PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 25, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001402 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 25, 2009 Summary: U.S. National Security Advisor Jones's Pakistan visit and his meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani received extensive coverage in all newspapers on Thursday. Newspapers also reported that General Jones will meet President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani today (Thursday). Interior Minister Rehman Malik's statement that the "Taliban had fled from the Malakand division" received extensive coverage. Some major dailies highlighted report that "Baitullah Mehsud, the TTP chief had a narrow escape in Tuesday drone attack." Alongside that story, all dailies also gave projection to the Pakistan Foreign Office's statement expressing "concern" over the recent U.S. drone attacks terming them as a "violation of its sovereignty." Also reported on the front page was news that "PAF (Pakistan Air Force) purged its ranks of militant sympathizers." Most major dailies ran editorials on a variety of subjects including the U.S. NSA Jones's visit to Pakistan, the drone strikes, ongoing military offensive, and the constitutional reforms and so forth. The center-right national English daily "The Nation" observed that "it is hoped that General Jones, who would be visiting New Delhi, is told in plain terms that any genuine normalization with India is contingent on the resolution of the Kashmir issue." Commenting on the drone strikes, the liberal English language daily, "Daily Times," noted that "Pakistan has been opposed to the American drone attacks on its territory, but not without some evidence that the local population living under the heel of Baitullah Mehsud did not mind them." However, the pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" raised a question that "if the killing of innocent people and targeting of official buildings, mosques and public places by the Taliban or those disguised as Taliban is terrorism, then the drone attacks by U.S. that also kill innocent people too constitute terrorism and must be condemned just as vociferously." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "U.S. Security Adviser Meets Army Chief" "Dawn," "The Nation," "Daily Times," "Pakistan Observer," "The Statesman," "Jang," "Nawa-i-Waqt," "Khabrain," "Ausaf" (06/25) "The United States National Security Adviser, Gen. James Jones, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss troop surge in Afghanistan and to encourage Pakistan to intensify the military operations against extremists, according to sources. Gen. Jones began his trip to the country with a meeting with Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani after arriving from Kabul. He will meet President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday (Today). Although neither side exchanged any formal agenda, diplomats said the advisor was likely to discuss surge in U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Swat operation and the possible military offensive in Waziristan." "Obama Aide Calls On COAS" "The News" (06/25) "Advisor to U.S. President Barack Obama on National Security James Jones met COAS Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani in Islamabad on Wednesday night. Mutual and bilateral matters, drone attacks, war against terrorism, regional security came under discussion in the meeting. The American official lauded Pakistan Army's efforts in war against terrorism and expressed satisfaction in this regard. He assured all possible support for Pakistan and promised continued American aid in war against terrorism. He also assured U.S. assistance in defense, economy and finance. Army sources said the COAS briefed the visitor about operation and also expressed concerns at drone attacks." "No Sanctuary For Taliban, Says Malik" "Dawn" (06/25) "The Taliban had fled from the Malakand division and they would find no sanctuary no matter where they went, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Wednesday. 'Terrorists have fled from Swat after shaving off their beards. They are on the run. Wherever they go, we will hunt them down,' he said in the National Assembly. Outside the Parliament House, Mr. Malik told reporters that the military operation would continue until the last Taliban fighter was eliminated." "Baitullah's Narrow Escape In Drone Attack: Missile Kills Key Trainer Of Taliban Suicide Bombers" "Dawn" (06/25) "Baitullah Mehsud, the Chief of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, had a narrow escape on Tuesday when he left only moments before an attack by U.S. drones on the funeral of a militant commander in South Waziristan. The strike, however, claimed a significant scalp in the shape of Qari Hussain, a lieutenant of Baitullah who was popularly known as Ustad-i-Fidayeen, or teacher of suicide bombers. Circles in TTP had widely tipped him as Baitullah's successor, Taliban leader Noorullah told 