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Trump Team’s Dark View of Islam: Where its coming from?

Moeed Pirzada
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Dr. Moeed Pirzada |

On Feb 1, 2017, three leading investigative reporters of New York Times, each distinguished in his own right – Scott Shane, Mathew Rosenberg and Eric Lipton penned down an exhaustive piece, ” Trump Pushes Dark View of Islam to Center of US Policy Making”.

This marvelous analysis – read so far by hundreds and thousand of people across both sides of the Atlantic, has generated almost two thousand comments by the time I write these lines – is an amazing reflection on how religion and politics have increasingly merged to define the world view of Donald Trump and his team of close advisers. 

Trump Pushes Dark View of Islam to Center of U.S. Policy-Making, New York Times

America under siege by a radical Islam? 

New York Times writers remind us that it was “a campaign rally in August, in Youngstown, Ohio, that President Trump most fully unveiled the dark vision of an America under siege by ‘radical Islam’ that is now drastically reshaping the policies of the United States” 

Months before Trump, as President, vowed to shut down immigration from dangerous Muslim countries, he was telling his supporters that “Islam” presents United States with a “hateful ideology” a threat that is comparable with the greatest of the evils of 20th century.

Months before Trump, as President, vowed to shut down immigration from dangerous Muslim countries, he was telling his supporters that “Islam” presents United States with a “hateful ideology” a threat that is comparable with the greatest of the evils of 20th century. He was talking of the killings down by Islamic state in middle east and how Muslims are killing innocents in nightclubs, churches and offices across west and so extreme steps were needed to fight back. 

Read more: Trump cabinet appointments will ‘undo decades of progress’, rights activists say

Scott, Mathew and Eric then went on to argue that Trump has embraced and brought into centre of US Policy making a dark suspicious view of Islam and that it has been nourished into his mind by a group of people, advisers, friends and intellectual mentors – many of whom will now be playing role in policy making. 

Principal Villains: Gen. Flynn & Stephen Bannan

New York Times identifies principal villains as Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, now his national security adviser, and Stephen K Bannon, Brietbart’s ultra-conservative Radio host and now Trump’s top strategist. New York Times writers also mention secondary characters like James Jay Carafano, a security expert at the Heritage Foundation who advised the Trump transition at the Department of Homeland Security, Sebastian Gorka, who taught at the National Defense University and is a deputy national security adviser and Mr. Gorka’s wife, Katharine, who headed think tanks that focused on the dangers of Islam, and who now works at the Department of Homeland Security.

In addition there are secondary characters like: Tera Dahl, who was an aide to former Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota, and is now a National Security Council official. Walid Phares, a Lebanese American Christian who has advised politicians on counterterrorism, has advised Mr. Trump’s campaign but does not currently have a government post. All four have written for Breitbart News, the right-wing website previously run by Mr. Bannon. And finally there is Frank Gaffney Jr. of the Center for Security Policy. He says Muslims are engaged in “this stealthy, subversive kind of jihad.”

Is this Neo-Con Era once again? 

Trump’s group of advisers all reflect the hard-line opinions of what some have described as the Islamophobia industry, a network of researchers who have warned for many years of the dangers of Islam and are now thrilled by Mr. Trump’s election. This is now almost like the famous 25 Neo-Cons who worked or lived inside Washington at the eve of taking over of the Bush administration in 2001 and who allegedly – perhaps much exaggerated by media – together made the case for the war on Iraq.

Oh man, where do we go from here? As someone who on the tragic day of 9/11, lived in New York, right at the junction of West 122nd street & Amsterdam, as a student of Columbia University, and who saw and felt the pain of Manhattan and America and then the reaction, the wars of revenge against Afghanistan, societal destruction of Pakistan and the carnage that visited upon Iraq with all those ideas of shaping a new middle east.

I was someone who had landed in Columbia university, after leaving his previous life behind in Pakistan with the aim to join either Mckinsey & Mckisney or WTO and who soon lost all his sense of direction into a whirlwind of political commotion creating a new identity – an identity of a Muslim, an identity I had no option but to defend and an identity that finally landed me into media.

I am someone, like millions of others worldwide, whose life was shaped, transformed by all the debate, wars, hatreds that followed. I was someone who had landed in Columbia university, after leaving his rather juicy and comfy life behind in Pakistan with the aim to join either Mckinsey & Mckisney or WTO and who soon lost all his sense of direction into a whirlwind of political commotion creating a new identity – an identity of a Muslim, an identity I had no option but to defend and an identity that finally landed me into media. 

Now reading the analysis of Scott, Mathew and Eric reminds me of the old Indian song, “yeh tu wohi jaga hay, guzray thehy hum jehan say” – Is not this the same place, the same point, where we had passed before?

Islamophobia or Geo-political Realignment? 

But fortunately not, world has moved full circle, it has become wizened and mature and America and west have changed a lot as a result of what they suffered, how they reacted, how they inflicted pain upon the Muslim world and then realized the futility of its over-reaction. I have this feeling that Trump and his band wagon have been left behind. They are like “Orphans of Time” like the Luddites in late 18th century England. They are trying to turn the clock back and failure is their only destiny. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, there was a genuine anger, anguish, inability to understand, inability to rationalize things; now America understands all this much better. Trump and his advisers will soon be contained by the American legal and constitutional system, intelligentsia, media and rival political forces. 

If this is true then Trump team has a certain and definitive kind of geopolitical design towards Middle East. Its first actions have been mostly been targeted towards Iran and its allies – Syria, Iraq and Yemen – and it has exhibited all signs of courting the traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE.

