tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post7050318817311336230..comments2023-08-29T04:48:14.525-07:00Comments on pakpotpourri2: ARE INTERNATIONAL WARS A RACKET?YASMEEN ALIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-62853302940699901702010-08-01T21:32:47.897-07:002010-08-01T21:32:47.897-07:00I share a mail from Major Khalid Iqbal:
I tried t...I share a mail from Major Khalid Iqbal:<br /><br />I tried to put this on the blog myself but failed. Shame. When will I learn which button does what? <br />Some how a strange opinion has generated lately that America is going down any way. And this by the way gives great satisfaction. The caveat is that American might is not go to go down just like that. We must put measures to remain out of harms way in the hands of America and not just wait for American might to fade away. That might has tremendous multifaceted dimensions and formidable dynamics. <br /><br />The devil will stay till the dooms day and people are guided to stay away from the harms of devil and NOT bank on the vain hope that the devil will itself disappear. This is how we are taught to fight evil in the Islamic fashion. <br /><br />Khalid IqbalYASMEEN ALIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-7897077238321248472010-07-31T11:08:58.598-07:002010-07-31T11:08:58.598-07:00Gareth- your words,Say it all.Indeed it is High ti...Gareth- your words,Say it all.Indeed it is High time,that the Legacy of General.Smedley Butler,is highlighted.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17660511507942825496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-68995837113804621972010-07-31T10:59:17.289-07:002010-07-31T10:59:17.289-07:00Naveed;
Thank you for the response , however the c...Naveed;<br />Thank you for the response , however the comment 'Superb' is too strong a word, as you know , that i know that....... you know!!<br />About Panda , i agree , but i think the Panda needs but just a few more years , and not decades and he will be there . <br />This race against time by both , Bear and the Panda ,can also affect our destiny as a nation.<br />Nations can , as in the case of Panda, write their own destiny.After the second world war , followed, by the Korean and the south east Asian conflict, he never lost sight of its national goals .<br />For all practical supposes it was supposed become the biggest beggar in the World , while today instead it is the virtual banker of the world , with the largest reserves in the piggy bank!<br />I would still not right off the Bear. It is very very resilient, and rebounds. <br />As for one of the 'chuckles', please do not forget , that the gentlemen who make the Predator, the Apache or the Helmet, belong to the same elite club!<br />I also agree that it is amusing today that the countries, George Oswell's 1984 alluded to, as the Big Brothers, metamorphosed in 1989, from a collection of ugly looking pupa's to a bunch of pretty butterflies,the leaving the label attached to those ,who had created the same in the first place !!<br />How comical but ironic , that after decades of disinformation, the world ultimately discovered as to who were the real...... Big Brothers!!Aquariashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16818977639895469405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-42383921707067510922010-07-31T09:00:40.425-07:002010-07-31T09:00:40.425-07:00AQUARIUS;
The Humor Sir, was superb,i had quite a ...AQUARIUS;<br />The Humor Sir, was superb,i had quite a few Chuckles reading it,though you have a strong point of view,War industry, like any other is a business venture,in the war times it runs round the clock, in peace,the orders come slow, that too, when the expiry dates are due,Funds too are slow,so it has its own ups and downs,Coming back to the American Defense Contractors,the Sun shines on them,it has shone well on them,as the Mad Ventures continue.With no end in sight,so they are Slush with Dollars.The Bear has lost his Market, the Panda, has yet to bring his products up to mark.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17660511507942825496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-74719790181741515882010-07-31T08:42:12.852-07:002010-07-31T08:42:12.852-07:00Yes, Smedley Butler's words are the classic ca...Yes, Smedley Butler's words are the classic case of speaking truth to power. My fondest hope is that anti-war people in the United States can build a movement based on his insight and the slogan to the American voting public, "Don't be a sucker...."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17003029701341886445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-81277337424469020112010-07-31T08:19:45.662-07:002010-07-31T08:19:45.662-07:00Dear Shahzada & Aquarius,