'Dawn' in Miramshah." "Pak Concern At U.S. Drone Attacks Conveyed: FO" "The News" (06/25) "Reiterating its concern over the drone attacks, Pakistan on Wednesday said it was in regular contact with the U.S. and serious concerns on the recent strikes have been put across strongly. In response to a question regarding the recent drone attacks, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said, 'it has been Pakistan's consistent position that drone attacks are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and must be stopped." "U.S. Drones Prowl Over Waziristan, Pakistan Concerned" "Daily Times" (06/25) "U.S. drones prowled the sky over South Waziristan on Wednesday, a day after one of the aircraft attacked a stronghold of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud. Taliban fired at the drones and at least two turned back, said a resident." "PAF Purges Its Ranks Of Militant Sympathizers; Six PAF Men Face Death, 51 Jailed For Contacts With Terrorists" "The News" (06/25) "Fifty-seven men of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) ranging from chief technicians to officers were arrested over their alleged contacts with terrorists and involvement in anti-state activities. According to reports, the arrests were made during the last one and a half to two years after conducting an inquiry. Sources disclosed that six officials were sentenced to death. These arrested officials had allegedly established contacts with Baitullah Mehsud and other banned outfits of the country. Spokesperson for the PAF Air Commodore Humayun Waqar said that action was taken against the PAF men according to law and arrests were made in Musharraf's time." "Holbrooke Vows Economic, Security Support For Pakistan" "The News" (06/25) "Pledging sustained economic and security assistance for Pakistan, U.S. presidential envoy Richard Holbrooke on Wednesday said Washington is working with the international community to help Islamabad address the urgent issue of internally displaced persons from the northwestern regions, where it is fighting Taliban militants. Testifying before the House Government Reform Committee, the special representative for the region said the Obama Administration responded quickly to the humanitarian crisis involving millions of internal refugees from Swat and other areas of the Malakand Division." "Taliban Resurgence Due To Peace Agreements In Pakistan, Says Gates" "The News" (06/25) "U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday attributed the resurgence of Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan to the series of peace agreements, which Islamabad had with the militants in the last few years. 'To a considerable degree, the Taliban resurgence began when Pakistan made peace agreements with various insurgent and extremist groups on its Western border. This allowed them more freedom of movement and an effective base of operations,' Gates said. Referring to the recent military offensive launched by the Pakistani military against the Taliban, he said the approach by Islamabad to enter into peace agreements with the militants has now come to an end. 'There is now clear recognition by the Pakistanis on the direct threat that the extremists pose to their national survival,' Gates said during the course of his address to the U.S. Central Command's Gulf States Chiefs of Defence Conference. 'The recent offensive by the Pakistani military in the Swat Valley was most certainly an encouraging first step,' he said." "TTP Claims Zain's Murder: Taliban Groups Fight It Out In Tank: Two Killed" "Dawn" (06/25) "One member each from the Baitullah and Abdullah Mehsud groups - rival Taliban factions - were killed in a clash in Tank bazaar on Wednesday. The dead militants were identified as Yusuf and Zahir Khan. Baitullah Mehsud's deputy and spokesman Wali Rehman said his network had killed Qari Zainuddin. He called newsmen and said that the TTP Chief had ordered the killing of the defecting commander. Qari Zainuddin, who was a vocal opponent of Baitullah's actions in Pakistan, was shot dead by Gulbadin, one of his guards, at his residence on Tuesday." "Zainuddin's Assassination Exposes Taliban Rifts" "Daily Times" (06/25) "The assassination of Qari Zainuddin, the leader of the renegade Taliban faction, by one of his own men underscores a growing rift in the ranks of the Taliban as they brace for an impending army assault. Zainuddin's killing on Tuesday sets back government hopes of exploiting these internal divisions in South Waziristan, where the army has been pounding strongholds of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in apparent preparation for a major offensive. Although Zainuddin was never seen as a serious challenger to Mehsud, the government had clearly hoped his outspoken criticism of the Taliban leader would foster others to defect and help the army with tips on where to find him." "Qari Zainuddin's Successor Vows To Continue Struggle" "Daily Times" (06/25) "Misbahuddin Mehsud, the new Chief of