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US 'Biggest' Threat Say Pakistanis
A survey commissioned by Al Jazeera in Pakistan has revealed a widespread disenchantment with the United States for interfering with what most people consider internal Pakistani affairs.
Pakistani villagers gather at the rubble of houses belonging to supporters of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud which were destroyed by security forces in Dera Ismail Khan on August 5, 2009. Pakistan said Friday it believed Mehsud, the charismatic commander of the Pakistani Taliban, had been killed in a US drone attack in a major blow for the Islamist militants. (AFP/File/Muhammad Kashif) The polling was conducted by Gallup Pakistan - a separate organisation affiliated with the US-based Gallup Inc - and more than 2,600 people took part.
Interviews were conducted across the political spectrum in all four of the country's provinces, and represented men and women of every economic and ethnic background.
When respondents were asked what they consider to be the biggest threat to the nation of Pakistan, 11 per cent of the population identified the Taliban fighters, who have been blamed for scores of deadly bomb attacks across the country in recent years.
Another 18 per cent said that they believe that the greatest threat came from neighbouring India, which has fought three wars with Pakistan since partition in 1947.
But an overwhelming number, 59 per cent of respondents, said the greatest threat to Pakistan right now is, in fact, the US, a donor of considerable amounts of military and development aid.
Tackling the Taliban
The resentment was made clearer when residents were asked about the Pakistan's military efforts to tackle the Taliban.
Keeping with recent trends a growing number of people, now 41 per cent, supported the campaign.
About 24 per cent of people remained opposed, while another 22 per cent of Pakistanis remained neutral on the question.
A recent offensive against Taliban fighters in the Swat, Lower Dir and Buner districts of North West Frontier Province killed at least 1,400 fighters, according to the military, but also devastated the area and forced two million to leave their homes.
The military has declared the operation a success, however, some analysts have suggested that many Taliban fighters simply slipped away to other areas, surviving to fight another day.
When people were asked if they would support government-sanctioned dialogue with Taliban fighters if it were a viable option the numbers change significantly.
Although the same 41 per cent said they would still support the military offensive, the number of those supporting dialogue leaps up to 43 per cent.
So clearly, Pakistanis are, right now, fairly evenly split on how to deal with the Taliban threat.
Drone anger
However, when asked if they support or oppose the US military's drone attacks against what Washington claims are Taliban and al-Qaeda targets, only nine per cent of respondents reacted favourably.
A massive 67 per cent say they oppose US military operations on Pakistani soil.
"This is a fact that the hatred against the US is growing very quickly, mainly because of these drone attacks," Makhdoom Babar, the editor-in-chief of Pakistan's The Daily Mail newspaper, said.
"Maybe the intelligence channels, the military channels consider it productive, but for the general public it is controversial ... the drone attacks are causing collateral damage," he told Al Jazeera.
Nearly 500 people, mostly suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters, are believed to have been killed in about 50 US drone attacks since August last year, according to intelligence agents, local government officials and witnesses.
Washington refuses to confirm the raids, but the US military in neighbouring Afghanistan and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are the only forces operating in the area that are known to have the technology.
The government in Islamabad formally opposes the attacks saying that they violate Pakistani sovereignty and cause civilian casualties which turn public opinion against efforts to battle the Taliban.
The consensus of opinion in opposition to US military involvement in Pakistan is notable given the fact that on a raft of internal issues there is a clear level of disagreement, something which would be expected in a country of this size.
Pakistani leadership
When asked for their opinions on Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani president, 42 per cent of respondents said they believed he was doing a bad job. Around 11 per cent approved of his leadership, and another 34 per cent had no strong opinion either way.
That pattern was reflected in a question about Zardari's Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Respondents were asked if they thought the PPP was good or bad for the country.
About 38 per cent said the PPP was bad for the country, 20 per cent believed it was good for the country and another 30 per cent said they had no strong opinion.
Respondents were even more fractured when asked for their views on how the country should be led.
By far, the largest percentage would opt for Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party, as leader. At least 38 per cent backed him to run Pakistan.
Last month, the Pakistani supreme court quashed Sharif's conviction on charges of hijacking, opening the way for him to run for political office again.
