Eric Margolis, foreign correspondent for Sun National Media and the American Conservative magazine, discusses the state of emergency in Pakistan, the history of the Musharraf dictatorship, his relationship with Dick Cheney, the return of Benazir Bhutto, her accusation that Musharraf was behind the recent suicide bomb attacks, the Islamists in Waziristan, the cause of their insurgency, Pakistan’s feudal system and the slim chance that crazies could get their hands on the nukes, the tension between Pakistan and India, the collision course coming this way as the Kurdish PKK attacks Turkey and vice versa, the U.S. and Israel’s policy of splitting off Kurdistan Iraq while simultaneously backing the Turks, U.S. support for Kurdish terrorism against Iran and the plan for long term occupation of Iraq.
MP3 here. (43:13)
Award winning author, columnist, and broadcaster Eric S. Margolis has covered 14 wars and is a leading authority on military affairs, the Middle East, South Asia, and Islamic movements.
Scott Horton is the most informed (and cheeky) interviewer I've ever heard.
Big up to Scott.
Very perceptive and accurate reading of events in Pakistan. Margolis is one of the few voices of sanity in the North American media!
Great work, Scott
But one key aspect not covered in this is the threat posed to Turkish national identity by the Turkish Kurds. Enver Pasha and the Young Turks and then Kemal Ataturk chose to promote the Kurds as part of the Turkish nation over the Armenians (oldest Christian nation on Earth) who didn’t fit. But Kurdish birth rates being higher, this cuckoo in the nest has created a kind of large-scale Kosovo situation, and as Eric Margolis pointed out, there is sudden sympathy for Iraqi Kurds for different reasons – so the Turkish establishment might well feel nervous about the integrity of the Turkish state, which has always been open to question. I don’t mean to criticise, but just to add this perspective to the mix.
Peace
Christopher Lord
I agree with you completely. The whole thing is a big mess. I just would like to see my own government stop making matters worse for everyone.
And please criticize whenever you feel like it. : )
I suggest an interview with Kevin Phillips author of Wealth and Democracy, American Theocracy, Dynasty, He’s no Bush man and one i’d like to hear from
Kevin Phillips would be great! Read several of his books, facinating.
I know Eric Margolis. He’s brilliant, and knows Central Asia, particularly Afganistan and Pakistan, inside out. And, he’s honest.
Mr. Eric Margolis is a rare credit in the media world. He says it as it is. He is well read and informed and does not take sides.
Journalist like him are few and far in between.
Keep up the excellent work. You are indeed a credit to your country and the world at large.
Every single destructive act that the Bush Administration, The Democrat Party and the Republican Party inflicts on America and the American people, is well deserved. The American people are getting exactly what they continue to vote for, self destruction. The following analysis applies:
1. The majority of the country is opposed to the War in Iraq, yet the Iraq War continues unabated with no end in sight
2. Americans are opposed to free trade deals, yet outsourcing of jobs via free trade contiues: See the most recent trade deal to pass with bipartisan support
3. The majority want universal health insurance, yet no insurance plan has even remotely had a chance of passing, much less surviving a presidential veto
4. The majority of Americans want illegal immigration stopped, yet the open borders and massive illegals crossing it continues
One could go on and on, but clearly the Democrats, while in control of Congress, has allowed the downward slide to continue. So what should the people be telling themselves? Time to get off this merry-go-round of stupidity and vote for Ralph Nader and other third party candiates.
Really good and really interesting post. I expect (and other readers maybe :)) new useful posts from you!
Good luck and successes in blogging!