Pakistan's ad in Wall Street Journal on 9/11

[President Camacho]

why the hell they have to put BB or ZARDARI in the ad. They can't show soldiers or common men

You should be telling the government that the ad is not the sole representative of the sentiments of common people in Pakistan.

Remember what had happened in India when Manmohan Singh commented that Indians love George Bush? Do you remember of the protests all over India, against the statements of Manmohan?

The people of Pakistan should similarly protest against this ad which indeed is in a very bitter taste, and at a very, very wrong time.

I cannot fathom the purpose of this ad, but I can very well say that this ad is pitting the common people of the US against commoners of Pakistan.

 

[great]

This is funny. At a time when entire Pakistan is deriding America for its involvement in their country, its government goes out to appease, or should I say explain themselves to Americans. Make up your minds guys, you either like them for everything they do or you don't. Just liking their money and nothing else just wouldn't do.

 

[Ganga]

I personally find this extremely funny.On one hand the Pakistani government comes out with an ad filled with facts and figures about how many billions lost and how many thousands killed and on the other hand OBL is found in a garrison city just a couple of miles away from a premier military academy.Now should I really believe the Pakistani version that they have no clue whatsoever about this?How can the ISI along with it's associates not have known this?Apparently the ISI helped OBL escape Tora Bora in the first place.The ISI and the army is well known across the world for their double game and selective approach in combating terror as indicated by many sorces including leaked diplomatic cables.I am certain that Americans too must be smiling after seeing the ad.

Yes Pakistan has lost many civilians and a lot of money to the so called 'war on terror'.But blaming the US for everything that is going on in Pakistan is a big mistake.It is the Pakistani politicians along with the army and the ISI who are responsible for many of Pakistan's problems.

 

[Ganga]

I think it's a decent ad, quite informative, hopefully it wakes people up to Pakistan's sacrifice. If people are upset over it, then that's too bad let them suffer. If some Americans get offended then good who cares about their feelings? People get offended all the time. The Pakistani ad contains only facts, not opinions, but facts and statistics of Pakistan's sacrifice.

The GOP or whichever entity decided to publish the ad knows very well that the average American does not know about the complexity of Pakistani politics in the past as well as in the present.They are not aware of Pakistan's Islamisation under the Zia regime .Anyone who has done a bit of reading about Pakistan will not take this ad seriously at all.I also feel that the American public is now more enlightened about things going on in Pakistan and the ad will not be taken at face value.

 

[Windjammer]

Let me get this right,... are the Indians here representing/speaking on behalf of the Americans or is it simply, they are levelling off their own dilemma/ frustration/obsession. etc etc.
Guys, the Americans may use your call centre facilities, but that doesn't exactly make you an expert in their psyche or policy making.

 

[lem34]

Let me get this right,... are the Indians here representing/speaking on behalf of the Americans or is it simply, they are levelling off their own dilemma/ frustration/obsession. etc etc.
Guys, the Americans may use your call centre facilities, but that doesn't exactly make you an expert in their psyche or policy making.

That truely is incredible sir..

 

[VCheng]

Let me get this right,... are the Indians here representing/speaking on behalf of the Americans or is it simply, they are levelling off their own dilemma/ frustration/obsession. etc etc.
Guys, the Americans may use your call centre facilities, but that doesn't exactly make you an expert in their psyche or policy making.

I live here, and interact widely, and thus can tell you that the impressions created by that ill-advised advertisement have been predominantly negative.

We can discuss the reasons why that is so, and let me start by saying that creating favorable public opinions is a continuous process, and coming out with an advert now and then is not the right way to do it.

 

[Icarus]

The comments mentioned show a real lack of knowledge about the situation in FATA and Afghanistan.
Firstly, the ad should have never been published, screw the world, we're fighting this war for ourselves.
Secondly, the world should have taken a sympathetic stand towards it instead of simply blasting it with their clueless rants. In the past 4 months when Pakistan has stopped co-operating with the US, things have been going from bad to worst for ISAF.
Remember, if you call a person insane long enough, he might start believing it. Same thing goes for the common Pakistani.
Americans get really touchy over 9/11, Britishers over 7/7 and Indians over 26/11. Imagine what we go through when someone calls us terrorists or their facilitators when we have lost over 40,000 souls in fighting this menace.
Almost everyone has lost someone close, friends, relatives, family................

