Is the CIA on a leash regarding Benghazi?

One would probably do a double-take thinking of the Barack Obama administration intimidating the CIA operatives who were in Benghazi, when the consulate was attacked.

From this report — welcome, CNN, to the world of tough questions instead of the toeing-the-establishment-line — it seems there is a huge secret and all the agents who were there that night are subjected to polygraph tests, to ensure they do not leak out any information to the media.

You will watch this clip, but the threat is not small. They are worried about their families, they know they cannot get away.

And they are not even Edward Snowden, who had access to so much more.



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In September, 2012, I had written this:

»Can you imagine Libyan pro-democracy group overtaking the headquarters of an extremist organisation, that too to protest against the killings at the American Consulate? This is what happened in Benghazi against the Ansar al-Sharia:

"Thousands of protesters took to the street earlier on Friday, declaring loudly that they represent the real sentiments of the Libyan people, not those who were behind the deadly attack 10 days ago, reports CNN. One man stated: 'I am sorry America. This is the real Libya'.”

At first I was baffled and elated by turns. It sounds nice. In many ways, it is. But, is this the real Libya? Can we forget that the anti-Gaddafi rebels were looting property and striking poses in his and his family’s homes, making a mockery of the democracy they were claiming as their own?

This is probably to gain international attention. The signs read: “The ambassador was Libya’s friend” and “Libya lost a friend.” Christopher Stevens was known to be a good person. However, the United States at one time was quite comfortable with Col. Gaddafi. They, too, were friends, although he was friendlier with others.«

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Given what's happening with the CIA, one wonders whether it is not just a civil war in Libya after all.

Libya syncing

Can you imagine Libyan pro-democracy group overtaking the headquarters of an extremist organisation, that too to protest against the killings at the American Consulate? This is what happened in Benghazi against the Ansar al-Sharia:

Thousands of protesters took to the street earlier on Friday, declaring loudly that they represent the real sentiments of the Libyan people, not those who were behind the deadly attack 10 days ago, reports CNN. One man stated: “I am sorry America. This is the real Libya.”

At first I was baffled and elated by turns. It sounds nice. In many ways, it is. But, is this the real Libya? Can we forget that the anti-Gaddafi rebels were looting property and striking poses in his and his family’s homes, making a mockery of the democracy they were claiming as their own?

This is probably to gain international attention. The signs read: “The ambassador was Libya’s friend” and “Libya lost a friend.” Christopher Stevens was known to be a good person. However, the United States at one time was quite comfortable with Col. Gaddafi. They, too, were friends, although he was friendlier with others.

The report has thrown up one interesting fact, though:

Tribal leaders are the strongest social force in the country and have come forward to demand that the militias disband. Tribal leaders in Benghazi and Darna even announced this week that members of their tribes who are also militiamen will not have protection from the tribes when faced with anti-militia protests, meaning the tribe will not avenge them if they die.

And they say the civil war is over in Libya…

WEF (What Economic Forum)

There was to be a discussion on organised crime, 'Criminals without Borders' at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Why a separate discussion? Isn't the WEF already about this? Or does it need some more muscle-flexing self-introspection?

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Heard about the Red Berets. Any symbolic moments? Just wondering...

Why did my momma not warn me about the spirit?

I went to a regular school, although not regularly. It was a proper convent where the day started with hymns that were later made more 'secular' and we did not have to assemble in the hall anymore, what with the installation of speakers, and smell coconut oil in hair and post breakfast smells still on lips. Oh, one was obedient, if you ignore the short uniform that was ripped open at the hemline on inspection day and the nails forcibly trimmed. I did not chuck the chalk at the blackboard, did not know the dates in history texts by rote - I just happened to like history. I wished the nuns and the teachers in the corridors 'Good morning, Good evening". If I did something wrong, it was not to be a nuisance or to go against authority. I did not think anyone was authority. They were just given that position and one day we would all grow up and get some position somewhere, it could be in the kitchen, it could be in the boardroom, it could be in some underground movement, it could be as queen bee. Anything. I was certain about that.

I do not recall being told that the system would break my spirit. I did not even know it was a system. It was school and I knew I had to be there for a limited amount of time and then I'd be out to find anything I sought.

