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| India-Pakistan |
| Begging bowl diplomacy |
| 2008-10-28 |
| By JAVID HUSSAIN There are two types of leaders in this world. Some leaders in the face of serious economic challenges strengthen their resolve and try to overcome them primarily through mobilizing the energies of their people. They are conscious of the fact that the resolution of economic problems basically requires action at home and that despite the interdependence of the modern world external assistance can play only a marginal role in prevailing upon them. This, of course, is the honourable way to handle serious economic problems. Admittedly this course of action requires the leaders and the people at large to take difficult decisions and make painful sacrifices. But the nations emerge stronger in the long run after such an experience and their prestige in the international community is enhanced. Then there are leaders who take the seemingly easy way out and seek solutions of their national economic problems primarily in assistance from foreign governments and international financial institutions instead of focusing on the initiatives to be taken at home for redressing them. In the process, the control over the economic destiny of the nation is lost to foreign governments and institutions, the independence of the foreign policy is compromised and, above all, the dignity of the nation is lowered. After all economic dependence and independence of foreign policy cannot go together. |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #5 "Then there are leaders who take the seemingly easy way out and seek solutions of their national economic problems primarily in assistance from foreign governments and international financial institutions instead of focusing on the initiatives to be taken at home for redressing them. In the process, the control over the economic destiny of the nation is lost to foreign governments and institutions, the independence of the foreign policy is compromised and, above all, the dignity of the nation is lowered. After all economic dependence and independence of foreign policy cannot go together." Can this be applied o the USA and our dept load, most of which is owned and financed by Communist China? |
| Posted by: Chease Platypus1825 2008-10-28 14:25 |
| #4 You are right though, they are all dysfunctional parasites. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-10-28 13:04 |
| #3 The difference is that Americans are begging from their own govt. these guys are going around begging from everyone else's taxpayers. I don't mind bailing out Americans as much as I would EUnicks or Pakis, if we have to bail anyone out that is. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-10-28 13:03 |
| #2 I don't see that Pakistan's begging bowl looks any different than that of Americans' who are living beyond their means or longing for socialism. They're all dysfunctional parasites. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2008-10-28 09:49 |
| #1 I don't see that Pakistan has had, or has now, or will have in the near future, a government with the strength to put down their begging bowl and take up the tools of building their nation. Without outside props, any government there is simply too weak. Containment and a little encouragement is about all that outsiders can realistically offer. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2008-10-28 09:38 |