Mail Call: Pakistan’s Problem
Considering the Clinton Campaign
Bill Clinton was re-elected despite accusations of financial corruption, renting out the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House to secure political donations and alleged sexual harassment of Arkansas state employees. It was later confirmed that he used the Oval Office to have sex with a 21-year-old intern, and that he lied and used his staff and even his wife to cover all this up. Now Americans are once again considering putting the Clintons back in the White House ("Let Hillary Be Hillary," Jan. 21)? Why?
Todd Proctor
Turku, Finland
Hillary Clinton in tears in New Hampshire? That should disqualify her from the highest office in America. If the prospect of losing in a primary election so affected her, how would she react to an international crisis? We have seen able women leaders around the world, and America had its own "Iron Lady" in the Madeleine Albright. Hillary's tears might do well at a charity fund-raiser or in the cocoon of New York politics, but won't suit the president of a superpower.
Csaba P. Keszthelyi
Budapest, Hungary
Germany
'
s Technological Edge
Your Jan. 21 article "The Factory Of Factories" about Germany's success in machine-tool technology reveals that country's leadership in reindustrialization and its avoidance of the American or Japanese manufacturing models. Yes, German companies don't believe in popular mantras like Six Sigma or Toyota's Lean-Manufacturing principles. Instead, they still believe in technology rather than systems. Germans have proved their capability over the years in this area despite their growing labor costs. Another strength the Germans have over other European countries like France is labor unions that work hand-in-hand with employers even though this means leaving many labor disputes unresolved. But Germany's coldhearted policy against skilled immigrants from developing countries makes it outdated in this new world order of globalization. Even Japan is now granting citizenship to many skilled foreign workers, while Germans continue to be plagued by xenophobia.
Suresh Kumar Parappurath
Bangalore, India
On the Streets of Baghdad
Rod Nordland's article "Baghdad Comes Alive" (Nov. 26) is an uplifting firsthand assessment of the status of Iraq. You don't have to look far to see the failures of this war, but Nordland's experience reveals that Baghdad is stabilizing. I'm not naive enough to believe an end to the war is imminent, but after the five years of fighting that has polarized both Iraq and America, it's good to hear that life in Iraq is showing signs of normalcy. Fear, the driving force behind every war, has been constant for soldier and citizen alike. For the war to end, the people of Iraq must be able to function without fear, which it seems they are beginning to do. A night out to eat, or a visit to the Baghdad zoo, is no longer a life-threatening prospect. The progress of stability in Iraq is reaffirmed by the rise of Sunni volunteers, working alongside U.S. and Iraqi government forces. This alliance, within the fragile social system of Iraq, is especially hopeful. In order for the United States to leave Iraq safely, it must ensure that Iraq will not have to endure civil war and further destruction. Now that normal life has returned to the streets of Baghdad, let's hope that Iraq's social unrest can be repaired.
Adam Sylvain
Rochester, New Hampshire
Seduction, U.S. Style
Unfortunately, what is written in "The Italian Love Affair" (Nov. 26) is true, but unhealthy. At the root of the love many Italians have for America is our eternal will to be subjugated, our lack of identity and the parochial opinion that what is foreign is always the best. Even the documents produced by our government offices now abound with English words. This is foolish, and has nothing to do with real admiration for the United States. No other European country does this. The French and the Spanish translate everything into their languages. It's only the Italians who say "skyline" instead of orizzonte and "brainstorming" instead of riflessione collettiva.
Sergio Sammartino
Rome, Italy
Mauro Suttora's report on the Italian fascination with the American way of life offered a one-sided and lighthearted view of how the United States is perceived abroad; Suttora based his evaluation only on positive indicators such as movies, music and art. But his story made me wonder how many Italians know how the United States fares when it comes to quality-of-life issues such as America's faulty health-care system, its lack of gun control, and many others like drug trafficking, illegal immigration, the death penalty and racism, not to mention the government's spending of billions of dollars on the lengthy, bloody and clueless War on Terrorism. The problem with Italians, particularly today's young people, is that they have been absorbing the mass-marketed aspects of American culture and have been dazzled by the high standards of living possible in America.
Giulio Cicconi
Teramo, Italy
Loading Menu
Member Comments
Posted By: naeem73 @ 03/06/2008 7:23:11 AM
Comment: I have some suggestions for the peace of world.
