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The Truth behind American Rhetoric
By Ahmed Ali Babar, Pakistan
Americans do not know the truth about what is happening in the Middle East and Central Asia. It's not that American policymakers are ignorant of these truths but they choose to keep these truths from the American public because they want to have a monopoly of power in the Middle East with Israel as a Middle Eastern partner.
America has nothing to do with the stability and peace in Afghanistan and Iraq as incidents like Haditha are continuously happening there," said Hammad Hassan Shirazi who attends Government College University said. "It's their first and foremost priority to occupy the oil resources and give licenses to American companies in order to give a boom to American economy."
Applying threats and pressure against Iran on the issue of nuclear power has
to do with America's concern about an attack against Israel and economic factors. Iran is making major deals with China and Russia, strengthening economic bonds and this poses a significant threat to America policy makers.
Although I believe Iran is pursuing a nuclear program for peaceful purposes, I am not against the idea of Iran possessing nuclear weapons. Isn't it the basic right of all countries to defend their boundaries? If Iran feels threatened by military action from
Israel and the U.S. isn't it necessary to have these weapons to defend
their country?
Further, a majority of the Pakistani people are very concerned that their government is becoming a puppet of the people in White House. "There is a great irritation that non-democratic leaders are backed by Washington," said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, a leader of a strong opposition party. Moreover, Najam Sethi, a leading columnist who writes for various publications in Pakistan, has proposed protesting the government because it has failed to deal with international pressure on issues of Pakistan's right to have nuclear weapons, the situation in Kashmir and basic human rights in Pakistan.
Voices' readers might also be shocked to know that almost no one in Pakistan considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization. Once again Westerners' view of Hamas is a result of American rhetoric. In fact, the Pakistani government has donated $30 million to help the Hamas government and the Palestinian people. Don't forget that Hamas was democratically elected by a significant majority of Palestinians. In addition to parliamentary elections, Hamas also gained a majority in local elections, which was reported by Time magazine. The Palestinian people feel oppressed because of Israeli brutality so they are hoping that Hamas will work to protect them. Western media never shows Palestinian and Lebanese kids drenched in their own blood nor does it report the stories of pregnant women who are stopped at Israeli check points, nor does it show pictures of Palestinian kids waiting for a loaf of bread.
Anti-American sentiment is at an all-time high in this region. Muslims think that Israel is morally and economically supported by America. What is the solution? In addition to providing basic human rights for the Palestinians, people all around the world need to hear the voices that are currently suppressed by media. Only then will we find a better way to solve conflicts and march towards a peaceful world
