EU and the Middle East

Your editorial, “EU and Mideast” (Oct.14) states that Irish voters “approved” the Treaty of Lisbon. The Irish, like the Danes and French never “approved” any EU treaty; they were simply ordered by the EU ruling elite which way to vote. The EU, an organization with highly dubious democratic credentials, simply can’t take “no” for an answer. This unwieldy, remote, bureaucratically run undemocratic superstate has never been convincingly approved of by the peoples of the European nation states that currently make up that organization. Of course, the powers-that-be in Brussels are not going to allow their grand vision of a United States of Europe to be derailed by mere voters exercising their democratic rights!

Those who imagine that a mythical European megastate is going to be able to solve the problems of the Middle East are deluding themselves. The various countries of Europe relate to each other and to the Middle East in different ways, so it is mere fantasy that the EU will speak with “one voice” in foreign policy affairs. Just after the oil crisis back in 1973, I remember the Labour MP, the late Eric Heffer, demythologizing the “cooperation” between the members of the then Common Market; Heffer stated “they sold each other down the river for the last barrel of oil”.

I wish the Israelis and the Palestinians good luck in their quest for a settlement, but that is as far as it goes. Great Britain comes before all others as far as I am concerned. I will sacrifice my country’s sovereignty and independence for no one and for no cause, no matter how just that cause may be.

Francis A. Andrew, Nizwa, Oman published 16 October 2009

Taleban being used

I don’t understand why some people think that the people of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province are all bad as are Taleban. They don’t for a second consider the background or the reasons for them to be under this group. I do not support what the Taleban do, nor I ever will, but at least I feel the pain for my countrymen because they are being used, being brainwashed, being totally hypnotized into doing something they are told they were born to do, I guess.

These fighters of Taleban are only the children of a deprived and forgotten generation. Generations of their forefathers have been illiterate and poor. They have no clue to what to do; they are humans without knowing the difference between good and bad. They have always remained like that. It was just a question of which school of thought approached them first. The government of our country unfortunately ignored these people not knowing what illiteracy and poverty can produce. These fighters don’t even know what Islam means. They die or they are used as an instrument to make other people die with them. The mastermind behind all this will never commit suicide, will never want his child to join this kind of force. I am sure there is someone else manipulating these people, brainwashing them. That person, whoever he is, should be brought in and the government should hold negotiations with him. He is the one controlling all men with weapons, not these people with the weapons. As much as I feel sorry for the men with weapons, I feel more and more apprehensive of the men of Taleban attire. I hope the annihilators of humanity would stop this mass violence and our government would make proper use of the foreign aid they receive by educating all and by creating jobs, so there is not a soul in our country after some years who can be brainwashed. Well, if hopes and wishes were to become true, this one should top the list!

Durre Fatima, Riyadh published 16 October 2009

Honest Filipino

A Filipino has returned SR1.2m that he found outside a cash machine in Tabuk to its owner, according to a report you published on Oct. 14. I have always admired the Filipinos for their honesty and integrity. The Philippines will one day become a very prosperous nation because of such people.

Zaheer Ahmed, By e-mail published 16 October 2009

Honest Filipino 2

Honesty is a rare commodity in today’s world. Please let me offer my respects to Lark Michael B. Colegado, 34, from Tacloban and Misamis Oriental. He knows the most important lesson of all: “Wrong money eaten only produces wrong doings.” If we love our families why would we want them to eat poison?

Husam Gafur, By e-mail published 16 October 2009

Jeddah airport

The new runway of Jeddah airport was opened last week. The west runway is 4,000 meters long and 60 meters wide, with 7.5-meter shoulders on either side. All very well but the fact is that still you have to wait for hours at customs and immigration.

SPM, By e-mail published 16 October 2009

Afghanistan

This refers to Richard N. Haass’ article about Afghanistan (Oct. 14).

Haass begins with narrating the present circumstances, but completely ignores the US role in stoking the flames of religious fanaticism in that region for its own strategic objectives during Cold War. There is more to this story than terrorists emerging from out of nowhere. Haass offers a solution under which the so-called moderate Taleban can be part of a puppet regime. This is a seriously flawed logic. A Pashtun would never accept any such arrangement. The British and Russians have tried such a tactic and failed miserably. Accepting subjugation is not one of the Pashtun traits. Avenging their pride and blood certainly is, no matter how high the cost. Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan are one and the same ethnically, religiously and linguistically. How can you expect one country to remain insular from a neighboring state with all these links? That is like asking Germany to remain mum while Austria is attacked.

I wonder why does any discussion about establishing peace in Afghanistan always have to return to the question of nuclear assets of Pakistan. The Pakistani public sees this illogical correlation as part of some sinister plans hatched by big powers. The general assumption in Pakistan is that there is a plan within a plan. Instead of shifting all blame and expectations to Pakistan, perhaps it would be best to view the Iraq example. The violence in Iraq only subsided once there was an agreement on the exit of US troops.

Muhammad Aqdas, Islamabad published 16 October 2009