Zardari 'unpopular'
Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, received only nine per cent support, while Reza Gilani, Pakistan's prime minister, had the backing of 13 per cent.
But from there, opinions vary greatly. Eight per cent of the population would support a military government, 11 per cent back a political coalition of the PPP and the PML-N party.
Another six per cent throw their support behind religious parties and the remaining 15 per cent would either back smaller groups or simply do not have an opinion.
Babar told Al Jazeera that Zardari's unpopularity was understandable given the challenges that the country had faced since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US.
"Any president in Pakistan would be having the same popularity that President Zardari is having, because under this situation the president of Pakistan has to take a lot of unpopular decisions," he said.
"He is in no position to not take unpopular decisions that are actually in the wider interests of the country, but for common people these are very unpopular decisions."
For the complete poll results, click here.
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27 Comments so far
Show AllHey America,
Sooner or later the rest of the world will come to the same conclusion (why it took so long is beyond me)---
and you know what happens when 'humanity' recognizes a 'threat'-----
They eliminate it.
You know, self defense, preemptive strikes, just like the ones recently made by the USA in their war on Terrorism/Terrorist/Islamic-Jihads --- who would take 'our freedom fries away' along with our 'guns and jesus', and the 'American way'.
America, your days are numbered and in the future, when others teach their children using the 'negative example'
the USA will be the primary tool.
You will have done it to yoursleves.
What a legacy.
You should be proud of that America.
My sister recently toured South America. In country after counter, the people feared the US more than Castro or Chavez. A good part of it is our so called "world policeman" policies that supposedly help in "self determination", such as Iran in 1953 or Iraq in 1963, when we helped install the Baathist party, with the help of Saddam Hussein.
'disenchantment'.........that's putting it politely!!!!
I am a Canadian, white and raised as a christian ( starting to feel ashamed of this fact considering the history of christian imperialism) and a peace activist and I am pained to admit that over the past eight years I have become increasingly malevolent towards our neighbors to the south. When Americans come here to our southern Canadian town I find myself thinking ' Oh God! They are Americans! I want to tell them to leave our country and they are not welcome here because of what they have become; a great threat and menace to the human race, torturers and murderers and thieves. They have descended into the darkest pit of moral depravity and are completely hypocritical. They have added a new dimension and understanding of the term 'evil' and have revealed it's workings in their political and military institutions!' Then I step back from my emotional reaction, which is quite overwhelming, and say to myself, hey! these are simply people who live across the border and probably wish to have peaceful and secure lives just as we do and they are helpless against the propaganda and psychological warfare that is being conducted against them every moment of every day! They need the help of the world citizens which could be effective if we all decided to boycott, divest and sanction the US until they come to their senses and end the absolute madness of their political, military culture! Then I just sigh and accept the fact that this is very unlikely to happen and that the tragic fate of the US, and by extension, the world, is already set and we are just expendible pawns in the fascist elite's machiavelian chess game!
Beautifully written, and your words touch my heart with their wisdom and truth, thank you.
You 'write' like a woman---and this is a message to you and all women.
The current struggles the world is experiencing presently, and for well over three thousand years now are as a result of the Patriarchy attempting to over throw the Matriarchy. Such stupidity is typical of the many 'patriarchs' which is one of the reasons why they invented the "Patriarchal God"----they cannot conquer logic, so they 'invent the illogical argument' so as to distract from the truth.
The blood of so many innocents would never have been shed by the Matriarchy, and with few exceptions history will show that the Matriarchy is much closer to 'the divine' than the Patriarchy, and this may be a reason why so much conflict has been initiated by the Patriarchy---they are jealous.
But, please 'take heart'. More and more members of the "Matriarchy" are fighting their way into leadership positions even in parts of the world where it would be unimaginable to even 'think of such a thing'. If humanity can survive itself the truth will prevail and the natural order will dominate, and the Matriarchy will once again rise to the occasion and gain its rightful place in leadership.
I have stated many times that I do not believe in 'God'. But, 'if I did', I would be forced to believe that 'God' is a female. Only a 'Matriarch' would have the patience to put up with the Patriarchy and all of the 'crimes against humanity and the innocent blood on it's hands'-------------for so long.
