More U.S. Soldiers Killed Themselves Than Died in Combat in 2010

http://youtu.be/6eue3djY5n0

For the second year in a row, more American soldiers—both enlisted men and women and veterans—committed suicide than were  killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Excluding accidents and illness, 462 soldiers died in combat, while 468 committed suicide. A difference of six isn't vast by any means, but the symbolism is significant and troubling. In 2009, there were 381 suicides by military personnel, a number that also exceeded the number of combat deaths.

Earlier this month, military authorities announced that suicides amongst active-duty soldiers had slowed in 2010, while suicides amongst reservists and people in the National Guard had increased. It was proof, they said, that the frequent psychological screenings active-duty personnel receive were working, and that reservists and guardsmen, who are more removed from the military's medical bureaucracy, simply need to begin undergoing more health checks. This new data, that American soldiers are now more dangerous to themselves than the insurgents, flies right in the face of any suggestion that things are "working." Even if something's working, the system is still very, very broken.

One of the problems hindering the military's attempt to address soldier suicides is that there's no real rhyme or reason to what kind of soldier is killing himself. While many suicide victims are indeed afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after facing heavy combat in the Middle East, many more have never even been deployed. Of the 112 guardsmen who committed suicide last year, more than half had never even left American soil.

"If you think you know the one thing that causes people to commit suicide, please let us know," Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli told the Army Times, "because we don't know what it is."

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

The World After 9/11 and Before 9/11 [Urdu]

امريکي صدر نے کيا کہا تھا

پرواز رحمانی

ایڈیٹر دعوت دہلی

امريکي صدر نے کيا کہا تھا؟    ستمبر2011/11 کو نيويارک کے ٹريڈ ٹاوروں پر فضائي حملوں کے فوراً بعد صدر جارج بش جونيئر نے اپنے پہلے ردعمل ميں دو جملے بڑے معني خيز کہے تھے ''يہ کروسيڈ ہے اور يہ جنگ طويل عرصے تک جاري رہے گي''۔ بش نے بعد ميں لفظ ''کروسيڈ'' کي ليپا پوتي تو کردي تھي، ليکن ''طويل جنگ'' کي وضاحت نہيں کرسکے تھے کہ آخر يہ لڑائي لمبے عرصے تک جاري کيوں رہے گي؟ کيا سوويت يونين کے بعد کوئي اور عسکري قوت امريکہ کے مقابلے پر آگئي ہے؟ بُش کے اس بيان کے ساتھ ہي امريکيوں نے، اور ان کي پيروي ميں باہر کي دنيا کے مبصرين نے تکرار کے ساتھ کہنا شروع کرديا تھا کہ ''اس واقعے نے صرف دنيا ہي کو نہيں، تاريخ کو بھي دو حصوں ميں تقسيم کرديا ہے۔ اب دنيا کے حالات کو ''قبل 11/9'' اور ''بعد 11/9'' کے حوالے سے جانا جائے گا''۔ (گويا ''قبل مسيح'' اور ''بعد مسيح'' کي جگہ يہ ٹرم استعمال کي جائے گي) يعني امريکي سياستدانوں اور ان کے ہم نوا عالمي مبصرين کے نزديک ''11/9''تاريخ انساني کا سب سے بڑا واقعہ قرار پائے گا۔ انھيں يقين ہے (يا انھوں نے فيصلہ کرليا ہے) کہ امريکہ پر يا کسي اور ملک پر اس سے بڑا فضائي حملہ، جس ميں تين ہزار افراد ہلاک ہوئے ہيں، اب کبھي نہيں ہوگا۔ ان مبصرين کے خيال ميں اس حملے کے بعد دنيا يکسر بدل گئي ہے۔ عقل سليم رکھنے والوں کا سوال اور يہ تبصرے گزشتہ دس برسوں کے دوران کسي نہ کسي صورت ميں جاري رہے۔ اس 11 ستمبر کو واقعے کي دسويں برسي کے موقع پر دنيا کو بہت بڑے پيمانے پر يہ سانحہ ياد دلايا گيا، حادثے کي ياد انسانوں کے ذہنوں ميں کچھ اس طرح تازہ کي گئي کہ گويا اس سے پہلے اتنا بڑا انساني سانحہ کبھي نہيں ہوا۔ نہ جنگ عظيم اول ہوئي نہ دوم۔ نہ جرمني ميں ہولوکاسٹ ہوا، نہ جاپان ميں ہيرو شيما ہوا، نہ عراق ہوا، نہ افغانستان ہوا حالات وواقعات پر عقلِ سليم سے غور کرنے والوں کے ذہن ميں يہ سوال قدرتي طور پر آتا ہے کہ آخر يہ دنيا کا سب سے بڑا  سانحہ کس پہلو سے ہے اور يہ کہ بش کي ''طويل جنگ'' کا مطلب کيا ہے  ليکن عقل سليم رکھنے والوں ميں بھي وہ انسان جو بيدار ضمير اور انصاف پسند واقع ہوئے ہيں، جو ظالموں اور طاقتوروں کي تاريخ سے واقف ہيں، صہيونيوں کے پروٹوکول کے مندرجات سے باخبر ہيں اور جو امريکہ کے چال چلن پر بھي نظر رکھتے ہيں، اِن اشاروںکا مطلب في الفور سمجھ گئے ہوں گے کہ يہ ايک خاص نظريۂ حيات اور اس کے ماننے والوں کے خلاف اعلانِ جنگ ہے اور وہ نظريۂ حيات ہے اسلام، جو ہرقسم کے ظلم، بے انصافي، قتل وغارت گري، فحاشي، عورتوں کے استحصال ، انساني عدم مساوات اور طاقت کے غلط استعمال کے خلاف ہے۔  '' 9/11'' کے مقاصد واضح تھے اور يوں يہ حقيقت بھي  اہل علم وعقل پر عياں ہوگئي کہ ''11/9'' کسي اور کا نہيں خود سي آئي اے اور صہيونيوں کا کام تھا، اوراس کا مقصد اسلام اور امت اسلام کے خلاف طويل جنگ کا جواز پيدا کرنا تھا۔ پھر بعد کے برسوں ميں يہ حقيقت عياں سے عياں تر ہوتي چلي گئي۔ پوري دنيا ميں اسلام اور مسلمانوں کي تصوير بگاڑنے کي منصوبہ بند مہم شروع ہوئي، سب سے بڑا الزام دہشت گردي کا لگا اور اس الزام کو درست ثابت کرنے کے لئے دنيابھر ميں تشدد کے ہلاکت خيز واقعات رونما کرائے گئے اور ذمے دار مسلمانوں کو قرار ديا گيا۔ اس مقصد کے لئے مختلف ناموں سے نئے نئے فرضي دہشت گرد گروپ کھڑے کئے گئے۔ اسلام کي ہرقدر کو مسخ کرکے اس کي الٹي تشريح انسانوں کے دہنوں ميں بٹھائي جانے لگي۔ چونکہ امريکہ  نے دھونس و دھاندلي سے خود کو واحد ''سوپر پاور'' کے مقام پر فائز کرليا ہے اس لئے دنيا کي متعددبے کردار اقوام اور مفادپرست ممالک اس کے تابع فرمان بن گئے بغير يہ سمجھے بوجھے کہ اسلامي  نظريۂ حيات کو بدنام کرکے امريکہ صرف امت مسلمہ کو ہي کمزور نہيں کرنا چاہتا، دنيا کے وسائل پرقبضہ بھي کرنا چاہتا ہے۔ دنيا کو عدم تحفظ کے احساس ميں مبتلا کرکے اپني ''سيکورٹي'' انڈسٹري کو فروغ دينا چاہتا ہے۔ اور اس طرح بُش کي ''طويل جنگ'' کا مفہوم پوري طرح واضح ہوگيا کہ سب کچھ پہلے سے طے تھا http://akhbaroafkar.com/detail.asp?aid=2196

