Sticks and Stones

It was with considerable audacity that Pervez Musharraf told the world that today’s elections in Pakistan would be “the Mother of all elections.” In fact, since the assassination of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Benazir Bhutto, it has been eminently clear that this would far from be the case.

Following Bhutto’s death, rioters took the streets in droves and estimates place the death toll from political violence at over 450 thus far. On Saturday a suicide bomb attack left 46 dead and only yesterday a candidate for Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League party was shot and killed in Lahore.

We should not be surprised to hear then, that fewer than 35% of Pakistani voters are thought to have ventured to the polls today. In one province in Lahore, for example, where 800 women were registered to vote, by midday, only three had arrived to do so, leaving the presiding officer of the polling station to reflect, “God willing, the ladies will come out after they’ve finished their house work.”

But it is not just widespread violence (or ‘house work’) that is to blame for voters’ reluctance to queue up at polling stations; fears of extensive rigging seem also to have stymied many. Aside from prevalent reports from the two main opposition parties of electoral corruption, Human Rights Watch also claim to have a telephone conversation featuring Pakistan’s Attorney-General, Malik Qayyum, boasting that the election would be “massively rigged” in favour of Musharraf’s party. Stories of Police firing at journalists and roadblocks set up outside polling stations (to keep out voters in opposition strongholds) will do nothing to dispel such reports.

In the event of a vote in which each of the main parties placed their confidence, a hung parliament would seem the most likely outcome, with the possibility of the two main opposition parties mounting a formidable opposition to the incumbent’s regime. However such political concord in Pakistan seems wishful thinking. More likely, dissatisfaction and frustration will see Pakistan’s streets once again ablaze and Musharraf’s pledge to see that “nothing of the sort will be allowed” will only serve to exacerbate violence.

The Mother of all elections? Perhaps not. But Pervez Musharraf kindly reassures us that he will nonetheless co-operate with whoever is elected ‘harmoniously’. It’s just a shame no-one believes him.

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The death of Imad Mughniyeh, Hezbollah’s most secret operative who for decades managed to elude attempts by US and Israeli spies and special forces to capture or kill him, has raised many questions as to those responsible. Hezbollah, naturally, blamed the “Israeli Zionists,” in conjunction with Satan and Satan’s step-brother, Ehud Olmert for the assassination of “a great jihadist leader of the Islamic resistance.”

“Syria, which condemns this cowardly terrorist act, expresses condolences to the martyr family and to the Lebanese people,” Interior Minister Bassam Abdul-Majeed said in a statement. Iran also condemned the killing, praising Mughniyeh as a martyr and describing the attack as “yet another brazen example of organised state terrorism by the Zionist regime”.

Mughniyeh was among several suspects indicted in the US for the 1985 hijacking of a TWA airliner in which a US Navy diver was killed. Israel believes he was involved in planning the 1992 bombing of Israel’s embassy in Argentina in which 29 people were killed, and the blast at a Buenos Aires Jewish centre two years later that killed 95. A former head of Israel’s Mossad secret service, Danny Yatom, summed it up quite succinctly when he called the killing “a big achievement for the free world against terrorist organisations.”

Today, at the funeral of Mughniyeh (peace hell be upon him) in Beirut, Lebanon, Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah said the war against the Jewish State was not over: “Zionists, if you want this sort of open war, then let the whole world hear, so be it!” he declared, to a crowd of armed intellectuals and notable camel-herders.

On this glorious day of romanticism, I wait eagerly for the moment Hassan Nasrallah joins his fellow martyrs amongst 100 (other) virgins, and wish Imad Mughniyeh a Happy Valentine’s Day.

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Imad Mughniyeh, a top leader of terrorist organisation Hezbollah has just been killed in a bombing in Damascus. Hezbollah have blamed Israel for the attack, who have denied any involvement. I will take them at their word. But even if Israel had killed him, so what?!

He was on both US and Israeli most wanted lists. Responsible for hostage takings in the 1980s in Lebanon. The leader of a terrorist organisation who would happily, and has happily targeted civilians in attacks to try and coerce the Israeli government into withdrawing from Lebanon (which they did in 2000 - Hezbollah carried on firing rockets into Northern Israel though!). This was a truly awful man, and the world is better off without him, just as it is better off without other terrorists who have met similar fates at the wrong end of an Israeli missile.

Get rid of all those who inspire extremism, perpetuate hatred, and help administer bloodshed.

The message is clear; Israel will not stand for terrorist activity against its civilians, and nor should they. Good riddance Mr Mughniyeh.

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Some of the earliest civilisations grew up in Mesopotamia, between the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates, which run through Iraq. Neighbouring Iran has its fair share of ancient history; Persepolis - the great city of the Persians is in south central Iran and is dramatically different to the image President Bush portrays of the country.

Modern Iran is caricatured as an evil state, menacingly stockpiling nuclear weapons to assault Israel and Europe. While the Iranian government should be seen this way, the Iranian people should not.

Like many populations ruled by despotic governments, the people of Iran should not have their name sullied by the actions a government imposed upon them.

James Vlahos of National Geographic took advantage of a new Iranian initiative to welcome tourists - even Americans - to learn about the real Iran. It’s a brilliant way to counter the propaganda from the US.

He visited Persepolis and Esfahan, the latter being an extraordinarily beautiful city. More Casablanca than Syriana. In Esfahan he chatted with locals, explored beautiful and ancient Mosques, and witnessed the real change happening in Iran today: his guide Maziar Rahimi spoke to him of “The young women wearing their scarves far back and more makeup. Change is coming.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad remains a serious threat to global security. His nuclear weapons program is not only real but must be halted immediately. However, that does not mean blowing up the parts of Iran James Vlahos visited. We already know of Humvees rampaging through ancient Iraqi towns and the rampant looting in Baghdad. This is what we must avoid. These countries are led by evil men, but they themselves are not evil. An hour speaking with Vahid Mousavifard, an ordinary citizen, an example of the real Iran, would make this plainly clear to all who deign to find out.

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They aren’t just his views. They are views espoused by millions of people across Europe. Young and old, man and woman, - and every shade in between. There are people of every race, colour, and creed who believe in the all-accommodating views of Rowan Williams. These views plague not just the Archbishop of Canterbury, but people from all walks of life. Across this great old continent, the birthplace of Enlightenment liberalism, a wave of this philosophy is growing in popularity.

This philosophy purports to be a pluralistic, multicultural creation. One that allows all people to live as they wish, practice their religion as they choose, and adhere to their societal beliefs in any country. If you do not know what this actually means, it can sound appealing.

An example from Slate illustrating why we must not subscribe to this philosophy:

Picture the life of a young Urdu-speaking woman brought to Yorkshire from Pakistan to marry a man—quite possibly a close cousin—whom she has never met. He takes her dowry, beats her, and abuses the children he forces her to bear. She is not allowed to leave the house unless in the company of a male relative and unless she is submissively covered from head to toe.

When your culture allows this to happen, when your customs, rites, and traditions infringe on the rights of any other human being (including those who claim to be of your religion, race, or country) they should not be permitted, in a free and just society. Which is exactly what we live in, and exactly what Rowan Williams threatens.

Rowan Williams’ all-embracing, non-judgemental philosophy is so dangerous not because we should place our civilisation on a pedestal as Fukuyama does. We must see the value in other civilisations, because many countries, including some in President Bush’s Axis of Evil, have glorious histories and inspiring traditions. It is so dangerous because all civilisations have deep flaws, and to indiscriminately embrace everyones’ flaws is calamitous, cruel to the subjugated, and an abandonment of real liberalism.

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