Stanford Report Documents U.S. Government’s False Narrative on Drone Strikes

By Brett Kaufman, Legal Fellow, ACLU National Security Project at 4:18pm

Today, researchers at the law schools of New York University and Stanford University published an important and comprehensively documented reportabout the human and strategic costs of the United States’ drone program in Pakistan. The report marshals research based on interviews of victims, witnesses, medical experts, and journalists in Pakistan, and a review of thousands of pages of documents and media reports, to arrive at its chief conclusions:

Far more civilians have been killed by American drone strikes in Pakistan than U.S. officials have been willing to acknowledge;

The government’s use of drones is a source of daily, incessant emotional and psychological terror to Pakistani civilians; and

The drone program has been “damaging and counterproductive” to the United States’ national security by turning the Pakistani public against U.S. policy.

The report, titled “Living Under Drones,” refutes the government’s ongoing attempt to tell a one-sided story to the public about its use of unmanned drones in Pakistan and elsewhere. As the report explains, U.S. officials publicly describe the drone program “in terms of its unprecedented ability to ‘distinguish . . . effectively between an al Qaeda terrorist and innocent civilians,’” and have sought to establish a narrative according to which drones are “capable of conducting strikes with ‘astonishing’ and ‘surgical’ precision.” In the words of the report, and as we have argued and sought to expose, “[t]his narrative is false.”

The report rejects the U. S. government’s claims to the public that there have been few or even “zero collateral deaths” as a result of American drone strikes in Pakistan. (Based on data compiled by the UK’s Bureau of Investigative Journalism, the report estimates that there have been 474 to 884 civilian deaths as a result of drone strikes since 2004, including 176 children.) And equally important, it details many of the unseen and often-unreported costs of the government’s use of drones: “Drones hover twenty-four hours a day over communities in northwest Pakistan, striking homes, vehicles, and public spaces without warning. Their presence terrorizes men, women, and children, giving rise to anxiety and psychological trauma among civilian communities.” (Watch a video about the creation of the report, and some of its findings, below.)

The report comes a week after the government refused, in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the ACLU, to confirm or deny that the CIA’s drone killing program even exists. Last week, we argued to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals that the CIA’s secrecy claim is untenable given statements by senior government officials discussing details of the program. As Judge Merrick Garland put it at the oral argument, the government is insisting that “the emperor has clothes, even when the emperor’s boss” has repeatedly acknowledged otherwise.

Both today’s report and our lawsuit make clear that the gap between what the government wants to tell the public about drones and what independent academics, journalists, and researchers have documented has now become a chasm.

Bardasht by Javed Chudry

A Big Secret of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

Why Ajmal deserved the ICC Nomination.

Many of us expected to see Saeed Ajmal on the shortlist for the ICC's Cricketer of the Year. The history of these awards dates back to 2004, and so far the only Pakistani name on the honour roll is that of Mohammad Yousuf, who won Test Cricketer of the Year in 2007. Of the nine Cricketers of the Year so far (the title was shared in 2005), six have been batsmen, and one a batting allrounder. We knew the 2012 list would be dominated by batsmen too, as such lists and awards usually are. But there has always been a bowler in the mix. Who else for 2012 but Ajmal?

The PCB was right to act on the fans' widespread sense of disappointment by lodging an official protestwith the ICC. The feeling has been compounded by a misconception still prevailing in some quarters that Ajmal's exclusion was similar to Graeme Swann's in 2010. Swann was included after a public outcry; the fact that Ajmal hasn't been feels like a double insult.

But the two cases are different. Swann hadn't made it onto the longlist, which is picked by a five-member panel of selectors in a consensus exercise, that allows for decisions to be reconsidered. Ajmal has made it onto the longlist but failed to garner enough support at the next level, a private ballot by the 32-member voting academy that whittles the longlist down to a handful of nominees. This is a confidential exercise handled by a major management consulting firm.

In a nutshell, while Swann failed to get selected, Ajmal failed to get elected. The ICC is arguing that selections can be reconsidered but elections cannot be overturned. The voting academy's failure to pick Ajmal can be likened to one of those irksome umpiring decisions where everybody heard the snick except the guy who needed to raise his finger.

There is not much you can do with the resulting frustration, except just soak it up. The PCB is making noises about going one step further, by threatening to boycott the awards. That would be a silly dead-end reaction, leading to nothing productive. Ajmal's exclusion may be a bad umpiring judgement hitting Pakistan like a kick between the eyes, but there is no DRS here. Every now and then you just have to accept an unfair outcome and move on. It happens in cricket all the time.

As for the judgement itself, it remains perplexing why Ajmal would be omitted by members of the voting academy. This rather grandly named body comprises distinguished former players, respected media figures, representatives from the elite panel of referees and umpires, and Clive Lloyd, who chairs the ICC's influential cricket committee. It is charged with vigorous pursuit of the truth, but on Ajmal it has stumbled.

	It all boils down to this: in contrast to Philander, Ajmal took more wickets, was a force in all three formats, was involved in more wins for his side, and defeated the top-ranked side more often

Ajmal himself has shrugged this matter off without much fuss. He is a straight, open, plainspoken man, with a hearty innocence that utterly charms and disarms. There is no posturing about him, no grandstanding, no contrived theatrics. The only thing crooked and mysterious about him is his bowling, which has taken him to a sustained hover around the top of the ICC rankings.

Three of the four names picked for the 2012 Cricketer of the Year shortlist are batsmen, which means that Ajmal's competition for this spot had really only been with Vernon Philander, the talented South African bowler. Given their relative contributions and influence, the preference for Philander over Ajmal sends out a worrisome message. At best, it suggests that the academy members need a refresher in some of the basics. At worst, it affirms the existence of an unspoken caste system in world cricket, well into the 21st century.

During the review period for these awards, Philander played nine Tests to pick up 56 wickets at an average of 16.57 and a strike rate of 33.1 (he also played a solitary ODI, in which he took 1 for 39). Ajmal did far more. His figures over the same stretch include 12 Tests, 23 ODIs, and nine T20Is, for a collective haul of 120 wickets. Although his overall average and strike rate are higher than Philander's, if you pick out Ajmal's best nine Tests, his tally in this parity comparison turns out to be five wickets higher, at an average (20.11) and strike rate (47.98) that are fantastic by spinners' standards.

In terms of opposition quality and impact, Philander picked up three Man-of-the-Match and one Man-of-the-Series awards, while Ajmal collected two match awards and two series awards. Philander's nine Tests included five wins for his side; Ajmal's best nine included six wins. Philander had two victories against the top-ranked Test side; Ajmal had three. It all boils down to this: in contrast to Philander, Ajmal took more wickets, was a force in all three formats, was involved in more wins for his side, and defeated the top-ranked side more often. Ajmal easily holds his own against Philander in Tests; and he did so much more heft besides.

This episode may be an affront to Ajmal and his huge fan support, but its greater significance lies in the opportunity it provides to the ICC. One would be surprised if it doesn't trigger some sort of reform within the voting academy - either a review of its composition, or of the voting mechanism, or a stringent set of fresh guidelines impressed on each member. "Academy" is a hallowed and lofty term, evoking sanctity, precision, and intellectual depth. A few more gaffes like this one and it will begin to sound like a caricature.

Saad Shafqat is a writer based in Karachi

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As Hell Breaks Loose

More than 250 people were consumed by fire as flames turned a garment factory in Baldia Town Karachi town into an abattoir. Death toll from factory fire shocks the nation as the tragedy was beyond one’s imagination. Hundreds of people were burnt alive or from suffocation and their family members could do nothing but watch in despair as flames swallowed the fateful factory.

Scenes of dismay engulfed Karachi since last two days. Relatives of ill fated factory workers desperately searched for their mothers, daughters, sisters, sons, brothers, husbands, fathers among the dozens of badly mutilated bodies, burnt beyond recognition. People went out of words when behind the flames and smoke a dead body was seen stuck to a window as if the victim had been trying to jump from the window but poor fellow just couldn’t make it in time. Karachi has never witnessed such heart-wrenching scenes before. Hundreds of workers trapped into a dilapidated factory where there was no emergency exist, with iron grilled windows and locked doors. Can anyone imagine their level of desperation for survival when they had been using sewing machines to smash windows to jump out but still couldn’t make it?

Factories in Pakistan are concentration camps where workers are denied their basic rights guaranteed in the constitution. The factory Act of 1934 has clauses on occupational safety but Pakistan lacks any law on emergency exists. A factory with over 700 employees with 60 to 70 women and six to eight children had only one exit point and this is not the only one there are many other factories working in the country where owners don’t bother about safety precautions. In west if someone manages or operates a business, he needs to comply with fire safety law first of all. Employer or owner is required to carry out a mandatory detailed fire risk assessment identifying the risks and hazards in the premises. The risk assessment must be recorded if he has a total of five or more employees.

Ironically in Pakistan government agencies and officials are as usual busy in shifting blame at each other rather than finding out why factory with such appalling condition was allowed to operate. The factory owners are still at large and police is raiding to arrest him. But are they only responsible for this worst disaster? The factory had weak structure, no emergency exit, there were no fire safety arrangements then why these facts were not highlighted earlier? How such factories get the clearance from government departments without meeting the safety standards? Who gave it a clearance certificate? Culpable officials, whose criminal negligence resulted in such worst disaster, must be identified and punished at first stage.

The tragedy not only resulted in hundreds of deaths but it has also exposed the weakness of the emergency response system of the country. There is no system in the country of fire hydrants, which are used in the west to supply water at high pressure to fire tenders. In Pakistan government has machines to demolish kachi abadis but they don’t have machines to rescue workers in such terrible incident. Pakistan has no concept of fire safety. Structures of offices, schools, factories, hospitals and other places have more or less no fire safety equipments. No fire safety trainings held for workers. Fire safety procedures are next to nil in Pakistan. Concerned authorities have failed in their responsibilities but such worst adversity is enough to wake them up from their deep slumber. This is the high time that all concerned departments must ensure the implementation of labor protection rules and fire codes without further delay.

As Hell Breaks Loose

Why Question Great Quaid e Azam?

"Our object should be peace within, and peace without. We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial friendly relations with our immediate neighbours and with the world at large." - Quaid's address at Lahore, August 15th, 1947.

After 65 year of making mark on map of world , still struggling to make this mark prominent and proud. Corruption and incompetency leading us to failed state as western median in fact our own too portrays. Unfortunately a small population have started raising question with out thinking about its logic or consequences. Some have so much time to argue why Pakistan was created when we know cant run? Quaid was great but creating Pakistan was a big mistake they argue with you without logic.

Its like Blaming wright brother for inventing air carriers , now we can see can end up in 9/11 scenario. We are responsible for reaching to that stage not Quaid.

how far we can go.....

Pakistan have accepted 200000 sheep suffering from mouth foot diseases. Get ready to eat them or for sacrifice imported goat. How far we can go ......

That clearly shows no one care about people of Pakistan. We have to think and stop them atleast by spreading this on social media. here are few thing to think about.

When rejected by Middle east how govt. allowed vessel to karachi port, that clearly shows govt or mqm is involve in this.

How far we can humiliate ourself  for money.

Scandal in internation media

http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/380613/20120904/pakistan-accepts-200-000-stranded-australian-sheep.htm#.UEj2uI3ibA4

Police in Pakistan

One of the major reason of lawlessness in Pakistan is low no of police men.
We have to increase police presence specialy in karachi , peshawar , quetta and Lahore.........