No Really, South Asians Against Obama ;-)

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In stark contrast to Anna’s picts of pro-Obama Pakistani kids, Reuters recently published some picts of less than happy Pakistani adults –

Obama! Keep Your Hands off my “Tribs”!

Supporters of the Pakistani Islamist party Jamat-e-Islami protest in Karachi, January 25, 2009. The protest was organised by Jamat-e-Islami party against military operations and drone attacks in tribal areas. U.S. drones fired missiles into Pakistan late on Friday killing 17 people, intelligence officials and residents said, in the first such strike since Barack Obama became U.S. president. REUTERS/Athar Hussain (PAKISTAN)

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The dude in the middle has impressively red hair & beard –

I suppose it’s proof that you can’t please all of the people all of the time. ABC news has some of the details of this particular operation with a more over-the-top-than-usual headline –
Obama to CIA: Bombs Away! No Let Up in US Drone Attacks

New President Approves Continued Attacks That Have Killed 8 of al Qaeda’s Top 20

The CIA’s bombing campaign against al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan continued with two more attacks today, an indication, senior officials say, that President Barack Obama has approved the U.S. strategy that has killed at least eight of al Qaeda’s top 20 leaders since July 2008.

The two attacks today in Pakistan were the first since President Obama took office on Tuesday.

Asked about it at his daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said, “I’m not going to discuss that matter.”

During the campaign, Obama called for cross-border attacks against high-value al Qaeda targets in Pakistan, even before the CIA campaign began.

And so it appears that at least one of Election ’08’s promises is being kept.

92 thoughts on “No Really, South Asians Against Obama ;-)”

  1. Why do Muslims dudes try to “Ginger” themselves up? I have seen this alot and I still dont know why this is done. Any explanations?

  2. Re: ginger heads, it’s mehndi/henna being used as hair dye. there’s also a legend that the old sufi saints and various holy men used to do it. it’s also cheap (and free if you can find the plants and make it yourself).

  4. 1 · ShallowThinker said

    Why do Muslims dudes try to “Ginger” themselves up? I have seen this alot and I still dont know why this is done. Any explanations?

    Mary-Ann once made some islamophobic comments to Gilligan.

  5. I am sure DailyKos has an explanation of how all of this was Bush or even better Cheney’s fault.

  6. 1 · ShallowThinker said

    Why do Muslims dudes try to “Ginger” themselves up? I have seen this alot and I still dont know why this is done. Any explanations?

    I didn’t know it was Muslim-specific. I thought it was because Hindi and Urdu speaking parents call their kids “Mere lal”, who therefore associated “red” with “affection”. But Wikipedia, the bastion of authoritah, says:

    Red is the preferred dyeing colour in Islam. It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad used to dye his hair red using Henna.[citation needed]

  7. Isalmists tend to really have a problem with spelling. My all time fav was the “Death to Juice” one I saw couple week backs in one of the rabid anti-Israeli demo’s.

    As far as the ginger look, I think it’s hilarious. That fat pakjabi tart(Saeed?) who heads up LeT/JuD or whatever they’re calling themselves now also has that dye job. All they need is to chew some pan and get their teeth to match.

    Imagine if OBL came on a tape with the ginger look. I’m just glad Obama is telling the Pakistan Army to shove it when it comes to Al Qaeda.

  8. 6 · pingpong said

    Red is the preferred dyeing colour in Islam. It is reported that the Prophet Muhammad used to dye his hair red using Henna.[citation needed]

    Henna, like circumcision (both male and female), predates Islam by thousands of years. It originated in northeast Africa (ancient Egypt or Ethiopia), like so many other middle-eastern customs, practices and beliefs.

  9. Isalmists tend to really have a problem with spelling. My all time fav was the “Death to Juice” one I saw couple week backs in one of the rabid anti-Israeli demo’s.

    Maybe there were talking about O.J Simpson.

  10. 9 · Suki Dillon said

    Isalmists tend to really have a problem with spelling. My all time fav was the “Death to Juice” one I saw couple week backs in one of the rabid anti-Israeli demo’s. Maybe there were talking about O.J Simpson.

