Indeed it is utterly disgusting as one email to me said today. The conferring of Pakistan’s highest civilian award on Richard Boucher on 5th January by Zardari is not only utterly disgusting but also humiliating. This award was given two days after the latest drone attack on Waziristan. Here is a man, Boucher, who comes regularly to give orders to the Empire’s satraps in Islamabad and who says that the bombings by US drones will continue, and instead of our government taking him to task it rewards him. This is just like all satraps who pay homage and carry gifts and presents to their oppressors. Wonderful! Yes please come and kick us, we love it and we will be eternally grateful to you and will give you gifts in exchange.
Doubly significant and doubly disgusting was the fact that this award was given while Israel is killing women and children in Gaza and destroying all civilisation with the support of the United States and with US supplied weapons, including cluster bombs in open areas and prohibited weapons like white phosphorus. True, Prime Minister Gilani did condemn the Israeli attack when he met Boucher but as for action all he did was "to urge the US and the world community to play their role in bringing an end to the Israeli atrocities". Great! Asking the US to restrain Israel is like asking a Mafia boss to restrain the killers he himself has sent out to do the killings.
This award is given to Boucher while five Pakistanis are being held in horrible conditions in Guantanamo and when Dr. Afia Siddiqui is being held illegally in the US after being kidnapped along with her children from Pakistan and when one does not even know where her children are and when one knows that she cannot expect a fair trial in the United States.
If one wanted clear evidence of the complete bankruptcy of the present government and its subservience to the US this award was it. The people of Pakistan instead know what Boucher and his ilk have done to Pakistan and know what he represents, a blood thirsty empire, and are quite disgusted with this latest affront to Pakistan’s dignity and sovereignty.
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