Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tariq Ali on The History of Pakistan.
"Harry Kreisler welcomes writer and journalist Tariq Ali for a discussion of Pakistan and its relations with the United States. He places the present crisis in its historical context exploring the origins of the Pakistani state, the failure to forge a national identity, the inability and unwillingness of Pakistani leaders to address the country's poverty and inequality, and the role of the military in the country's spiral toward violence and disunity. Tariq Ali highlights the significance of the U.S. relationship throughout Pakistan's history and analyzes current US policy and its implications for stability in the region."
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Incitement to Murder
Given the Tucson assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords by Jared Lee Loughner, we should all be aware that political discourse tinged with violent innuendo and subtle suggestions have consequences. In the case of Julian Assange many U.S. commentators have openly called for his assassination. This site here catalogues many individuals who have called for, or suggested, violence against Assange (sourced) and it makes for an interesting read.
Here’s a couple of the quotes:
“"A dead man can't leak stuff...This guy's a traitor, he's treasonous, and he has broken every law of the United States. And I'm not for the death penalty, so...there's only one way to do it: illegally shoot the son of a bitch." – Bob Beckel.
"Julian Assange is a cyber terrorist in wartime, he's guilty of sabotage, espionage, crimes against humanity -- he should be killed, but we won't do that." – Ralph Peters.
"Why can't we act forcefully against WikiLeaks? Why can't we use our various assets to harass, snatch or neutralize Julian Assange and his collaborators, wherever they are?" - William Kristol
I wonder: who should be prosecuted?
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