the Abdullah Group and the successor of Qari Zainuddin, said on Wednesday that his men would continue fighting against Baitullah Mehsud until he was killed. The 23-year-old said he 'strongly supports' the ongoing military operation in Waziristan against? In interview with 'Daily Times' 30 hours after the killing of his elder brother Zainuddin, Misbah said the murder of his brother would not either 'demoralize' his group or 'hurt its mission.'" "Operational Plans Against Mehsud On" "Daily Times" (06/25) "Operational plans being made against Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in Waziristan might need 'a slight readjustment' after the death of rival commander Qari Zainuddin, but plan to take on the 'enemy No 1' will 'stay the course,' military authorities told 'Daily Times.'" "No Prominent Militant Killed In Drone Attack" "The News" (06/25) "There was no prominent militant commander among the 60-plus people killed in missile strikes by a U.S. drone on funeral prayers in the violence-stricken South Waziristan on Tuesday. People who helped in shifting the injured to hospital in Miramshah in North Waziristan told 'The News.'" "All Major Towns Of Swat Under Control: ISPR" "Dawn" (06/25) "The military said on Wednesday that almost all major towns in Swat were under the control of security forces. According to the ISPR, the government employees who have been asked to resume their duties will be provided security cover by the forces in Swat. It said the Pakistan Army would cooperate with the local administration in restoration of civic facilities and in the relief and rehabilitation activities. A spokesman for the ISPR said a contingency plan had been prepared to facilitate the displaced people of South Waziristan where a full-scale military operation was on the cards." "Major, Captain And 4 Soldiers Martyred; 7 Militants Killed" "The News" (06/25) "The security forces on Wednesday claimed to have killed seven more terrorists while six soldiers including two officers embraced martyrdom during ongoing operation against militants in Malakand division. Also, the security forces arrested seven more militants, said an ISPR press release issued in Islamabad." "Lashkar Purges Dir Upper Of Extremists" "The News" (06/25) "The Qaumi Lashkar comprising armed combatants has successfully cleared majority of the areas of Dir Upper district of extremists, leaving 34 terrorists dead. The Qaumi Lashkar is successfully making advancement in areas where the pro-Taliban militants took the local population hostage at gunpoint, head of the Lashkar Malik Moatabar Khan told APP." "Three Cops Die In Peshawar Check-Post Attack" "The News" (06/25) "Three policemen, including an officer, were killed as the miscreants fired rockets and mortar shells at Arbab Tapo check-post in the jurisdiction of Matani Police Station in the wee hours on Wednesday." "FC Camp Comes Under Rocket Attack In Turbat" "The News" (06/25) "Unknown miscreant fired two rockets at an FC Camp at Aab Sar area of Turbat on Wednesday, but no loss of life or property was reported, according to official sources." "Taliban Missile Attack Kills One In Khar" "Daily Times" (06/25) "The Taliban on Wednesday fired six missiles at Khar bazaar, killing one person and injuring four others. Security forces retaliated against suspected Taliban hideouts, pounding them with heavy fire." "Minhajul Quran leader killed" "Daily Times" (06/25) "Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday killed the general secretary of the Minhajul Quran Foundation (a peaceful Brailvi school of thought group) in Dera Ismail Khan. According to the details, the gunmen stormed into the house of Muhammad Farooq and shot him dead. Police said it was too early to comment on the reasons behind the murder." "Jihadis' Helping Displaced People, Says Aid Group" "Dawn" (06/25) "Inadequate relief efforts were allowing militant groups to operate in camps and communities housing hundreds of thousands of people displaced by an offensive against the Taliban, an aid group said on Wednesday. 'Jihadi groups are present, leading an international agency to suspend its visits in some camps on Fridays and Saturdays as 'these are the days the Jihadis distribute their assistance,' the Washington-based group said in a report on Wednesday." "Supreme Court Dismisses Sarabjit's Appeal" "Dawn" (06/25) "The Supreme Court threw out on Wednesday an appeal by Indian spy Manjit Singh alias Sarabjit Singh seeking a review of his death sentence awarded by a court in 1991 on terrorism charges. Sarabjit Singh, who is on death row, was sentenced to death for involvement in a series of bombings in different cities of Pakistan in 1990. 