Adil Najam
By now everyone has probably seen and commented already on U.S. President Barack Obama’s interview with Dawn’s Anwar Iqbal. But I thought this ‘uncut’ version of the interview is actually more interesting than the edited version (or clips) that we have seen.It tells us much more about how he personally feels about Pakistan – something that we had written about in depth here at ATP during his campaign.
I have known Anwar Iqbal ever since I was in high school (9th grade) in Islamabad and would sometimes write on sports (especially cricket statistics) and occasional ‘City Diaries’ for The Muslim and Anwar was a reporter on the city desk working with the legandary Ahmad Hassan saab (in many ways this blog’s design is an outgrowth of those City Diaries). He – and cartoonist Fieca, photographer B.K. Bangash, and later editors Mushahid Hussain and Maleeha Lodhi – were amongst the many at The Muslim who were immensely kind to me (then a schoolboy). I say all of this because Anwar is a dear friend and it was good to see him nab this interview.
Of course, most of us have also seen Jon Stewart’s funny take on the interview and of President Obama’s interst in Urdu and Pakistan. That, after all, is what Jon Stewart does and does better than anyone else, so one cannot fault the funny man for being funny.
There is much that I would have like President Obama to do (on Pakistan) that he has not done. I hope he eventually will. There is even more that I wish he would not do and stop doing (e.g., drone attacks). I hope he will soon stop. Frankly, I would much rather have someone in the White House who has a genuine affection for Pakistan, than someone who does not. I am not naieve enough to believe that personal affection will immediately translate to better policy. But it is much more likely to eventually do so thana lack of such affection!
Thanks for posting the uncut video clips.The quality of the interviewer Anwar Iqbal however was not up to the mark.
Thank you so much for the video clips.
Isn’t it a breath of fresh air to have an articulate, intelligent, and erudite person as the President of the United States? I mean wasn’t G.W. Bush the absolute worst a great meritocracy (ok–within limits) could offer to America and the world? How was Bush presidency even possible?!! What were Americans thinking? And are we going to have a Palin-Jeb Bush ticket in 2012?! ‘How low can you go?’ as a song says.
Of course Obama is following American interests–Republican thuggery’s contrary views notwithstanding–but I think he is trying to undo some of the damage done by the Bush presidency and so he is willing to ‘listen’ and ‘engage’.
Go Obama Go!
Obama is certainly the great communicator. But I wish the interviewer had asked tougher questions and done better on his interview.
I had heard about this but missed seeing it. Good you put it here.
I think it is a very good interview. I also dont like the drone policy he is following but Obama is a good man. I hope he remains good.
Love the Jon Steward clip. Very very funny. Even though it is harsh on Urdu :-)