    Or maybe the terrorists were (paraphrasing comedian Katt Williams) “angry at breakfast…Are you gangbanging on bacon?”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jpT_UJE-Iw (at 1:28).

  11. Bombing on Tribs? Seriously, I want to shake the hand of the joker who proof-reads the Islamist banners

  12. No Really, South Asians Against Obama

    I think that should be the other way around 😉 Maybe he’s one of them Hindutva commenters on this board – says nice things about Hinduism, likes bombing Pakistan, doesn’t give a $hit about Palestinians…

  14. I read somewhere that after you visit the Haj pilgrimage muslims are supposed to colour their beards red. It is indication that the person at the center has been to Mecca

  16. 12 · Dr Amonymous said

    No Really, South Asians Against Obama
    I think that should be the other way around 😉 Maybe he’s one of them Hindutva commenters on this board – says nice things about Hinduism, likes bombing Pakistan, doesn’t give a $hit about Palestinians…

    The parts we’re bombing aren’t really part of Pakistan anymore. Pakistan claims the territory, but they don’t actually have any control over the area. It is more properly referred to as Talibanistan. It Covers Northwest Pakistan and Souther Afghanistan.

  17. 12 · Dr Amonymous said

    I think that should be the other way around 😉 Maybe he’s one of them Hindutva commenters on this board – says nice things about Hinduism, likes bombing Pakistan, doesn’t give a $hit about Palestinians…

    heh…and you could add: refers to frantz fanon

  18. I read somewhere that after you visit the Haj pilgrimage muslims are supposed to colour their beards red. It is indication that the person at the center has been to Mecca

    Carrot Top must vist Mecca every year.

  19. All said and done, there is something appalling about these drones that are controlled by ‘pilots’ in the U.S who drop bombs with the ease of playing a computer game – actually the software interface for many of these systems are intentionally made to look like that of games. There is a fine book on this evolution of warfare – http://wiredforwar.pwsinger.com

  21. I sympathize with the people up north regarding the drone attacks.

    Drones kill civillians every day. Just search ‘drone attacks’ in Reuters, or in PK English dailies like Daily Times, Dawn, News, you’ll get a story every day about families of 4, 5, 6 being killed. It’s horrific, and I think it should be let up.

    Al Qaeda is not enough reason to send untested automated killing machines into Pakistan’s tribal areas. They’re only creating more enemies.

  22. Al Qaeda is not enough reason to send untested automated killing machines into Pakistan’s tribal areas.

    They have been tested very well and work as commanded.

  23. Al Qaeda Kashmir is not enough reason to send untested automated killing machines into Pakistan’s India’s tribal urban areas.

  24. Basim – “Al Qaeda is not enough reason to send untested automated killing machines into Pakistan’s tribal areas.”

    What is Al Qaeda doing in Pakistan in the first place?

  27. 16 · NV said

    The parts we’re bombing aren’t really part of Pakistan anymore. Pakistan claims the territory, but they don’t actually have any control over the area. It is more properly referred to as Talibanistan. It Covers Northwest Pakistan and Souther Afghanistan.

    What, you mean like the 15-20% of India that are no-go territory for the army? 😉 Maybe the U.S. elite can order the bombing of those areas in the name of liberating peasants, when it decides that that’s what it feels like doing.

  30. Dr A said

    15-20% of India that are no-go territory for the army?

    Care to elaborate, good Doctor?

  31. Isalmists tend to really have a problem with spelling. My all time fav was the “Death to Juice” one I saw couple week backs in one of the rabid anti-Israeli demo’s.

    Uuuh… I think you underestimate the intelligence of that weasel. It’s a sly trick to avoid be prosecuted for making a death threat by using a seemingly harmless word that is easily seen as a homophone for his real intent. Must be an attorney or advised by one.

  32. 27 · dr amonymous said

    16 · NV said
    The parts we’re bombing aren’t really part of Pakistan anymore. Pakistan claims the territory, but they don’t actually have any control over the area. It is more properly referred to as Talibanistan. It Covers Northwest Pakistan and Souther Afghanistan.
    What, you mean like the 15-20% of India that are no-go territory for the army? 😉 Maybe the U.S. elite can order the bombing of those areas in the name of liberating peasants, when it decides that that’s what it feels like doing.

