The 9/11 Ad
Guess which country put up a half-page ad in an American newspaper on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks? Jihadistan, of course (also known as Pakistan)! The ad asked, “Which country can do more for your peace?” and went on to list the “sacrifices” and “effort” by the Pakistanis in “fighting” terrorism.
You might ask hasn’t the story of Pakistan always been to “run with the hare and hunt with the hound”? Yes, and even they unintentionally acknowledge that by putting Benazir’s photo on an ad about terrorism. After all, wasn’t she the one who said she’d foster terrorism to bleed India to death by a thousand cuts? Yes, Benazir sure is the face of Pakistan’s stance on terror.
Very quickly, everyone realized that the ad had, well, bombed. Nobody was buying it. No wonder then that when the Wall Street Journal tried to find who’s idea the ad was, the Pak government said it came from the army’s public relations division. Who, in turn, said it came from the Information & Broadcasting ministry.
To see how ineffective the ad was, just look at the events less than a week later. After this week's assault on the U.S. Embassy and coalition headquarters in Kabul, the US says it is looking for evidence that directly links the ISI to the terrorists.
Propaganda ain’t easy when you try it on other countries. Even Goebbels was never able to convince the Brits or the Americans that the Nazis were the good guys. But try telling that to the marketing wizards of Pakistan.
You might ask hasn’t the story of Pakistan always been to “run with the hare and hunt with the hound”? Yes, and even they unintentionally acknowledge that by putting Benazir’s photo on an ad about terrorism. After all, wasn’t she the one who said she’d foster terrorism to bleed India to death by a thousand cuts? Yes, Benazir sure is the face of Pakistan’s stance on terror.
Very quickly, everyone realized that the ad had, well, bombed. Nobody was buying it. No wonder then that when the Wall Street Journal tried to find who’s idea the ad was, the Pak government said it came from the army’s public relations division. Who, in turn, said it came from the Information & Broadcasting ministry.
To see how ineffective the ad was, just look at the events less than a week later. After this week's assault on the U.S. Embassy and coalition headquarters in Kabul, the US says it is looking for evidence that directly links the ISI to the terrorists.
Propaganda ain’t easy when you try it on other countries. Even Goebbels was never able to convince the Brits or the Americans that the Nazis were the good guys. But try telling that to the marketing wizards of Pakistan.
After much bitter experience, the US has come to know of Pakistan's true colors. Even Pakistan's "all-weather-friend" China has started showing unhappiness towards them for allowing the training of terrorists who are potential threats to China itself. As you say, it is more difficult to succeed in propaganda in another country. Governments (in non-democratic countries particularly) can cheat within one's own country far more easily.
ReplyDeleteAbout the Nazi propaganda machinery under Goebbels, many people may not know this: While the propaganda had brainwashed many Germans, towards the end of the war, the very same tool became a tormentor for the Germans. The propaganda promoting hate towards the Russians had convinced the German population that the Russians were the worst savages who would do every kind of atrocity (loot, rape, massacre etc.)effortlessly and with merriment. As time passed, when the Red army was advancing to overrun Germany, the rise of panic was very detrimental to the people. They suffered much more than what a war defeat would have led them to - they were psychologically much shattered well before the end of the war.
Pakistan's hate propaganda and lies about other countries and their own mean and hidden agenda, is already pushing that nation towards the brink. It is quite likely that within the next two or three decades Pakistan would have either split into two or more parts or definitely the cracks in the national structure would be too bad to allow any easy course of repair - they will have to fear impending implosion all the time. It is a decaying nation with no direction. Their only clear and definite policy "Hate, hate, hate India" is unlikely to cater to all their needs. What good can emerge from any hate of high intensity and extreme mindlessness?
If Paksitan were to implode or weaken badly, we can only say that they molded their fate all by themselves. It is clear that as of today Pakistan has shown no signs at all of any change for a better direction (for their own good, forget others) and certainly nothing positive has been done truthfully so far. Their dogged determination to adherence to lies and deceit is certainly going to ensure their decline over the years. It would be nice if they become engrossed even more in their hate and mindlessness since that would accelerate the process of their ruin. It is quite possible that some of us will see their collapse happen in our own lifetime.
I had once felt that a better governed Pakistan with less hate filling people's mind (both in India and Pakistan) would be a better solution for the sub-continent's problems. But such Utopian dreams are fit only for the sleepy. Let's all face the harsh reality - the war against hate and terrorism is very tough indeed but we have to stand up against this evil. We just have to do it. There is no other solution. Let's do it instead of hoping for things dreamily.