'Apparently no ground has been made out in the case warranting a review,' observed a three-judge bench comprising Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Mohammad Qaim Jan Khan and Justice Syed Zawwar Hussain Jaffery." "India Seeks Leniency For Sarabjit" "Dawn" (06/25) "India has urged Pakistan to take a humanitarian view of the case of condemned prisoner Sarabjit Singh whose review petition was rejected on Wednesday by Pakistan's Supreme Court, Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said." "Iran Won't Back Down, Declares Khamenai" "Dawn" (06/25) "Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenai declared on Wednesday that the election result would stand, despite street protests that Iranian officials say Britain and the United States have incited. The opposition refused to be bowed, with reformist cleric Mehdi Karoubi, who came last in the June 12 presidential election, calling the new government 'illegitimate' and around 200 protesters braving the security crackdown near parliament." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "New Af-Pak Strategy," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/25) "President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor Gen. James Jones is in Islamabad to discuss the implications for Pakistan of President Obama's new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy.... The new strategy also calls for the U.S. to reach out to Afghanistan's neighbors, including Iran, step up military and economic aid to Pakistan, and ask NATO to send more troops to ensure security during the upcoming Presidential election in Afghanistan, scheduled for August. Along with a new strategy, Gen. McChrystal, whose record vis-`-vis human rights is less than shining, has been appointed the new chief of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan. There is a need on the part of Islamabad to convey its reservations about aspects of the strategy that have serious implications for Pakistan.... It is hoped that General Jones, who would be visiting New Delhi, is told in plain terms that any genuine normalization with India is contingent on the resolution of the Kashmir issue." "Endgame Closing In On Baitullah," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "Baitullah Mehsud has had his opponent Qari Zainuddin murdered in Dera Ismail Khan for disclosing facts about him that he had denied. If this is a measure of how Baitullah will react to his diminishing hold over his objectors, then he is sure to kill another local rival Turkistan Bitani who had made public his criminal activities last week. Does this mean that Baitullah is gaining the upper hand in the region where the Pakistan Army is now challenging him with an operation? The fact to keep in mind is that Zainuddin and Bitani were encouraged to speak out because of the hope revived in them by the military operation.... Pakistan has been opposed to the American drone attacks on its territory, but not without some evidence that the local population living under the heel of Baitullah Mehsud did not mind them.... But the decision to go for South Waziristan is without a doubt more effective in lowering the prestige and outreach of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the whole of Pakistan." "Is This Not Terrorism?," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (06/25) "If the killing of innocent people and targeting of official buildings, mosques and public places by the Taliban or those disguised as Taliban is terrorism, then the drone attacks by U.S. that also kill innocent people too constitute terrorism and must be condemned just as vociferously. Similarly, just as the local militants' challenging of the government's writ a crime, so is the repeated aerial violation by U.S." "Drone Attacks On Baitullah Mehsud's Hideouts," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "Militants got killed in a drone attack on Baitullah Mehsud's hideouts. Yet another drone attack on the funeral of those killed earlier caused dozens of innocent deaths. This is condemnable. President of Pakistan should tell America that such drone attacks are against Pakistan's interest and counterproductive for Pakistan's effort against militancy.... If America happens to have information on militants' assembly somewhere, it should inform Pakistan's military for an effective action by Pak Army." "Reports Of Important Militant Having Been Killed In Drone Attacks," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/25) "Drone attacks in Pakistan's tribal areas are nothing new. It is also true that these attacks have inflicted heavy losses on the militants. Yet it becomes difficult to support these strikes since they are taking place in areas under Pakistan's control.... Eliminating the terrorists is a test for the government, in which it is proceeding very cautiously. The next test of the government will be when the IDPs start returning to the affected areas as the infrastructure, schools and the entire system will have to be re-established. The government needs to start planning for that stage now." "American Drone Attacks And Deaths," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000) (06/25) "America understands clearly that Pakistan is fighting against extremism, this conflict has caused displacement of over two million