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Steve Jobs Jobs Dies After Cancer Battle

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs has died at the age of 56, the company has announced.

Steve Jobs was behind Apple's series of iconic products
The Silicon Valley icon, who gave the world the iPod and the iPhone, had stepped down as chief executive of the world's largest technology corporation in August.

Mr Jobs, who underwent a liver transplant for pancreatic cancer in 2004, had served as Apple's chairman since that resignation.
His statement at the time said: "I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know.
"Unfortunately, that day has come. I hereby resign as CEO of Apple."
Mr Jobs founded Apple in 1976 along with Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
He had begun his third period of medical leave during a 14-year tenure as chief executive around 10 months ago.
Microsoft Corp co-founder and chairman Bill Gates led the tributes to Mr Jobs, his long-time friend and competitor Steve Jobs.
"For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour," Mr Gates said in a statement.
"I will miss Steve immensely."
"Insanely great" was of one of Mr Jobs' favorite expressions.

 

His death comes just one day after the launch of the new iPhone 4S model.

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Zulifqar Mirza Confirmed London Post Report & Imran Khan case in London 2007- Altaf Hussain wants Karachi "Independent State"

Zulifqar Mirza Confiremd The London Post Report & PTI Chairman Imran Khan's case in London 2007 against Altaf Hussain.

Saturday 06 August 2011

 

