Hamid Mir's Injuries

 The recent nonlethal light pistol assault on the vehicle carrying senior journalist and TV interviewer Hamid Mir near Karachi airport seems to have raised a storm in a teacup. Thank God he suffered minor bullet wounds and is fast recovering, but it is not yet established whether Mr. Mir was the intended victim or it was a case of mistaken identity. The car in which he was travelling is a common model and color. The choice of weapon was definitely unprofessional if the intention was to kill someone in a moving vehicle. Yet there was an instant outrageous allegation suggesting that the ISI chief had attempted to have him murdered. This is bad journalism. It appears that the affairs of Geo TV are run entirely by young and impulsive announcers without any editorial review or management control. If they had suspicion of ISI men being involved in the case, Mr. Mir and Geo TV should have complained to the ISI chief and demanded action rather than committing an act that could be branded as unpatriotic.  The owners of Geo TV should start paying also attention to matters other than ad revenues.

 As for the public response to the case, it shows that the people of Pakistan are sick and tired of ‘spyocracy’ – an affliction also suffered by other democracies such as India, USA, Britain, Israel etc. due to exaggerated threat perception. The political leaders of these countries need to join heads to find ways to reduce the threat perceptions hence interference by spy agencies.

Facebook Posts

·         When will the Children of Israel grow up?

·         The Holy Qur'an is a Book of Wisdom, not a book of mantras.

·         PKR is now worth more than 1 US cent. Mr. Dar has delivered in 9 months. Congrats.

·         I am not the greatest. He is.

·         In his first term Mr. Nawaz Shareef had built a town in Punjab with donations from Muslim countries for the repatriation and housing of Biharis from Bangladesh. But when they stated arriving, trains taking them from Karachi to Punjab were stopped in interior Sindh and the Biharis were searched and killed. The plan was abandoned.

·         I recall having read somewhere that way back when the Pakistan movement was in full swing someone had suggested that a committee be formed to draft Pakistan's constitution in advance; to which Quaid-e-Azam and some other senior leaders had replied that there was no need for such an effort as The holy Quran was going to be the constitution of Pakistan. But it seems that after achieving independence the spirit was lost.

·         Artificial sweeteners do not attract ants.

·         Taqwa defined in the holy Qur'an: [2.177] It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prater and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in times of conflict --- these are they who are true (to themselves) and these are (Muttaqeen) who guard against evil. ---Translated by M. H. Shakir.

·         What an irony. Pervez Musharraf is the latest missing person in Pakistan and the government is unable to produce him before the court.

·         Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Celebrate it!

·         Happy New Gregorian Year 2014 to all who will notice this entry. Let us resolve that this year we shall not repeat the mistakes of last year and try our best not to make new ones by trusting and consulting others before taking a decision. Let us also resolve that we shall treat everyone as a good person unless proven otherwise and keep our lines of communication open via FB and other conceivable channels for everyone.

·         I wish to thank everyone who called or sent a message on my birthday today. I am wondering about what I achieved during the last one year and what should be my targets for the next. One thing is obvious: I must do something admirable to make my next Birthday celebrations worthwhile. Since I have managed to stay alive during the last year, I should be able to do the same or even better next year. Do you agree with me?

·         Growing up means gaining control over ones emotions, actions and expressions. Children have no control and old people begin to lose it. So exercise it while you have it.

·         Allah! On this auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, please grant lasting happiness and continued success to all my family and friends on Facebook and elsewhere.

·         I have stopped believing in prayers and wishes. Let us work together and ensure that in the coming years:
1. Nobody sleeps hungry.
2. No bullets are fired or rockets aimed at or bombs dropped on human beings.
3. No one suffers a loss due to the dishonesty of another person.
4. No truth worth knowing by people remains concealed.
5. No call for help goes unnoticed.

·         I am 66 now which looks like opening inverted commas, so the rest of my life will be a quotation ending at 99?

·         " For this reason did We prescribe to the children of Israel that whoever slays a soul, unless it be for manslaughter or for mischief in the land, it is as though he slew all men; and whoever keeps it alive, it is as though he kept alive all men; and certainly Our apostles came to them with clear arguments, but even after that many of them certainly act extravagantly in the land."
---The Holy Quran Chapter 5, Verse 32.

·         Why isn't anyone calling the Nato attack on Pakitani military post an act of war?

·         If you have nothing to do then READ. Reminds you of something?

·         "...People of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things."
---Leonardo Da Vinci

·         Why are most People right-handed? Best answer gets a reward.

·         Why are most People right-handed? Best answer gets a reward.

·         A perfect human being is one who has never hurt anyone in any way.

·         Here is a quote from a Hindu religious book:
It is improper to ever forget a kindness, But good to forget at once an injury received. The deadliest injury is effaced the moment The mind recalls a single kindness received from the injurer.
- Tirukkural 11:108-109

·         If you start playing a game with someone who does not know your game, you will only defeat yourself and feel bitter.

·         There is a verse in the Holy Qur'an that I translate as meaning  " Spouses should tailor themselves for each other."

·         Eid Mubarak. On one day in every year The Creator gives you the power to reward yourself for all your good deeds of the past year. Have you decided on what you deserve this year? I am sure you deserve the best.

·         According to an ancient belief, the world came into existence when the contraries (opposites) separated out of nothingness.

·         If you can't explain convincingly to a lay person what you are going to do, then most likely you won't do it right. That is the principle behind parliament.

·         Marriage is an agreement to be employed as a husband or wife and to take additional responsibilities as father or mother with happiness in life as wages and grandchildren as bonus.

·         Q: What is the difference between girls and women? A: Girls grow up, but women don't.

·         Thought for the day: The smell in your kitchen is the same as what you are cooking to serve to others.

 

 

 

Musharraf’s Misery

 

 

The trial of retired president Pervez Musharraf is taking such a nasty turn that it seems necessary to examine the facts.

I shall refer to him as retired president Musharraf, as I believe that a man should be called by the last or highest post he held. In my opinion he seized to be a general as soon as he assumed the office of full-time chief executive or president of Pakistan. If he had obtained approval of Supreme Court of his time under duress for holding two posts, that judgment should be considered null and void and the justices should not be ashamed to admit it.

 

Let us reconstruct history in the light of the public statements of Mr. Musharraf himself.

Since he returned to Pakistan in March, 2013 he has repeatedly said that he is ready to face all legal and constitutional charges against himself. He promptly went to various courts to obtain bails in all the cases registered against him and on the 2^nd January, 2014 he was on the way to the judicial commission when his vehicle suddenly changed course and ended up in the military cardiac institute. The public has not heard from his own mouth that he was sick or is in pain. Is Mr. Musharraf a free man and is he taking his own decisions? Are his lawyers saying what wants to be said?

In August, 1988 when General Zia ul Haq had dismissed the Junejo government and fresh elections were called in which Peoples Party seemed favorite to win, questions were being raised if he could be tried for treason under article 6 of the constitution in spite of the 8^th constitutional amendment. He died in a military transport plane crash on 18^th August the same year and was saved the indignity of a treason trial. Could it be that this time the wolf actually showed up and the detour of his vehicle was actually a hijacking? Only the man himself can tell and a live television interview of retired president Pervez Musharraf has become overdue.

As for the case itself there are many possibilities. In his television speech he had said that he had declared emergency in the country. Did he really believe that the document he had signed was in line with the provisions of the constitution? Later he had admitted that what he did on that day was a mistake? We need to know exactly what had happened on that day, so that if there are any civilians who machinate military dictatorships and bring bad name to the armed forces, they may be exposed.

 

 

Mother's Day

In USA they celebrate the second Sunday of May as Mother’s day. According to Wikipedia “The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. She then began a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States. Although she was successful in 1914, she was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s. Jarvis' holiday was adopted by other countries and it is now celebrated all over the world. In this tradition, each person offers a gift, card, or remembrance toward their mothers, grandmothers, and/ or maternal figure on mother's day.

In 1912, Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and created the Mother's Day International Association.^[8] She specifically noted that "Mother's" should "be a singular possessive, for each family to honor its mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers of the world."^[9] This is also the spelling used by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in his 1914 presidential proclamation, by the U.S. Congress in relevant bills,^[10][11] and by various U.S. presidents in their proclamations concerning Mother's Day.^[12] However, "Mothers' Day" (plural possessive) or "Mothers Day" (plural non-possessive) are also sometimes seen.”

 In UK the story is different as found on the web:

When is Mother's Day 2014?

Mother's Day - or Mothering Sunday - falls on March 30 this year, so you've still got time to plan ahead to the annual celebration.

Why does it change every year?

Mothering Sunday does not have a fixed date and so it can even be in different months sometimes.

It has its roots in the Church and falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Mothering Sunday can fall at the earliest on 1 March and at the latest on 4 April.

What's the history of the celebration?

In the UK, Mothering Sunday is believed to have evolved from the 16th-century practice of visiting one's mother church annually.

Most churchgoers used to worship at their nearest parish, also known as a daughter church, every Sunday.

It was considered important to return to the main church in the area, or mother church, once a year and people would do so in the middle of lent.

This also became a time for families to reunite. It was not unusual for children as young as 10 to leave home for work in those days and they would be given the day off to return to their mother church.

Historians believe the tradition of the children picking flowers along the way to take home led to the tradition of giving presents to mums.

It has now evolved into a day of appreciation where mums are given flowers and other gifts as a sign of thanks.

 

 

Taliban - Reality and Myth

In recent days the whole Pakistani nation has been seized with the news of negotiations between citizen's committees nominated by the GOP and the TTP. It is not quite clear whether Maulana Sami leads the political wing of the Taliban or the TTP is his military wing. No matter what, the common Pakistani is only interested in seeing and end to the lingering hostilities, shootings and bombings of totally innocent targets.
I have written previously on the subject, but would like the reader to take a looks at the links given below to add a possible new dimension to the picture.

http://www.sott.net/article/201984-US-counter-insurgency-in-action-Blackwater-helicopters-airlifting-Taliban-terrorists-around-AfPak

http://www.sott.net/article/195061-British-army-is-airlifting-Taliban-around-Afghanistan

http://www.sott.net/article/196076-War-by-design-Helicopter-rumors-refuse-to-die
 

Honest Christians

 

Although they opposed Islam as religion and tried their utmost to vilify Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and prove that the Holy Qur’an was authored by Prophet Muhammad rather than being a divine revelation (which is understandable in view of the treatment heretics and deserters of faith used to get in those days) Rev. G. Margoliouth, M.A. in his introduction to the late nineteenth century translation “The Koran” by Rev. J.M. Rodwell had this to say:

“There is, however, apart from its religious value, a more general view from which the book should be considered. The Koran enjoys the distinction of having been the starting-point of a new literary and philosophical movement which has powerfully affected the finest and most cultivated minds among both Jews and Christians in the Middle Ages. This general progress of the Muhammedan world has somehow been arrested, but research has shown that what European scholars knew of Greek philosophy, of mathematics, astronomy, and like sciences, for several centuries before the Renaissance, was, roughly speaking, all derived from Latin treatises ultimately based on Arabic originals; and it was the Koran which, though indirectly, gave the first impetus to these studies among the Arabs and their allies. Linguistic investigations, poetry, and other branches of literature, also made their appearance soon after or simultaneously with the publication of the Koran; and the literary movement thus initiated has resulted in some of the finest products of genius and learning.”

Rev. Rodwell in his preface admits:

“We have no evidence that Muhammad had access to the Christian Scriptures, though it is just possible that fragments of the Old or New Testament may have reached him through Chadijah or Waraka, or other Meccan Christians, possessing MSS. of the sacred volume…..

 

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry retired as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan on 11^th December, 2013. Much has been said and written about him. So I shall just point out what has been left out by others.

Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and his fellow judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan revolutionized Pakistani judiciary by shunning precedents of English case law and trying to find clues in the Pakistani Constitution and precedents in records of edicts and fatwas of Islamic scholars, statesmen and judges. It is not surprising that the anglophile section of the Pakistani legal and judicial circles hate Retired Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and his colleagues.

2014

Happy New Gregorian Year 2014 to all who will notice this entry. Let us resolve that this year we shall not repeat the mistakes of last year and try our best not to make new ones by trusting and consulting others before taking a decision. Let us also resolve that we shall treat everyone as a good person unless proven otherwisw and keep our lines of communication open via all conceivable channels for everyone.

Birthday

 

As you grow older, your heart should also grow larger meaning you should become more generous and forgiving.

I wish to thank everyone who called or sent a message on my birthday today. I am wondering about what I achieved during the last one year and what should be my targets for the next. One thing is obvious: I must do something admirable to make my next Birthday celebrations worthwhile. Since I have managed to stay alive during the last year, I should be able to do the same or even better next year. Do you agree with me?

World Oil Scenario

In April, 2007 I received following email which is self explanatory: DailyWealth customerservice@stansberryresearch.com via post.taipan2.net	9/4/07

The U.S. Govt's
Secret Colorado
Oil Discovery

Hidden 1,000 feet beneath the surface of the Rocky Mountains
lies the largest untapped oil reserve in the world — more than 2 TRILLION barrels. On August 8, 2005 President Bush mandated its extraction. Three companies have been chosen to lead the way. Test drilling has already begun...

Northwestern Colorado. August 2005.

The U.S. Energy Department announces the results of a land survey...

It was conducted to determine the official amount of oil a thousand feet deep in the Rocky Mountains...
They reported this stunning news:

We have more oil inside our borders, than all the other proven reserves on earth.

Here are the official estimates:

•	8-times as much oil as Saudi Arabia
•	18-times as much oil as Iraq
•	21-times as much oil as Kuwait
•	22-times as much oil as Iran
•	500-times as much oil as Yemen

...And it's all right here in the Western United States.

James Bartis, lead researcher with the study says, "We've got more oil in this very compact area than the entire Middle East."
More than 2 TRILLION barrels. Untapped.
"That's more than all the proven oil reserves of crude oil in the world today," reports The Denver Post.
When asked about America's least-publicized oil supply, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch said:
"The amounts of oil are staggering. Who would have guessed that in just Colorado and Utah, there is more recoverable oil than in the Middle East?"
Here's the kicker...
The U.S. government already owns the land. It's been right there under our noses the whole time.
In fact, the government's appointed a small group of companies to lead the way to the oil.
Test drilling has already begun.
And the profit forecasts are ridiculous. According to the RAND Corporation (a public-policy think tank for the government), this small region could produce:
Three million barrels of oil per day... That translates into more than $20 BILLION a year.
These are the conservative estimates. The U.S. Energy Dept. estimates an eventual output of 10 million barrels of oil per day. At that rate, the money flow would be even greater.

I've written this letter to tell you everything I've learned about this rarely publicized oil reserve... who's drilling it... and how to get a piece of the world's biggest, untapped oil supply — before it's too late.

In 2011 the following authentic table of world oil reserves was published:

 

Figure – 1: World oil reserves by country.

The history of world oil prices is given in the following graph In Figure-2. Note the steep rise in oil prices from 1999 when it was about 15 dollars which increased to $ 40 by 2005 when production of shale oil was started in USA and went up to $ 95 in 2011 almost in the same proportion as the increase in US shale oil production as shown in figure-3 below:



 

Figure -2: World crude oil prices from 1970 to 2011.



 

Figure -3: Shale oil production in USA.

Until 1973 oil was being sold by the he Arab and other oil exporters at USD 2 per barrel. In that year it was raised to USD 11 per barrel by OPEC countries. It was publicized as the Arab reaction to the Yom Kippur war. But it is interesting to note that at about this time production of North Sea oil became feasible at the prevailing prices and the regular Brent oil production started in 1975-6. Could it be that the idea of increasing oil prices actually originated in a European mind?

Similarly there seems no technically compelling justification for the steep rise in oil prices in the first decade of the 21^st century, except that it may have been artificially jacked up to a level that makes shale oil production feasible. The oil exporters obviously do not mind cutting production to a level that would maintain prices at nearly four times the fair value. However this new oil cartel including the US is cutting the throats of the other countries that are dependent on oil imports. In fact they are subsidizing the US shale oil production.

In this arrangement, obviously, the US will make a rapid economic recovery at the cost of many other nations. But how it is going to shape the world economy as a whole in future decades is an important question.

Related URLs:

http://www.fedprimerate.com/crude-oil-price-history.htm

http://www.wtrg.com/prices.htm

http://www.oil-price.net/en/articles/opec-and-oil-prices-is-the-story-over.php

http://petroleuminsights.blogspot.com/2011/05/united-states-oil-production-from-shale.html

http://www.indexmundi.com/energy.aspx?country=us&product=oil&graph=production

http://www.indexmundi.com/energy.aspx?product=oil&graph=production