people, terrorists are targeting pro-government and anti-Taliban people, but still U.S. continues to act on its own creating trouble for the Pakistani government and itself. May be two or three suspected terrorists were killed in the drone attacks, but civilian causalities are much higher. For an effective and successful fight, the U.S. needs to stay back, and provide Pakistan Army with predator drones to pursue war against extremists effectively." "America: Source Of Evil: Who Will Stop It?," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (06/25) "The U.S. shelling has killed over 80 people in South Waziristan; there cannot be worst atrocity then attacking a funeral procession which is largely attended by common people. How many more Baitullah Mehsuds would be born in the families of 96 victims of this attack? Our parliament had passed a unanimous resolution against drone attacks, but what happened to that resolution, no one knows? We will say again that as long as the U.S. stays in the region, our country will remain a victim of terrorism and lawlessness." "Zainuddin Mehsud's Murder," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (06/25) "It is a source of embarrassment for the Pakistan government that those who support the government are being targeted in this manner and the government is unable to provide security to them. Before Zainuddin, Mufti Sarfraz Naeemi was also martyred because he had termed suicide attacks are haraam [forbidden].... The government should have provided security to Qari Zainuddin after he had made such important statements against Baitullah Mehsud." "American Drone Attacks And Implication Of Ulema's Killing," an editorial in Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "The U.S. allies must understand the difficulties facing Pakistan Army, they must help the government in its efforts against terrorism. Drone attacks would hamper Pakistan Army's operations and it would become difficult to stop militants from carrying out their heinous acts." "Terrorism From Waziristan To Balochistan: The Role Of The U.S., India And Israel," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "It is a fact that although the name of Taliban is being used [in terrorist activities], the main role in this game is being played by anti-Pakistan forces. A few days ago, military authorities presented evidence to the government of Indian and Israeli involvement in terrorism in Waziristan and Balochistan... How is it possible that the U.S. and NATO forces are unaware of India's anti-Pakistan activities in Afghanistan [through its Consulates] there? And if India is engaged in these activities in U.S. and NATO presence, it means that it is the U.S. that is supporting such activities." "The Grim Reapers," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/25) "Death has many names. The Grim Reaper, a cloaked skeletal figure holding an hour-glass and a scythe is one of the more familiar manifestations; and it finds a corporeal form in the name of the drones that regularly harvest souls in the ongoing battle against extremism.... Both of these strikes were clearly aimed either at killing Baitullah Mehsud and/or his close associates. A Taliban spokesman later said that he had been 'in the area' but was not hurt. We will never know if the drones missed by an inch or a mile. There can be little doubt that the drones which carried out this operation were American, though whether they were flown form a base inside or outside Pakistan remain a mystery. However, we may deduce that this operation was clearly designed to draw as many as possible into the target-frame and a loitering surveillance drone would have supplied the visuals enabling the second and more deadly strike. Numbers of dead and wounded are almost inevitably going to rise in the next twenty-four hours - as will local anger at this latest outing for the Grim Reapers." "Selling The War," an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/25) "While the showing of photographs of 54 dead militants by the ISPR Director-General is a welcome step in that it helps remove some of the questions that are increasingly cropping up surrounding the death toll inflicted by the military operation on the militants in Malakand and Swat, it would be fair to say that an information and credibility gap has opened up on this very sensitive matter. If the general public is to continue supporting this war of ours then they need to know a lot more about it than the currently is the case.... We understand that there are issues of confidentiality - secrecy even - that are in play. It would be foolish in the extreme to reveal our strategies to the enemy, and we do not seek to stray into confidential territory. The military have to understand that they are not only fighting this war, they are marketing it as well. The politicians are in the same business but in general terms lack some of the competencies of communication that the military have.... Selling a war is never easy - but this one