Altaf Hussain of MQM wants Karachi   "Independent State" By Special Correspondent  Altaf Hussain's demand of international intervention as well as invitation to India now and 48 hours ultimatum issued earlier is clear indication that heavily armed MQM-Altaf is looking for an armed conflict with the state institutions. Approximately 6000 people have been killed in Karachi since this democratic government took over in the name 'reconciliation with the killers and cons' in February 2008. MQM-Altaf terrorist and high value asset   Ajmal Pharee confessed to the JIT that: "he has received terrorist training in New Delhifrom five Indian Army officers. During this training he was informed about Altaf Hussain's desire to separate Karachi from Pakistan." Altaf Hussain has been calling ' Pakistan a blunder, asking India to give political asylum to him and his workers and recent wall chalking 'separate Mohajir Province ' is part of his designs. He is more than welcome to back to India and may as well do some work and claim his father's a job at Agra Railway Station  on the basis of kinship. Altaf Hussain is following the Indian policy of 'keep Karachi bleeding' in response to the indigenous struggle in Indian occupiedKashmir . Altaf Hussain's MQM and his mafia have caused more economic and human losses to Pakistan by strikes and terrorist activities than three wars with India and war on terror. If MQM only allowed peace to prevail in Karachi Pakistan would have been far richer in economically and militarily.
The impression that Altaf Hussain a British Citizen long distance leader of MQM is one of many illegitimate children created by Pakistani intelligence agencies can not be disputed under any circumstances? Can we say that those agencies which created him have no control over him anymore? If any one in GHQ and Pakistani establishment thinks he is a friend of Pakistan than they should update their notes. There is possibility that he might be blackmailing some people in the establishment with his secret recordings. What he probably does not know that how much his recordings are going to crop on the internet soon. This illegitimate child created is now become a 'Frankenstein Monster'. He told MJ Akbar of Asian Age that, 'I was not offered commission in the Pakistan Army because I was a Mohajir'.  More recently General Musharaf aka YK2 was a Mohajirs and no different than Altaf Hussain in harming Pakistan 's national interests? They both live in London and cowardly enough can't or won't go to Pakistan . According to a report by Naveed Miraj published in The Frontier Post states: Altaf Hussain's MQM issued a memo to his workers saying, "If there was war between India and Pakistan , MQM workers will be remain neutral". Why? The memo was issued during the 2002 tension between India and Pakistan . Though Altaf Hussain is not the only 'dirty egg' in the Indian basket but his affiliations and actions are more open and crude. Following the arrest and video confession of MQM-A terrorist Ajmal Pharee strengthened the notion that Altaf Hussian is following separatist        agenda. MQM and Altaf Hussain have close links with the Indian secret agency RAW as well as other players.  MQM- Altaf terrorist and Indian agent Ajmal Pharee confessed to the Joint Investigation Team of (ISI, IB, Military Intelligence, CID, Special Branch etc) that, "MQM-Altaf was behind the 'Asura Bombings of 2009' in Karachi. He confessed to the team that he and other MQM city workers were ordered to wear black Shia mourning clothes on the day in a meeting called three days before the Ashura bombings. The orders were to burn the shops and businesses in and around Light House as well as kill the people. The shop owners of that area refused to give extortion money to the MQM-Altaf. These burnings caused losses of billions to the poor Pakistanis and shop owners in Karachi ".  Mustafa Kamal billionaire - poor former mayor of Karachi become abusive when London Post report published on 31st December 2009, was quoted that, 'MQM was involved in Karachi bombings with black water', in a live program by famous anchor Talat Hussain. Faces of the looters were visible on CCTVs footages still available on youtube. This brave son of London "Edgware" sleeps in a multi million pound bunker with 24 hours CCTV cameras security and star trek type control room. He was preaching people of Karachi to sell their valuables and buy weapons and now he has asked them to do house shopping for a month'.  Why is he allowed to do these kinds of provocative speeches and live broadcasts from London ?  He has harmed Pakistan 's economy and caused losses worth billions of dollars. Those who allowed him to do the harms are equal partners in his crimes whoever they are. Ajmal Pharee also confessed murdering hundreds of innocent people as well as receiving training in India by Indian security agencies. In a video statement he said, "I joined MQM in 1988 arrested in 1989 for fire arms offences imprisoned for one year. He was arrested and sentenced for five years again in 2000 for murdering Iqbal Raad, lawyer of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He told the JIT that his handler Nadeem Nusrat is based in MQM – Altaf's London Secretariat and is inner circle man of Altaf Hussain. Ajmal Pharee told the JIT that, 'Nadeem Nusrat told him to escape from Pakistan to Singapore in 1996 with Zeshan a MQM worker'.  He stayed in the Mustafa Market Hotel on his instructions in Singapore , where he was        given Singapore Airline tickets and Indian visas by Jamil aka Jimi who lives in South Africa . They travelled to Delhi, stayed there for 15 days and later received terrorist training for one month in a near by jungle  by five Indian army officers. He also met other MQM-Altaf workers Noora of Shah Faiasl Colony, Zafar Tension of Buffer Zone, Raju of Nazim-a-Bad, Shakir Chota of Orangi Town . He received terrorist training of AK-47, RPG, MP-5 LMG, hand grenades. He was transported to India-Pakistan border inserted in from Chawanda area of Shakr Gurh ( Sialkot ) in Pakistan . They later went to Lahore and than Karachi ", said Ajmal Pharee in his confessions. See attached videos confessions of India trained MQM-A terrorist Ajmal Pharee
Watch the videos
Ajmal Pahari- Target Killer MQM	Target Killer Shahnawaz from MQM
On December 28, 2009, three thousand shops were burnt; one thousand were burnt after looting which caused loss of Rs. 60 billion to Pakistani economy. The question is why is he allowed to do this? MQM is systematically using violence to pressurize PPPP, which had tried to prop up MQM's rival Mohajir Qaumi Movement as counter weight in the political scenario but in vain. The weak and compromised PPPP government headed by Asif Zardari is probably now considering ending commissionary system in MQM dominated Karachi and Hyderabad . Security agencies have informed the government that MQM had instructed it sector level organization to target ethnic Pashtuns in the city and Pashtun businesses are specially being hit, said the sources. According to a communication sent to the federal government inIslamabad on 24th July 2011, MQM- Altaf was stirring ethnic violence in Karachi and had planned to continue bloodbath until its demands are met.  Both political and military leadership have to make a decision either to protect their personal interests' i.e. foreign bank accounts, properties abroad, green cards or Pakistan 's national interests before it is too late for both of them. Altaf Hussain exaggerates things beyond imagination. For example, he claimed his supporters in Karachi increased by 10 million in just two years because he claimed to have 20 million supporters in an interview with Edgware Times in November 1998. But in 2001 MQM claimed to have 30 million supporters when MQM send a fax to Reuters on 22 September 2001. "(MQM leader) Altaf Hussain has offered the unconditional support of over 30 million MQM supporters to the U.S. president and the international community," its London-based international secretariat said in a statement faxed to Reuters on September 22, 2001". Impression is growing fast in Pakistan that British Government has been quite lenient to the activities of Altaf Husasain and harbouring a terrorist who is responsible for the death and destruction of thousands and caused losses to the Pakistani economy. He is a British citizen and living in London tax free and should not be allowed to play with the British values, democracy and freedom.  Probably for that very reason Alistair Burt British Foreign Office Minister telephoned Governor of Sindh province of Pakistan on 3rdAugust 2011.  Foreign Office Minister for South Asia, said:  "This morning I spoke to the Governor of Sindh Dr. Khan to expressed my concern at the continuing violence and loss of life that Karachi has faced in recent weeks.  I encouraged the Governor in his ongoing strong personal engagement to restore law and order.  I warned that inflammatory statements from any political party risked making the situation worse and that all political leaders and their parties have a duty to refrain from inciting violence and to reduce tensions and restore calm.  I reiterated the view of Her Majesty's Government that the stability of Karachi is in the interests of all in Pakistan and the wider international community.  I said that peace and prosperity in Karachi was necessary to encourage further foreign direct investment which would be vital to Pakistan 's future economic growth and stability. "Our Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi , Francis Campbell, has met with representative of all main political parties in Karachi to encourage them to work towards stability in Karachi and the wider region.  I have asked my officials to reiterate these points directly with the leadership of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and to discuss our concerns."  Straggly enough until November 1998 Government of Pakistan was reportedly seeking extradition of Altaf Hussain who was said to be wanted in 50 murders and 150 cases of kidnapping and arson. The question is how come Altaf Hussain got the British Citizenship when HM Government refused UK Citizenship to billionaire Mohammad Al-Fayed on the grounds that he does not have 'good moral character' required to be British? It is time to say enough is enough to this psychopath sitting in London who is suffering from Histrionic Personality Disorder according to a British mental health specialist. Following definition match his personality. "Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) is defined by the American Psychiatric Association as        a personality disordercharacterized by a pattern of excessive emotionality and attention-seeking, including an excessive need for approval and inappropriately seductive behavior, usually beginning in early adulthood. These individuals are lively, dramatic, vivacious, enthusiastic, and flirtatious. They may be inappropriately sexually provocative, express strong emotions with an impressionistic style, and be easily influenced by others. Associated features may include egocentrism, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs …. HPD may affect a person's social or romanticrelationships or their ability to cope with losses or failures." As far as dealing with the MQM terrorism is concerned an intelligence lead police operation is enough and there is no need to drag armed force into it. Surely Altaf Hussain wants to drag the        army so he could go to UN and ask for peace keeping force in Karachi . He is exporting terrorism to Pakistan by making long provocative speeches from London it is the responsibility of British Government to issue gagging orders against him to save lives.   If Altaf Hussain is brave enough and wishes to do Pakistani politics he may as well go to Pakistan and do whatever he likes. British soil should be allowed to be use for harboring terrorists and exporting of terrorism to Pakistan ? editor@thelondonpost.net

