by M K Bhadrakumar
It is extraordinary that a seasoned diplomat like Negroponte has chosen the
NED forum to make such a major speech on Pakistan. But then, "promoting
democracy" - the motto of NED - also happens to be a stated objective of US
policy towards Pakistan. Over the past quarter century, the US
government-funded NED has specialized as a handmaiden of American regional
policies.
The NED is well known for covertly funding and supporting politicians in
Latin American countries with strong support to the military. Its activities
in many countries are known to run parallel to those of the Central
Intelligence Agency. Its sensational role in conceptualizing and
orchestrating the "color revolutions" in Ukraine and Georgia was a
high-water mark in the organization's history since its inception in 1983,
mitigating to an extent its dismal failures in Iran, Venezuela and Cuba. . . .
What Negroponte implied was that Washington will categorically assure
Pakistan that no matter the change of administration in the White House next
year, the US commitment to a "long-term, substantial and comprehensive"
partnership with Pakistan will remain a cornerstone of American regional
policies. . . .
FULL TEXT
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Declan Walsh, "Pakistan: We Are No Longer
Your Killing Field," Guardian, March 27, 2008
Bruce Loudon, "Pakistan opposes US nuke oversight," Australian, April
16, 2008
[Washington has demanded direct access to Pakistan's Nuclear Command
Authority (NCA), the body that controls the country's nuclear weapons. To
show that it will not take "no" for an answer, Washington has posted an
officer at its embassy in Islamabad to liaise with the NCA. Other demands
include allowing US personnel to enter Pakistan on the basis of national
identity (such as a driver's licence), foregoing visas and passports;
accepting US licences, including arms licences, in Pakistan; US personnel
being allowed to bear arms and wear their uniform in Pakistan; and exemption
of American personnel from Pakistani law if they commit a crime. There are
close parallels between these demands and those that were imposed on Iran
during the Shah's rule, which led ultimately to the Islamic Revolution in
Iran (1978-79).--Waseem Shehzad, "US intensifies its
control over Pakistan's new civilian government," muslimedia.com,
May 2008]