New York Times believes, that the Executive Order issued by Trump to restrict the immigration and visas from seven Muslim countries is the first major victory of this “geopolitical school”. And it may soon be followed by designating “Muslim Brotherhood” the largely peaceful Islamist movement as a terrorist organization.

 


If this is true then Trump team has a certain and definitive kind of geopolitical design towards Middle East. Its first actions have been mostly been targeted towards Iran and its allies – Syria, Iraq and Yemen – and it has exhibited all signs of courting the traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE. Muslim Brotherhood has already been crushed under the tanks of Gen. Sissi while Arab neighbors and west watched without emotion or human sympathy. 

We read that the Trump advisers see Islam as an inherently dangerous ideology, an ideology that in the form of ‘Sharia’ – much misunderstood word all across west – can penetrate into communities, even the US government and an ideology that due to its intolerant nature is a threat to the fabric of modern society. Followers of Islam have an inherited hatred of Christianity and Judaism: Trump team believes. 

But if this is what they believe then their apparent softness towards Saudi Arabia and its allies and their furious expressions of hostility towards Iran, Iraq and Syria would not make sense.

But if this is what they believe then their apparent softness towards Saudi Arabia and its allies and their furious expressions of hostility towards Iran, Iraq and Syria would not make sense. Some of the key middle eastern countries – antagonistic to Iran – have also supported the visa bans and travel restrictions issuing certificates of “No Islamophobia” to Trump administration. US Arab allies and even Gen. Sissi of Egypt all enjoy good relations with Israel and recent statements of Bibi Netanyahu, in fact his recent interviews on tv, make it obvious that Iran is now common enemy to both Israel and its Arab neighbors. And there is perhaps much cooperation against the common enemy.

Read more: Donald Trump confirms earlier stand on Muslim ban to USA

Islam represents a Global War against West?

All this makes me believe that there is something vital missing in the analysis of Scott, Mathew and Eric. Trump for all practical purposes is trying to reverse Obama’s – and his European supporters – opening towards Iran; he seems to be eager to revert back to the old alignments of the region; something which was desired both by Israel and Pentagon. Could his Islamophobia be as real as he projects? 

Stephen Bannon, Trump’s top strategist thinks that about Islam and Muslims: “There is a major war brewing, a war that’s already global,”. Bannon, the strategist, thinks that Americans are wasting time and are refusing to look at the viciousness of that war being waged by Muslims agains the west.

Having said this, the ideas of Trump’s team as described by New York Times are definitely primitive. For instance Stephen Bannon, Trump’s top strategist thinks that: “There is a major war brewing, a war that’s already global,”. Bannon, the strategist, thinks that Americans are wasting time and are refusing to look at the viciousness of that war being waged by Muslims against the west.

Stephen Bannan: Top Strategist or a Christian Mullah? 

What kind of strategist Bannon will be? What kind of university he  went to? One wonders. Because his ideas sound essentially like the ordinary mosque mullahs, we are so used to hearing and ignoring as idiots. How come such a man is advising the President of United States. White House and Oval Office deserve better.

I wonder if Muslims will also defend western ideas with equal ferocity? Will Muslims in Pakistan say that Jews are not a threat?

New York Times piece has sparked a very interesting debate on paper’s website. As of my writing this piece for Global Village Space (GVS) almost two thousand people had commented and most of them were blasting Trump and his team’s primitive ideas. Some do, but most don’t see Islam and the Muslims as a threat.

Also, we are reacting when an American president is denying – so far only threatening – right of entry and settlement into United States. Because we take it for granted; United States has to be democracy, it has to uphold law and human rights and if it does not then we are disappointed

I wonder if Muslims will also defend western ideas with equal ferocity? Will Muslims in Pakistan say that Jews are not a threat? Or that Christianity has given more to art and sciences and philosophy than what Islam has? Or that western liberal democracy is superior to anything Muslim world has produced? Do all the rights of immigration, jobs and free travel into the US not related to the western liberal democracy? While most Muslims have joined Trump’s western critics against his Visa and immigration bans, few have condemned the Arab monarchies who came out to support Trump. We must ask why?

Do Islamophobes have a point? 

Also, we are reacting when an American president is denying – so far only threatening – right of entry and settlement into United States. And we cheer when American courts are intervening to block him, because we take it for granted; United States has to be democracy, it has to uphold constitutionalism, law and human rights and if it does not then we are disappointed, we are prepared to trash it. We even expect us to be treated decently at the American airports; we cannot be denied our life, liberty and rights without due process of law. But what about us?

When I criticize Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their brutal shenanigans against Syria, my friends are immediately convinced that I might be a Shia.

Few amongst us have stood for the right of minorities in or minority point of view in our own countries. Every time I tell someone in Pakistan that “we have mistreated Ahmedis” and that by declaring Ahmedis non-Muslim through an act of parliament we have turned our parliament into an “ecclesiastical court”, we have destroyed the very foundation of secular constitutionalism, he gets emotional and convinced that I must be an Ahmedia. 

every time I tell my colleagues that the recent abduction of few cyber warriors or blogger by Pakistani state agencies on the pretext of blasphemy is plain tyranny apart from being stupid; they get convinced that I am less of a Muslim than they are.

When I criticize Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their brutal shenanigans against Syria, my friends are immediately convinced that I might be a Shia. I failed to raise my voice when some others – like Imtiaz Gul of CRSS – were protesting on the forceful expulsion of all Afghan refugees from Pakistan. But everytime I tell my colleagues that the recent abduction of few cyber warriors or blogger by Pakistani state agencies on the pretext of blasphemy is plain tyranny apart from being stupid; they get convinced that I am less of a Muslim than they are.

