Pakistan's Biggest Threat Isn't Foreign

Ask 10 Pakistanis what the cause of their country's security breakdown is, and you are likely to hear at least 10 answers. One of the most widespread beliefs is that Pakistan's problems, much like those of neighboring Afghanistan, were caused by foreign entities - or, more specifically, foreign meddling in domestic affairs.

Regardless of how bad the situation may appear, many I've spoken with here in Pakistan are skeptical that any foreign players know how to solve Pakistan's domestic problems. But after what I've seen here, I disagree.

Pakistan is in dire need of the proper financing to get it back on its feet and help it address the economic and social problems that might be causing its downfall. However, if the United States has a genuine desire to see a stable Pakistan, then President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton must distance themselves from the shortsighted policies of the Bush administration, whether that be military assistance or occasional drone attacks. Recovery can only come in the form of hefty economic development and an overhaul of Pakistan's outdated infrastructure. We saw one positive step in this direction this week: the trade and transit agreement signed by Pakistan and Afghan leaders in Washington on Wednesday aimed at increasing commerce and foreign investment.

In recent months, a financial boost from governments including the U.S., Japan and Saudi Arabia has further emphasized the idea that the key to curbing violence in Pakistan is economic and social development. Pakistan, which recently signed a loan package with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for $7.6 billion, has experienced a significant economic decline in recent years as its inflation rate climbed to 25 percent and its stocks plummeted, falling an average 35 percent last year. All major rating agencies have downgraded Pakistan and the recent surge in terrorist-related attacks has caused most new investments to dry up. What's worse, economists in Pakistan are predicting significant job losses over the next two years of anywhere from 3 to 4 million people, further exacerbating the crisis faced by Pakistan's poor and struggling middle class.

Further exacerbating Pakistan's instability is the growing number of displaced persons in the country. Currently more than 1.7 million Afghan refugees live in Pakistan. 45 percent of those reside in refugee villages and the rest are scattered among host communities, according to UNHCR. However, recent violence in the Swat Valley and neighboring Buner and Dir has forced hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis to flee, leaving the overburdened Pakistani government scrambling for solutions.

Many of the citizens here are scared. Even in Lahore, which is considered relatively safe, a series of recent attacks have left many on edge. Many dual passport holders are now opting to leave for lack of a better option. Many here have little confidence in their government's ability to cap this growing threat.

Those countries willing to support Pakistan through financial assistance have a responsibility to ensure that the money is properly allocated. Better roads and bridges, more job opportunities through business development, and further development of the country's energy sector could provide hope to an increasingly disenfranchised population and move this country forward.

Cooperation is a two-way street. In return, Pakistan must be more transparent with donors as the security situation worsens. Pakistani forces have been spread thin by military operations in the Swat Valley and neighboring districts. The Taliban will continue to advance across the country's North West Frontier Province. The Pakistani government must not allow pride to get the best of it. The country has long been fearful that any foreign intervention could compromise its nuclear program - but domestic entities pose a threat that is far more grim. The time to act is now
prof Mohammad Ashfaq

US Foreign Policy in year 2009

2009 Lowlights and Highlights in US Foreign Policy

From Barry Kolodkin, former About.com Guide

Afghan Army Soldiers in Helmand Province

John Moore/Getty Images

The end of the year provides opportunity for review of the year's events. We take the opportunity to offer our view of the Top 5 Lowlights and Highlights of the year 2009 in US foreign policy.

Lowlights

1. Afghanistan. The war in Afghanistan¹ has been going on eight years; longer than Vietnam or either of the World Wars. The US has been losing ground to the Taliban and has stretched into Pakistan. US hopes for an increasingly unpopular war now rely on a military surge which helped stabilize the Iraqi situation but did little to bring the US closer to victory.

2. Iran. The Iranian nuclear weapons program² is still going strong. President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad is still in power and "busting heads" of protesters. America has not succeeded to change Iranian policy³ through sanctions or through engagement and friendlier rhetoric. Hopes for change in Iran lie with the brave people in green who stand for protest for freedom and democracy.