Pakpotpourri will st...Dear Shahzada & Aquarius,<br />Pakpotpourri will strive to bring quality articles to it's readers. Plz save the link for ongoing articles. Your views on articles will be appreciated.<br />Aquarius,thank you immensely for the detailed comment.I enjoyed reading it.I am sure so would all on board.YASMEEN ALIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-28328328757548095762010-07-31T07:29:06.799-07:002010-07-31T07:29:06.799-07:00Naveed, as usual has expressed his views on a wide...Naveed, as usual has expressed his views on a wide canvas , like a grand master. The strokes this time are truly different , as it seems the master is now tinkering with something very unconventional, not just history!!<br />I would even venture to say, that it is no easy measure to blend George Orwell, and his classic 1984,with observations of an American General officer , with two medals of honor !!<br /> A unique blend of the work of world class fiction writer George Orwell, with the candid comments and down to earth ,horse sense of a very brave soldier who must have looked death in the eyes , a number of times over .<br />All this becomes all the more interesting when ,Yasmin Ali says that she knows the author personally ,and not a....... word more !!<br />A statement which seems to be right out of 1984............ The big brother is watching !!<br />For me the mode of message is more intriguing then the message within. How times change !<br />The fact that all wars universally and historically,and not just the American wars have all been manipulated by vested interests. <br />Being a research scholar of history Naveed , may care to agree or disagree , that while the industrial revolution became the catalyst, of most modern day wars of the 19th and 20th century with, profit and greed as the driving forces, and it may sound contradictory but in historic terms and sense , greed, profit, ambition, expansionism are all ''positive ' states of human behavior and exertions, while a benign state and peaceful humility are precursors to decay and and not the other way around , when looked at from the eyes of a historian.<br />Without these traits, there may have been very limited human growth of knowledge and even civilization, as we know it .<br />It was the imperial expansion and growth of the Egyptian, Persian , Greek, Roman , Ottoman and even the Mongol empires, without whom the human race would not have found the periods which followed the major wars, and then the explosion of trade and commerce all based on profit and greed.<br />As such the modern day American empire is no different than the Spanish , French and the British empires which preceded it.<br />As regards the theme of the writeup, Naveed would have made Marx, Lenin ,Stalin,Mao Tse Dung and even Che Guevara proud today, with this world view , particularly when it comes to his comments on the American war industry and the driving forces !<br />To me in this colorless world of today, which looks so gray, at least Naveed brings color to this bleak landscape ,as he appears to look more 'Red' then most 'Reds'!!<br />Lastly , as a parting question , would Naveed care to comment that regardless of nationality, would not individuals or nations associated with war industry and production , prefer war to peace ?Aquariashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16818977639895469405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-79454232227352610182010-07-31T07:12:32.528-07:002010-07-31T07:12:32.528-07:00Dear Gerda
Welcome on board. I am thrilled to see ...Dear Gerda<br />Welcome on board. I am thrilled to see you make your debut here. I will agree with you, but, remember, in Army, you follow orders, not question. This may not be true for other organizations you may join voluntarily though.<br />Ah Frisk, one of my favorite writers. I quite admire him, and he is right of course.<br />You are spot on about Israel. From the late 1950s US increasingly came to accept Israel as a strategic asset, a barrier against indigenous radical nationalist threats to American interests which might gain support from USSR.<br />So you are spot on there.YASMEEN ALIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-20226903457684827562010-07-31T07:06:45.832-07:002010-07-31T07:06:45.832-07:00GOOD READING,WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF SUCH LIKE WRIT...GOOD READING,WE SHOULD HAVE MORE OF SUCH LIKE WRITE UPS TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE NO TIME TO READ IN DETAIL OR GO IN RESEARCH.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256941509628587637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-20520630930787168782010-07-31T05:42:08.993-07:002010-07-31T05:42:08.993-07:00Wow, what an interesting thread, even more interes...Wow, what an interesting thread, even more interesting than the article itself. <br />Much as I agree with what general Butler had to say, there's always the 'common soldiers' who do not seem to be motivated by money, but by ideas. And that perhaps, is the more dangerous thing of the two. For if you are money-driven, you do not stop 'reasoning'. But if ideals drive you, you can end up doing criminal things 'for a greater cause'. So, maybe the solution to all this, lies in a better education. By which I mean getting to understand your own motives and those of other people and cultures. <br />As a European, the view over here is that the evil started in Europe itself, viz. the first world war. For afterwards, Germany was put on such a tight leash, that, 'insurrection' was inevitable. And as a result of that, the second world war occurred. Which resulted in the creation of the State of Israel. Which is now the cause of terrorism, which then again results in the 'war against terror'. It's also the analysis of Robert Frisk.Gerda Casierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00355366257412597546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-87784475551933450092010-07-31T02:50:18.469-07:002010-07-31T02:50:18.469-07:00The Facts and Commentary are Amazing !The Facts and Commentary are Amazing !Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983577870237033256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-57096440668115325552010-07-31T01:57:53.353-07:002010-07-31T01:57:53.353-07:00NT an excellent article and some very valuable com...NT an excellent article and some very valuable comments. Racket is something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "Inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of very few. That is why we with some understanding get so irritated by the actions of the government, because most of the times they are a part of it. I am sure our President will beat Gen Butler in this game. He could be recommended for the highest award. By the way General had three titles attributed to him, " The fighting quaker", "The old gimlet eye" and "Old duckboard". These titles were deliberately trumpeted. On the lighter side for brains like ours the scientest say " On the left side there is nothing right and on the right side there is nothing left".<br />Thank You NT for putting us wiser and thanks YAA for posting it on the blog.<br />HQHQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11585432745399668702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-22740053287358099792010-07-31T01:41:11.738-07:002010-07-31T01:41:11.738-07:00I have received three comments:
1:(Amir Mansoor):W...I have received three comments:<br />1:(Amir Mansoor):Wars are a racket, The wars against Iraq both 1 and 2 are examples of this. Look at the Carlyle Group and how it profits from wars. Aamir<br />2-Col Shahbaz:Nice analysis by NAVEED.<br />3-Sqn Leader Tanveer(TAN):Thank You NT for posting a synopsis of Maj. Gen Smedley Butler’s thesis rendered in 1935. This is worth revisiting and perhaps space constraints (as you state) have prevented you from further elaborating on it (I am attaching a PDF version for those interested in further reading it). However your historical perspective is as I gather boxed between 1889 to 1942 dating to the present, for brevity and conciseness perhaps it is best considered this way. But if a broader perspective is drawn it predates the Christ era. Yes war has always been an “International Racket” in the areas of interest of the dominating power or intellect (permit me to say this) for vested interests. I would certainly be looking forward to more posts from you on this captivating subject, which seemingly is very obvious but not easily discerned when one is absorbed in it. Military Industrial Complexes are intrinsic to it now.<br />Best Regards<br />TanYASMEEN ALIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-92002335608277651712010-07-31T01:31:14.775-07:002010-07-31T01:31:14.775-07:00American Mafia is a child in Comparison to the Rac...American Mafia is a child in Comparison to the Racketeers who run the international Wars.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09291709467286194747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-87924291867285468412010-07-31T01:19:24.607-07:002010-07-31T01:19:24.607-07:00I have Admired the Veracity of the Write-ups,as al...I have Admired the Veracity of the Write-ups,as always of Naveed Tajammal and the Comments which Follow,which are a treat by them-self.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06487967601595580009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-76591049583968528862010-07-31T00:56:26.385-07:002010-07-31T00:56:26.385-07:00This is a truly brilliant piece. But whereas gover...This is a truly brilliant piece. But whereas governments make profits by invasion, they also spend for them.<br />Global military expenditure stands at over $1.5 trillion in annual expenditure at current prices for 2009, and has been rising in recent years.The cost of direct US military operations - not even including long-term costs such as taking care of wounded veterans - already exceeds the cost of the 12-year war in Vietnam and is more than double the cost of the Korean War.Roughly more than $3 trillion.is said to be spent so far by US alone in Afghan & Iraq wars.<br />Regarding death casualties:Pentagon keeps two sets of books. The first is the official casualty list posted on the DOD website. The second, hard-to-find, set of data is available only on a different website and can be obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. This data shows that the total number of soldiers who have been wounded, injured, or suffered from disease is double the number wounded in combat.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18158190915935841320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-36370089344173867942010-07-31T00:13:31.821-07:002010-07-31T00:13:31.821-07:00Excellent views. However, the mindset of the west ...Excellent views. However, the mindset of the west is clear by Cameron's statement in India where he states Pakistan must not export terrorism.How pompous,arrogant & judgemental!<br />It reflects the frame up Pakistan is being given by the cartel(India,US & UK).<br />Maybe Cameron should stay for a month in Afghanistan or FATA, drone attacks,shootings et al.He will sing a different tune then.<br />THEN we will discuss terrorism!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07640109743643995884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-11292424815889606682010-07-30T23:41:42.750-07:002010-07-30T23:41:42.750-07:00Great Article Naveed Bhai.Well done.