No system has swallowed me. I have done pretty much what I wished to and when I did make adjustments it was when I wanted to because I wanted to. My spirit is still soaring.

Therefore, Julian Assange's mommy's quote about not sending little Julian to school because his spirit would be broken is a bit of romanticising, and it works because his stock is currently high.

I've done okay fighting the demons, and sometimes becoming one. But, hey, no one is going to bail me out. So, it is Julian who is now a part of the system that his ma protected him from.

Remember Rajdeep...

How he used to often say, "Iss hamam mein sab nangey hai"?

The answer my friend is this: Iss haman mein sab designer clothes pehne hue hai jo aam aadmi khareed nahin sakta aur designer bechne ke liye sirf 'fit' models chunta hai.

Samjhe na?

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To transcribe: This is an allusion to the 2-G/media/lobbying/blah controversy and how CNN-IBN's head Rajdeep Sardesai used the phrase that means 'All are naked in the 'hamam' (Turkish/open bath). My response is that in this hamam everyone is dressed in designer clothes that the poor can ill-afford and which designers find models that can 'fit' into.

Is this pride?

At the Sunday gay parade in Mumbai:

Shobha Doshi, a housewife in her 50s, stood out among the colourful wigs with a banner that read “Proud Mother of a Gay Son’’.

Proud of what? His preference for boys over girls? I would understand “Supportive Mother”. There is nothing to be proud about any kind of sexual choices except between the two people (or, ahem, more) involved in the act and the prowess they manage to display. Although that too is a bit déclassé for it stands in opposition to system failure…that is failure to perform, which can be truly traumatic.

Let us rethink this pride business. It is about achievement and talent and has nothing to do with being gay or heterosexual.

Imagine if Kasturba Gandhi had taken part in a parade to say she is a “Proud Wife of a Celibate”. Going by how these ‘movements’ are being propagated, why not?

Only pigs make us go oink?

The largest ever manhunt is for swine flu.

Read this:

In the largest ever manhunt in India’s history, authorities are tracking down the 2,000-odd passengers who are known to have arrived in the country from Mexico over the past week. These passengers will be traced to their local addresses and checked thoroughly for symptoms of swine flu infection by central government health officers, in an exercise to prevent outbreak of the deadly flu in the country.

This group is part of the 50,000 passengers identified as having entered India from flu-affected countries like New Zealand, Mexico, the US, Canada, Spain, France and Britain over the past week.

India on Friday also started full-fledged screening of all passengers coming into the country from infected countries. A total of 17,949 passengers were screened till Friday evening at the international airports in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Goa, Amritsar, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Trichy and Srinagar. Around 96 doctors have been deployed to man 32 counters at the 12 airports.

Now, if only there was this much effort and enthusiasm to track down terrorists, wouldn’t it be quite something else?

I am not suggesting that such a pandemic is not cause for concern; people are dying. I have always maintained that the ongoing problems are of illiteracy, poverty and health, but somehow they are not as great smart bomb bytes as the T word is.

In fact, rarely do we bother to get in touch with people close to the affected areas unless there are bomb blasts or such. And when we do – as I did when I called up a friend not far from Mexico – she was, like, “huh, yeah, we’re fine…” I admit I felt like one of those bustling hens.

One supposes a small dose of humour would not be out of place, anyway:


Is this riding piggy back or just good old grrr revenge of “you can’t bank on us only for small change”?

Just wondering

A gang rape case in Mumbai.

The victim: an American student who along with her family belonged to the Hare Krishna cult.

The rapists: Educated, well-to-do collegians.

Question: Why did the girl in her report give a description of what appears like foreplay? It is very disturbing.

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Can someone tell me why in the ad asking people to vote Aamir Khan is made to mouth the words "Desh ke sabse ehem aur mahatwapoorna chunaav" (the nation's most important and decisive elections)? What makes these polls different? That companies and newspapers are event managing the way people vote? That there is money being ploughed in and they want the returns?

What?

Can you eat dat?