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Wikileaks: India's Mayawati 'sent jet to collect shoes'

Ms Mayawati has sparked controversy for building statues of herself

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The chief minister of India's Uttar Pradesh state sent an empty private jet to get a pair of sandals from Mumbai, leaked US diplomatic cables say.

Ms Mayawati, an icon to millions of low-caste Dalits, rules over India's most populous state which is also one of the poorest in the country.

But the cables on whistleblower site Wikileaks described her as "obsessed with becoming Prime Minister".

Ms Mayawati or her office is yet to respond to the leaked cables.

An official in the state government told the BBC the government was unlikely to respond.

Cables, dated 23 October 2008 and marked confidential, are among the latest set of documents released by Wikileaks in recent days.

"When she needed new sandals, her private jet flew empty to Mumbai to retrieve her preferred brand," the cables say.

More details at http://www.bbc.co.uk

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Indian airforce's biggest enemy - IAF fighter pilots!!!! - a landmark achievement

The indian airforce is the biggest enemy of its own. It has set a record that no other airforce in the word can easily break. In the last 40 years it has crossed the landmark of crashing its 1000'th plane. It is some record!!!! One can blame the older planes and non-availability of spares for some of the crashes, but according to their own investigations nearly 40% of these crashes are due to pilot error and many cases are still under investigation. The list of crashes include 2 Sukhoi SU-30MK1 aircrafts and Mig-29s. I am wondering what the state of affairs be when indians will start getting more of these modern aircrafts..., when the cannot even fly the Mig-21s....

http://www.brahmand.com/news/1000-aircraft-lost-by-IAF-in-crashes-since-70s/7684/1/14.html

Indian efforts to produce its own aircraft has become a shame for their production facilities. It has been more than 3 decades and they are still struggling to induct their LCAs ... and now their new definition of 'indigenous' is 'anything that you can get hold of from any country wishing to export'. Now they are involving many foreign companies to help them fly it, that includes engines, and much more...by the time it is ready to fly in the airforce it would be an obsolete frame, with costs higher than the F-16s.... They are also planning to buy the famous 126 planes and short-listed eurofighter and french rafael ...the irony is, it will drain india its $20-30 billion dollars, and they will get a plane of the 90s, with no  AESA radar, planes for which Pakistan is already fine tuning its JF-17s Block II and the J-10s....the most cost effective planes in the world equipped with AESA radars.....and our military and Chinese are to be saluted for these low-cost, high quality achievements...!!!!!!

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Top Headlines - Steve Jobs Hot in News

Powered by  +  Information Technology and Services Steve Jobs & The Sound of Silence - gigaom.com Like many of my colleagues in Silicon Valley, I was having a fantastic day. It is crisp in the shade, warm in the sun. The skies are a magical blue with puffy clouds floating like dreams. And when all seemed to be going well,... 372 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share Steve Jobs: The End Of An Era - techcrunch.com We all know the broad strokes: a boy is born to an graduate student and her Syrian boyfriend. She puts the boy up for adoption. He comes to live with Paul and Clara. Paul is a machinist who moved to San Francisco after WWII. He... 555 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share Steve Jobs's Best Quotes - blogs.wsj.com Although Steve Jobs's tenure as Apple CEO will be remembered for ushering in fundamental changes in the way people interact with technology, he is also known for his salesmanship and his ability to turn a phrase. 618 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share

