Adil Najam
Let me start with my own ‘WikiLeak moment.’ I have been wanting to write about the whole WikiLeak saga and how we Pakistanis have been reacting to it. However, I have still not figured out what there is to say about it. I am clearly in a minority (maybe even a minority of one) on this one since everyone seems to have nothing else to talk about except WikiLeaks: All WikiLeaks all the time seems to be the roller coaster that Pakistan is on right now.
Hence this post. To ask our readers what in the WikiLeaks, or about the WikiLeaks, has surprised them the most. As for me, maybe I have become too cynical myself, but there is nothing in or about WikiLeaks that has really surprised or stunned me. At least , not yet.
Of course, there is much to chatter about for the chattering classes in the WikiLeaks. For a nation that seems to run on talking points, there is talking points a plenty. But to what avail and for what point. That I do not know. And that is what I seek to learn from you, dear readers.
Maybe the surprise is that there still are many who seem (or feign) surprise at finding that Americans wish to influence other countries in pursuit of their own national interests, or that our own leaders seem interested only in their own personal interests. That our leaders are bent on bad-mouthing each other with gusto and seek favors of Americans who they seem to think are the arbiters of their own political fate should also not be a surprise to anyone who has ever seen a Pakistani talk show, least of all to the anchors of those shows. Yet, our perennially incensed anchors seem to be particularly incensed about this very non-surprise.
Maybe one surprise is that we have, as yet, not heard anything about what these memos say about what our media stars have been saying to the Americans. I suspect, that too shall come. Of course, reading about what other countries think of Pakistan and of our leaders is embarrassing, but I cannot imagine that it is truly surprising either. That too many will spin, twist and even lie about what is or is not in WikiLeaks is sometimes irksome, but frankly we have seen lies so much more blatant that these little skirmishes with the truth seem rather trivial. Sure enough, WikiLeaks can confirm that which we had already suspected. But in this case they seem to circumstantially confirm all, and sometimes smack opposite, conspiracy theories. No matter what you believe, you can – and will – claim that WikiLeaks has confirmed that exact view.
So, here I am wondering what I should write about. What is there in these WikiLeaks that is truly news, surprising, or even just insightful? What have we learnt that we really did not know before? And what might we learn from this little tsunami in a tea-cup, if indeed we were ever in a mood to learn anything? Do help me, dear readers, to help figure this one out.
Hi Adil,
Not sure if you actually see the comments section. But anyway, quite a few people say that there’s nothing surprising or particularly important in the Wikileaks. I agree with the latter, but as a naive college kid probably not the former.
1) I find it disturbing that Slovenia are ready to house a Gitmo inmate for a meeting with President Obama. Its highly disturbing to see foreign policy being conducted in this manner (btw, I have a lot of respect for Obama).
2) The Arab countries asking US to bomb Iran. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not stupid. Everyone knows the Arab elites are a bunch of hypocrites, and don’t like Iran (shias). But actually calling for the US to bomb will have major destabilizing effects in the region. Unless the Arab leaders knew that the US would never take their advice seriously (maybe true, but its quite a bluff), they were acting extremely recklessly.
3) That Fazal ur Rehman wanted to be PM. He’s retarded if he thinks he has a shot. But more seriously, the extent of US meddling in the internal Pakistani politics. Maybe someone like you had a good idea of this happening. We all know that the US plays some role in our domestic politic. But I’m shocked at how directly (instead of through Saudi) they are running our show. A few months ago there were reports that Musharraf quit because he lost army support. I get the impression that the US is running our politics through the army. Speaking of which, how does it have such influence on our army leadership? Surely its not only military aid. And if it does have this influence, can’t it stop ISI from doing all it does (not if that’s where they have drawn the line. But don’t India, and to a lesser extent Afghanistan, have something to say about it?).
Also wanted to make the obvious point. Just because something is in wikileaks doesn’t mean its true. It means that is what was reported. Most of the things would be reliable pieces of information, though some don’t seem right (China willing to see North Korea fall).
I am extremely disheartened by many of the findings (rather confirmations) since the leaks. Wish the world was a nicer place.
About Pakistan: We can’t run our own country, but we have to do all sorts of stupid things abroad. I’d prefer to be invaded by India and lack strategic depth, rather than die of hunger, lack of clean drinking water and living a life of fear.
WikiLeaks have just endorsed what we already knew. No surprise for me.
@Owaish: kia yaad kara dia.. Hakumat Aapa, Shafiq-ur-Rehman…those kinda books are no longer written :(
What surprised me was how little difference there is in behavior of civil and military leaders.
Nothing has stunned me much. reminds me of a shafiq-ur-rehman character ‘Hukoomat aapa’ who used to say “mujhe to pehle hi pata tha…”
No surprise. But what great fun!