Saturday 4 July 2009

 

The latest culture as recommended by our staff

Liz Anderson

Liz Suggests


Jobs at Telegraph

Pakistan needs more than elections. Only a new political class will do

Wednesday, 13th February 2008

Stephen Schwartz says that, in this failing state, the ballot box is also a tinderbox. Even if Monday’s election goes ahead, Pakistan might well end up in a worse state than before: exporting terror, spawning confrontation, at war with itself

The most important country in the world right now faces the most dangerous election in recent times. The country is Pakistan, not America, and the elections for parliament take place this coming Monday. Policy experts speak of ‘failed states’, and Pakistan is just about as close to failure as it is possible for a state to be. That’s one reason the world will be watching on Monday. Another and more immediate reason for interest is the assassination at the end of last year of Benazir Bhutto, twice the country’s prime minister and the secularist leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

More articles from: Stephen Schwartz | this section

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments

Post a comment


Your comment:*

Your name:*

Your email address:*
(We won't publish this)

*Required information

Please click the button only once - your comment will not be published immediately

Roy

February 14th, 2008 7:03am

Why not let them stew in their own juice? Why should Britain feel any benevolence towards Pakistan? Perhaps we have a liking for the corner store proprietor (now a millionaire but still serves behind the counter). But that's no reason to feel a jot for the rest. Just in-case the '99% of the population are terrorists' figure is correct, keep them out of the country. What loss is involved? Tell me?

George Steiner

February 14th, 2008 4:20pm

You know fellows I would not call Pakistan a failed state. Pakistan is what it is. It never pretended to be anything else. Just to remind you. Some 150 million people, adult literacy at about 50%, GDP per head of about $600, about 40% of the population inder 15. And Muslim and feudal to boot. Do you understand what this means? Well do you? The western nations and their insufferable talking heads are the failures. They refuse to contemplate the prctical matter of how long and what it will take to have Pakistan move from where they are to well... you pick a target.

Jeff Siddiqui

February 14th, 2008 5:44pm

I don't believe Schwartz knows much about Pakistan or how the Taliban were born (their CIA-financed Mujahdeen roots); he also does not seem to know much about Maulana Maudoodi or the movement he founded (which was NOT based on promotion of violence). Schwartz would have us believe that every mosque in the US is at some stage of being infiltrated and taken over by Saudi and Wahabi agents...I wonder, does Schwartz come out of his fantasy lands often? Schwartz blames Musharraf without taking into consideration the many pressures (US, India, Muslim extremists, Afghanistan) that Musharraf has to work with...each pulling in a different direction! Schwatz appears to want Musharraf to send troops into the tribal Areas of Pakistan to "defeat the Taliban and eradicate Al-Qaida". It is telling that Schwatrz is not a Pakistani citizen or, he would not be advocating the massive slaughter on both sides or the subsequent civil war, that such and "eradication" would demand. Schwartz is full of criticism for Musharraf and Pakistan's policies but he does not make his own plans clear; what exactly would President Schwartz do if he were running Pakistan? As far as "Democracy" is concerned, even in the two countries that Schwartz gave examples of (S. Korea and Indonesia), the real steps towards democracy happened only when the US stopped interfering with who the next ruler should be in both countries...perhaps a good indicator of how Democracy might come closer to the people in Pakistan. The real question here is: Is the US ready to have a REAL democracy in Pakistan? Finally, I am fascinated how closely Schwartz seems to mirror Israeli policies of not even talking to Palestinians until they concede everything Israel wants, before "negotiations" or recognition by Israel, could begin...otherwise, they are "terrorists", like Hamas and the entire Palestinian population must be "strangled"...I have to wonder just who is the real terrorist there! It appears to me that Schwartz is more for lasting war, than he is for seeking paths to peace.

George Steiner

February 14th, 2008 7:35pm

The Siddiqui fellow deludes himself if he belives that a poor, backward, feudal, Muslim country can actually have democracy. Voting doesn't make democracy by itself. The GDP per head of the Islamic world is $1600 dollars and even there Pakistan is nowhere. In contrast the Wests GDP per head is $35,000. What does the Siddiqui fellow suggests, to get from $600 to $35,000. And how long is this going to take according to him.

Herbert Thornton

February 15th, 2008 4:05am

While I'd like to be able to agree with Roy that we should let them stew in their own juice, I think a lot of us are more concerned about how bubblings in the cauldron could affect us.

Assume that Pakistan's central government loses control to the point where the entire country is as lawless as the frontier areas with Afghanistan already are.

What then will be the likelihood of a Pakistani-made nuclear bomb being smuggled into, and detonated in say, central London while Parliament is in session, or in what, for all I know, may be a more accessible target - say York, or Bath?

The immediate result - i.e. in the next few minutes after the detonation - is reasonably obvious.

But what would follow over the next few weeks? I'm interested to read what other Spectator readers think.