Computer Software Steve Jobs's Best Quotes - blogs.wsj.com Although Steve Jobs's tenure as Apple CEO will be remembered for ushering in fundamental changes in the way people interact with technology, he is also known for his salesmanship and his ability to turn a phrase. 622 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share Steve Jobs: The End Of An Era - techcrunch.com We all know the broad strokes: a boy is born to an graduate student and her Syrian boyfriend. She puts the boy up for adoption. He comes to live with Paul and Clara. Paul is a machinist who moved to San Francisco after WWII. He... 556 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share RPM software company Eloqua files $100M IPO - venturebeat.com Revenue performance management (RPM) software company Eloqua Limited Wednesday filed an initial public offering estimated at $100 million. Eloqua's RPM software solution is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform that provides... 36 shares  •  Read full story  •  Share

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Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com

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Drones Direct Hit Upon Rule of Law

By Rep. Dennis Kucinich 

August 18, 2011 "NewsWire"

 - -A recent report released by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates that at least 2,292 people have been killed by U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004. The Bureau estimates that of that number, over 350 are civilians. A July 2009 Brookings Institution report stated ten civilians die for every one suspected militant from U.S. drone strikes. Yet another study by the New American Foundation concluded that out of 114 drone attacks in Pakistan, at least 32% of those killed by the strikes were civilians.

President Obama has greatly expanded the use of drones over the past several years, authorizing more drone strikes during his first fifteen months in office than President Bush did during the entirety of his eight years in office. In addition to the use of drones in Pakistan, the Administration has authorized strikes in Yemen and Somalia. The increasing reliance on drones and the lack of recourse for the families of innocent civilians that are killed by such strikes demonstrate the impunity with which the U.S. uses this technology.

Challenging the legality of drone strikes in Pakistan and calling to light their indiscriminate nature is vital to prevent a dangerous precedent from being set that would allow international law and the laws of war to be stretched to justify strikes elsewhere. The legal justification for their use in Pakistan can and will be used to justify their use in other countries. Under this legal framework, the battlefield could be stretched to include anywhere in the world.

Drone attacks can only serve to undermine our moral standing in the world, and foment anger and resentment toward the United States. We have spent years in Afghanistan and Iraq under the guise of nurturing democracy and the rule of law while at the same time, our use of unmanned drones severely undermines the rule of law.

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Letter to Editor - Karachi Under Army

LETTER TO EDITOR

August 20^th, 2011

 

Karachiunder Army

 

A lot is being said and written for and against calling the army for restoring law and order in Karachi. I am for it.  To my mind de-weaponisation of Karachi is the only answer to stop this wanton killing.  No weapons no killing. There is such a huge number of weapons there that it will not be an easy task to get them all back. I would, therefore, suggest the following sequence of action for the army to collect the weapons:

 

1. Impose curfew in the suspected/dangerous areas, completely sealing them off from the rest of the city by shooting at sight to restrict the movement and taking away/shifting of the weapons to other localities.  Strict vigilance be kept that no weapons are sneaked away to other localities during the 'relaxation' time of the curfew. 
2. Allow three days for all to deposit the weapons in the nearest Police Station with proper record of the surrendered weapons maintained under the supervision of army officers. Police cannot be trusted with this responsibility for obvious reasons.  Extensive publicity by all media radio, TV, newspapers, posters and dropping of leaflets, loud speakers etc. be given that no harm will come to those who surrender the licensed or unlicensed  weapons but any one found with a weapon after three days will be killed with the same weapon.

 

Not all will deposit their weapons. I bet.

 

1. After three days house to house search under strict curfew be carried out. There are bound to be a quite a few culprits hiding weapons. Take  three or four of them and shoot them with their own weapons within the seeing and hearing of others. Thereafter, publicise the shooting widely with all means of publicity. Human Rightists, please hold your horses.

 

1. Give them another period of three 'grace' days to surrender their weapons once again, making it quite clear to them that this shall be the FINAL warning and ALL those failing to deposit the weapons hereafter SHALL meet the same fate. 

 

ALL weapons will be surrendered. Again I bet it

 

The entire Karachi will be clean of weapons in a matter of week or so. Now, great care must be taken that no new weapons find their way into Karachi again. There are only a few and known 'in roads' and 'passages' for the smuggling in of such weapons and the police and others know them. The respective Police in charge of the area must be MOST severely and mercilessly dealt with if any firing takes place in his area of responsibility.

 

Recall the army back to barracks IMMEDIATELY on completion of their task.

 

Give me the force and free hand, I volunteer to undertake this task.  And, if I fail, I should be guillotined in the city square.

 

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
30 Westridge 1
Rawalpindi 46000
Pakistan
Tel: (051) 5158033
E.mail: jafri@rifiela.com

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/

Pakistan TV Report Contradicts US Claim of Bin Laden’s Death

By Paul Craig Roberts

August 06, 2011 

-- In my recent article, "Creating Evidence Where There Is None," about the alleged killing of Osama bin Laden by a commando team of US Seals in Abbottabad, Pakistan, I provided a link to a Pakistani National TV interview with Muhammad Bashir, who lives next door to the alleged "compound" of Osama bin Laden. I described the story that Bashir gave of the "attack" and its enormous difference from the one told by the US government. In Bashair's account, every member of the landing party and anyone brought from the house died when the helicopter exploded on lift-off. I wrote that a qualified person could easily provide a translation of the interview, but that no American print or TV news organization had investigated Bashir's account.

An attorney with a British Master of Laws degree in international law and diplomacy, who was born in Pakistan, provided the translation below. He writes: "I have no problem with being identified as the translator, but would prefer to remain anonymous." 

The translator provides these definitions and clarifications:

"Gulley" is generally referred (in Urdu) to a sidewalk or pavement. Also for the space between two houses.

"kanal" is a traditional unit of land area, so that one kanal equals exactly 605 square yards or 1/8 Acre; this is equivalent to about 505.857 square meters.

Muhammad Bashir refers to himself as "We". This is common respectable language for the self; to use the plural term instead of singular. The English language equivalent would be the "Royal, We".

Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan.

                                    http://youtu.be/h0vo-L3VACs

I have tried my best to keep words in a chronological order, but in some cases this is not possible, as in translation words must be replaced in reverse order to make sense! However, I have had to put a few words in brackets to clarify meaning. If you want to ask about any section - please supply time stamp and I will supply a contextual text.


Video Transcript:

welcome back! - Muhammad Bashir, Abotabad Area, Bilal Town resident, Looks like an ordinary person, but he is no ordinary person! Muhammad Bashir, lives in  Abotabad's, Bilal Town Opposite Bin Laden's House.

Night of 2nd May Muhammad Bashir was on the roof of his house, whereupon, the entire OBL, American operation was seen with his own eyes. 

Last night, when our team was in Abotabad, Bilal Town, near OBL house, Muhammad Bashir approached me and said that:
"Sister, I want to tell you something that is a great burden on my heart and conscience" - Listen to what he said:

00:59 Muhammad Bashir: I.. today... would like to comment about todays Abotabad operation events, until now, what I am about to say, no person has said.

01:08: Reporter: But, Muhammad Bashir sahib appeared frightened. While speaking to me, Muhammad Bashir sahib phoned his 
relative; leader, M.E.A. of Jamaat-e-islami, Abotabad, Abdul Razaq Abaasi on the phone.

01:21: reporter: Tell me your name and where do you live?
Muhammad Bashir: - One minute, first I need to speak to him...I am going to give an interview, a complete interview. Shall I give a 
complete interview or half?
Reporter: Complete! - complete!
Muhammad Bashir: I first need to phone him, I need to speak to him
Reporter: I could of...

01:39: Reporter: Muhammad Bashir sahib, on that night's events of the American operation, that took place, he expressed such comments about circumstances that have never been expressed before, therefore, we checked his ID card, his place of residence and we can confirm that he definitely lives there and we also approached senior politicians and asked about him, after hearing his comments, we were amazed - now you watch what he said.

01:57: Muhammad Bashir: The events that happened are thus; we were awake, we were not asleep.
02:00: Muhammad Bashir: a Helicopter came, and circled and dropped some people there.
02:07: Muhammad Bashir: in that house... where they are saying; Osama lives here, on that house's roof, they dropped people, after that, the helicopter returned and went back.
02:16: Reporter: How many people were they?
02:18: Muhammad Bashir: They were ten, twelve people
02:20: Muhammad Bashir: After that it left and for approximately 20 minutes, there behind us, on those mountains, it kept going around, the top of the mountains.
02:27: After 20 minutes, it returned. When it returned, at that time there were TWO more helicopters arrived. One came 
from the West and one came from the North. When it approached for landing, after that...

At this point;Video cut and resumed:

02:41: Muhammad Bashir: that helicopter, there was an explosion within it and there was fire within it, immediately, we 
came out and arrived there. When we arrived, the helicopter was on fire, it was burning. After that, about twenty 
minutes later the Army arrived, the police arrived. They moved all of us back...
03:04: Muhammad Bashir: ...and all the people inside it, all of them...we think; if Osama was inside it, or inside this house - then who took him to the Americans?
03:16: Muhammad Bashir: Because America...the helicopters that America is saying; IT carried out the operation. If 
America did this operation and it's army came and it's helicopter came, then that helicopter that came from the 
American's, within that, all the people that came, those people with the explosion were finished, got destroyed!
03:35: Muhammad Bashir: Within it, there was fire, those people, all of them died!
03:39: and if Osama was there, they would have put him in the helicopter. Obviously, if the helicopter caught fire, 
Osama could have died there. If their own people were gone, (dead) so could have Osama. After that, the fallen helicopter was 
destroyed after this, how can Osama be, with them in America? this is a strange thing!

Video cut & resumes
03:59: Muhammad Bashir: They are saying we killed Osama here. After that, they picked him up and took him away.
04:04: Muhammad Bashir: PICKED HIM UP AND TOOK HIM AWAY - how did they do this? This, what we are thinking!
04:07: Muhammad Bashir: The Americans' helicopter that came, that fell here and got destroyed!
04:09: Reporter: There was only ONE helicopter?
04:11: Muhammad Bashir: ONE helicopter landed down here, the second helicopter came from above and went towards Mansera.
It did not land. No second helicopter landed!
04:20: Only ONE helicopter, that first dropped it's passengers, the SAME returned to pick the people and there was an 
explosion within it.
04:27: Reporter: People were inside it?
04:29: Muhammad Bashir: People were inside it!
04:30: Reporter: How do you know this?
04:32: Muhammad Bashir: These people, we seen them all
04:34: Reporter: In the helicopter... you saw dead people?
04:36: Muhammad Bashir: We saw dead people!
04:38: Reporter:How many people?
04:39: Muhammad Bashir: This, we could not count, within the compound there was fire.
04:43: Muhammad Bashir: and we... the gate was open, we entered the gate, at that time the Army had not arrived.
04:48: Muhammad Bashir: Police had not arrived. Some people from the agencies, were present, but they did not prevent 
anybody, they kept entering, every person was looking , now, nobody is saying, but everyone from the mohalla (neighbourhood) and all the people present from the mohalla arrived first. We saw the gate open, we entered inside, 
saw the burning helicopter, the people inside were dead. After that everything was lifted. Now, there is nothing there!
05:16: Reporter: How many dead bodies did you see?
05:18: Muhammad Bashir: Look, you cannot count, the dead bodies were in pieces everything else was broken pieces, some 
here, some there, some broken, some half, some like this.
05:27: Reporter: Tell me fully - what happened?
06:30: Reporter: Tell me the full events
05:31: Muhammad Bashir: I told you, this is...
05:32: Reporter: You did not...I cannot believe this, that's why.
05:36: Muhammad Bashir: Look, what I have said - that's it!

Video Cut!
05:39: Reporter: When you saw the American craft, (Helicopter) what did you think, why they came here?
05:42: Muhammad Bashir: We thought... this is it...why did they came? we thought why did they come? maybe..we... did not 
expect them to do anything, we thought maybe our Army is arriving at some centre and the army people were sleeping, 
there was no explosions or events taking place, nothing was happening, everybody was sleeping, for 20 minutes or so...
06:05: Reporter: The craft landed in front of your house, how did you feel about this?
06:08: Muhammad Bashir: I thought..just...understand...imagine..we thought we're dead!

Video cut:
06:13: Reporter: But, how did the Americans return?
06:16: Muhammad Bashir: This is what I am saying; their Craft came and the helicopter was destroyed, HOW, could they return?
06:22: Reporter: Tell me this; you say, that you saw the dead bodies yourself....
06:25: Muhammad Bashir: one more thing, Madam, may I tell you;The people who were dropped from the craft, That walkway ... that 
..where our gates are...they banged them hard...and shouted... don't come out...don't do this, don't do that, if you come 
out you will be shot..we will do this, we will do that, all the people who were dropped, all of them spoke Pashtu
(Afgahni Language) - Pakhtun!
06:49: Reporter: Who were these people?
06:49: Muhammad Bashir: This I do not know! Those who were dropped from the craft (helicopter), those people.
06:54: Reporter: This, somebody else told me - that they spoke Pashtu.
06:57: Muhammad Bashir: They WERE Pashtun! we do not know if they were working for the Americans, we do not know if they 
were working for Pakistan, we do not know if they were army people or civilian, what people, BUT they SPOKE PASHTU!
07:07: Reporter: You said you heard they were asking for Osama?
07:09: Muhammad Bashir: No, they didn't ask me about Osama, they just said, do not come out, if you come out from your 
house, we will shoot you!
07:16: Reporter: Were these Pakistani people?
Muhammad Bashir: who?
07:18: Reporter: The ones who were saying that if you come out, we will shoot you.
07:20: Muhammad Bashir: They said that in Pashtu!
07:22: Reporter: so did they..were you coming out...exactly where were you, where was you standing when this happened?
07:26: Muhammad Bashir: Inside the house, on top of the roof, I was not in the house, just on top of the (flat)roof
07:29: Reporter: from Above the roof these people in the helicopter...
07:30: Muhammad Bashir: I was on the roof, sitting, no, lying down, on the roof,lying and watching this and what was 
happening
07:37: Reporter: Fear, was you not afraid? did you not think to phone someone?
07:40: Muhammad Bashir: From the house, They were calling me from downstairs, the children were calling me, come down, 
come down, and I told them stop making noise! go into your rooms, I am watching what is happening. Afterwards, I found 
out about this, that, Osama was killed here!
07:53: Reporter: How did you get inside? (the compound)
Muhammad Bashir: where?
Reporter: when there was fire.
Muhammad Bashir: the gate was open, when there was fire, the gate was open.
08:02: Reporter: The house gate was open?
08:03: Muhammad Bashir: The outer gate, the big gate, was open.
08:06: Reporter: You came from upstairs to downstairs?
08:08: Muhammad Bashir: I came down, from my own house into the gulley, I didn't go alone inside the other house, 200 other people went inside! Everybody saw it!
08:15: Reporter: All 200 saw the dead bodies?
08:17: Muhammad Bashir: Everybody saw this.Whoever went inside they saw everything!
08:20: Reporting:the events at that time that are in your mind, please express them.
08:28: Muhammad Bashir: I have told you this and this, in my mind, this is what I have seen, when we were there, when we 
entered the gate, When the helicopter exploded, it scattered everywhere, one piece fell over there, one fell here, one 
here, a lot of pieces fell in the gulley outside, they reached up to the gulley and our house and also some pieces managed to reach onto my roof. so, the area of the open space there (in front of the house) is about four Kanal in 
size. It is a very large compound. You cannot see all of it from one location. Four  Kanal is a big area, only in a small area you could possibly see everything. There I saw some people, in broken pieces, someone's leg, someone's arm, 
someone's torso, someone's head. Beside this, I did not see intensely, who are they, how are they, because I thought that one of our own craft had fallen and the people within it were our own people. Because they spoke Pashtu they could be pakistani.
09:35: Muhammad Bashir: but language does not necessarily mean.. by speaking it...the American language could be spoken, the agents can speak all sorts of languages. It could be that it is the American army and they could speak Pashtu and the people would think that it is our own people.
09:54: Reporter: Seeing the dead bodies - did you not feel fear?
09:57: Muhammad Bashir: But we were thinking about ourselves at the time, but seeing the dead bodies who felt frightened?
10:00: Reporter: When you went inside, what did you do after that, how did you come out?
10:02: Muhammad Bashir: we came out, our Army reached there, when the army arrived, they moved all the people back. Move 
aside, move aside! So we moved aside.Then they closed the area down.
10:13: Reporter: did Rais see this?
Muhammad Bashir: What?
Reporter: where was your cousin?
10:18: Muhammad Bashir: My cousin was at that time in the house.
10:20: Reporter: Did he go with you?
10:21: Muhammad Bashir: He was with me, but I did not notice when he was picked up.
10:28: Reporter: Has he returned yet?
10:29: Muhammad Bashir: Yes, he has returned. They picked him up and took him away.
10:32: Reporter: What is he saying?
10:34:Muhammad Bashir: I have not met him yet, he is at home they will not let him come out, we are not allowed to visit him, they will not let him come out.We have not met.
10:40: Reporter: You was not able find out, but since when have you been allowed out.
10:45: Muhammad Bashir: I did not go home, by going home...
Reporter:You have seen the fire you have seen the bodies how long did you stay there?
Muhammad Bashir: approximately, after five or six minutes, I left and came out..five, six minute..what happened .... the reason we left, was that after we entered, there was another small explosion, I do not know if the engine fail and 
there was another fire, it was a small explosion, after this explosion all the people ran out.
11:06: Muhammad Bashir: when we went out, nobody let us go back in again.
11:11: Reporter: Besides you, why is nobody else saying these things? why are you alone in this?
11:16: Muhammad Bashir: Look, what we have seen, that is what we are saying and we are speaking for this reason that, we are sad that such humble and nice people of our town, that has never seen such events, no fighting, no arguments, no animosity, No murders, such nice people of ours in this town and they have been branded as terrorists.
11:43: Reporter: Tell me; two helicopters came, lifted and took the rest of the people?
11:46:Muhammad Bashir: No - they did not take the rest of the people, because they did not even land, One came from the West and it left towards the North, the one that came from the North, left towards the South. They did not land!


