Rug Pundits » Michael Semple

reason vs. polemics – how Pakistani intellectuals face the looming US approach on their country

Jakob Steiner — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:37:10 +0000

Qalandar Bux Memon has recently published an article commenting on Hillary Clinton’s visit and her statements in Pakistan. Read it here at the Samosa, but it was also published in DAWN and referred to by Yasir here. I recieved emails from Pakistani Leftist Political Activists who praised the article and I guess it was cheered by the conservatives and conspiracy theorists alike. He starts off with a cheap populist intro on how many Osamas and Mullah Omars may live in Pakistan. The “American mantra” that Osama bin Laden and the head of the Quetta shura are based there he rejects stubbornly like the country’s politicians. He goes on to rebut the picture painted by the Western media of the country with the examples of Sufis and Christians. Offended, and taking Western claims of a “failed state” too personal he acts like many Pakistanis do at the moment – negating reality, trying to paint over the failures rather than admitting them and offering home-grown solutions. Yesterday I watched a documentary on snow leopards in Chitral – wonderful pictures, an amazing animal - where at one point notable journalist Nisar Malik understandebly laments, that the country is covered seldom for wonders like this natural one but mostly for terrorism. His contribution to get a better picture is this movie, but to just portray Pakistan as a natural paradise would hardly be the solution to its problems.

Of course the extreme adverse side of critics also does exist – Pakistani writers who continuously blame their own country (often including themselves as it’s citizens) for it’s current situation. Ahmed Rashid often does so, Pervez Hoodbhoy and Nadeem Paracha as well. I respect their assessments and find them constructive, in case of the latter they sometimes do tend to go into the all-destructive though.

Manan Ahmed on chapatimystery showed that coming up with conspiracy theories or offended negations is not necessary to counter the US push into Pakistan. He offers a straight confutation of a NYTimes OpEd by “one of the brains behind President Obama’s Afghanistan policy”, Seth Jones.

He also links to a hottly debated post at Registan which not only bashes Jones but also Michael Semple on the article I recently referred to. It sounds a bit harsh, I would have seen Semple in less critical light but Foust may be more informed (although some commenters disagree). His bashing of Kilcullen I would agree with though.

SufiLore #1 – Which way, Taliban?

Jakob Steiner — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:05:17 +0000

Copying Tim Stevens’ (on ubiwar) and others’ concept of a material list provided continuously on stuff previously read or dealt with, I will start a regular material list, always on a specific topic, including a small number of links, with one line each to underline the reason why I included it. The material will include stuff I read or watched, in some cases (like with the book in the first list) I will make exceptions and mark them with stars.

Which way, Taliban?

[Article] Flipping the Taliban. Fotini Christia and Michael Semple, July/August 2009, Foreign Affairs Volume 88, Number 4.

“For many Taliban ﬁghters, insurgency has nothing to do with Islamic zealotry; it is a way of life.”

[Article] Know Thine Enemy – Why the Taliban Cannot Be Flipped. Barbara Elias, November 2 2009, Foreign Affairs (online).

“And there is little reason not to expect flipped Taliban to flip back when it suits their purposes.”

[Video] Transition to What?. Talk at the Halifax Forum, November 21 2009.

“Stick with it brothers, and we’ll topple the government.”

[Blog] A Study of Martyrs. Blog Thread by Mari Saurgo on www.makingsenseofjihad.com

In January 2008, Al-Fajr Media Center, an al-Qaida affiliated media group, released an extensive issue in its series, “Biographies of the Martyrs in the Land of Khorasan.”

*[Book] My Life with the Taliban. Abdul Salam Zaeef/Alex Strick van Linschoten/Felix Kuehn, to be published on January 31 2010.

“…presents a unique insight into the worldview of the Taliban.”

Afghanistan: Transition to What?

Jakob Steiner — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:51:29 +0000

Unfortunately they have Audio problems half way through. But what you can hear is well worth it. Especially the first part.

Michael Semple (is he really wearing Peshawari chappels there?) and Najam Sethi (one of European media’s darlings-trias when it comes to local commenters – Ahmed Rashid, Tariq Ali, Najam Sethi) are bringing in great points on rather (or firstof) increasing confidence than troop-numbers and to keep the Pakistani army in the loop.

John McCain is stable, getting older by the day (don’t watch the video with headphones, he touches his mic all the time, it hurts), but doing good in his arguments. I wish Obama had some of his traits and insights.

Rick Hillier – pale, poor insight.

Quest for the European Perspective – II

Jakob Steiner — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:29:17 +0000

Staying with Rory Stewart (see the earlier entry) I want to share a lecture from Michael Semple who was envoy of the EU to Afghanistan. I found that at CNAS/Abu Muqawama Blog. It’s a beautifully messy lecture over 90 min. -