On Monday, it happened:

Testicle festival beckons diners: Volunteers of Oakdale’s annual Testicle Festival along with the town’s rotary club plan to fry up 400 pounds of the private parts of bulls and serve them to diners who pay $50 apiece for the sit-down meal. The event, whose proceeds also benefit the Oakland Cowboy Museum, has drawn an average of 450 people and last year raised $28,000.

Balls! A sit-down meal, no less…how very posh. Or will it be the roughneck variety, banging on tables, chewing big chunks of meat, grease dripping from the still-bloodied rare bits? Whatever…

Just wondering, though, why did Lorena Bobbitt not think about it way back then?

When women strip men...

Caption: Women tear off men’s clothes as they play huranga a day after Holi in a Mathura temple

My Comment: Where is the moral police? Why is it acceptable for men to be stripped, that too in a temple? While their clothes are being torn off, do you think the men will twiddle their thumbs and not indulge in a bit of touchy-feely? So, are we saying that if something has religious sanction, then morality does not matter even if it goes against all standards of moral decency?

Monroe in the wind

A model displays a creation of Dolce & Gabbana’s Fall/Winter 2009-2010 ready-to-wear collection during the women’s fashion week in Milan.



Is this iconic or ironic? The dress lacks basic good sense, don’t even think about classiness.

I know we have a T-shirt industry with images of famous people. Che Guevara is, of course, the favourite of all who think they are rebels. Why don’t Indians have Bhagat Singh and Subhash Chandra Bose stamped on their tees? Even the saffron parties will not have Veer Savarkar and Golwalkar.

Digression over. The Marilyn Monroe dress is so frumpy and what is it trying to convey? A smiling woman who died young is being strutted on a ramp by a model who looks like she needs a laxative. Talking of which, and pardon the indelicacy of the imagery, do you recall that scene where Monroe’s dress balloons out in the wind in The Seven Year Itch?



Hmm…a person wearing this dress could, in one of those au naturalle moments, give that quite a different dimension. With Marilyn’s face at the receiving end.

Sunday ka Funda

1. Sad to learn that servants and people in menial jobs only do your work well if they are treated with disdain. Is it that they have become so accustomed to being talked down to or does one appear as a person with some authority only if you put on airs?

2. I think it is pretty sick to read that a certain young film actress was run down with the comment that she would not even win the Miss Dombivili contest. I have been a bit out of touch with the ‘news’ and caught up with some of it in today’s papers. There are human beings who live in Dombivili, and looks are not area-specific. Neither is talent.

It is quite pathetic that people get bravos for their ‘honest’ views when they wouldn’t dare take on any of the Malabar Hill-Cuffe Parade divas with their ridiculous berets and over-the-top hostessing. Honesty is when you can forget which side your ‘intellectual’ bread is buttered.

Did I fly his flight?

“Your flight has been rescheduled,” was the text message. It was followed by a voicemail. I read and heard both these the next day. My phone was in silent mode.

The messages were not for me. It was for a person with a very long name travelling on an international carrier from a far-off land. Why did he have a Mumbai number? Probably a businessman.

Today, it happened again. He was flying between cities. His flight was delayed. I called up the Indian private airline. These guys talk real smartly. I told him about the error and could he please update the information so that the real person gets the message?

“Oh sure, ma’am. I will need your name.”

“Why is my name important? I am giving you details about the passenger, and you should be concerned about his information.”

“But I will need to tell the department who called.”

“Tell them Helen of Troy.”

“Huh? Sorry, I did not get you?”

“Yeah, you won’t. Just do what you have to. Here are the flight details, the gentleman’s full name. Feed it into your system.”

“See, why don’t you call the reservations department, they might be able to help.”

“I do not need help. And I do not have the time. It is your job, you do it.”

Trrring, trring…cellphone rings. An automated voice informs me about my flight delay. I want to scream.

Yet, somewhere, I am thinking about Mr Long Name. Christian from Kerala. I can imagine him working his ass off in some Gulf country, returning to India, going to different cities to sell a dream he has sleepless nights over.

He must have reached the airport early, picked up a quarrel with the check-in staff…and shrugged. He, in all likelihood, did not expect them to inform him. He does not know that the number he gave them is not his number. It is mine.