12:00: Studio Reporter: these events that we showed you from Abotabad, there are many more things that we discovered about the compound where OBL was staying, there were vegetables planted there, what kind of vegetables, the person who grows the vegetables is the cousin of this person (Muhammad Bashir), whose interview we have shown. An extraordinary 
thing that he has said and he has sworn repeatedly on the veracity of his statement. this is from his own account and upon this account do view this. Yesterday we found out and it has been confirmed that there were two Ashfaq's who lived there (in the compound):Mr Arshad and Mr Tariq who went shopping locally and used to buy international brands, the items they found in the house, dry dates, dried meat and things like this, this person who you saw in the 
interview in his house there was food from OBL's house, he was given Kaabli Pillau (Rice) and such items were presented to him, There the view of local mosque people, what they think of OBL all these things we will present to 
you in an exclusive program an important newsbeat, todays time is finishing, do write to us at newsbeat@samaa.tv where you can get other information as well and you can join us at newsbeat with Fareeha Idrees thats my favourite bit, do 
write to us, the time is up now, By your permission to leave, take care of yourself, In Allah's care.

13:20: Reporter: I am now at standing in front of Abdullah Bin Zubair Mosque, this is the same mosque that is within walking distance from OBL's house. Are you saying that if people found out that OBL was living here, would they be happy?
1st man: Possibly, people could be happy.
2nd man: He wasn't living here, but he was a Muslim, he believed in Allah.

End of translation

Anyone fluent in Urdu who wishes to dispute the translation should do so.

I asked the translator if he might contact the Pakistani news organization and inquire if the reporters had further investigated Bashir's story. He replied that he could do so, but exactly 24 hours later "for some unknown reason" the news organization started to discredit Bashir by connecting "him to his cousin, who is accused of receiving foodstuffs from the household of OBL." 

Bashir's cousin is the person who, according to the reporter (see 12:00 time line) had a vegetable garden inside the wall of the alleged bin Laden compound. Is it likely that with a hunted and dangerous person hiding within, locals would be permitted to have vegetable gardens inside the compound? The cousin's vegetable garden obviously had to be redefined as "receiving foodstuffs from OBL."

The translator offers his view on the 13:20 timeline:

"The final seconds of the video clip contain random people to generate and show some kind of sympathy with OBL in the district.

"It would be very difficult to find people in Pakistan who sympathise with OBL or the Taliban. The only people who do sympathise are the poor illiterate people who do not know about the religion and can easily be convinced of a distorted version of Islam.
Therefore, the closing part of the video contains, out of context expressions:

"1st man: Possibly, people could be happy. (Meaning it is possible that SOME people could be happy.)
2nd man: He wasn't living here, but he was a Muslim, he believed in Allah. (Meaning; he claimed to be Muslim, so he must have believed in Allah.)

"Therefore, it seems that although initially, the TV station was overjoyed with this interview, they changed their tune, twenty four hours later. (for some unknown reason.)"

Readers can arrive at their own conclusions. It seems clear that under intense pressure and serious threats from the US government, the Pakistani government fell in line with the US government's claim that a commando raid had killed bin Laden and all had returned safely, and that the TV news organization also got the message to get in line.

It is likely that the many witnesses who observed the dead from the helicopter crash have been warned to keep quiet. However, a news organization, should one be so inclined, could certainly interview Bashir and the 200 others who saw the dead bodies. A good reporter, perhaps accompanied by trained psychologists, would be able to tell if people were lying out of fear and encourage some to speak anonymously. 

I am confident that no news organization believes that it could confront such an important US national myth in this way. The killing of bin Laden satisfies the emotional need for revenge and justice. In the least, a news organization that challenged the government's story would be cut off from all government sources and be denounced by politicians and a large percentage of the US population as an anti-American terrorist-serving organization.

OBL's death will remain one of those many "truths" that rest on nothing but the government's word.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was appointed by President Reagan Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and confirmed by the US Senate. He was Associate Editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal, and he served on the personal staffs of Representative Jack Kemp and Senator Orrin Hatch. He was staff associate of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, staff associate of the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, and Chief Economist, Republican Staff, House Budget Committee. He wrote the Kemp-Roth tax rate reduction bill, and was a leader in the supply-side revolution. He was professor of economics in six universities, and is the author of numerous books and scholarly contributions. He has testified before committees of Congress on 30 occasions.

--
Shahzad Afzal
http://www.pakistanprobe.com/