might be a bit easier to sell if local faces and voices were speaking to the people who have to pay its price." "The Eleven Indispensables," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/25) "If the current insurgency was to be traced back to the eighties it was indeed created by the state itself, it was politically and financially underwritten by the international community, it was viewed as a security asset, its militant-cum-religious ideological moorings were largely state-authored and internationally supported, multiple state players regionally and globally mobilized foot-soldiers for this insurgency. Hence, what for want of a more appropriate label is referred to as an insurgency is actually a mini-war machine that the state and its internal and external allies put together." "Mr. President! Against Whom India Is Preparing For War?," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/25) "President Asif Ali Zardari has said that he does not consider India a military threat while Taliban are dangerous for the entire international community.... If according to the President, India is not a military threat for Pakistan then all the Indian effort for nuclear technology, modern weapon and increase in the defense budget cannot be directed against Sikam, Bhutan and Nepal." "Is India Not A Threat," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/25) "This is not the first time that President Asif Zardari has given vent to his feeling that India is not a military threat to Pakistan.... He should have known that good intentions, which in the case of New Delhi are an utter misconception, do not matter much in strategic paradigms. It is the capability of other nations that is taken into account while doing military planning and preparation. One would not, however, disagree with him that the Taliban were an international threat and a threat to our way of life, and that if left to flourish would prove to be an existential threat to Pakistan." "Between 'Capability' And 'Intent'," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "President Asif Ali Zardari has once again stated to a European news agency that India is no longer a military threat to Pakistan.... He was referring to a fact of military strategy in which the states cannot afford to make subjective judgments about the intent to attack. It is accepted by all military thinkers that to assess threat from a state it is safer to look at the level of military preparedness of the said state rather than searching for intent that may not be clearly expressed. This truth has been derived from the fact that if a state has the intent to attack, its lack of capability will hamper its action." "To Fan Fire In Iran," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (06/25) "There is absolutely no justification for foreign meddling into its internal affairs. It is, however, quite evident that the United States wants to fan the trouble in the country as it fits well into its scheme of things for a so-called regime change in Tehran, for which formal allocations are made in American budget every year. We hope that Iranian leadership would demonstrate far-sightedness and will not provide any excuse to outside powers to interference with its purely domestic affairs." "State Of Confusion," an op-ed by Kamila Hyat in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/25) "The statements made by both Venezuela's radical, socialist President Hugo Chavez and Ahmadinejad have caused Washington to cringe. This response is in many ways amusing to watch, given that there are, sadly, few nations in the world willing to take on the sole global super-power. But simply a willingness to threaten the U.S. cannot be a basis for backing any individual or any group. Indeed, Ahmadinejad, one of the men involved in the 1979 hostage drama when around 70 Americans were held at the U.S. Embassy in Teheran for 444 days, is guilty of comments that amount to the racist and the downright absurd. He has for instance denied the Holocaust ever took place at all. His policies have isolated Iran, and have been a factor in the vote by Iran's people to usher in a more liberal, less conservative leader." "Envious Of Iranians," an op-ed by Rami G. Ghouri in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/25) "Arab regimes and leaders have worked themselves into a lose-lose situation whereby they would be unhappy if the Iranian regime stayed in power, and unhappy if it were removed through popular challenge. The same awkwardness defines the perspectives of Arab citizens. Most Arabs do not want to live in an Iranian-style political system that blends theocracy with autocracy; but many were pleased to see the pro-American Shah overthrown by Quran-carrying demonstrators. They would also be unhappy to see the Iranian regime overthrown because they enjoy its defiance of the United States, Israel and the UN in particular, along with its development of nuclear capability." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson