The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power

Tariq Ali, writer, film-maker

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• academic
• lectures
• uchannel
• uchicago
• pakistan
• afghanistan
• terrorism
• usa
• foreignpolicy

[zusekhan]

So true old man, lets hope they would realise it.

[ahmadmit]

The troops should leave Afghanistan!

[emotionalinvalid]

sigh...the audio goes fuzzy as soon as this great intellectual starts speaking(in the video not on my end or yours). oh well, as always its the content of the words spoken not the fidelity of the audio or video. ironic, when i use to put up with so much static and fuzzy pictures on analog radio and before cable tv "back in dah day", i would think this was excellent audio. we are all becoming spoiled, at least some of us are

[whatslifespurpose]

@aniketranade Well I don't think you have read his articles&books and heard his speeches. He has got a distinct flavor of sarcasm when he describes Pakistan and its government, he repeatedly criticizes the Pakistani administrative machinery and being a Pakistani (former-pakistani) does not like the US fingering in his country (and also around the world) from 1950's. He praises Nehru for non-alignment and India's developed democratic institutions. He is an atheist too.

[aniketranade]

@whatslifespurpose

It seems Tariq gets drawn to the conflicts that involve the US ...its a shame when the so-called intellectuals yap on about the rest of the world instead of their own country. If you have followed this man...then you will remember what a big stink he made when 9 people were killed on the freedom flotilla.....I still havent heard from this guy about Karachi...where a civil war is raging between two communities(1500 killed just this year!).

Its pretty ODD dont you think?

[aniketranade]

@whatslifespurpose Well thank you. I was in US for 4 years and came back BY CHOICE...but thats not the point. Whats really odd about this guy is, he was an activist against the vietnam war....and was even on the panel that visited vietnam and initiated the war crimes trial against the US authorities.

Now..my question is, if he was in Bangladesh, has he attempted to charge anyone from Pakistan army for war crimes during the 71 war??

[whatslifespurpose]

@aniketranade I think you should read his Book "The Duel" where he mentions his work in the 1971 war. This guy has predicted the partition of Pakistan and many more things way before time, but was ignored. I see him more as an intellectual and an activist rather than a revolutionary and we have seen a lot of brain drain from our country itself even in times of peace. If he wanted a better life in UK I would wish him all luck and so to you too if you wanted to immigrate.

[aniketranade]

@whatslifespurpose I wonder how much danger he was really in...after all, when your uncle is the head of ISI, I think you are alright...lol

And if it was too dangerous for him, then what the hell are the normal Pakistanis supposed to do??

The only message Tariq conveys is, GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE.....FIND A NICE COMFORTABLE COUNTRY TO SETTLE DOWN AND THEN PONTIFICATE!......:))

[aniketranade]

@whatslifespurpose So what if you are an Indian? You are still way off!

Can yo uthink of a revolutionary...who runs away to another country..(with far better standards of living coincidentally...lol) and then brings about a change in his homeland?

BTW...He NEVER Worked in Pakistan...he studied there...and then was promptly shipped to UK.

[whatslifespurpose]

@aniketranade He has worked in Pakistan and later immigrated. Had he stayed in Pakistan he would have been killed. We cannot afford to loose intellectuals like Tariq Ali. BTW I am an Indian.

[aniketranade]

@pobyd9 Yup...hes typical Paki elite himself...unwilling to go to his motherland, badly out of touch with reality...and totally in Denial....:))