 

[Ganga]

Let me get this right,... are the Indians here representing/speaking on behalf of the Americans or is it simply, they are levelling off their own dilemma/ frustration/obsession. etc etc.
Guys, the Americans may use your call centre facilities, but that doesn't exactly make you an expert in their psyche or policy making.

You don't need a P.H.D in American psychology to understand what the American public in general is thinking at the moment.All you need is a bit of common sense. Apparently the person/entity who decided to bring out the ad needs some serious counseling for thinking that the Americans will fall far their well crafted but not needed ad.

 

[fd24]

I live here, and interact widely, and thus can tell you that the impressions created by that ill-advised advertisement have been predominantly negative.

We can discuss the reasons why that is so, and let me start by saying that creating favorable public opinions is a continuous process, and coming out with an advert now and then is not the right way to do it.

Agree not only does it take time but talk about insensitive timing? I think this publicity stunt was just a poorly advised event that shouldnt have happened. Should have saved the money and spent it on something much more needed in Karachi perhaps

 

[cyphercide]

I live here, and interact widely, and thus can tell you that the impressions created by that ill-advised advertisement have been predominantly negative.

We can discuss the reasons why that is so, and let me start by saying that creating favorable public opinions is a continuous process, and coming out with an advert now and then is not the right way to do it.

The public awareness on the practices adopted by the United States in Pakistan is gaining some momentum in the west.There was an exhibition in London recently on the controversial use of drone warfare.

New Statesman - Art review: Drone attack

 

[SMC]

What a waste of time and money. It's like advertising the losses of jews in holocaust to nazis and asking them to feel sorry about it. Americans couldn't give a **** if whole of the asia goes up in a nuclear war. Plus why are we trying to get american validation? Who seriously gives a f*ck what they think about us?

 

[VCheng]

The public awareness on the practices adopted by the United States in Pakistan is gaining some momentum in the west.There was an exhibition in London recently on the controversial use of drone warfare.

New Statesman - Art review: Drone attack

The issue of drone attacks is a tricky one for sure, and I am well aware of issues raised by both sides.

However, the more controversial techniques being used, including drone attacks, become a little easier to argue for when there is a steady deterioration of ties and outcomes.

To come back to topic, the real thing unsaid in the advert that weighs heavily on anyone's mind, and one that can (and likely will) be used for manipulation is this: "If things are this bad, then how secure are the nukes?"

 

[third eye]

It does not matter what the Ad was like, how effective it was / is or the impact it had to those targetted.

What I feel is relevant is that does the Govt of another nation need to place Ads in newspapers of other nations to showcase itself and its contribution ?

If so with what in mind ?

To that end I feel the Ad was not needed at all. What can the Ad tell what the media does not ?

What issues were intended to be highlighted that the Govt of US was unaware of ? Given the level of infiltration it would not be wrong to say the CIA knows more of Pak than Pak citizens do.

 

[Developereo]

Ad's are unlikely to change public opinion in the US, much like the public opinion is unlikely to deter US foreign policy objectives.

Agree.

There is no way Pakistan can even begin to compete with the fully complicit, globally dominant American media which essentially parrots the US administration lines verbatim. I am sure you have seen all the discussions on this forum about media attacks on Pakistan.

American govt is not buying ads in Pakistani papers, it's Pakistan that is seeking to sell it's in of view to US, not the other way around

Well, as I wrote above, the entire US media is their administration's mouthpiece when it comes to this matter. Pakistan's efforts are woefully impotent in comparison.

- Again , will the single Pakistan position please stand up, is the US part of the solution or a part of the problem?

See, Develpero, somewhere along the line, Pakistan government idiots will have explain why all and how all this ambiguity has helped it

Surely you can't expect them to come out and say the world's only superpower -- with a huge military presence right next door -- is actively working to undermine Pakistan's position in the region, in line with their wider regional objectives?