US must by all means stop the acts of terrorising the nations by waging unwanted wars and imposing peoples like Musharaf for their interests. Naeem
Posted By: naeem73 @ 03/06/2008 7:21:41 AM
Comment: In my opinion Musharaf is a mere tool to protect US and Jewish interests in the region specially Pakistan. The US backing for Musharaf even after the clear public verdict against Musharaf in the recent elections shows that US are just concerned about their own interests rather than the Pakistan and that Musharaf is their agent in Pakistan. Had US not released the statements of backing Musharaf, he would have run away by now. As the obvious cases that can be filed against Musharaf are enough to bring to justice apart from the chaos, dearness, power problems, law n order situation, devaluation of Rupee, and lots of other social and economical factors that are direct consequences of an individual and that is Musharaf.
In my humble opinion, US must withdraw from meddling the internal matters of other countries especially Pakistan if they wana be real super power, otherwise US must not forget the ending of USSR who were even bigger powers than US can think of being.
There are lots of Musharafs all over the world serving the cause of US interests and suppressing the rights of their countries for their benefit and at the stake of countries integrity and pride. The way Musharaf is lingering on to power calling himself to be indispensable is a sheer US support that encourage him to say so, otherwise a 8 years old kid in Pakistan is saying Musharaf should resign and should not be seen on political scene in Pakistan. Some even say that Bush should accept him as US citizen and give some work in his embezzlement missions.
In my 34 years life i have never seen a power hungry person like Musharaf who has a courage to over look the humiliating columns in The Daily Jang in which columnists very nicely and in a humiliating way show the exit door to Musharaf. but the determination to serve the nation till last breath is a sheer absurdity of Musharaf. If someone does not need ones services how can one impose himself. Once he himself said if he feels that the people of Pakistan do not like him, he shall step down. But after recent elections he does not honor his words. or let us know whom Musharaf call people?? is it people of Pakistan of People of US.
Posted By: shaista @ 03/04/2008 5:18:09 AM
Comment: Pervez Musharraf a dead man now deeply concern & decide to stepping down as president of Pakistan rather than waiting to be forced out by his victorious opponents,
Musharaf is run out of options and had started discussing an exit strategy for himself. One of them thought ???it is now just a matter of days and not months because he would like to make an exit at any cost.
The PPP & PML N coalition government also pledged to reinstate the country???s chief justice and 60 other judges sacked by him in November.
Mr Musharraf have no other options but to quit and in case of power sharing with new parliment, in which his opponents will be close to the two-thirds majority and they think to impeach him and remove him from office.
???He may have made many blunders,where he destroy judiciary,parliment and constitutions just for the sake of his personal office,??? and a possible punishment for him after reinstated the judges which will be a death penalty or life imprisonment
Musharaf close one said that he has no other way but to resigning immediately after the election results were known, but other who want to see him insulted and will to see him disgrace persuaded that his sudden departure could precipitate a crisis.
Behind the scenes, his staff attempted to broker an agreement with PPP chief Asif Zardari, but despite pressure from the United States, which has relied on Mr Musharraf???s support for its war on terror, Mr Zardari refused to strike a deal.
He declined despite also claiming to have been threatened by Mr Musharraf???s allies that the government would revive long-standing corruption charges against him.
???I have seen these jails and this is not something new to me,??? said Mr Zardari. ???I fought all these fake cases instituted against me with courage and never disappointed anyone by asking for a pardon.
???I???m ready to fight it out again, and will never disappoint anyone.???
PPP officials said that any deal with Mr Musharraf would have dented the party???s public support and it was better to try to govern with the help of the other main parties.
???It doesn???t make any sense for us to sink with the dying man,??? said Nisar Khuhro, a senior PPP leader, referring to Mr Musharraf.
Jamil Soomro, a PPP spokesman, said: ???He has betrayed everyone since the very outset and we have no guarantee that he would not betray us once he stabilised his position.???
If Mr Musharraf decides to dig his heels in, the opposition parties plan to remove his constitutional powers to dissolve the assembly.
???I think his game is over but if he was able to survive for any reason, he would be like a dead fish, sitting and rotting the presidency,??? said Khwaja Asif, a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League