by M A Niazi in Pakistan Today, Nov 13th, 2020
The writer is a member of staff.
…… In Pakistan, Harris’s mother’s Indian background is a cause for concern. She was a Tamil, which meant that she did not carry the almost instinctive anti-Pakistan bias common among the Cow Belt, but her father was a diplomat, which probably meant he carried the anti-Pakistan tilt standard in its entire establishment. Vice-President Harris was close to him as a child, and would probably be a voice against Pakistan in the Biden Administration. Her record as a human rights lawyer should incline her against the violations of human rights in Kashmir, but they would also incline her to raise issues of military interference in politics, as well as military backing of Islamic militants. The Pakistani establishment has always been inclined towards Republicans, while it has found Democrats asking embarrassing questions.
Perhaps the only thing worse that the Pakistani establishment can imagine is her becoming President. It is possible, for Biden is turning 78 in five days, and will thus be the oldest man to begin a presidency. The previous record was held by Trump, who is 74, and would have been 78 at the end of his term, had he won. That is perhaps one factor that might prevent him contesting in 2024. He would be pretty old to contest, with inevitable questions about the fact that he would be 82 at the end of that term.
Kamala Harris is 56, while Vice-President Mike Pence is 60. Harris seems likely to be the future Democrat standard-bearer. That will depend on whether Biden serves two terms. They are only young compared to their principals.
However, it should be remembered that Biden has been elected to reconcile the USA, as well as US allies, to upset them. Trump was unpredictable, which was not a good thing for a superpower. If one remembers that the superpower is in decline, and looks as if it will be replaced by China, it may be that the Biden Presidency will be remembered as the time this happened. Pakistan hopes to benefit from all those years of friendship.
At the same time, China is not entirely comfortable with Biden. Surprisingly, neither Russia nor Israel seem that enthused by a Democrat winning, which indicates how good they felt Trump was for them. Ukraine, over which Trump got impeached, and where Biden is involved through his son, has also not reacted.
US Presidents are elected for eight years typically, with the election at the four-year mark being a sort of performance review. Trump has clearly failed his. Yet he still retains immense influence, which is why there is talk of his handing over to his daughter, with dynasticism creeping in, the example of the Bushes showing the way. Dynasticism is there in the Democrats too, as the Clintons showed.
Biden’s win represents the desire to arrest the trend Trump represents, to end democracy, just as it ended in Rome and was replaced by the Empire.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/12/resetting-the-us/
Resetting the US: op-ed
by M A Niazi in Pakistan Today, Nov 13th, 2020
The writer is a member of staff.
…… In Pakistan, Harris’s mother’s Indian background is a cause for concern. She was a Tamil, which meant that she did not carry the almost instinctive anti-Pakistan bias common among the Cow Belt, but her father was a diplomat, which probably meant he carried the anti-Pakistan tilt standard in its entire establishment. Vice-President Harris was close to him as a child, and would probably be a voice against Pakistan in the Biden Administration. Her record as a human rights lawyer should incline her against the violations of human rights in Kashmir, but they would also incline her to raise issues of military interference in politics, as well as military backing of Islamic militants. The Pakistani establishment has always been inclined towards Republicans, while it has found Democrats asking embarrassing questions.
Perhaps the only thing worse that the Pakistani establishment can imagine is her becoming President. It is possible, for Biden is turning 78 in five days, and will thus be the oldest man to begin a presidency. The previous record was held by Trump, who is 74, and would have been 78 at the end of his term, had he won. That is perhaps one factor that might prevent him contesting in 2024. He would be pretty old to contest, with inevitable questions about the fact that he would be 82 at the end of that term.
Kamala Harris is 56, while Vice-President Mike Pence is 60. Harris seems likely to be the future Democrat standard-bearer. That will depend on whether Biden serves two terms. They are only young compared to their principals.
However, it should be remembered that Biden has been elected to reconcile the USA, as well as US allies, to upset them. Trump was unpredictable, which was not a good thing for a superpower. If one remembers that the superpower is in decline, and looks as if it will be replaced by China, it may be that the Biden Presidency will be remembered as the time this happened. Pakistan hopes to benefit from all those years of friendship.
At the same time, China is not entirely comfortable with Biden. Surprisingly, neither Russia nor Israel seem that enthused by a Democrat winning, which indicates how good they felt Trump was for them. Ukraine, over which Trump got impeached, and where Biden is involved through his son, has also not reacted.
US Presidents are elected for eight years typically, with the election at the four-year mark being a sort of performance review. Trump has clearly failed his. Yet he still retains immense influence, which is why there is talk of his handing over to his daughter, with dynasticism creeping in, the example of the Bushes showing the way. Dynasticism is there in the Democrats too, as the Clintons showed.
Biden’s win represents the desire to arrest the trend Trump represents, to end democracy, just as it ended in Rome and was replaced by the Empire.
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/12/resetting-the-us/
Published in Pak Media comment and Pakistan