Last week, the Onion offered a satirical story with a Baghdad dateline: “After 19 months of struggle in Iraq, U.S. military officials conceded a loss to Iraqi insurgents Monday, but said America can be proud of finishing ‘a very strong second.’ ”
The sweep of coverage suggests that Iraq’s occupiers have turned post-invasion chaos into a hellish nightmare and perhaps a quagmire – and the consensus is that matters will only grow worse.
It was a heartening story last weekend, about the huge generator being installed, piece by gigantic piece, in Baghdad. When it comes on stream in a few months, there will supposedly be more than enough energy to power all the new gadgets that liberated Baghdadis have been plugging in.
No, it wasn’t a heartening story, either. Where was this generator when it was needed, about 18 months ago? Who was supposed to be in charge of seeing to that then, and why has he or she not been summarily fired?
Much of the good news from Iraq has been qualified or worse by a downside of this kind. Thus, if they hear a bang in the night, the people of Iraqi Kurdistan can now turn over and go back to sleep: It won’t be the death squads of Saddam Hussein anymore. But this new security has given some the opportunity to decide they want to quit what they regard as the failed state that has replaced the regime.
Iraqis complain about security but are positive about the future. They reflect optimism not only in polls but also in actions. The new Iraqi currency, issued on Oct. 15, 2003, at 2,000 Iraqi dinars to the dollar, is free of Hussein’s image. It is also free-floating, and even at the height of the April uprising and the battle for Najaf, it remained stable, trading between 1,400 and 1,500 dinars to the dollar. If Iraq is in trouble, don’t tell the Canadians: The dinar regularly outperforms the Canadian dollar on international markets.
Iraqis also express confidence with investment, which spans the country. Electricity is unreliable, so restaurateurs have invested as much as $50,000 for top-model generators. A new clothing boutique represents a $200,000 investment. There are new hotels in Najaf and Karbala. Cigarette venders have traded pushcarts for tobacco shops. Kurdish investors are constructing a cancer treatment center in Erbil. In the slums of Sadr City, houses cost $45,000, nearly double their prewar value. In the swankier district of Mansur, new houses sell for more than 10 times that amount.
Freedom matters. Before the war, only the top 3,000 Hussein loyalists could access the Internet. Today, more than 100,000 households have dial-up connections. This number does not reflect the thousands of young Iraqi men who surf the Web (and try to pick up women) at cafes that dot cities, small towns and villages.
During Hussein’s rule, 1 out of 6 Iraqis fled the country as refugees. Not only has there not been a mass exodus since Iraq’s liberation, but more than a million refugees have returned.
Even at the height of the insurgents’ bombing campaign, young men lined up at recruitment stations, not only for the salary but also to make Iraq a better place.
Written by,
Prof. Kamran
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Economic crisis threatens the world
We are now witnessing what we haven't seen in more than a half century: a global financial crisis. And despite a recent stock market rally, there is no reason to think that the financial shocks have run their course.
Even if they have, the damage already done to the world economy is incalculable. Ten million more workers are unemployed, goods are piling up on wharfs, and economic conditions for hundreds of millions have become near catastrophic.
From the deliberations of a recent meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the leaders of the main capitalist countries, it is evident that no one has a clue as to how to keep the financial turmoil and its ricochet effects within manageable bounds.
In fact, the only thing on which the participants could agree was that the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank should cut its prime lending rate, which it did. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, shortly after the meeting, announced an interest rate cut to 5 percent. Wall Street and other financial centers around the world, not surprisingly, greeted the announcement with delight.
But, coming on the heels of an earlier reduction in interest rates, Greenspan's decision is not a sign of the underlying strength of the global economy, nor should it be taken as an indication that the worst of the economic/financial shakeout is behind us. Rather, the rate cut reflects fundamental weaknesses of global capitalism. What effect this rate reduction will have beyond a temporary rebound in the stock market is not clear. We do know, however, that it provides no immediate relief to hundreds of millions battered by this financial hurricane. As events have made painfully clear, no country is insulated from the gale winds of the present global economic storm.
In the longer term, even with the best outcome on Nov. 3, the present moment urgently calls for new levels of militancy, new forms of struggle, new demands and new alliances on the part of the international working class. Labor cannot resolve the crises of capitalism; crises are built into the system and are inevitable. But labor can and must fight for its immediate needs. What is more, labor must also - and the sooner the better - fight for "Bill of Rights socialism" - the more basic solution to capitalist economic crises. This presents a big challenge to the international labor movement, but one that it will surely meet. Our own labor movement, especially since the change in the top leadership in 1995, is battling the transnational corporations and banks in a new way not seen for at least a half century - in some cases successfully, as evidenced by the legislative fight over Fast Track.
Similarly, labor in other corners of the globe is also fighting with a new resolve. To be sure, the process of globalization brings to the fore new difficulties for hundreds of millions of working people. But it is also enlarging the working class on a global scale, including in countries where the working class and its mass production sector formerly comprised only a small fraction of the population.
