WHAT CAUSE? WHAT WAR?
I am a Pakistani living in New York, working on Wall Street. I watched the horror of the WTC attack unfold on September 11th along with my other New York colleagues on the trading floor of my bank, while talking on the phone with other Pakistani friends living in New York and vicinities. The tragedy and human misery that ensued needs no further elaboration. Object of this article is to reflect and think what brought things to this point and how we can change the future to make the world a safer and better place to live and work in. A better place for everyone, be it an American, a Pakistani, an Afghani, a Christian, a Jew, or a Muslim. Another object is to analyze the Pakistani mindset to determine where we stand and where we should be. I specifically mention Pakistani mindset because having lived there gives me a better insight into how an average man on the street would be inclined to think. However, I tend to believe that the same pattern of thought tends to pervade many of the other Muslim countries in the region.
Being brought up in Pakistan in a relatively conservative middle-class environment and then moving to the investment banking world of Wall Street puts in a fortunate situation to understand both the perspective of an average Pakistani Muslim as well as the US public and intelligentsia.
US has been blamed by the Islamic countries for their misery and economic destruction. I find this observation rather curious, since a look back at the facts seems to suggest otherwise. When Indonesia, a country populated by more than 200 million, mostly Muslims was cracking under global financial pressures during the Asian Financial crisis, the US was instrumental in putting together the IMF and World Bank rescue package that enabled that country to avert a complete bankruptcy and resulting misery. Kuwait, another Muslim country was invaded by Iraq which itself was touting the slogan of Islam. It was US that came to the rescue. When Afghanistan itself was attacked by the Russians, it was US support that saved the country from the Communist rule.
Critics would quickly observe that it was the US economic interest at stake that made the US act. I don’t dispute that, but preserving economic interests by helping other countries maintain their independence and economic sustenance is a mighty welcome move compared to the cold war era Russian or modern day Iraqi evil expansionist ambitions. When I saw the dusty store of Brooks Brothers across the street form WTC and noticed “Made in Malaysia” labels on the shirts, it naturally made me wonder how many livelihoods might be supported in the Muslim Malaysia by these “evil capitalists”.
One of the first foreign investment funds set up to invest money (primarily American) in Pakistan was set up by Morgan Stanley. This company had 3,500 people working in the world trade center. Another financial product this company started was “webs”. These are financial instruments that enable international investors to invest money in countries including the Muslim Malaysia.
The most whimsical aspect of public outcry against the US in Pakistan appears to be the blind hatred for US’s anti-Arab stance. US is not Arabs’ biggest enemy. It’s Arab’s themselves. Iraq fought Iran. Iraq attacked Kuwait. The middle-eastern countries, despite their rhetoric of Islam seems to be driven at least as much by economic interests as US is. However, US chooses to tackle issues in a civilized and diplomatic manner. When US gets in contention over fishing rights with Canada or Japan it does not go to war with them. Iraq on the other hand would keep fighting endlessly with Iran over Shutt-ul-Arab. It would even attack Kuwait in the most logic-defying move. I was living in Pakistan at the time of Kuwait invasion and watched with amazement the public joy over Saddam’s move just because he would be seen in pictures praying with a gun in his holster – a true fighter of Islam with the will and power to fight for Islam. Except that the only objective of his holy war was utterly selfish materialism.
I must admit that I do feel frustrated by the US bent towards the rich Israel while doing close to nothing for the economic uplift of the poor Palestinians or the other neighbors. I was also alarmed from the day Bush took over and adopted a policy of non-engagement towards the Islamic hardliners. In an integrated global world we do not have the luxury of political and economic isolation. Resolution requires dialogue with adversaries. Nationalistic ego is very damaging as it hinders the attainment of middle ground with the opponents. Nonetheless, how can blowing up buildings and taking innocent lives make anyone sympathetic to any cause. If anything, it is a self-defeating measure as it increases animosity and propensity to revolt by the enemy. This is even more acute when the adversary is many times stronger. Part of the reason that Gandhi attained more notoriety than some other smarter and more charismatic leaders of the third world is his unwaivering commitment to non-violent protest.