He is probably travelling well, but even in Executive Class he will be with a plastic carry bag, usually from some department store. Something will poke out. He will say, “Side pliss,” as he tries to haul it up in the overhead luggage bin after the flight attendant has told him that he cannot keep it near his seat as it is inconvenient and not advisable during emergencies. He has travelled so many times, yet he will repeat the performance, jut his tongue out to indicate his mistake, roll his large eyes, and maybe look over his reading glasses.

Then he will sit down, ask for the newspaper that is already in the seat pocket, and wipe his face, neck, arms with the wet towel. When the drinks are passed around, he will first touch the glass of juice, then the fresh lime and finally pick up the Coke. He will spread the newspaper to its full broadsheet size.

He will change channels of the in-flight entertainment till he has watched two minutes of each. He will have the full meal on board, ask for extra milk in his coffee, then recline his seat all the way back and start looking around. After a few minutes he will get up and start walking down the aisle to confirm whether he needs to visit the loo. When he is certain, he will pull up his trousers and go towards the toilet. When he is done and comes out, his hand will be on his zipper. Just like that.

Back at his seat, he will ring for the attendant. He will ask for "magsin” and pick up a serious news mag and look at the ads.

Once the flight has landed, he will switch on his mobile and start punching numbers. When the aircraft door is opened he will pull out his plastic bag and his strolley and his laptop, carry the paper and mag with him and try and rush to the exit. He will make a call saying he is late for a meeting.

Right now, as I type this, he must be on that flight from Bangalore to my city. He does not know me. But for the airline staff I am him.

What a flight it has been…

Off with his head…the resignation drama

...and so it will go on.

Resignations, in fact, make people into martyrs.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil goes. Was it due to the Mumbai terror attacks? Or because of the elections? After all, there were several bomb blasts in the recent past where he should have been made answerable.

P. Chidambaram has replaced him. We think the government is showing a sense of responsibility when all it has done is added a bit of varnish.

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Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra R.R.Patil made the statement:

“The terrorists had ammunition and planned to kill 5,000 people. But the brave police security forces crushed their designs and reduced the damage to a much lesser degree.”

He also referred to such incidents happening in big cities. Is he insensitive? Yes. So are several others. What about Rajiv Gandhi and his “when big tree falls earth will shake” statement?

I do not know where Patil got the figures of “planned” deaths from, but reports have talked about the strategy for greater damage.

Why did they not succeed? Why was all that RDX recovered and not used? Will they manage to get the information out of the lone arrested terrorist?

Why is Bal Thackeray quiet? Was Narendra Modi’s visit not to really show concern for the city but to give subtle reassurance that the Tatas will never face such a situation with their Nano in his Gujarat?

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CM Vilasrao Deshmukh is being held responsible and may resign. Fine. But there is no need to dramatise the fact that he was accompanied by his actor son Ritesh Deshmukh and film director Ram Gopal Verma on his visit to the Taj. They said it was wrong because it was an official visit. I am sure it was an official visit, given the situation.

I agree this was most blatant on Deshmukh’s part. He has even said:

"If my son is with me what is wrong in that? It was a big incident and he wanted to see it."

So Papa was only showing him the sights. They are insinuating that Verma may make a film. He got to watch much more on TV screens and seeing broken glass panes and destruction does not constitute research.

There will be many who will be inspired by these attacks and don’t be surprised to see traces of them in even some saas-bahu serials in the next few days.

But who are the ones pointing fingers? You can do so only if you are not a celebrity dropping half-baked tears for the cameras, if you are not a media person interviewing film stars for their reactions, if you are not making a tamasha of this occasion yourself.

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The Muslim Council has refused to allow the burial of the bodies of the nine terrorists in the Marine Lines Bada Qabrastan. A message has been sent to all cemeteries in the country.

They approached the authorities, giving the reason that the “impious terrorists should not be buried in any cemetery in India”.

I pity these faithfuls. They are trying so hard to look secular; they have no choice.

What is the government planning to do? Will someone from Faridkot, or Farid Kot, come forward? Or Yemen? Or UK? Or Pakistan? Or …

Will the Indian government organise a mass burial? Why don’t these Muslims just ask that these bodies be consigned to an electric crematorium since they are impious anyway?