"God has got to be a woman, only a woman would have the patience and love to tolerate humanity"...........
Thank you for being there.
I like your answer, NativeSon. Only if God were a woman, she'd have never allowed women to be treated as they've always been, or portrayed as they are in the Bible. I tell people that I don't believe in, and want no part of their sadistic god - I believe in the sexless Creator who made us all equal and imperfect, and doesn't threaten us with dire consequences for what we do because of that imperfection.
As for the Pakistanis, and the Canadians' feelings, I don't blame any of you for feelings the way you do. We've become an utterly unbelievable country that sickens me with it's great grandiosity.
NativeSon - it is possible - that where it related to the toppling of the "patriarchy" of the marcos dictatorship in my home country, philippines, with his "patriarchal" support from the "macho" USA --
that his toppling was , to my knowledge, without blood...it is because once the people rose up together - considering that this is a country with at least 7,000 islands with most of them having people and communities in them - the inherent "matriarchal" society rang true in that "revolt" decades ago.
and of course they did have the widow Cory Aquino , being held as the "matriarch" - to challenge the dictatorship , the generals, and the army of marcos (and the USA in effect).
there is a reason why - when the army and tanks and soldiers marched to the thickest and most significant massing of people (from all walks of life) on the streets -
it was the WOMEN , nuns, mothers, children, with their rosaries or garlands and flowers - that BROKE the "resistance" of the soldiers in their tanks and uniforms....
broke them down to tears.....
just as a mother would gently tell her child, her "macho son"
"this is wrong, what you are doing".
in the philippine culture -- one of the words that has the STRONGEST meanings to any filipino is
"INA" or "INAY"
it means MOTHER. it is placed above any other hierarchy in our home culture.
and a "father" no matter how strong or respected and placed in position of power otherwise in most arrangements or social settings, is only as respectable as the ability to "not break the mother's heart".
risingdawn,
I am also Canadian, but an immigrant from Africa, of Indian origin.
I share your abhorrence of what the 'imperialistically minded among the Anericans' and 'those who are themselves too harassed to see clearly that they are being used by the imperialistically minded' are doing. But it is a little untoughtful to lump all Americans as " a great threat and menace to the human race, torturers and murderers and thieves". There are SO MANY great, good-hearted, enlightened Americans like the innumerable members of the Raging Grannies, like Amy Goodman, like Rachel Corrie, like Tom Engelhart, like Howard Zinn, like Ray Mc Govern, like Senator Kuchinich, like Chris Hedges, like Juan Cole ad infinitum. It is counter-productive to lump them all together.
I also sometimes get very discouraged. Currently I am very discouraged over the failure of the Hillary Clinton and Obama administration to do any thing about reinstating Zelaya in Honduras and, instead, using a meeting with former President Mandela in South Africa, during her on-going tour of Africa, to charm him and through him to persuade the policy-makers of African countries to accept American military bases on the African Continent. Not earlier that ten days ago, I e-mailed a former American colleague at the leading African Development institution, who had clashed with me bitterly after 9/11 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistn and then Iraq, to encourage him with my appraeciation of what I thought was an American initiative to nudge the Honduran Military to accept the Arias plan for the return of Zelaya. But, it turned out to be the most cynical delaying tactic until the time for new elections in November makes the move obsolete. Just like the failure to catch Ratko Mladic very soon makes the issue obsolete since the madate of the Special War Crimes Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ends in 2010.
Yes, all this is heart-rending, and I am even more devastated about what is happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan and what they are threatening against Iran, being myself a Muslim from that region. But, lumping anti-war heroes with either imperialism-supporting or with simply non-activist Americans does not help. Actively seeking to bring the real culprits to account, including some rare times among a few of the leaders of the invaded nations, is what can save us.
There are also key geo-strategic and energy-resource securing concerns that have to be factored into diplomacy. And, yes, there are many dispassionate yet humane strategists who are devising globally optimal approaches to resolve such problems. The hope for the human fraternity (or sorority!) is to join forces with them.