Extreme right wing in Pakistan still supports Taliban and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never been a friend of Pakistan when it came down to choosing between their own economic objectives vs. the love for their fellow Muslim brethren. Some might remember that during Tehrik-e-Hijrat, it was Afghanistan that closed their borders on Pakistanis, leading to deaths of thousands of Muslims. Afghanistan might have provided a fertile land for a crop of well-trained militants to further the Kashmiri separatist cause (more on this some other time), but many of these militants have penetrated Pakistan itself. Well-trained militants whose loyalties do not lie necessarily with Pakistan have already increased the law and order problems in the country.
New York is not just an American city. It’s a part of the international community, like London, Hong Kong, Tokyo or some other metropolitans around the world. Having lived in the southern part of the US for a few years and visited other major cities around the world, I am too well aware that even though New York is a city located in the US, the ethnic composition is nothing like a regular US city. Nowhere in the US have I seen so many Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and other religions living together in harmony. World Trade Center symbolized not only American economic success, it also symbolized the integration of the global economy across different ethnicities. No wonder the list of victims of WTC include people from 62 countries, some of them Muslims. Since when did killing fellow Muslims become a Holy war. Among the other countless ridiculous aspects of this incident is the behavior of at least two of the hijackers just a few nights before the attack. If getting drunk and trying not to pay for it, going to a strip club for pleasures of the flesh and making threats is Islamic, how do you separate the Muslims from the pagans.
If any of aspirant saviors of Islam is reading my letter today, listen to this. If you really want to save the Islamic world and contribute to its prosperity and bring back the glorious past, use your skills to further the economic advantage of your country or the Islamic community. If these pilots had used their skills to become productive commercial airlines pilots, they could have earned precious dollars that their countries so desperately need. What country other that the US would allows a foreign national, let alone someone from countries hostile to them, come in and get a chance to earn a life of prosperity. A life they could never dream in their own country unless they are politically connected, or corrupt, or born in privilege. The hijackers probably never heard the story of the poor Pakistani immigrant who came to the US, got pilot training and started his cargo airlines. He made it to the list of Forbes list of richest Americans. Born in Pakistan and then getting a chance to earn a financially rewarding career in the US in my chosen profession, I have no qualms about feeling deeply indebted to this country. It does not mean that my love for my homeland of Pakistan has diminished in any way. If anything it has increased my love for the country which despite its meager resources nurtured me and gave me necessary skills to excel in the global job market.
Economic prosperity is not a zero sum game. US does not have to perish for Muslim world to prosper. Anyone who has seen “Made in Indonesia” labels on Nike shoes, or “Made in Pakistan” on the surgical instruments, soccer balls, and leather jackets being sold in the shops of New York is all too aware of this. By attacking the US you are destroying the biggest market for you own products. Next time you are getting blisters from the unforgiving heat in Lahore and you want to buy an air conditioner, think where is the foreign exchange needed to import them is coming from. It’s coming in many cases from the pocket of American consumers who are paying for your yarn and leather in dollars. Muslim countries and the Arab world will impacted in numerous ways in the wake of this attack. The largest insurance company in the Arab World is the Arab Insurance Group. It insured for passengers and third party liabilities and has stated that they will indeed be also impacted in the wake of this disaster. You might be a regular citizen in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia or Indonesia who disapproves of heinous crimes against humanity. However, disapproval might not be enough. You have to play your role in rooting out the terrorist and the terrorist organizations because they are robbing you off the food that could have been on your table.
Having spent time in Asia, Europe and Pakistan, I can confidently say that people in the US are among the most humane, and are concerned for the safety and well being of overall mankind. Critics might argue that this is because Americans are sheltered from the ravages of real life that peril many other countries and hence have grown more soft-hearted. But whatever the reason, the truth is that I have found Americans to be kind, and concerned for the well being of people across the world. I still remember the top US government officials boo-ed into silence at a public gathering in a school in the US after they bombed Iraq and some civilians got hit. The real power in the US lies with the people. American presidents or generals can rarely go against the popular public opinion in this country. This opinion is easily measured by numerous stat agencies in this country. So, next time you want to protest against US’s tilted policy towards Israel, bring the pictures of young children being shot to the UN and stage a silent and peaceful protest. I assure you will get much more sympathy than planning any vicious attack on the same innocent people who might otherwise have supported you.