 


With this ‘primitiveness’ of ordinary good Muslims, their hatred and contempt for minority point of view, their inability to tolerate dissent, and the failure of Muslim elites to provide for democratic institutions and rule of law some of the “primitive ideas” of Trump advisers start to make sense. In an interview, Mr. Gaffney, one of Trump advisers explained his view of Islam, which focuses less on the violent jihad of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State than on the quieter one he sees everywhere. He described that the potential enemies are hidden in plain sight on streets, on mosques. “They essentially, like termites, hollow out the structure of the civil society and other institutions,” Mr. Gaffney said.

Trump Pushes Dark View of Islam to Center of U.S. Policy-Making, New York Times

Muslims everywhere need to take this debate seriously. As long as  people in Muslim countries can be picked up, made to disappear, by state agencies on charges of “blasphemy “or “national interest” without any real public outcry, and elected Muslim leaders will continue to behave as Kings, and courts will continue to act as their underdogs – so far the ideas of primitive few – like those in Trump team – in west will keep sounding legitimate. Lets defeat them by addressing our hypocrisy and double standards.

Moeed Pirzada is TV Anchor & Editor Strategic Affairs with Dunya News. He is a known columnist and blogger. He tweets at: MoeedNj & his website is: www.moeedpirzada.pk. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy.

Trump Team’s Dark View of Islam: Where its coming from?

Moeed Pirzada
-
0
Trump Team’s Dark View of Islam: Where its coming from?

On Feb 1, 2017, three leading investigative reporters of New York Times, each distinguished in his own right – Scott Shane, Mathew Rosenberg and Eric Lipton penned down an exhaustive piece, ” Trump team Pushes Dark View of Islam to Center of US Policy Making”.

This marvelous analysis – read so far by hundreds and thousand of people across both sides of the Atlantic, has generated almost two thousand comments by the time I write these lines – is an amazing reflection on how religion and politics have increasingly merged to define the world view of Donald Trump and his team of close advisers.

America under siege by a radical Islam? 

New York Times writers remind us that it was “a campaign rally in August, in Youngstown, Ohio, that President Trump most fully unveiled the dark vision of an America under siege by ‘radical Islam’ that is now drastically reshaping the policies of the United States”

Months before Trump, as President, vowed to shut down immigration from dangerous Muslim countries, he was telling his supporters that “Islam” presents United States with a “hateful ideology” a threat that is comparable with the greatest of the evils of 20th century.

Months before Trump, as President, vowed to shut down immigration from dangerous Muslim countries, he was telling his supporters that “Islam” presents United States with a “hateful ideology” a threat that is comparable with the greatest of the evils of 20th century. He was talking of the killings down by Islamic state in middle east and how Muslims are killing innocents in nightclubs, churches and offices across west and so extreme steps were needed to fight back.

Scott, Mathew and Eric then went on to argue that Trump has embraced and brought into centre of US Policy making a dark suspicious view of Islam and that it has been nourished into his mind by a group of people, advisers, friends and intellectual mentors – many of whom will now be playing role in policy making.

Principal Villains: Gen. Flynn & Stephen Bannan

New York Times identifies principal villains as Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, now his national security adviser, and Stephen K Bannon, Brietbart’s ultra-conservative Radio host and now Trump’s top strategist. New York Times writers also mention secondary characters like James Jay Carafano, a security expert at the Heritage Foundation who advised the Trump transition at the Department of Homeland Security, Sebastian Gorka, who taught at the National Defense University and is a deputy national security adviser and Mr. Gorka’s wife, Katharine, who headed think tanks that focused on the dangers of Islam, and who now works at the Department of Homeland Security.

In addition there are secondary characters like: Tera Dahl, who was an aide to former Representative Michele Bachmann, Republican of Minnesota, and is now a National Security Council official. Walid Phares, a Lebanese American Christian who has advised politicians on counterterrorism, has advised Mr. Trump’s campaign but does not currently have a government post. All four have written for Breitbart News, the right-wing website previously run by Mr. Bannon. And finally there is Frank Gaffney Jr. of the Center for Security Policy. He says Muslims are engaged in “this stealthy, subversive kind of jihad.”

Is this Neo-Con Era once again? 

Trump’s group of advisers all reflect the hard-line opinions of what some have described as the Islamophobia industry, a network of researchers who have warned for many years of the dangers of Islam and are now thrilled by Mr. Trump’s election. This is now almost like the famous 25 Neo-Cons who worked or lived inside Washington at the eve of taking over of the Bush administration in 2001 and who allegedly – perhaps much exaggerated by media – together made the case for the war on Iraq.

Oh man, where do we go from here? As someone who on the tragic day of 9/11, lived in New York, right at the junction of West 122nd street & Amsterdam, as a student of Columbia University, and who saw and felt the pain of Manhattan and America and then the reaction, the wars of revenge against Afghanistan, societal destruction of Pakistan and the carnage that visited upon Iraq with all those ideas of shaping a new middle east.

I was someone who had landed in Columbia university, after leaving his previous life behind in Pakistan with the aim to join either Mckinsey & Mckisney or WTO and who soon lost all his sense of direction into a whirlwind of political commotion creating a new identity – an identity of a Muslim, an identity I had no option but to defend and an identity that finally landed me into media.

I am someone, like millions of others worldwide, whose life was shaped, transformed by all the debate, wars, hatreds that followed. I was someone who had landed in Columbia university, after leaving his rather juicy and comfy life behind in Pakistan with the aim to join either Mckinsey & Mckisney or WTO and who soon lost all his sense of direction into a whirlwind of political commotion creating a new identity – an identity of a Muslim, an identity I had no option but to defend and an identity that finally landed me into media.