3. Africa. President Bill Clinton said his biggest regret was not doing more to stop the 1990s genocide in Rwanda⁴. In 2009, Africa is stricken with genocide in Darfur, the atrocities of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, pirates in Somalia, the UN battling rebels in the Congo and placing sanctions on Eritrea and widespread urban crime and violence. Fifteen years after the Rwandan genocide, the West still really does not care about Africa. At least not very much.

4. Iraq. The good news: Iraq⁵ is a far less violent place than it was five years ago and US troops are being sent home. The bad news: There are still plenty of IEDs⁶ and anti-American sentiments. Plus, the Iraqi government is susceptible to Iranian influence.

5. Guantanamo. The delay in shutting down the prison in Guantanamo⁷ is reminiscent of Congress not wanting to seem weak on terrorism during the vote on the invasion of Iraq. American prisons want Guantanamo's prisoners. Highly trained and valuable US soldiers are being utilized as prison guards for people who should be executed, set free or receive justice in the land where they committed their atrocities.

Honorable Mention

-- Latin America. Kidnappings in Phoenix, executions in Juarez, Chavez stirring the pot in Venezuela, support for Zelaya in Honduras and slow progress with Cuba make Latin America⁸ a weak spot in foreign policy in 2009.

-- China. The US and China are not adversaries⁹. However, the two countries are far from friends, which seems strange considering the tremendous economic linkages, the number of Chinese studying and living in America and common geopolitical interests such as curbing international terrorism and extremism.

Highlights

1. Restoring hope and faith in the US. The Obama Administration¹⁰, regardless of the relative merits of the Nobel Peace Prize¹¹, has brought hope to the rest of the world that the US will bring moral and steady leadership in the 21st century¹².

2. Russia. Secretary Clinton¹³ hoped to reset the relationship with Russia¹⁴. While the US-Russian relationship is not as friendly as the Clinton-Yeltsin years, the palpable acrimony during the later years of the Putin regime is no longer apparent, and Presidents Obama and Medvedev appear to be making headway on arms control negotiations.

3. Middle East peace. Is the world close to a lasting peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians¹⁵? Not at all. Nonetheless, the fact that Israel's Likud government led by Benjamin Netanyahu¹⁶ has re-engaged, publicly stated acceptance of some form of a two-state solution and agreed to freeze the majority of settlements is no small feat. Obama and Clinton deserve credit for their renewed effort and results, albeit somewhat limited results.

4. Response to the economic crisis. 2009 saw the US provide leadership to try to stimulate the global economy¹⁷ and add financial regulation. While the worldwide economic growth is still sluggish, most economists believe the worst is over.

5. NATO. The decision to delay NATO expansion¹⁸ to Georgia and Ukraine was a smart one, as was the decision to accept Albania and Croatia. In addition, the US has managed to garner some additional international support for the surge in Afghanistan.

Honorable Mention

-- Old Europe. Two years ago, the US was criticized for forsaking Old or Western Europe in favor of New¹⁹ or Eastern Europe. This is no longer the case.

Prof Mohammad Ashfaq Government Sadiq Egerton College Bahawalpur Pakistan

circular debt

This is a
funny story explaining circular debt -

It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted. It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.

Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town... He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 Euro note on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to choose one.

The hotel proprietor takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the butcher. The butcher takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the pig grower.

The pig grower takes the 100 Euro note, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel...

The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his debt to the town's prostitute that in these hard times, gave her "services" on credit.

The hooker runs to the hotel, and pays off her debt with the 100 Euro note to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that she rented when she brought her clients there.

The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 Euro note back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.

At that moment, the tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 Euro note, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.

