Mail Call: Pakistan’s Problem
Hardships of Entering America
The Bush administration and its bureaucratic security measures and strict visa entrance standards convey such a bad image of America worldwide that many of us are restraining ourselves from visiting the United States ("America the Unwelcoming," Nov. 26). But don't get the wrong idea. We love the United States in many ways. For instance, we are always deeply moved by the breathtaking beauty of American landscapes and we feel at home when we spend time in the country's very attractive urban places like New York City. But despite America's cheap currency, we, as French citizens, prefer to avoid the risk of harassment and humiliation involved with the travel restrictions, which too often trample on the basic human rights of people entering the United States. For the time being, we think it wiser to visit other countries. We strongly believe that climbing high Swiss mountains is much less risky than being intrusively scrutinized by overzealous customs agents at Kennedy airport. So thank you, Fareed Zakaria, for your honest article underscoring how unwelcoming America has become.
Pierre Tran
Lovagny, France
Patronizing France?
I was appalled by the patronizing tone of Denis MacShane's Dec. 17 article on France ("Is This the New Look of France?"). Writing off President Nicolas Sarkozy right now seems rather hasty and giving tips about solving the country's debt by selling EDF is, I think, quite unrealistic.
Denis Mckee
Reims, France
Reflecting on the Rising Price of Oil
Oil's mad rush north of $100 per barrel marks a pivotal transition ("How Hot Money Is Pushing Oil," Nov. 26). This dramatic jump in price—more than 30 percent since last September—has sent the world a chilling warning. In the meantime, conventional wisdom keeps pointing the finger of blame at the exceptional demand from Asians, thanks in part to the meteoric growth of China's economy. There are other factors also: an untimely shortage of reserves in the United States, OPEC's reluctance to push up daily production, the weak greenback that continues to slide steadily downwards, and the jittery political situation in Iran. Notwithstanding the fact that each of these reasons could be a contributing factor, we seem to forget that the rich nations continue to ignore their excessive and extravagant consumption and the energy they waste to maintain their luxurious lifestyles. When the affluent learn to use less oil, up-and-coming nations will become more efficient in their energy use, too. The search for alternative, renewable energy sources will speed up, and no one will worry if the price of oil shoots up to $200.
Tan Boon Tee
Penang, Malaysia
A Field of Mirrors to the Rescue?
Your article quotes physicist David Mills as saying, "A field of mirrors 91 miles square could power the entire United States" ("It's All About Energy, Stupid!" Nov. 26). Your writers then add: "Though that field is unlikely to ever be built—strong enough transmission lines don't exist …" Apparently they do. The World Bank has published a technology review of an innovation in power trans-mission called high-voltage direct current (HVDC). The article, by Swedish and American researchers, can be found at worldbank.org, the World Bank's Web site. Of course, traditionally all electrical transmission is by AC, alternating current. Older technologies meant that direct current, DC, could be sent only short distances with low voltages. The World Bank claims that new DC cables made of extruded polyethylene that transmit higher voltages could now make economic sense over as little as 60 kilometers. A graph in the aforementioned article shows AC costs exceeding DC costs beyond about 650 kilometers. Most important, though the initial electricity loss on a DC line is higher, it does not increase with distance. On AC systems, by contrast, the longer the line, the more you lose. There is no inherent limit on the length of a DC cable. Already there is a line in the Democratic Republic of Congo that is 1,700 kilometers long. Perhaps someone should inform Mills.
Alan Lew
Rihov, Czech Republic
NEWSWEEK is absolutely right that the development of renewable energy resources "is especially attractive in California, where public utilities are required to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources." However, a California law (which I authored in 2006) requires that 20 percent target to be reached by 2010, not 2015 as NEWSWEEK REPORTED. As your story rightly points out, renewable energy sources can and will be developed when and where the market exists. California's "20 percent by 2010" is an ambitious but achievable goal—a catalyst that spurs investment and drives innovation. The next logical step is a commitment to 33 percent by 2020. Legislation to that effect has cleared the California State Senate and awaits action next year in the California State Assembly. Stay tuned.
State Sen. Joe Simitian
Palo Alto, California
Correction
In his Feb. 11 column, "The Wrong Experience," Fareed Zakaria wrote that Hillary Clinton "won't say" whether she supports an initiative, proposed by Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry and Sam Nunn, to reduce America's nuclear arsenal. In fact, Senator Clinton has supported the initiative.
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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