Tariq Ali, Flight Path to Disaster in Afghanistan: A Tomgram despatch, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Tariq Ali, Flight Path to Disaster in Afghanistan: A Tomgram despatch

Breaking with Afghan Policy

Operation Enduring Disaster

By Tariq Ali

Washington's hawks will argue that, while bad, the military situation is, in fact, still salvageable. This may be technically accurate, but it would require the carpet-bombing of southern Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan, the destruction of scores of villages and small towns, the killing of untold numbers of Pashtuns and the dispatch to the region of at least 200,000 more troops with all their attendant equipment, air, and logistical support. The political consequences of such a course are so dire that even Dick Cheney, the closest thing to Dr. Strangelove that Washington has yet produced, has been uncharacteristically cautious when it comes to suggesting a military solution to the conflict.

It has, by now, become obvious to the Pentagon that Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his family cannot deliver what is required and yet it is probably far too late to replace him with UN ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad. On his part, fighting for his political (and probably physical) existence, Karzai continues to protect his brother Ahmad Wali Karzai, accused of being involved in the country's staggering drug trade, but has belatedly sacked Hamidullah Qadri, his transport minister, for corruption.

Qadri was taking massive kickbacks from a company flying pilgrims to Mecca. Is nothing sacred?

http://newageislam.com/tariq-ali,-flight-path-to-disaster-in-afghanistan--a-tomgram-despatch--/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/d/992

The real Muslim extremists, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

The real Muslim extremists

Tariq Ali

Published 01 October 2001

Regardless of whether Osama Bin Laden gave the order or not, it is indisputable that the bulk of his real cadres (as opposed to foot soldiers) are located in Egypt or Saudi Arabia - America's two principal allies in the region, barring Israel. In Saudi Arabia, support for Bin Laden is strong. He was a close friend of the Saudi intelligence boss Prince Turki Bin Faisal al-Saud, who was dismissed in August apparently because of his failure to curb attacks on US personnel in Riyadh. The real reason, however, was probably his refusal to take sides in the fierce faction fight to determine the succession after the death of the paralysed King Fahd. Both sides are aware that too close an alignment with the US could be explosive. That is why, despite its support for the US, the Saudi regime is not "allowing its bases to be used".

http://newageislam.com/the-real-muslim-extremists/islam-and-the-west/d/837

Asif Ali Zardari: the godfather as president, Islam and the West, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and the West

Asif Ali Zardari: the godfather as president

He may be a pliant partner for the west, but with his record of corruption, Zardari is the worst possible choice for Pakistan

By Tariq Ali

September 07 2008

Today, he is the second richest person in the country, with estates and bank accounts littered on many continents, including a mansion in Surrey worth several million. Many of Benazir's inner circle, sidelined by the new boss (Zardari did rub their noses in excrement by having his apolitical sister elected from Larkana, hitherto a pocket borough of the Bhutto family) actively hate him. Benazir's uncle, Mumtaz Bhutto (head of the clan) has sharply denounced him. Some even encourage the grotesque view that he was in some way responsible for her death. This is foolish. He is only trying to fulfill her legacy. He was certainly charged with ordering the murder of his brother-in-law, Murtaza Bhutto, when Benazir was prime minister, but the case was never tried. Characteristically, one of Zardari's first acts after his party's victory in the February polls was to appoint Shoaib Suddle, the senior police officer connected to the Murtaza Bhutto ambush and killing, as the boss of the Federal Intelligence Agency. Loyalty is always repaid in full.

http://newageislam.com/asif-ali-zardari--the-godfather-as-president/islam-and-the-west/d/708

Musharraf will be gone in days, but don't expect democracy to rush in: the military's habits die hard, Islam and Politics, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam and Politics

Musharraf will be gone in days, but don't expect democracy to rush in: the military's habits die hard

By Tariq Ali

Thursday August 14 2008

Washington followed suit. In Kayani they have a professional and loyal military leader, who they imagine will do their bidding. Earlier John Negroponte had wanted to retain Musharraf as long as Bush was in office, but they decided to let him go. Anne Patterson, the US ambassador, and a few British diplomats working under her, tried to negotiate a deal on behalf of Musharraf, but the politicians were no longer prepared to play ball. They insisted that he must leave the country. Sanctuaries in Manhattan, Texas and the Turkish island of Büyükada are being actively considered. The general would prefer a large estate in Pakistan, preferably near a golf course, but security considerations alone would make that unfeasible. There were three attempts on his life when he was in power and protecting him after he goes would require an expensive security presence. Had Musharraf departed peacefully when his constitutional term expired in November 2007 he would have won some respect. Instead he imposed a state of emergency and sacked the chief justice of the Supreme Court who was hearing a petition challenging Musharraf's position.

http://newageislam.com/musharraf-will-be-gone-in-days,-but-don-t-expect-democracy-to-rush-in--the-military-s-habits-die-hard/islam-and-politics/d/557