Arfa Ahmed
New York
Being brought up in Pakistan in a relatively conservative middle-class environment and then moving to the investment banking world of Wall Street puts in a fortunate situation to understand both the perspective of an average Pakistani Muslim as well as the US public and intelligentsia.
US has been blamed by the Islamic countries for their misery and economic destruction. I find this observation rather curious, since a look back at the facts seems to suggest otherwise. When Indonesia, a country populated by more than 200 million, mostly Muslims was cracking under global financial pressures during the Asian Financial crisis, the US was instrumental in putting together the IMF and World Bank rescue package that enabled that country to avert a complete bankruptcy and resulting misery. Kuwait, another Muslim country was invaded by Iraq which itself was touting the slogan of Islam. It was US that came to the rescue. When Afghanistan itself was attacked by the Russians, it was US support that saved the country from the Communist rule.
Critics would quickly observe that it was the US economic interest at stake that made the US act. I don’t dispute that, but preserving economic interests by helping other countries maintain their independence and economic sustenance is a mighty welcome move compared to the cold war era Russian or modern day Iraqi evil expansionist ambitions. When I saw the dusty store of Brooks Brothers across the street form WTC and noticed “Made in Malaysia” labels on the shirts, it naturally made me wonder how many livelihoods might be supported in the Muslim Malaysia by these “evil capitalists”.
One of the first foreign investment funds set up to invest money (primarily American) in Pakistan was set up by Morgan Stanley. This company had 3,500 people working in the world trade center. Another financial product this company started was “webs”. These are financial instruments that enable international investors to invest money in countries including the Muslim Malaysia.
The most whimsical aspect of public outcry against the US in Pakistan appears to be the blind hatred for US’s anti-Arab stance. US is not Arabs’ biggest enemy. It’s Arab’s themselves. Iraq fought Iran. Iraq attacked Kuwait. The middle-eastern countries, despite their rhetoric of Islam seems to be driven at least as much by economic interests as US is. However, US chooses to tackle issues in a civilized and diplomatic manner. When US gets in contention over fishing rights with Canada or Japan it does not go to war with them. Iraq on the other hand would keep fighting endlessly with Iran over Shutt-ul-Arab. It would even attack Kuwait in the most logic-defying move. I was living in Pakistan at the time of Kuwait invasion and watched with amazement the public joy over Saddam’s move just because he would be seen in pictures praying with a gun in his holster – a true fighter of Islam with the will and power to fight for Islam. Except that the only objective of his holy war was utterly selfish materialism.
I must admit that I do feel frustrated by the US bent towards the rich Israel while doing close to nothing for the economic uplift of the poor Palestinians or the other neighbors. I was also alarmed from the day Bush took over and adopted a policy of non-engagement towards the Islamic hardliners. In an integrated global world we do not have the luxury of political and economic isolation. Resolution requires dialogue with adversaries. Nationalistic ego is very damaging as it hinders the attainment of middle ground with the opponents. Nonetheless, how can blowing up buildings and taking innocent lives make anyone sympathetic to any cause. If anything, it is a self-defeating measure as it increases animosity and propensity to revolt by the enemy. This is even more acute when the adversary is many times stronger. Part of the reason that Gandhi attained more notoriety than some other smarter and more charismatic leaders of the third world is his unwaivering commitment to non-violent protest.
Extreme right wing in Pakistan still supports Taliban and Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never been a friend of Pakistan when it came down to choosing between their own economic objectives vs. the love for their fellow Muslim brethren. Some might remember that during Tehrik-e-Hijrat, it was Afghanistan that closed their borders on Pakistanis, leading to deaths of thousands of Muslims. Afghanistan might have provided a fertile land for a crop of well-trained militants to further the Kashmiri separatist cause (more on this some other time), but many of these militants have penetrated Pakistan itself. Well-trained militants whose loyalties do not lie necessarily with Pakistan have already increased the law and order problems in the country.
New York is not just an American city. It’s a part of the international community, like London, Hong Kong, Tokyo or some other metropolitans around the world. Having lived in the southern part of the US for a few years and visited other major cities around the world, I am too well aware that even though New York is a city located in the US, the ethnic composition is nothing like a regular US city. Nowhere in the US have I seen so many Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus and other religions living together in harmony. World Trade Center symbolized not only American economic success, it also symbolized the integration of the global economy across different ethnicities. No wonder the list of victims of WTC include people from 62 countries, some of them Muslims. Since when did killing fellow Muslims become a Holy war. Among the other countless ridiculous aspects of this incident is the behavior of at least two of the hijackers just a few nights before the attack. If getting drunk and trying not to pay for it, going to a strip club for pleasures of the flesh and making threats is Islamic, how do you separate the Muslims from the pagans.
If any of aspirant saviors of Islam is reading my letter today, listen to this. If you really want to save the Islamic world and contribute to its prosperity and bring back the glorious past, use your skills to further the economic advantage of your country or the Islamic community. If these pilots had used their skills to become productive commercial airlines pilots, they could have earned precious dollars that their countries so desperately need. What country other that the US would allows a foreign national, let alone someone from countries hostile to them, come in and get a chance to earn a life of prosperity. A life they could never dream in their own country unless they are politically connected, or corrupt, or born in privilege. The hijackers probably never heard the story of the poor Pakistani immigrant who came to the US, got pilot training and started his cargo airlines. He made it to the list of Forbes list of richest Americans. Born in Pakistan and then getting a chance to earn a financially rewarding career in the US in my chosen profession, I have no qualms about feeling deeply indebted to this country. It does not mean that my love for my homeland of Pakistan has diminished in any way. If anything it has increased my love for the country which despite its meager resources nurtured me and gave me necessary skills to excel in the global job market.
Economic prosperity is not a zero sum game. US does not have to perish for Muslim world to prosper. Anyone who has seen “Made in Indonesia” labels on Nike shoes, or “Made in Pakistan” on the surgical instruments, soccer balls, and leather jackets being sold in the shops of New York is all too aware of this. By attacking the US you are destroying the biggest market for you own products. Next time you are getting blisters from the unforgiving heat in Lahore and you want to buy an air conditioner, think where is the foreign exchange needed to import them is coming from. It’s coming in many cases from the pocket of American consumers who are paying for your yarn and leather in dollars. Muslim countries and the Arab world will impacted in numerous ways in the wake of this attack. The largest insurance company in the Arab World is the Arab Insurance Group. It insured for passengers and third party liabilities and has stated that they will indeed be also impacted in the wake of this disaster. You might be a regular citizen in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia or Indonesia who disapproves of heinous crimes against humanity. However, disapproval might not be enough. You have to play your role in rooting out the terrorist and the terrorist organizations because they are robbing you off the food that could have been on your table.
Having spent time in Asia, Europe and Pakistan, I can confidently say that people in the US are among the most humane, and are concerned for the safety and well being of overall mankind. Critics might argue that this is because Americans are sheltered from the ravages of real life that peril many other countries and hence have grown more soft-hearted. But whatever the reason, the truth is that I have found Americans to be kind, and concerned for the well being of people across the world. I still remember the top US government officials boo-ed into silence at a public gathering in a school in the US after they bombed Iraq and some civilians got hit. The real power in the US lies with the people. American presidents or generals can rarely go against the popular public opinion in this country. This opinion is easily measured by numerous stat agencies in this country. So, next time you want to protest against US’s tilted policy towards Israel, bring the pictures of young children being shot to the UN and stage a silent and peaceful protest. I assure you will get much more sympathy than planning any vicious attack on the same innocent people who might otherwise have supported you.
Arfa Ahmed
New York
posted by madinmanhattan | 11:17 AM
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