How Vladimir Putin Became Evil

By Tariq Ali The US and UK condemn him for Crimea but supported him over the war in Chechnya. Why? Because now he refuses to play ball. Once again, it seems that Russia and the US are finding it difficult to agree on how to deal with their respective ambitions. This clash of interests is highlighted by

Pakistan, Can It Get Worse? Yes!

February 07, 2011 Straws in the Wind by Tariq Ali Mumtaz Hussain Qadri smiled as he surrendered to his colleagues after shooting Salman Taseer, the governor of the Punjab, dead. Many in Pakistan seemed to support his actions; others wondered how he’d managed to get a job as a state bodyguard in the carefully screened

The General in his Labyrinth

by Tariq Ali If there is a single consistent theme in Pervez Musharraf’s memoir, it is the familiar military dogma that Pakistan has fared better under its generals than under its politicians. The first batch of generals were the offspring of the departing colonial power. They had been taught to obey orders, respect the command

Was it the will of God that your leaders collaborate with Mubarak?

A few questions for the Muslim brothers in Tahrir Square, Cairo, on 29 July Patience exhausted You emerged from the shadows To tell us what was forbidden and why. You spoke loudly and clearly, Each chant a whiplash: God is Great! The laws of God transcend democracy! Liberals and secularists are the scum of the

Benazir: Daughter of the West by Tariq Ali

Arranged marriages can be a messy business. Designed principally as a means of accumulating wealth, circumventing undesirable flirtations or transcending clandestine love affairs, they often don’t work. Where both parties are known to loathe each other, only a rash parent, desensitised by the thought of short-term gain, will continue with the process knowing full well

Tariq Ali’s Interview

By David Barsamian*  April 2003   Tariq Ali, born in Lahore, Pakistan, is based in London where he is an editor of New Left Review. A prolific writer, Tariq Ali is author of more than 20 books, including history, politics, and fiction. His most recent books are Protocols of the Elders of Sodom (2009) and The Duel:

Allah, America & Army: Tariq Ali’s New Book

Allah, Army and America” – or, to put it succinctly, the “3 As” – is a formula coined by social scientists often used to explain the political and social malaise that afflicts Pakistan. Numerous studies have been written on the Pakistani ruling elite’s amour with 2 As, namely Allah and the Army, most recently by

Tariq Ali: A Tragedy Born of Military Despotism & Anarchy

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2232632,00.html Friday December 28, 2007 The Guardian Even those of us sharply critical of Benazir Bhutto’s behaviour and policies – both while she was in office and more recently – are stunned and angered by her death. Indignation and fear stalk the country once again.An odd coexistence of military despotism and anarchy created the conditions

Tariq Ali’s Heart Bleeds for Pakistan

Tariq Ali – My heart bleeds for Paksitan My heart bleeds for Pakistan. It deserves better than this grotesque feudal charade By Tariq Ali, Pakistan-born writer, broadcaster and commentator The Independent Six hours before she was executed, Mary, Queen of Scots wrote to her brother-in-law, Henry III of France: “…As for my son, I commend