Omar Khan

February 15th, 2008 12:43pm

Pakistan may be a nuclear state, but then so are many other nations. Just because this one is muslim, doesnt mean that this one will be used by terrorists. Pakistan has been fighting the war against terror since 7 years now, and has had to face a lot of heat. That part of the efforts aren't being recognized. I think Pakistan was in a better stage before it joined the war on terror. Atleast the situation inside the country would be better.

Hereford

February 18th, 2008 12:14pm

Herbert, first, I think Omar's point is valid. There is probably as much danger of an ex-Russian, or Korean bomb getting into terrorist hands as a Pakistani one. But, if one did go off in London or New York, well I think the West would awake and move the world into a new colonial era. I don't think any Muslim group would do this right now, because the West is still, just capable of responding with overwhelming force. In 10 years time though, as Western culture and society heads towards entropy, it might be a different story. However, in 10 years time the bomb won't be necessary. Sad, but there it is.

Herbert Thornton

February 18th, 2008 5:56pm

Hereford, you may well be right & it makes me feel even gloomier.

If only the West had some of the spirit shown by the Cossacks in the painting & letter shown here -

http://www.cossacks.ca/letter-to-sultan.htm

I take some comfort in the belief that the Russians still have this spirit.

Ilyas khan Baloch

February 19th, 2008 10:20pm

Sir/Madam, Democracy as a system of governance and interest representation demands respect for dissent and opposition. It recognizes the principle of majority rule and guarantees protection of minorities. Democracy also builds faith in electoral contestation to gain public office and gives legitimacy to political parties as primary instruments for acquisition and transfer of power from one set of individuals to another. Unfortunately, despite the significance of the above elements only the power full elite are fitted in power and Pakistani are always left at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster. Change of socio-political system is inevitable to empower the Pakistani at grass route level for rapid development. See www.idp.org.pk Ilyas khan Baloch


Spectator Book Club

In this section

Labour’s U-turn on social housing for non-immigrants is welcome but too late

Rod Liddle

Rod Liddle says that metropolitan liberal ideology is too deeply ingrained in local councils, social services and the judiciary to be overturned by one panic measure driven by Labour’s sudden fear of the BNP

To become an extremist, hang around with people you agree with

Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein — co-author of the hugely influential Nudge and an adviser to President Obama — unveils his new theory of ‘group polarisation’, and explains why, when like-minded people spend time with each other, their views become not only more confident but more extreme

Who would have thought a herd could moonwalk?

Mark Earls

The acclaimed web theorist, Mark Earls, says that the death of Michael Jackson unleashed the extremes of collective action: mass mourning and sick jokes

A splendid lunch with Jimmy McNulty

Deborah Ross

In the first of an occasional series of interviews over meals, Deborah Ross talks to Dominic West about The Wire and the challenge to an Old Etonian of playing an American cop

What Jacko needed was someone to say ‘No’

Uri Geller

My defining memory of Michael Jackson — vulnerable, brilliant, otherworldly — is of watching him dance to the soundtrack of a movie.

Related articles

Tony, Gordon and Peter saved Labour: now they’ll destroy it

Matthew d'Ancona

Matthew d’Ancona says that, by sticking with Brown, Labour has opted for a mad collective delusion. The party is still in thrall to the trio who invented New Labour and cannot think beyond the Blair-Brown era — an incapacity for which it will pay a terrible price

Labour has left Britain on the fringes of Europe

William Hague

William Hague responds to David Miliband’s claim in The Spectator that the Tory EU policy is suicidal and says the government’s own strategy has been an abject failure

If we lose hearts and minds, we will lose the war

David Kilcullen

David Kilcullen, the man who helped think up the strategy that saved Iraq, saysthat high-tech weaponry is not the answer in Afghanistan. Only a genuine partnership with the people can help us win

This is a constitutional crisis. Dave dare not blow it

Fraser Nelson

Fraser Nelson says that the scale of public disgust at the MPs’ expenses scandal presents the next Prime Minister with a huge challenge — and a huge opportunity. If Cameron devolves power to voters, he will be rewarded. But if he fails, the punishment will be swift

The plotters mean business. But the Gordonator will survive

Matthew d'Ancona

In a disastrous week for the PM, Matthew d’Ancona reveals the plot to mount a leadership challenge after the June elections. But Brown is absolutely determined to cling to power; and Labour has shabby psychological reasons for keeping him where he is

Spectator recommends

Spectator classifieds

BIG SAND STEEL BAND

IF YOU ARE PLANNING A CHAMPAGNE RECEPTION and looking for some light entertainment, you can now hire London's busiest steel

BOSC LEBAT, Tarn et Garonne.

BOSC LEBAT, SW France. Only 45 minutes from Toulouse Airport with daily flights from most provincial airports avoiding the horrors

ROME CENTRE

PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique