Wikileaks, Zulqarnain and our nuclear arsenal…
Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is releasing documents that the US government never imagined to be accessible to ordinary citizens.
The Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence is a group of retired CIA officers that annually gives away the Sam Adams Award to an intelligence professional who takes a stand for integrity and ethics. This year, the award was given to Julian Assange, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks.
Causing uproar all over the world, WikiLeaks is releasing online documents that the US government never imagined to be accessible to ordinary citizens. Interestingly enough, neither the US Foreign Office nor the Pentagon has denied the authenticity of these documents, perhaps because of the sheer stupidity of accusing anyone of faking millions of documents. Whatever the reasons maybe, the information is spreading like wildfire. One can only imagine the number of hits the Wikileaks website is getting at this (certainly beating Zulqarnain Haider’s Facebook profile).
The documents reveal how the US army and its coalition forces are operating in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan and the “calculated” attacks that take place in these regions by US Nato forces. The documents also highlight the direction of US foreign policy and Pentagon, and America’s love-hate relationship with many countries.
The most recent documents, however, disclose how the US government deals with other countries on the forefront and what really goes on backstage. This is going to hamper the already distorted image of the US government for many countries. Pakistan’s relations with the US, however, may not get affected; this is simply because the government and its do not reflect the sentiments and wishes of the people of Pakistan. A little more cash will take everything back to normal.
What did please an ordinary citizen like me was the revelation that Pakistani officials denied the US government permission to visit our nuclear facilities in 2009. This would most probably be because of the fact that our nuclear assets here are under military control (to a very large extent). If this hadn’t been the case, our government may well have put a ticketing booth outside the nuclear facilities and made it a “nuclear amusement park” for US officials to roam inside at their leisure.
Nobody is sure about the reasons behind why these documents were published by WikiLeaks, but one thing is certain: it has shaken the international community and shown them the uglier side of the picture. As far as Pakistan is concerned, the government should be worried because these documents will further improve the military’s image – something the so-called “democratic” government may not like.
On a lighter note, Zulqarnain Haider is waiting for 2011 to start so he can contest for the Sam Adams award by revealing some of his own secrets.
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of The Express Tribune.
The documents dont say anything about denying access to nucelar facilities, they refer to the possible withdrawal of nuclear fuel from a research reactor. It doesnt say which nuclear reactor they are talking about, whether one this is part of our uranium enriching facility or the Chasma or Kanupp. Instead, it suggests that cooperation on improving nuclear security goes back to 2007 or even further back. And its already well know that the Pakistani state has recieved 100 of millions of dollar to improve security from the US already. To take bits of quotes and then to extend that argument that somehow that shows some military gusto or that if it was under the control of the civilians they would have put up a “for sale” sign, is a bit of a stretch. Then again, AQ Khan did put up a big “for sale” sign….hmm and if you believe the official line, no one in the entire military new what he was upto! hmmmmmRecommend
Wikileaks are as state opposed as TI; Zardari&Co. is not going to bother about anything. They always have this solution of labeling anti-Pakistan to all the things they dislike or don’t want around. I still hope that governments aren’t going to be any transparent in future and still no one will be accountable for anything but Julian for spying.Recommend
The leaks related to the activities of Pentagon and CIA can be considered whistleblowing. But the recent leaks related to foreign office serve no positive purpose; they are inethical.Recommend
Excellent thought..nice mixed with our national hero zulqarnain..Recommend
Respected writer, you are right in your arguement that if gods sake nuclear arsnel were under the so called democratic setup then it would have been made a nuclear amusenent park. It is because they cannot disappoint their master, who has been feeding them right from the begining.Recommend
Haha! Loved the part about the ‘nuclear amusement park.’ You can’t have ‘aitbaar’ on the leaders given how they run the country. We are no worse than puppets such as Karzai and Iraq :)Recommend
100% in accordance with the “Nuclear Amusement Park” thingy ..Recommend
one thing’s for sure that the intelligence agencies are still in the playRecommend
Do agree with Khuram Aziz ShahRecommend
The documents dont say anything about denying access to nucelar facilities, they refer to the possible withdrawal of nuclear fuel from a research reactor.Recommend
One more thing is that I have small believe in our agencies is that not all officials there are so patriot but even handful are those which want this country to be stable. Our this asset is the only one which can threaten USA and demand what we actually need market not the pledge.Recommend
good postRecommend
really good postRecommend