I have receiv...Great Article Naveed Bhai.Well done.<br />I have received a mail from our mutual friend Jamil Hamdani. Sent to me & Yasmeen.I share it here with you:<br /><br />Dear Yasmeem,<br /> <br />How are you my intellectually stimulating think tank? Bravo.<br /> <br />I have not been active on the pakpotpurri blog owing to exigency of work and frequent travels. I always read your mail with interest which takes me back to the wonderful evening I spent with you and Naveed , at your warm home some years back.<br /> <br />Thank you ever so much for keeping us informed. You carry a very sane head on your shoulders and your articles are thought provoking and I salute you from the bottom of my heart.<br /> <br />Next time I am in Lahore for a longer period I will certainly get in touch and we can have dinner at a restaurant of your liking.<br /> <br />Warm personal regards<br /> <br />Jamil <br /><br />Credit Agricole (Suisse) S.A / Credit Agricole Corpoarte & Investment bank SA<br />Pakistan Representative Office,<br />D-118/2, Kehkashan 5, Clifton,<br />Karachi, Pakistan.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13304208504285572733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-18126134937458422212010-07-30T23:04:44.828-07:002010-07-30T23:04:44.828-07:00Thank you Moin Ansari for the comment.I share a co...Thank you Moin Ansari for the comment.I share a comment from a person who calls himself S. Turkman:<br /><br />Yeah, war of Pakistan Army against Balochis is too. The War of Pak Army against East Pakistanis and Mohajirs was also a racket. The Pak Army's war against Terrorism is also a racket.YASMEEN ALIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10748945833762147296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-39414334059265669212010-07-30T22:31:00.308-07:002010-07-30T22:31:00.308-07:00The above comment was by me
Moin Ansari
Editor Ru...The above comment was by me<br /><br />Moin Ansari<br />Editor Rupee News.The Editorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14269910201316697187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-4400418044127665632010-07-30T22:30:11.864-07:002010-07-30T22:30:11.864-07:00Brilliant article--as usual by Naveed bhai
Dr. T...Brilliant article--as usual by Naveed bhai <br /><br />Dr. Tajammal's deep research brings new insight to Well's writings. One never would have thought 1984 to be prescient commentary on the future. Dr. Tajammal tells us a lot about how great the writing was. Some even think H.G. Wells was really a time traveler.The Editorshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14269910201316697187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-2741855774555640742010-07-30T22:08:55.477-07:002010-07-30T22:08:55.477-07:00Mr Ahmed Quraishi has made a valid statement that ...Mr Ahmed Quraishi has made a valid statement that some wars are necessary. However, he is also correct in saying that these ones were not. Today, the American people will generally agree with his statement.Yes we have our share of Islamophobics who believe any story fed to them at bed time, hence the deep sleep.<br />I am deeply and if I may add, pleasantly surprised by the involvement of readers and the quality of discussions. This thread has changed my perceptions of Pakistan, who is not exactly projected positively in my country.<br />So I guess, a Thank You to Yasmin for running a forum that exactly reflects what it states at top:Pakpotpourri2 supports no individual or party. It only supports a strong Pakistan.<br />I hope, with articles like these, and strong inputs like made here from Pakistanis,a dent can be made in the vision of policy makers .Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10948809311671226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-69964522143000512762010-07-30T21:46:47.127-07:002010-07-30T21:46:47.127-07:00As usual Naveed has blown the lid from strategical...As usual Naveed has blown the lid from strategically planned wars which are thrust upon poor people of certain regions for economical interests of super powers in the garb of restoration of democracy, human rights, WMDs or War on terror. We are witnessing the same at our home and in our neighborhood..... but I wonder whether it is Butler, Naveed or others, why they become wiser after the event and having served well all these war rackets,only?ajmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16313335790073834821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-43700179986351522632010-07-30T21:38:43.764-07:002010-07-30T21:38:43.764-07:00Naveed Tajammal is an historian par excellence, hi...Naveed Tajammal is an historian par excellence, his grip over the subject is unbelievable, to compare him with any other would not be fair to Naveed Tajammal. He is a class of his own.Observerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11844836748846884267noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1664474623650181692.post-78617941318195449392010-07-30T15:44:46.753-07:002010-07-30T15:44:46.753-07:00Your readers have more or less summed up whatever ...Your readers have more or less summed up whatever one can say about the predictions of George Orwell or General Butler's analysis of the causes and nature of wars. I may just add that during the past 65 years, the US has become richer every year. However, according to a recent study 100 million Americans feel that they are worse off than their parents. One can safely conclude that during this period while some have become rich beyond comprehension, a sizeable portion of the American population has become poorer in real terms. It is not unknown that the average American has to work like a slave to exist. If one takes commuting times, an average American is away from his family for 12 hours a day, at least and he gets only two weeks holiday in a year. Gone are the days when an average American used to have a relaxed life with family & we admired their lifestyle.bhimrulmouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04600920789555175608noreply@blogger.com