Don't worry. The Americans coming over your borders are mostly liberals and progressives like you, escaping from their oligarchy and its stupid conservative hordes.
risingdawn:
I read that nearly a hundred years ago - or so - the americans ACTUALLY DID invade canada - although it was a small attempt and lasted only a day or a few and managed only a few meters or something INTO canadian territory.
what i read was : when canadians learned that their bigger neighbor down south HAD amassed troops across the border, whatever canadians were then available showed up to put their foot down...and the americans backed down...and nothing much has been said about that "little matter".
one thing is certain now - the United States, even as it has proclaimed itself the "leader of the free world" counting among its allies, and of course subjecting them to pressures one way or another to toe the "American - i.e. - USA" way - is, in reality NO friend - nation to nation - of ANY other nation.
you can see that - as a canadian for the social, cultural , habitual and even NATIONAL mentality of looking at canada and canadians as "those socialists" in a pejorative way...
and considering the attempts by the rightwing, conservative, party in power these past years - regardless of the failings of the previous ones - to "mold canada in the image of the USA"......
would YOU really be surprised at what is IN STORE for canada should they succeed?
you have to begin, if you have not already, to PERMANENTLY think of the USA "model" as ALIEN to YOUR own country and as a canadian.
THAT is the only way you can REMAIN canadian and stand for what makes you feel why you ARE canadian and NOT a "US'an".
the FARTHER any of you canadians can put a distance between yourselves and your systems and mentalities and approaches FROM the USA model - the BETTER off you will be as a nation and as a people.
my own sister and her family are now canadians as immigrants from teh philippines - after early retirements from good jobs back home and used their savings to travel and compare the different countries - and not without the INPUT of their own young children as to the final choice.
and not only was i RELIEVED for them - but they are happy they made that choice and are themselves PROUD to be canadians.
when they visit "USA" - once in a while , just across the border for those simple family weekends with friends - mainly to do their "poor man's shopping" - they get "discounts" in the USA compared to canada - just little "knick knacks". flea markets, house sales - because americans - they laugh, are holding yardsales everywhere .....specifically because they know on weekends - "canadians are coming for bargains".....
they are not rich, and are also just getting by and doing an honest day's job , as their children also help as well as take their schooling seriously...but they are happy for it all and grateful and PROUD of their choice and want to contribute to CANADA as much as they could.
and like you - they are devout christians, catholic , anyway. but i never stop REMINDING THEM, STRONGLY -- NEVER to take for granted the things that made them want to be canadians and TO DEFEND that from ANY intrusions by the "american model"..as much as they possibly can as part of your nation.
Under what legal authority is the U.S. conducting military operations in Pakistan?
I'm still waiting for an answer.
If there is no answer than an impeachment inquiry must begin.
Why wait? It's not like a secret congressional authorization will turn up.
so
"so"
Wow, what a profound declaration.
Back on topic, I don't blame the Pakistanis for feeling that way.
I think he/she is pulling a "Cheney".
As an American myself, I have no problem whatsoever saying America is the biggest threat to the world and humanity in general. Period.
Does anyone imagine the Pakistanis do not know who bombs them?
I suppose.
I don't know but from the article, I conclude:
Washington refuses to confirm the raids, but the US military in neighbouring Afghanistan and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) are the only forces operating in the area that are known to have the technology.
sigh...
you won't hear about that from US "official" and "acceptable"
punditry or leadership .
the "opinion" of Pakistanis concerning THEIR own country isn't important to the "american" leadership or "consensus".
Thank you Arry
soon -- the COLOMBIANS too will say the same thing:
"THE GREATEST THREAT TO COLOMBIA is not Chavez or Venezuelans, or Ecuador and Evo Morales, or far-away Iran...it is the Entity from up north with its Military installations and its Colombian supervisors"......
soon enough - so will those in countries like Georgia, Ukraine, Estonia, etc around russia,
and likewise Poland, Czech republic, kosovo, Turkey, and WHEREVER there is a large, influential "american" presence.
there are two ways that the United States will eventually lose its empire :
from its own internal corruption's bloodletting that hollows out itself - and from the natives of foreign countries who WILL eventually kick out the American Hegemon.
Beware the Hegemonster.
"US 'Biggest' Threat Say Pakistanis"
The truth is no one really gives a s!@it. Its unfortunate but true. Whether its ultra-liberal Leftists or radical right-wing Cultists, the one thing most Americans share in great measure is apathy. This was evidenced these last 8 years under the Cheney regime.
Unless our disgruntlement reaches epic levels, this is just another blip on the radar. We need to radically alter our lifestyle to have any meaningful effect, whether militarily or otherwise, cause as long as we can bully the world to maintain our standard of living we will continue doing what we are so good at.
This thread seems to be above the average level of conclusive abilities.
In my eyes that is great and reassures me that there are like minded folks out there that are capable of seeing through the thicket of misinformation and deceit.
The Pakistanis and of course as a matter of fact any Nation on the planet has the right to self determination. The US has repeatedly violated the self determination of others by simply removing the 'de' and rather go with 'termination'.
Arrogance is the correct terminology for these kind of supremacy based delusions. As long as there are ample opportunities to ignore the truth about human existence, the path humankind is trotting down will inevitably lead to immense suffering.
Man created god in his likeness.
It is not 'Woman created god in Her likeness.' There is a profound reason why we call her 'Mother Earth' and not Father Earth. The ultimate problem with men is that they are primarily sperm donors that will easily walk away from the responsibilities 'Fatherhood' entails. Mothers are of course more deeply involved in birthing and raising their offspring.
When I lived with a Filipino family that I could call emotionally 'my' family, it became apparent that the men in the Filipino culture have attained a position they comfortably fill. Being the men means to focus on their strengths, not implying weakness in the other gender. What I liked most, was the influence of 'Inang', the grandma. They really got it figured out.
Back to Pakistan and elsewhere, where Us imperialism has left deep scars in the memories and opinions of the 'other' part of the planetary population. Seems much like the responsible Americans share some Nazi ideology by classifying the larger part of humankind as 'sub-human' and hence to be quite expendable in their eyes. Some people know where this is ending rather sooner than later.
Christianity should be outlawed much more though than any other religion that does not carry the blood of hundreds of millions of humans that did not qualify to be 'worthy' enough to deserve the least possible dignity and respect. On top of it, the record on environmental destruction has Christianity at the lonely top. Mountain top removal and drone attacks are Christian inventions. No other healthy minded entity would saw off the branch on which it is sitting. In another opinion piece, the role of Christianity in fascism is not only shameful, it takes either Christianity or Judaism to pull a true degrading stint on 'non-believers' of those fantasy religions. That's basically what they all are. A Fantasy, created and maintained by powers that benefit tremendously from a brainwashed people who are concerned above all, whether they will make it to heaven or not. Ironically, by focusing on the heavens, the world You live in becomes a Hell.
To finish this comment I allow my Self to point to a not yet uncovered truth in relation to US Bases all over the planet.
Those are nothing else but shelters. Like the shelters for abused women and children. The 'American Houses' serve only one purpose. To enable Americans to seek shelter, when the majority of 6.2 Billion people on the planet finally had it with the US. American tourism will then be called 'Base-Jumping', from one military base to the next.
"Oh, Hi! I haven't seen You in a while!" "Well, my wife and I always wanted to see the world. So this summer we booked a world cruise. We went all over the place." "Wasn't that dangerous?" 'No, not at all. The trip was organized by the Armed Forces Vacation Program. You get to stay on military bases. They employ great chef's at most bases. So the food is great and You get to see all those fancy weapons, too!" "Wow, that sounds really awesome." "Yeah. The only thing that my wife really didn't like was the fact that we were not able to leave any of the bases to explore the countries they are located in." "Oh." "Yeah, but You know, I talked to many soldiers and they all say its better to stay inside the compound, because most of the countries are heavily polluted. Depleted Uranium and such." "How much was the trip?" I don't know, we got invited by the Pentagon. Something like public relations."
Good Night Ya'll!
According to me in a overwhelming number, 59 per cent of respondents, said the greatest threat to Pakistan right now is, in fact, the US, a donor of considerable amounts of military and development aid. http://www.Start-an-Internet-business.net