Now reading the analysis of Scott, Mathew and Eric reminds me of the old Indian song, “yeh tu wohi jaga hay, guzray thehy hum jehan say” – Is not this the same place, the same point, where we had passed before?

Islamophobia or Geo-political Realignment? 

But fortunately not, world has moved full circle, it has become wizened and mature and America and west have changed a lot as a result of what they suffered, how they reacted, how they inflicted pain upon the Muslim world and then realized the futility of its over-reaction. I have this feeling that Trump and his band wagon have been left behind. They are like “Orphans of Time” like the Luddites in late 18th century England. They are trying to turn the clock back and failure is their only destiny. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, there was a genuine anger, anguish, inability to understand, inability to rationalize things; now America understands all this much better. Trump and his advisers will soon be contained by the American legal and constitutional system, intelligentsia, media and rival political forces.

If this is true then Trump team has a certain and definitive kind of geopolitical design towards Middle East. Its first actions have been mostly been targeted towards Iran and its allies – Syria, Iraq and Yemen – and it has exhibited all signs of courting the traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE.

New York Times believes, that the Executive Order issued by Trump to restrict the immigration and visas from seven Muslim countries is the first major victory of this “geopolitical school”. And it may soon be followed by designating “Muslim Brotherhood” the largely peaceful Islamist movement as a terrorist organization.

 

If this is true then Trump team has a certain and definitive kind of geopolitical design towards Middle East. Its first actions have been mostly been targeted towards Iran and its allies – Syria, Iraq and Yemen – and it has exhibited all signs of courting the traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and UAE. Muslim Brotherhood has already been crushed under the tanks of Gen. Sissi while Arab neighbors and west watched without emotion or human sympathy.

We read that the Trump team see Islam as an inherently dangerous ideology, an ideology that in the form of ‘Sharia’ – much misunderstood word all across west – can penetrate into communities, even the US government and an ideology that due to its intolerant nature is a threat to the fabric of modern society. Followers of Islam have an inherited hatred of Christianity and Judaism: Trump team believes.

But if this is what they believe then their apparent softness towards Saudi Arabia and its allies and their furious expressions of hostility towards Iran, Iraq and Syria would not make sense.

But if this is what they believe then their apparent softness towards Saudi Arabia and its allies and their furious expressions of hostility towards Iran, Iraq and Syria would not make sense. Some of the key middle eastern countries – antagonistic to Iran – have also supported the visa bans and travel restrictions issuing certificates of “No Islamophobia” to Trump team. US Arab allies and even Gen. Sissi of Egypt all enjoy good relations with Israel and recent statements of Bibi Netanyahu, in fact his recent interviews on tv, make it obvious that Iran is now common enemy to both Israel and its Arab neighbors. And there is perhaps much cooperation against the common enemy.

Islam represents a Global War against West?

All this makes me believe that there is something vital missing in the analysis of Scott, Mathew and Eric. Trump for all practical purposes is trying to reverse Obama’s – and his European supporters – opening towards Iran; he seems to be eager to revert back to the old alignments of the region; something which was desired both by Israel and Pentagon. Could his Islamophobia be as real as he projects?

Stephen Bannon, Trump’s top strategist thinks that about Islam and Muslims: “There is a major war brewing, a war that’s already global,”. Bannon, the strategist, thinks that Americans are wasting time and are refusing to look at the viciousness of that war being waged by Muslims agains the west.

Having said this, the ideas of Trump’s team as described by New York Times are definitely primitive. For instance Stephen Bannon, Trump’s top strategist thinks that: “There is a major war brewing, a war that’s already global,”. Bannon, the strategist, thinks that Americans are wasting time and are refusing to look at the viciousness of that war being waged by Muslims against the west.

Stephen Bannan: Top Strategist or a Christian Mullah? 

What kind of strategist Bannon will be? What kind of university he  went to? One wonders. Because his ideas sound essentially like the ordinary mosque mullahs, we are so used to hearing and ignoring as idiots. How come such a man is advising the President of United States. White House and Oval Office deserve better.

I wonder if Muslims will also defend western ideas with equal ferocity? Will Muslims in Pakistan say that Jews are not a threat?

New York Times piece has sparked a very interesting debate on paper’s website. As of my writing this piece for Global Village Space (GVS) almost two thousand people had commented and most of them were blasting Trump and his team’s primitive ideas. Some do, but most don’t see Islam and the Muslims as a threat.

Also, we are reacting when an American president is denying – so far only threatening – right of entry and settlement into United States. Because we take it for granted; United States has to be democracy, it has to uphold law and human rights and if it does not then we are disappointed

I wonder if Muslims will also defend western ideas with equal ferocity? Will Muslims in Pakistan say that Jews are not a threat? Or that Christianity has given more to art and sciences and philosophy than what Islam has? Or that western liberal democracy is superior to anything Muslim world has produced? Do all the rights of immigration, jobs and free travel into the US not related to the western liberal democracy? While most Muslims have joined Trump’s western critics against his Visa and immigration bans, few have condemned the Arab monarchies who came out to support Trump. We must ask why?

Do Islamophobes have a point? 

Also, we are reacting when an American president is denying – so far only threatening – right of entry and settlement into United States. And we cheer when American courts are intervening to block him, because we take it for granted; United States has to be democracy, it has to uphold constitutionalism, law and human rights and if it does not then we are disappointed, we are prepared to trash it. We even expect us to be treated decently at the American airports; we cannot be denied our life, liberty and rights without due process of law. But what about us?

When I criticize Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their brutal shenanigans against Syria, my friends are immediately convinced that I might be a Shia.

Few amongst us have stood for the right of minorities in or minority point of view in our own countries. Every time I tell someone in Pakistan that “we have mistreated Ahmedis” and that by declaring Ahmedis non-Muslim through an act of parliament we have turned our parliament into an “ecclesiastical court”, we have destroyed the very foundation of secular constitutionalism, he gets emotional and convinced that I must be an Ahmedia.

every time I tell my colleagues that the recent abduction of few cyber warriors or blogger by Pakistani state agencies on the pretext of blasphemy is plain tyranny apart from being stupid; they get convinced that I am less of a Muslim than they are.

When I criticize Saudi Arabia and Turkey for their brutal shenanigans against Syria, my friends are immediately convinced that I might be a Shia. I failed to raise my voice when some others – like Imtiaz Gul of CRSS – were protesting on the forceful expulsion of all Afghan refugees from Pakistan. But everytime I tell my colleagues that the recent abduction of few cyber warriors or blogger by Pakistani state agencies on the pretext of blasphemy is plain tyranny apart from being stupid; they get convinced that I am less of a Muslim than they are.

 

With this ‘primitiveness’ of ordinary good Muslims, their hatred and contempt for minority point of view, their inability to tolerate dissent, and the failure of Muslim elites to provide for democratic institutions and rule of law some of the “primitive ideas” of Trump advisers start to make sense. In an interview, Mr. Gaffney, one of Trump team explained his view of Islam, which focuses less on the violent jihad of Al Qaeda and the Islamic State than on the quieter one he sees everywhere. He described that the potential enemies are hidden in plain sight on streets, on mosques. “They essentially, like termites, hollow out the structure of the civil society and other institutions,” Mr. Gaffney said.

Muslims everywhere need to take this debate seriously. As long as  people in Muslim countries can be picked up, made to disappear, by state agencies on charges of “blasphemy “or “national interest” without any real public outcry, and elected Muslim leaders will continue to behave as Kings, and courts will continue to act as their underdogs – so far the ideas of primitive few – like those in Trump team – in west will keep sounding legitimate. Lets defeat them by addressing our hypocrisy and double standards.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Hafiz Saeed’s House Arrest Political Drama or Foreign Pressure

zeeshan khan
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0
Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Hafiz Saeed’s House Arrest Political Drama or Foreign Pressure
On the order of house arrest of Hafiz Saeed by the government, many have been speculating that it was due to the pressure from Chinese, while some have been saying that US has demanded from Pakistan to implement the UNSC resolution 1267. Financial Action Task Force claimed that Pakistan has been on grey list and had to implement in these step against banned outfits. One of the Indian paper claimed that Prime Minister has played this drama for its political gains.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Maj. Gen. (R) Ejaz Awan Perspective on Hafiz Saeed !

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Maj. Gen. (R) Ejaz Awan Perspective on Hafiz Saeed !

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Fate of Karachi after new governor has sworn in and the death of gangster Baba Ladla !

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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Fate of Karachi after new governor has sworn in and the death of gangster Baba Ladla !

PSP leader Raza Haroon congratulated Muhammad Zubair the new governor of Sindh. He said that, ‘’ Given Zubair’s background we are expecting that he will be a good omen for the Province’’. He was asked about the possibility of merging PSP in Mqm, Raza Haroon rejected any possibility. Labeling MQM as a curse for Karachi and its people he said ‘’ unless Mqm cease to exist, Karachi will not find any peace’’.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Trump banning Muslims and fight against ISIS: Risks for Pakistan

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Trump banning Muslims and fight against ISIS: Risks for Pakistan

Dr Moeed Pirzada discussed the current global situation and concerns of Muslims over the ban for entering in United States. How could it be risky and matter of concern for Pakistan? And will the upcoming policy to Trump to fight against radical Islamic terrorism and ISIS effect Pakistan?
Lt. General (r) Amjid Shuaib told that President Trump have divided the American society and by banning the Muslims to enter into America could be more harmful for them as it will increase the radical thought among Muslims and they could join ISIS. Professor Shehbaz Gill said that ‘Green Card’ holder have legal protection under the constitution, therefore this ban order will soon be resolved by the US courts as it has been already halted by the federal district judge and more than 100 detainees got relief, who were going to deport by US authorities.
On the issue of fight against ISIS Lt. General (r) Amjid Shuaib said that it not certain that America will eliminate ISIS from Afghanistan. It is because they have been built there to counter Russia, Iran and Taliban with the help of India. ISIS in Afghanistan is also meant to work against Pakistan. America’s and India’s main concern is Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Did Nawaz Sharif achieve diplomatic goals in Davos or was it an utter diplomatic failure”

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Did Nawaz Sharif achieve diplomatic goals in Davos or was it an utter diplomatic failure”

Prime minister was extended an invitation for participating in World Economic forum in July: Ikram Sehgal Defense analyst and security expert Ikram Sehgal, who is also a member of the world economic forum from 22 years, said that Nawaz was sent an invitation in July by the forum head. He refuted media claims against the premier for being barred from attending or making speech at the Forum. The member of the forum said that it is PM’s office which was supposed to secure some space for the premier as a guest speaker or co-chair, which it failed to do so. HE said ‘’ I extended an invitation to Nawaz Sharif to speak at the Pakistan Breakfast meeting at Davos, the PM office failed to reply on time and time was short, as I had to make an arrangement for guest speaker.’’ HE said Raheel Sharif accepted his request to join the forum as a co-chair and guest speaker, after his retirement in November. Applauding the role of Raheel at Davos he said that Raheel presented Pakistan’s stance and position in a very articulated manner.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: An Exclusive talk with Aitzaz Ehsan !

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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: An Exclusive talk with Aitzaz Ehsan !

Senator Aitzaz Ahsan, senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party and eminent legal analyst, joined Doctor Moeed Pirzada to make a startling revelation; the Qatari Prince’s letter holds absolutely no legal value! He said that any document presented by a person that cannot be prosecuted by the judiciary, is invalid in the same court of law and holds absolutely no legal worth. He said that considering this fact, the whole case is moot. He said that the ruling party is using all these gimmicks to buy time till the upcoming elections and that the party is going to use the proceedings as an election hack one way or the other. The barrister also said that the country is in absolute shambles and with the current dynamics of power, there is no way out of this.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: An Exclusive interview with Sheikh Rasheed !!!

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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: An Exclusive interview with Sheikh Rasheed !!!

The Awaami League Party Chief and foreman in the Panama Leaks case against the Sharif family, joined Doctor Moeed Pirzada in the studio to express his views on the current state of “Panama” affairs. He said that the corrupt regime’s frustration is evident. The brawl in the parliament was a testimony to the frustration and sense of loss that the ruling party is feeling with the current state of the Panama proceeding. He also said that he still had complete faith in the fact that justice will be served and the corrupt will be prosecuted.

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Syed Muhammad Ali Perspective on Donald Trump

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Syed Muhammad Ali Perspective on Donald Trump

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Imran Khan on Panama Leaks

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: Imran Khan on Panama Leaks

Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Kashmir conflict..unfinished agenda of United nation

zeeshan khan
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Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Kashmir conflict..unfinished agenda of United nation

Mushal Malik Wife of huriyat leader in Indian occupied Kashmir yaseen malik describes in details the latest situation and brutality in Indian occupied Kashmir.  Indian police arrested the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, Muhammad Yasin Malik, and Hurriyet leader Hilal Ahmad War, in Srinagar to prevent them from leading anti-India demonstrations on 21st January 2017 to mark completion of 27 years to the deadliest Gaw Kadal massacre. On 21 January 1990, at Gawkadal bridge in Srinagar, Kashmir, the Indian paramilitary troops of the Central Reserve Police Force opened fire on a group of Kashmiri protester leaving hundreds dead.
Mushal malik said that there is need of independent Kashmir international standard committee with the true kashmiri representative so that they can raise the issue at international forums with more effectiveness.
She said kashmiri youth is confused right now. Indian BJP led government has crossed all the levels of brutality. Kashmiris are forced to vote in favor of pro Indian political figures may it be mehbooba mufti or farooq Abdulla. She also said that all draconian laws like TERRORIST AND DISRUPTIVE ACTIVITIES ACT (TADA) 1990 and PREVENTION OF TERRORISM ACT (POTA), 2002 were implemented under Puppet pro Indian Chief Ministers in occupied Kashmir. These laws increase the powers of Indian forces in occupied Kashmir.

President Donald Trump: What about Pakistan & India?

Moeed Pirzada
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Moeed Pirzada|

Donald Trump has finally moved into the White House. Given United States’s role of a global hegemon, in every capital of the world, from Mexico City to Berlin, from Kabul to Tbilisi it is being discussed: What does it mean for us? Pakistanis are thus not alone or exceptional in this intense brainstorming.


And like people elsewhere in the world – Pakistanis also look around at their neighborhood and reflect as to how Trump administration will deal with issues here. While Indian or western press can talk of anything from Haqqani network to ISIS, from Kashmir to Mullah Masood Azhar and from Iran to Saudi Arabia. But cutting all this to bare bones, the real issues are: US stakes in Afghanistan, Indo-US strategic nexus and Pakistan’s developing trade corridor, CPEC.

Being painfully aware of the growing Indo-US nexus of the past one decade, Pakistanis are anxious to know how will Trump and his new administration deal with all these issues.

Since all kinds of opinions have been up in the air, it is important to understand how Donald Trump is – and the America he is set to rule – are now both radically different from almost all presidents and political eras that preceded him, at least from the end of Second World War.

 

 

Trump’s Vision for America? 

To understand Trump’s mind and the motivations of his support base – the people who have elected him and put him in White House – its important to analyse Trump’ inauguration speech, step by step. After the initial formalities he said:

Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.

Inaugural speeches are different from ‘off the cuff comments’; these speeches are written, debated, edited and discussed with key members of the new team. Trump’s speech was immediately  criticized by pundits of all sorts on American media as “too populist” but no one can blame him for diverting from what he promised in his campaign trail. His inauguration speech thus accurately reflects the political position he took to rouse the poor and the lower middle class white voters – people who have rebelled against the traditional political elite and brought him to White House. So, while Obama, Bush and Clintons listened, he continued:

For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished — but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered — but the jobs left, and the factories closed.

The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.

These are not just few isolated lines from his inaugural speech. Most of his speech resonates with these or similar ideas and their extensions. And as we hear him – as I have done, repeatedly, playing forward, pause and rewind buttons – it becomes obvious that he is not merely defining the problem, the domestic American problems, the challenges, he is also offering solutions. And here is a glimpse of those solutions:

“For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay” 

Woes of Globalization? 

So Trump clearly thinks or at-least telling his supporters and to the whole world that what happened over the years is not necessarily an organic, uncontrolled phenomenon of ‘globalization’, is not an inevitable evolution of industry, technology or capitalist mode of decentralized production, but a failure of the US Presidents, Congress and ruling or corporate elites before him who have somehow abandoned the interests of the common poor Americans for their own profits and comforts.

Read this carefully:

We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.

End of Eisenhower and Kennedy Eras? 

While we can endlessly debate the accuracy of Trump’s assumptions, soundness of his world view or understanding of history, but its obvious that Trump sees America very differently from what post-war, post II Word War leaders like Truman, Eisenhower, Dean Acheson, John Foster Dulles or Kennedy had seen- or how Obama and Clinton and many others continued to see: An America with a global hegemonistic role of Wilsonian urges mixed with all kinds of ‘real politick’ (like we have seen since 9/11)

Read more: Indian-American Businessman tells Trump how to deal with Pakistan

America: An Aggrieved Superpower? 

Trump is casting America’s new role in the world as one of an aggrieved superpower, a superpower that has been cheated, bled, exploited by others; his repeated emphasis on making “America great again” means that he and his supporters don’t see America of Eisenhower or Kennedy. They see America’s greatness somewhere in the past and intend to restore it. It sounds like Muslims all across the world who keep on remembering Ottoman period, or Abbasid and Ummayad era glories. True, Trumpians’ grievances could not be identical to Muslims who lost their pride several centuries ago, but their feeling that “moment of greatness has somehow passed or slipping” and that it needs to be restored is clearly palpable.

Trump is not talking of changing the world, not talking of defending the post-war liberal order which United States had erected meticulously – through UN, through Marshall plan, through NATO, through IMF and massive loans to countries like UK – and that was defended, if not in spirit then at least in theory, by every president that followed Truman and Eisenhower. Contrast his speech with the famous words of John F Kennedy in 1960’s that America would:

  “bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

Contrast could not have been more sharper, more radical. If anyone still has any doubts, then kindly read carefully, the following lines: this is how he had concluded his speech.

Together, We will make America strong again.
We will make wealthy again.
We will make America proud again.
We will make America safe again.
And yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.

Costs of Defending Europe & Japan, NATO, UN, IMF and Wars abroad? 

It should be obvious that Trump, and perhaps the America that elected Mr. Trump has concluded that their America is no longer as strong, as wealthy, as proud and safe as the America of their previous generations. And they somehow want to harken back to that era, reconstruct it and they are not talking of wars, of conquering and punishing other nations. They, speaking through an elected Trump, are talking of domestic reconstruction, of renovation, they are saying that we are no longer willing to bear that burden of spreading democracy, human rights, free trade and so on.

Read more: Trump may cause fresh spike in Pakistan-India tensions

Trump’s America would rather like the world to take its own burdens and relieve America of its over-stretched responsibilities. Trump will expect all the world -especially the allies like Europeans and Japan Germany – to be contributing more to NATO, UN, IMF, Iraq and Afghanistan and for the defense of sea lanes. To what extent and for how long will this President be willing to put up the costs of financing Afghan government budgets or paying for the small but expensive US presence there? These are the kinds of questions that come to mind, while Trump is telling the world:

We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.
From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.
Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.

America, China and India? 

More you listen to him and more you realize that his focus is weak US economy, aging US infrastructure, loss of jobs inside through skilled workers programs like HIB, loss of jobs due to production moving abroad, (iPhones & laptops manufactured in China for US market) closure of factories, airports, bridges and so on; listen carefully:

We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.
We will get our people off of welfare and back to work — rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.

Going by the popular imagination who are the countries and the regions that have taken away the jobs of American factory workers, standard office jobs? Where US companies have relocated in search of cheap skilled labor and higher profits? If Trump could follow his logic, or may be his rhetoric then he would soon be breathing on to China to reduce its trade deficit with the United States and he will be pressing upon the US companies to sharply reduce their use of H1B visas. (work visas)

read more: How Trump’s Cabinet will view South Asia? Michel Kugelman

Will he will be demanding upon the US companies – banks, insurance companies, hospitals, health providers etc – to bring back the US jobs that have gradually shifted to India in the form of back office services, computations and consulting? Given the composition of his team – with Rex Tillerson and Nick Halley’s etc – that remains to be seen.

Will he will be demanding upon the US companies – banks, insurance companies, hospitals, health providers etc – to bring back the US jobs that have gradually shifted to India in the form of back office services, computations and consulting? Given the composition of his team – with Rex Tillerson and Nick Halley’s etc – that remains to be seen. Admittedly it won’t be easy, because these trade imbalances and job migrations are not conspiracies but deep seated economic models of efficiencies, competitors and profits. But his logic is clear.

Where will India & Pakistan fit into?

Pakistan thus simply does not fit – neither positively nor negatively – into Trump’s larger scheme of things. Obama had once said that the country he most worries about is nuclear Pakistan. That kind of exaggerated sentiment has become the received wisdom to talk about Pakistan. But Trump has a different agenda; he is not a starry eyed idealist; he is not coming from a university or think tank; he is a practical result oriented businessman -and almost 71 years of age. Unless Pakistan is seen disturbing, hurting US interests and creating problems Trump will not be thinking of Pakistan. His plate is full. He is looking for a different kind of legacy.This presents both Pakistan and India and their foreign office, elected governments, military, diasporas and academia with new opportunities and challenges.

Rao Doctrine in mid-nineties stipulated that world must be made to look at Pakistan through the lens of ‘terrorism’ – but India’s need to “fix Pakistan” and “correct history” is old and deep seated.

Rao Doctrine in mid-nineties stipulated that world must be made to look at Pakistan through the lens of ‘terrorism’ – but India’s need to “fix Pakistan” and “correct history” is old and deep seated.

Pakistan is New Delhi’s existential problem since its very creation through division of imperial British India; Pakistan is territory and influence lost to the “Raj”; for Delhi Pakistan is the wrong country; a country that should not have been and a country whose mere existence is a symbol of deep seated inner humiliation for it represents “vivisection” of “mother India”. Strategy of “Isolating Pakistan” is not Narendra Modi’s creation. Its deep seated, its real and has genuine reasons rooted in history.  So Indian political establishment – Modi or no Modi, does not matter – has to find or create issues and popular narrative through which Pakistan has to be defined in American conscious as the problem, “the real problem”. The only thing, that too in a passing manner, which Trump said which provides India with an opportunity to link or import Pakistan in Trump’s defined agenda is:

We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones — and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.

Remembering the US internal debate of past 18 months, Trump is referring towards the entities like ISIS, various blood thirsty hounds bleeding middle east and attacking European cities; in terms of new allies he is thinking of Russia and not India; he is not thinking of Pakistan or Kashmir. It will now depend upon the ingenuity of Indian strategists to define issues – or create issues – that will bring Pakistan and its agencies in the center of Trump’s concerns on “Islamic terrorism”. Pakistani challenge is to conduct itself in Afghanistan, and within the US, in the circle close to Trump in such a way that it can dispel some of the negativity spun around it, over the past 15 years. Its Pakistan’s opportunity to cultivate a new image. India’s challenge is the opposite; it must exercise its world wide influence and use “innovative ways” and keep defining Pakistan within the ambit of terrorism.


Unfortunately many in Pakistan – especially in country’s media and civil society – still don’t understand that its India’s strategic need that world continues to see Pakistan as the epicenter of terror, of instability and chaos. If Pakistan were to rescue itself from this defined circle then India will be compelled to engage Pakistan on equal terms – something which New Delhi strategists don’t want to do.

 


India has over the past 15 years, since 9/11, gradually built a deep seated, multi-dimensional relationship with the United States. This not only stems from the US need to contain China, and US need to grow profits in foreign markets but also from the presence of very capable and articulate Indian-American community. The fact that Trump team thought of replacing Rahul Verma – the current US Ambassador to India – with Ashley J Tellis, another American Indian testifies to the depth of that relationship.

Trump is referring towards the entities like ISIS, various blood thirsty hounds bleeding middle east and attacking European cities; in terms of new allies he is thinking of Russia and not India; he is not thinking of Pakistan or Kashmir. It will now depend upon the ingenuity of Indian strategists to define issues – or create issues – that will bring Pakistan and its agencies in the center of Trump’s concerns on “Islamic terrorism”.

 

How Trump will interact with Pakistan depends not on Trump’s inherent world view, or his biases towards Muslims or Islam; it will depend upon how Pakistani and Indian circles of influence will put forward their respective cases and how Pakistani government, foreign office and military are able to understand the moment and capitalize upon it. Having said this, unfortunately Indian political establishment and its linked lobbies have far greater understanding of issues and abilities to deal with any international or regional transition than Pakistan.

 

 

Moeed Pirzada is TV Anchor & Editor Strategic Affairs with Dunya News. He is a known columnist and blogger. He tweets at: MoeedNj & his website is: www.moeedpirzda.pk 

Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: What does trump’s Presidency means for Pakistan and the region

zeeshan khan
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Tonight with Moeed Pirzada: What does trump’s Presidency means for Pakistan and the region

Donald Trump, who sworn in as 45th president of the United States, rarely discussed Pakistan during his campaign. – Trump main focus was internal politics and issues of the US. Trump in his inaugural speech claimed that America has changed from today with a slogan ‘America comes first; we will bring back our jobs’.
To discuss what Trump’s Presidency holds for Pakistan and the region, Dr. Moeed Pirzada was joined by prominent analysts Professor Shabaz Gill from Illinois University, who early predicted Trump’s triumph as president, the other worthy guests were Professor Riffath Hassan and ex-foreign secretary Najam-ud-Din Sheikh and ex-foreign minister Khurshid Kasoori.
Dr Riffath was of the view that Trump cannot ignore Pakistan, as it holds unique geostrategic position in the region. He criticized that Trump speech excluded gender rights issues, ethnic issues and women rights. He said that the US strategy will change much Viz a viz Pakistan and India.
Ex-foreign minister Khurshid Kasoori added that Trump should not criticize American Establishment, as he is represents that establishment and his nominees were mostly part of the that establishment.
Professor Shahbaz Gill said that this is perfect time for Pakistan’s foreign office to Lobby and to plead their case with the new President. He said, ‘’Trump is a businessman and he can understand the language of business and Pakistan should engage Trump’’.
Najim-ud-din Shiekh said that Trump’s policy on South Asia is not clear and it is very difficult to predict, Trump policy on Pakistan and India as he has rarely mentioned these in his speeches.

Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Major General (R) Ejaz Awan Perspective on Donald Trump

zeeshan khan
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Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Major General (R) Ejaz Awan Perspective on Donald Trump

Prominent Defence Analyst General (r) Ejaz Awan joined Dr Moeed Pirzada to comment on what can prompt Donald Trump to adopt robust policy on the South Asian affairs. He said that India might orchestrate An attack in Afghanistan on NATO allied forces in a bid to invite Trump’s attention to the region and to put pressure on Pakistan. He added that the joint collaboration between NDS And Raw might be just able to do that. India is strongly opposing CPEC and it is helping the insurgents in Pakistan to sabotage CPEC.

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