There is a further difference between what I say and you say. I want freedom, in its totality. The basic tenet of freedom is as long as my freedom does not impact your freedom, I'm free to do as I please.
Hence my positions have always been in support for cause of equality of Pakistanis - wrt to other religions like Ahmedis, Christians, Hindus and minor sects. These you almost always agree with.
Of course. I have no problem agreeing with correct positions, including those for freedom.
But when it comes to being free from subservience of America you're like OMG, blasphemy!!
Absolutely not. Let me explain.
What I argue for is that before getting freedom from subservience, not just from USA, but even UK and Saudi Arabia, there is much that needs to be done. That is the only difference between your stance and mine. Your solution is far too abrupt and thus fraught with dangers that are avoided by my gradual approach. Think about it.
What you're arguing for is just simply replacing either the elite or the Mullah for the Amreekan mai-baap.
Absolutely not. I want the foundations laid for freedom from the elite, the mullahs and foreign powers.
IK's Dharnas are not the tor phor program you get from Mullah hooligans. Tameez-daar revolutions take their time. Has Occupy Wall Street ended Capitalism? People with guts are standing all over against tyranny, aap ho ke keh rahay ho, Nahi nahi nahi beta, gabbar ajayega, darro gabbar se.
Again, wrong. What I am saying is NOT that Gabar sey Daro, what I am saying is that Jaise bhi ho, SEEKHO. Learn. Practice. Work. You know, the non-glamorous stuff that does not make it news bites.
Will you oppose any military action on Pakistani soil by any foreign force like the United States, come what may?
ABSOLUTELY YES.
What is more, I am committed to doing everything possible to prevent that from happening in the first place.
Ek kaam karo, court pe drone hamla karwa doh.
There is no need for that sarcasm, or drone attacks on courts, and you know it.
You're so American about it. Why didn't this happen, bomb them. Why didn't you do this, bomb them. Let us fight our issues. It's like saying American universities trade in drugs, lets send drones there eventually the drug dealer would die in the process.
I am not "american" about it. I am merely thinking logically and dispassionately.
Excuse me fight back? They are not coming 14000 km to the US to fight with them and fight till when? Because you kill one guy his 10 kids are growing up with pent up anger ready to die in the cause. Your only solution is massive genocide of FATA, if you think you can fight your way out of this. Again so American.
There will be NO mass genocide in FATA or anywhere else. There is no need for it. The pent up anger that you describe is real and entirely avoidable and unnecessary, I agree.
Another American trait, just replace one vice for another and look away till it boils up into something else and what America is doing is not that actually, its going a step further. Its entangling FATA in a war with the rest of the Pakistan so your statement is correct but the execution is more like "As long as they keep killing Pakistanis and not us Americans why bother with a genocide"?
Your conclusion is incorrect. Even if the US were not carrying out drone attacks, there is enough right wing extremism running unbridled that Paksitan faces an internal threat from. Exhibit A: Laal Masjid.
Isn't this entire thread all about your character traits (and any others) and as we see them? You stating Pakistan has betrayed you by not living up to your standards? Your standards are a betrayal of Pakistan. This isn't name-calling. I have sufficient self-restraint to not go there.
Pakistan has let many down, not just me, and it is a self-evident truth, like it or not when I say it. It is just that I have not abandoned Pakistan like others have, and this thread is testament to that fact. Ever wonder why I am here to begin with? What need do I have to take all this punishment in public? To explain myself over and over again? Am I such a glutton for punishment, or may be, just may be, I am trying to do the right thing for Pakistan as I see it?
The first thing the US did was it stood up to the British and kicked em out. When it asserted that sort of independence and freedom working hard was within the realm of possibilities.
Do you mean to say that working hard becomes possible only after kicking the foreign power out? What prevents hard work NOW?
Today your US has imposed its henchman as our president and I think the military chief is their guy too. For hard towards what? They are all working hard towards American goals already.
Who elected Zardari? Not the US. Who promoted Kayani to COAS? Not the US.
And if you believe they both are working for US interests, whose fault is that? Mine?
Consistently anti-Pakistan. Oh and "as opposed to" type arguments? You've just outlined that I'd resort to treachery when this happens. You think its okay that there is a point where treachery becomes justified - or worse these clearly treasonous acts are being sold to us as patriotic acts. Therein lies your disconnect with the rest of Pakistan.
Consistently logical and truthful statements, not anti-Pakistan.
If there is a disconnect, it is not between me and Pakistan, it is increasingly between Pakistan and the REST OF THE WORLD. Take a good look around and tell me.
This is the part that I will never forgive.
There is a thread running about 'favorite posters' -- one of those perennial BFF threads -- and I don't post in those threads because it's hard for me to come up with a top 5. But I will tell you what I don't like. I don't like Pakistani posters who don't stand up for Pakistan when the anti-Pakistan troll brigade rolls into town. Instead, they pass snide, patronizing remarks about how Pakistanis are deluding themselves or some such. It garners many thanks and friendships from the troll brigade, but it does nothing to address the issue. Moreover, it insults the intelligence of the Pakistanis on this board, as if the rest of us just fell off the turnip truck yesterday.
If you look at Indians or Israelis, they may have their differences, but they close ranks when India or Israel gets attacked here.
There is no justification for killing civilians in Pakistan through drones. Even the alleged criminals need to be brought to trial. All these people wafting glorious about 'how the US works' know full well that, if a single drone attack ever occured on US soil, the entire drone fleet would be grounded by American courts. American law provides for presumption of innocence and due process for its citizens. Pakistanis deserve no less.
Even the ones in FATA.
What is unforgivable is not truthful criticism where it is due. What is truly unforgivable is blindly following the same beaten path that leads Pakistan ever deeper into the abyss. It is your ilk that are part of the guilty party, not people like me.