This is deepening international solidarity and setting the stage for new advances for the international working class.
Even if they have, the damage already done to the world economy is incalculable. Ten million more workers are unemployed, goods are piling up on wharfs, and economic conditions for hundreds of millions have become near catastrophic.
From the deliberations of a recent meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the leaders of the main capitalist countries, it is evident that no one has a clue as to how to keep the financial turmoil and its ricochet effects within manageable bounds.
In fact, the only thing on which the participants could agree was that the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank should cut its prime lending rate, which it did. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, shortly after the meeting, announced an interest rate cut to 5 percent. Wall Street and other financial centers around the world, not surprisingly, greeted the announcement with delight.
But, coming on the heels of an earlier reduction in interest rates, Greenspan's decision is not a sign of the underlying strength of the global economy, nor should it be taken as an indication that the worst of the economic/financial shakeout is behind us. Rather, the rate cut reflects fundamental weaknesses of global capitalism. What effect this rate reduction will have beyond a temporary rebound in the stock market is not clear. We do know, however, that it provides no immediate relief to hundreds of millions battered by this financial hurricane. As events have made painfully clear, no country is insulated from the gale winds of the present global economic storm.
In the longer term, even with the best outcome on Nov. 3, the present moment urgently calls for new levels of militancy, new forms of struggle, new demands and new alliances on the part of the international working class. Labor cannot resolve the crises of capitalism; crises are built into the system and are inevitable. But labor can and must fight for its immediate needs. What is more, labor must also - and the sooner the better - fight for "Bill of Rights socialism" - the more basic solution to capitalist economic crises. This presents a big challenge to the international labor movement, but one that it will surely meet. Our own labor movement, especially since the change in the top leadership in 1995, is battling the transnational corporations and banks in a new way not seen for at least a half century - in some cases successfully, as evidenced by the legislative fight over Fast Track.
Similarly, labor in other corners of the globe is also fighting with a new resolve. To be sure, the process of globalization brings to the fore new difficulties for hundreds of millions of working people. But it is also enlarging the working class on a global scale, including in countries where the working class and its mass production sector formerly comprised only a small fraction of the population.
This is deepening international solidarity and setting the stage for new advances for the international working class.
Inside Pakistan
Pakistan, which consists of four provinces homes millions of its denisans.
After about 61 years of its creation once again it is in a plight.A feeling of malaise & suspicion prevails among its people.Even the newly elected government has failed to do a great deal for them & is totally dumbfound.
A beehive of problems surrounds the country, one of the major problems is the rise of terrorist attacks, a consequence of the war started by the government under international pressures. Now the attacks have spread to Karachi, Lahore & even Islamabad. No place is safe.
Moreover, recently their was contention between two sects in Karachi, causing bloodshed, strikes and a predicamence in a metropolitan city which is recognised as the heart of the city. Fortunately, now this rivalry has almost ended due to joint venture of certain political parties which include MQM & ANP.
It was very ironic when bomblasts occured in bombay affecting both Pakistan & India as Pakistan was blamed for the blasts. Much tension prevails between the two countries although many countries are trying to subside it.
It seems that there is a need of unity, patience & love among people which can only be possible if the people are brought closer to their religion.
Difficult & dangerous times lay ahead Pakistani government & it needs to move carefully & stop vacillating.
After about 61 years of its creation once again it is in a plight.A feeling of malaise & suspicion prevails among its people.Even the newly elected government has failed to do a great deal for them & is totally dumbfound.
A beehive of problems surrounds the country, one of the major problems is the rise of terrorist attacks, a consequence of the war started by the government under international pressures. Now the attacks have spread to Karachi, Lahore & even Islamabad. No place is safe.
Moreover, recently their was contention between two sects in Karachi, causing bloodshed, strikes and a predicamence in a metropolitan city which is recognised as the heart of the city. Fortunately, now this rivalry has almost ended due to joint venture of certain political parties which include MQM & ANP.
It was very ironic when bomblasts occured in bombay affecting both Pakistan & India as Pakistan was blamed for the blasts. Much tension prevails between the two countries although many countries are trying to subside it.
It seems that there is a need of unity, patience & love among people which can only be possible if the people are brought closer to their religion.
Difficult & dangerous times lay ahead Pakistani government & it needs to move carefully & stop vacillating.
A note of welcome
This blog has been created to keep you informed about the world, its political versmilitude, new arising affairs & their impact on quotidian life.
It also aims to provide you liberty of commenting on different topics published & even publishing your own articles here!
I, Daniyal, therefore welcome all of you on this blog to get, share & comment!
It also aims to provide you liberty of commenting on different topics published & even publishing your own articles here!
I, Daniyal, therefore welcome all of you on this blog to get, share & comment!
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