "You've been staffed" in every direction. Nowhere to hide, a resigned sigh my only emotion as I give in and accept my approaching fate. And then footsteps fade into oblivion. A few moments pass before the realisation hit me that I had survived. As I stood up, it was evident to see the emotionally battered survivors with their smiles and the defeated with their frowns. Alex had been staffed. His face crestfallen, his spirit broke presented a dreadful sight different from the man who started 2 months ago brimming with confidence and enthusiasm. Only two weeks later he had pinned this on his wall : " I was giving up. I would have given up - if a voice hadn't made itself heard in my heart. The voice said, "I will not die. I refuse it. I will make it through this nightmare. I will beat the odds, as great as they are. I have survived so far, miraculously. Now I will turn miracle into routine. The amazing will be seen every day. I will put in all the hard work necessary. Yes, so long as God is with me, I will not die. Amen." But today was different. He quietly ripped out his statement feeding it to the bin and slumped into his chair. I picked up the statement from the bin and pasted it on my wall hoping it might provide some inspiration for another month until my internship ends. Along with the other couple of survivors we make our way to the exit, ready to fight next Friday against the same enemy with the same tools. It is perhaps an enduring quality of the human race that even when past experience shows otherwise we will not accept inevitability. We live with hope; optimism and that tomorrow will somehow be different from today. We fight no matter the cost of the battle, the losses we take, the improbability of success. We fight to the very end. It's not a question of courage. It's something constitutional, an inability to let go. It may be nothing more than life-hungry stupidity. Zachary Latif 07:40