No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.....
Enjoy this happy reading
Prof Mohammad Ashfaq

Recommended books for M.A. International Relations

Recommended books for M.A. International Relations
By Professor Mohammad Ashfaq
Making Globalization Work (Reprint)
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Essential Chomsky
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Pakistan on the brink: politics, economics, and society‎
by Craig Baxter - Political Science - 2004 - 244 pages
Foreign policy of Pakistan: reflections of an ambassador‎ - Page 41
by Sajjad Hyder
Pakistan's foreign policy: an historical analysis‎ - Page 426
by S. M. Burke, Lawrence Ziring - Political Science- 1990 - 498 pages
Pakistan 2000‎ - Page 107
by Charles H. Kennedy, Craig Baxter, American Institute of Pakistan Studies
Pakistan Foreign Policy
(Hardcover - 2005)by S.k. Patnaik
Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History (New Edition)
by Joseph S. Nye
Readings in Pakistan Foreign Policy
Editor: Mehrunnisa Ali
Geopolitics of Emotion: How Cultures of Fear, Humiliation, and Hope are Reshaping the World
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A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and the Creation of the Modern Middle East (REV)
by David Fromkin
Forces of Fortune: The Rise of the New Muslim Middle Class and What It Will Mean for Our World
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7 Deadly Scenarios: A Military Futurist Explores War in the 21st Century
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Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army (Revised) by Jeremy Scahill
Inside the Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World by Joel C. Rosenberg
Failed States: The Abuse of Power and the Assault on Democracy (Bargain) by Noam Chomsky
World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century (Further Updated and Expanded) (Third Edition)
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The Post-American World
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The Dead Hand: The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy
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Read My Pins: Stories from a Diplomat's Jewel Box by Madeleine Albright
TUCH, Hans N., ed. COMMUNICATING WITH THE WORLD IN THE 1990s: A Commemorative Symposium . USIA Alumni Assoc. and The Public Diplomacy Foundation. Wash. DC 1994
TUCH, Hans N. COMMUNICATING WITH THE WORLD: U.S. PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OVERSEAS .
St. Martins Press, N.Y., 1990
Diplomatic Theory From Machiavelli To Kissinger (Studies in Diplomacy)
By G. R. Berridge
Arts of Power: Statecraft and Diplomacy
By Charles W., Jr. Freeman
Diplomacy: Theory and Practice, Second Edition
By G. R. Berridge
A Dictionary of Diplomacy
By Geoff Berridge
Beliefs and Leadership in World Politics
Methods and Applications of Operational Code Analysis
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Edited by Mark Schafer and Stephen G. Walker Palgrave Macmillan
Purpose and Policy in the Global Community
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Bruce Russett Palgrave Macmillan
Modeling Bilateral International Relations
The Case of U.S.-China Interactions
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Xinsheng Liu Palgrave Macmillan
Civil-Military Dynamics, Democracy, and International Conflict
A New Quest for International Peace
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Seung-Whan Choi and Patrick James Palgrave Macmillan
Integrating Cognitive And Rational Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Edited by Alex Mintz Palgrave Macmillan
Media, Bureaucracies, and Foreign Aid
A Comparative Analysis of United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France and Japan
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Douglas A. Van Belle, Jean-Sébastien Rioux, and David M. Potter Palgrave Macmillan
Nationalism in International Relations
Norms, Foreign Policy, and Enmity
Advances in Foreign Policy Analysis
Douglas Woodwell Palgrave Macmillan
Studies in Foreign Policy Analysis
Edited by Marijke Breuning, University of North Texas, and Bertjan Verbeek, Radboud University Nijmegen
A Theory of Foreign Policy by Glenn Palmer
Foreign Policy Analysis: Classic and Contemp... by Valerie M. Hudson
Foreign Policy Decision Making (Revisited) by Richard C. Snyder
Globalization and Its Discontents by Joseph E. Stiglitz
The Changing Politics of Foreign Policy
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The Limits of Ethics in International Relations: Natural Law, Natural Rights, and Human Rights in Transition (Hardback - 21 May 2009)
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Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia (Paperback - 7 Apr 2009)
Ahmed Rashid
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Political Communication (Paperback - 30 Mar 2009)
Steven Foster
Transnationalism (Paperback - 27 Mar 2009)
Steven Vertovec
Diplomacy, Third Edition: Theory and Practice
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Trevor C. Salmon and Mark F.Imber eds, Issues in International Relations, (Routledge 2008 2nd ed.)

Joseph S. Nye,Understanding International Conflicts, (Pearson 2006 6th ed)

William R. Keylor ,The Twentieth-Century World and Beyond :An International History since 1900
(OUP 2006 5th ed.)
John Baylis, Steve Smith,, Patricia Owens (Eds) The Globalization of World Politics
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Chris Brown with Kirsten Ainsley ,Understanding International Relations,
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International Relations Theory (Paperback / softback - 19 Mar 2009)
Dr Oliver Daddow
Theories of International Relations (Paperback - 3 Mar 2009)
Scott Burchill; Richard Devetak; Jacqui True; Matthew Paterson
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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics (Hardback - 26 Feb 2009)
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Critical Theorists and International Relations (Interventions) by Jenny Edkins and Nick Vaughan-williams (Paperback - April 2, 2009
Realism in International Relations and International Political Economy: The Continuing Story of a Death Foretold (The New International Relations) by Stefano Guzzini (Paperback - May 6, 1998)
The Wealth of States: A Comparative Sociology of International Economic and Political Change (Cambridge Studies in International Relations)
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International Relations: A General Theory by J. W. Burton
Islam and International Relations by J. Harris Proctor
Islam, Liberalism and Human Rights: Implications for International Relations by Kate Dalacoura
Islam and the Political: Theory, Governance and International Relations (Decolonial Studies, Postcolonial Horizons) (Paperback)
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The International Relations Dictionary (Clio Dictionaries in Political Science) by Jack C. Plano (Paperback - Mar 1988)
The Emergence of the Global Political Economy (International Relations and History Series) by Willia Thompson (Paperback - Jan 31, 2000)
Research Methods: A Process of Inquiryby Anthony M. Graziano, Michael L. RaulinAmr G.E. Sabet (Author)
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THE PSYCHOLOGY THESIS RESEARCH AND COURSEWORK

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EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION HOW TO CREATE AND DELIVER A WINNING PRESENTATIO


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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WORLD POLITICS SECURITY, ECONOMY, INDENTIT

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MODERN POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES 3RD ED

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February 6, 2003


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CONTEMPORARY SOUTHEAST ASIA 2ND ED

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RESEARCH METHODS IN POLITICS 2ND ED COMPREHENSIVELY REVISED AND PDATED

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State of the economyPublished: June 6, 2009 THE third quarterly report of the State Bank of Pakistan on the state of the economy indicates a bumpy road ahead and should serve as a warning against complacency. Despite a number of positive developments, the message delivered is that the economy is still not out of the woods and faces a number of vulnerabilities. The country has reaped bumper wheat and rice harvests and there is a likelihood of good production in the minor crops also, thanks to good weather and, in the case of wheat, timely announcement of the new support price. It is heartening to note that the headline inflation, measured by CPI, dropped to 17.2 percent on Year on Year basis in April 2009 from its peak of 25.3 percent YoY in August 2008. What is real good news is that there has been a sharp downturn in food inflation, which fell from its YoY peak of 34.1 percent in August 2008 to 17.0 percent in August 2009. This would provide a modicum of solace to low-income groups. It is also good to learn that current account deficit narrowed substantially with a corresponding stability in the exchange rate. Further, fiscal discipline was maintained leading to hopes that GDP growth would narrow to 4.0 to 4.5 percent this financial year from 7.4 percent last year, though the report notes that the target might be tough to meet. There are however numerous deficiencies that need to be overcome if the growth rate, lowered to between 2.0 and 3.0 percent from the previous estimate of 2.5-3.5 pc, is to be met. Three major indicators point to underlying weaknesses which, if not addressed, could hamper economic recovery. These include a stubbornly high inflation, a massive deterioration in the external account and a declining industrial output, especially in the Large Scale Manufacturing sector which has suffered an output fall of 7.7 percent over the last nine months. Besides the internal vulnerabilities, there are other possible shocks that the economy would find hard to bear. Foremost among these is any big rise in the price of oil, an issue that continues to worry even the US and was taken up by President Obama with Saudi King Abdullah early this week. The State Bank rightly underlines that any reduction in the social sector development would be detrimental to human and physical infrastructure. The NEC on Thursday approved the highest ever Rs 621 billion PSDP for 2009-10. What is worrisome is that the Chairman Planning Commission hopes to use foreign inflows of around $2 billion to further enhance the PDSP. Relying on promises of foreign assistance is like skating on thin ice. One hopes the government will not this time treat the PSDP as the first item to be axed in case of a revenue shortfall.

Diplomacy

Reviving Public Diplomacy: An Opportunity for the Next President By Lauren B. Movius

We have all heard of the dismal levels of international public opinion of the U.S. and the increasing levels of anti-Americanism. Some respond with a ‘so what?’ attitude, and question the need for more positive perceptions. But international public opinion has very real consequences for the U.S and its people. Foreign public opposition to the Iraq war has weakened U.S. alliances, U.S. companies face hostility across the globe, and international terrorism is an ever-constant threat. Public diplomacy needs to be a key issue for the future President’s foreign policy, as a change in administration creates a strategic opening of significant proportions for U.S. diplomacy.
Related ContentAnnalsLink: "New Technologies and International Broadcasting" [pdf]AnnalsLink: "Moving from Monologue to Dialogue" [pdf]AnnalsLink: "Hard Power, Soft Power, Smart Power" [pdf]
The upcoming presidential election is already positively changing global public opinion. A recent BBC World Service poll found that the U.S. image abroad has begun to improve for the first time, following years of decline. The elections have drawn substantial media coverage from foreign journalists, thereby explaining American politics to the world, and hopefully presenting the country in a new light. That said, the U.S. is still viewed more negatively than the European Union, Brazil, China, India and Russia. If we are to restore our “beacon on the hill” status, the next president must capitalize on the goodwill the elections have brought and rejuvenate public diplomacy efforts.
While the Bush administration brought in several undersecretaries of state for public diplomacy and public affairs over the last seven years, all left office, and their public diplomacy efforts were largely unsuccessful. (Failures could be partially attributed to the position itself: With the dismantling of the U.S. Information Agency in 1999, the financial and organizational support for public diplomacy was greatly diminished. The current public diplomacy position is under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, though public affairs and public diplomacy are quite different matters and should be overseen separately.) Given these failures, some have questioned if a public diplomacy position is even needed. But public diplomacy is more important than ever and needs to be revived.
The recent failures to boost perceptions of the U.S. are not because public diplomacy is itself a bad idea, but because the policies being promoted were not accepted by foreign publics. Take the efforts of former-Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes as an example. Hughes’ strategy was to sell U.S. foreign policy, assuming that communication would lead to understanding and then admiration. But public diplomacy is not public relations for world powers. Citizens of other countries understand U.S. policies, but they do not agree with them. Future public diplomacy efforts must move beyond the outdated Cold War public diplomacy structure and work to enhance understanding between America and various publics around the world.
Second, while it is true that effective public diplomacy is vital to a successful American foreign policy, we cannot forget that smart foreign policy is vital to a successful public diplomacy. Hughes’ public diplomacy efforts were unsuccessful because our words did not align with our actions. The best public diplomacy is not a substitute for bad policy; the championing of human rights does not sit comfortably with Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo. Years of unilateralist foreign policy have diminished goodwill towards the U.S. The next president must ensure the U.S. lives up to the high standards it has traditionally set. Only then can we work on how our message is communicated to foreign publics.
Specifically, the next administration’s public diplomacy strategy should make U.S. foreign policy more sensitive to concerns of public diplomacy, as well as improve communication strategies and increase Congressional support for public diplomacy efforts. Fortunately, it seems that the remaining presidential candidates are aware of the power of public diplomacy and how to improve upon it. All three explicitly call for public diplomacy efforts to be increased, especially in combating violent extremism. And while they hold somewhat competing foreign policy philosophies, it is clear that the candidates all value the role public diplomacy can play in strengthening U.S. national interests across the globe.

Hardwork does pay in life

A successful businessman was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you.

"The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued.”I am going to give each one of you a SEED today – one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure…
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing.
Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.

When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified.

He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim.
He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it.
Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective* If you plant hard work, you will reap success* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.

"Whatever You Give To Life, Life Gives You Back"