    Ha. If the Indians are too lazy to put those commies down I’d like it if the US helped us out a bit. Alas, they don’t seem to see the value in taking out some guerillas so that we can build roads and help those poor bastards get access to adequate social services. Instead we just let them languish in a Naxalite corridor where they are subject to the predations of the communist bastards and the reactionary bastards who have sprung up to fight them.

  33. My point is that there is no place in India which is no-go for the army if the political leadership so wishes. This Red corridor that we keep hearing about is a political problem because the weakness/complicity/apathy of our leaders. Given the orders, these areas will be easily secured. That it watches the mess from the sidelines is a proof of the IA’s commitment to obey the civilian leadership as enshrined in the constitution.

  34. 33 · Lupus Solitarius said

    My point is that there is no place in India which is no-go for the army if the political leadership so wishes.

    Oh, you mean like Pakistan.

  35. Dr A said

    Oh, you mean like Pakistan.

    No.I mean like India. As we all know quite well, there is no political civilian leadership of any consequence in Pakistan.

  37. Rashid asked

    Why does it seem like this blog is becoming anti-paskitani?

    I apologize if I appear to be anti- Paskitani. I have nothing against Paskitan. Paskitan is good.

    PS….Did you, perchance, have anything to do with creating the banner displayed above?

  38. 35 · Lupus Solitarius said

    Dr A said
    Oh, you mean like Pakistan.
    No.I mean like India. As we all know quite well, there is no political civilian leadership of any consequence in Pakistan.

    right. all those lawyers marching in the street were ISI members.

    /rolls eyes. go read some ayesha jalal, dude.

  39. Dr A I appreciate that there has been a civil rights/Pro democracy movement of sorts in Pakistan, specially directed against the Musharraf regime. It involved lawyers and educated Pakistanis. That is commendable. However the Army’s powers are paramount in Pakistan. They control troop movements, nuclear button, and hold a veto on most important policy decisions (eg. bringing the ISI under political control, relations with India and the US).The army entities make up a large part of the nation’s GDP (link),and appropriate a large share of the foreign aid meant for the “war on terror”. The civilian government is weak (though a definite improvement from being completely absent), but I don’t want to guess if it will ever gain any significant autonomy or power. And as for the marching,they certainly wouldn’t be any going on here anymore

    G’day Lupus

  40. “If the Indians are too lazy to put those commies down I’d like it if the US helped us out a bit.”

    that is exactly how it started in Afghanistan – care to remember? i don’t know how any conscious individual could condone bombings of these sorts, when you have no visibility into who is getting killed, and the newer mechanisms like drones make it even harder to track what is going on.

  41. All said and done, there is something appalling about these drones that are controlled by ‘pilots’ in the U.S who drop bombs with the ease of playing a computer game – actually the software interface for many of these systems are intentionally made to look like that of games. There is a fine book on this evolution of warfare – http://wiredforwar.pwsinger.com

    There is some interesting information there, but just like many other books from “experts”, it takes a very narrow view of warfare and focus far too much on the tools, which are tactical in nature. In an exchange with a friend, I wrote the following on this very subject which was in response to listening to a NPR interview by this author….

    Technology affects how we fight wars, but not why. To forge peace, why a particular conflict is fought needs to be resolved for a permanent solution. This requires political, economic, and military tools for resolution, depending on the circumstances. As the current technologies continue to develop, it will aid smaller and more disenfranchised groups MORE as it provides tools that project them into a larger space than their physical limitations allow. Larger forces expose themselves less due to various reasons, yet have a need maintain tools to fight not only the smaller networks, but their more equal footed competitors as well.

    The stakes of failure for each side remains the same though – casualties of your own citizens/peoples/tribes. It is not a zero sum game and while a drone allows one to react and affect tactical decisions in a real time environment, it does not mean the actions are without consequence. Insurgents have used such propaganda to devastating effect in return, despite more reliable weapons fielded today. In WWII a city was leveled if a factory wanted to be destroyed. Today a few houses clustered together. But, due to information being disseminated and controlled on an individual level (say youtube), the impact that one house with civilians in it being destroyed has a far reaching affect than that of a town/city being destroyed from previous generations. More individuals being empowered by such tools means the little guy, wrongly/rightly, can fight back.