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I know the authorities are coping with several things right now, but has anyone traced the whereabouts of this Deccan Mujahideen group, whatever it is? I mean, we manage to trace crank callers and spam too. This is important. Because they were misleading our security and intelligence agencies.

And where is the Indian Mujahideen? Just wondering....

Two mannequins

I find this picture interesting because the human appears more plastic than the mannequin, which is better dressed and has some emotion visible on the face.

He cannot read, but his eyes seem awake to words and the world; he cannot speak, but his mouth is puckered to utter something; he has no mind, but how thoughtful he looks.

Sometimes, human beings become manufactured entities. No comic relief is as tragic as a person unknowingly mimicking a mannequin.

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The last poll results:

After the recent bomb blasts, who do you suspect?

Jihadis from outside - 3 (25%), Local militant groups - 8 (66%), ISI - 3 (25%), Our political parties - 3 (25%), No comments - 1 (8%)

Cats and dogs

It is just a cartoon. But in a dog-eat-cat world, it really does not matter how big the cat is.

Taking it further, it can mean so many things…

The dog rides on the cat and shoots from its ‘shoulders’.

The dog wants to just assert itself.

The dog is just playing games.

The cat looks confused but why? Isn’t the dog so light?

If cats have nine lives, and the dog knows it, why worry?

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Okay, on to other non four-legged matters. If interested, do go to the book blog for reader feedback and to hear my podcast...

In search of an identity

If any of you want, here is an interview and review that has appeared in today's The News, Pakistan. Also uploaded on my other blog.

Talking of interviews, a small one appeared on July 4 in The Asian Age pull-out section. Damn, I have been misquoted so badly...when I said some Pakistanis wonder how I (as in an Indian Muslim) can live among idol worshippers and those who kill Muslims - and these were real quotes from people - the quote has been attributed to me. As in according to FV, "How can I..." blah, blah...

Nazia Hasan or Begum Akhtar - who is a legend?

Does a tragic and untimely death make a person a legend? Why do we use words so carelessly? I clearly recall Nazia Hassan and her voice. She died young and it is truly nice to know that her parents have set up a foundation in her memory to promote causes that were dear to her. In the report she is referred to as a “singing legend”.

She had a fan following and was most certainly talented, but we need to keep in mind that beyond the skills, she did not reach the core of hearts. Perhaps it was the songs – they were more of the Boom Boom variety…but like any pop diva her shelf life would have been restricted. Death unfortunately has catapulted her into a hall of fame.

Here she is in a mellower mood:

Sun, mere mehboob sun - Nazia Hassan



Comparisons, as everyone tells us, are odious. So, I shall refrain. But if you want legend, then watch this:

Aaye kuchch abr kuchch charaag aaye - Begum Akhtar

Dis n Dat

I am angry. I was watching this music reality show “Chhote Ustad’, part of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa series. The kids are quite talented. Last night they had Ghulam Ali saab as one of the special judges. In the course of the show, one of the participants asked him to become his guru, using emotional appeal.

The veteran singer agreed.

Later, one of the regular judges, Kunal Ganjawalla, whose singing career has thus far been about making dog sounds in every song – bow-woow-wo-ho – had the audacity to say that since the participant is so deserving and his financial situation is not very good, he would like to bear the expenses of his training. He turned to Ghulam Ali saab and said, “Aapki jo bhi qeemat hogi, mein usey de doonga” (Whatever be your fees, I will pay for it).

Bloody idiot. Does he even know his aukaat? Even if he had to, he could have done it off camera or just said he would like to help the fellow’s further training. Was there a need to act like an upstart that he in fact is?

It is to the credit of the senior that he said something to the effect that sur has no price. But what would a music thelewalla know?

I am still angry.

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Why do we always say “cascading waterfall” although it does precious little besides cascade? It is like cricket commentators saying now the bowler has thrown the ball…what else is he supposed to do?

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Yesterday morning I had set the alarm for 5 AM. That has been my schedule for some days now. My work of the moment is done. But I woke up. Feeling restless. As though something has been snatched from me even though I gave it away.

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End quote: “Too fucking busy, and vice versa.” – Dorothy Parker [Reply to her editor who was bugging her for her belated work while she was on her honeymoon]