    The PTSD part (referenced in the interview) still sounded like BS. Pilots on joysticks in air conditioned rooms cannot get PTSD. A true traumatic event needs to occur that creates fear for one’s life, or actually seeing death up-close. Thermal images aren’t the same thing. There may be some other disorder. (edited to add: pre-existing mental health conditions or other mental health issues that get misdiagnosed as the PTSD “catch all”) Read more about PTSD here….

    http://www.mental-health-today.com/ptsd/dsm.htm

  42. 40 · najeeb said

    “If the Indians are too lazy to put those commies down I’d like it if the US helped us out a bit.” that is exactly how it started in Afghanistan – care to remember? i don’t know how any conscious individual could condone bombings of these sorts, when you have no visibility into who is getting killed, and the newer mechanisms like drones make it even harder to track what is going on.

    najeeb,

    I will ass-u-me for a moment that you are a good man. Will you please care to read THE ROOT OF INDIA-PAKISTAN CONFLICTS

    with conditional love from across the border Kiran and let me what you think about it?

  43. i don’t know how any conscious individual could condone bombings of these sorts, when you have no visibility into who is getting killed

    What do you think about Hamas rockets on Israel? What do you think about indiscrimate firing during mumbai attacks?

  44. India was built on an entirely different worldview, inspired by the same ideals as the United States, as is evident from the Preamble to its Constitution:

    “WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens: * JUSTICE, social, economic and political; * LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; * EQUALITY of status and of opportunity; * and to promote among them all * FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the [unity and integrity of the Nation]; …”

    In sharp contrast, the Constitution of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has the following Preamble:

    “Whereas sovereignty over the entire Universe belongs to Almighty Allah alone, and the authority to be exercised by the people of Pakistan within the limits prescribed by Him is a sacred trust; …” “All existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the Injunctions of Islam as laid down in the Holy Quran and Sunnah, in this Part referred to as the Injunctions of Islam, …” “A person who does not believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of The Prophethood of MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon him), the last of the Prophets or claims to be a Prophet, in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever , after MUHAMMAD (Peace be upon him), or recognizes such a claimant as a Prophet or religious reformer, is not a Muslim for the purposes of the Constitution or law.” a. “I am a Muslim and believe in the absolute and unqualified finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him) the last of the prophets. b. ‘I do not recognize any person who claims to he prophet in any sense of the word or of any description whatsoever after Muhammad (peace be upon him) or recognize such a claimant as prophet or a religious reformer as a Muslim. c. “I consider Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Quadiani to be an impostor nabi and also consider his followers whether belonging to the Lahori or Quadiani group, to be NON-MUSLIM.”

  45. “What do you think about Hamas rockets on Israel? What do you think about indiscrimate firing during mumbai attacks?”

    I have linked my blog in my comment. You can judge for yourself where i stand on these issues. I stand for justice, in that aspect, the innocents who died in mumbai and the INNOCENT CIVILIANS who die in the drone bombings are victims of the same injustice, though I did personally feel more infuriated after the Mumbai attacks – so i am not conflicted, if you are trying to corner me that way.

  47. Gujudude, the parameters for my view point are based on two things – 1) Is it morally right? 2) Does it yield the desired outcome? In my view, it is NO on both fronts. Then, all you are left with is a bunch of dead people and the creation of another generation of warriors for the cause of your enemies.

  48. “India was built on an entirely different worldview, inspired by the same ideals as the United States, as is evident from the Preamble to its Constitution:”

    and I am proud of it and unfortunately, the actions of the hindutva crowd is to drag India closer to Pakistan. Ambedkar, who was behind the constitution is detested by most of the Hindutva crowd.

  49. hindutva crowd is to drag India closer to Pakistan.

    Please tell me how? What are your sources?

    Ambedkar, who was behind the constitution is detested by most of the Hindutva crowd.

    What? Please tell me how? What are your sources?

  50. and I am proud of it and unfortunately

    Can you share that Rajiv’s essay with 100 people in Pakistan and ask them to respond to a poll with options ‘Agree’ and ‘Disagree’. I am curious to know how they will respond.