Operation LionHeart
By NKhan • Nov 25th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 23 Comments •I received this text message from a friend who fortunately is one of those who has not only read history but also never forget it. “Richard the Lionheart fought the crusades against Muslims who were valiantly defended by Salahuddin Ayubi. In operation LionHeart, who is lion heart in present context? Can somebody ask Gen Ather Abbas?”Since, I was running fever and hadn’t watched TV or read newspaper for a couple of days; I ask him that what operation Lionheart is? He informed me that joint operation of Pakistani and ISAF forces in FATA is named operation Lionheart. I then forwarded that text message to my favorite hosts and was lucky to get reply from two of them. In their reply they told me that they would ask the question as the next day they were meeting Gen Abbas in Seminar in the Capital. To my knowledge, till these lines are typed, no has asked this questions on-air, may be due to the censor policies of their channels.
However, the messages like these are roaming through cellular network; “Now the crusades against Muslims of Pakistan and Afghanistan have been named operation Lionheart after the title of crusader King Richard who fought against Salahudin Ayubi for four years and massacred each and every Muslim in Al-Quds when he conquered it for a brief period. The US Army, NATO and (some of the words are edited here) our own army are operating together under the operation Lionheart, there is no doubt left for the real Muslims and Pakistanis to recognize who their clear enemies are! If you love Islam and Pakistan now is the time to stand and fight for our Faith and Country.”We can easily call these text messages, the views of radicals, extremists, illiterates, conservatives, enemies of free society and social change and so on. But we can’t deny the truth that speaks very loud between the lines. Whether it should be a matter of our Faith or not, it’s debatable as there are the people who still believe this is “our own War”. But what is the reason and intention behind naming an operation against Muslim, no matter extremist or moderate, after the name of a cruel crusader KINGS?It’s a new world, a cyber world, an era of information. I hope our forces and agencies would not loose their energy on making way out to shut the month speaking truth, but answering these simple question such as;
- Why has a joint operation in FATA named after crusaders?
- Is this a Slip of pin like the slip tong by Mr Bush right after 9/11 when he termed the war on terror as a Crusade?
- Is it a deliberate act of western forces who think that Muslim masses would be stupid like their leadership and would have forgotten their history?
My friends are suggested to visit the following links for reading about Richard Lionheart. It will be also healthy for those responsible for dealing with western powers to visit the recommended Links.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_I_of_England
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/richard_i_king.shtml
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/crusades.htm
http://www.templarhistory.com/richard.html
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NKhan
N Khan is a Karachi based journalist and columnist. He has grown up in the most troubled province of Pakistan, NWFP. After graduating from his home town Mardan, he moved to Karachi and got master degree from Karachi University.
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Mr NKhan, you might care to identify who you meant by, “real Muslims and Pakistanis” ? It seems to me that you have allocated this privilege to those who meet your, personally, set standard. You proceeded with this, “If you love Islam and Pakistan now is the time to stand and fight for our Faith and Country.” Who are you trying to dare, who is the target of your this challenge? May I assume that, at least, you meet this standard. How nice you wish others to go and die to satisfy your sense of bravery; you are a brave man, you want to fight with other people’s blood, how fu**ing nice! My recommendation is that you should just go right ahead and blow your ass(take your friend with you!) and leave Islam and Pakistan out of your screwed up system; let me assure you Islam and Pakistan will do alright without you and your this ill-literate friend.
@Aftab S. Alam
At the beginning I thought you were a reasonable man. Your have picked up the sentence content in the “inverted commas” that’s not mine. I have share with you two type of text messages that are roaming through cellular network. The one is moderate wherein a question is put up. That message was created by my friend and uncle who is ex-magazine editor of daily dawn and not fundamentalist. He is much progressive than you. The only think he has and you lack is the reading of history. He has read history and was astonished to listen the name operation Lionheart for operation in FATA. This message was forwarded to TV anchors , a few of whom replied and told me that as that was a valid question , they will ask when meet Gen Abbas.
You have taken words from the second text message that is roaming through the cell text message. I differ with large part of this message but as I have written in the post, the truth between the lines is truth and can’t be denied. Now come to my questions; I asked weather our FA Generals don’t know the knowledge? Our politicians who deliver lengthy speeches on TV are illiterate that they accept each and every thing?
The last but not least, had I been an agent of US interest in Pakistan, I would have asked them not to US the terminologies and names that can distract people from us. But the western powers are deliberately using this.
And in fact you old readers of this site, I would request Ms Ghazala to teach you some etiquettes and that how to use language.
Dear and Repected Visitor, TPS is down for maintenance. We will be back shortly. Please stay in touch. regards Team TPS
INTERESTING…!!!!!!!
Dear and Repected Visitor, TPS is down for maintenance. We will be back shortly. Please stay in touch. regards Team TPS
What is this?
Aftab Bhai…what is this????? Are you also??????
I am trying to clear it up with TPS !
Saleem Bhai, some people prefer that ‘ordinary mortals’ like us must always say ‘ameen’ to whatever their point of view is, no matter how screwed up ideas they wish to propagate. My response to NKhan just won’t be allowed by him or his kind of ‘jihadis’ to come through. I suppose they have ‘hijacked’ this forum and this is the message - either tow their line or get out!
One more try !!
NKhan: Go and preach hatred as much as you like. I am an existentialist who love life and everything life stands for. I also happen to be a realist who believes that when the choice is between ideology and self preservation then the later must come first. All you brave ones can do your job of creating fear and hatred and incite death; I choose life and love and knowledge and enlightenment and tolerance and prosperity for my people. I am very ‘impressed’ by your this “ex-magazine” editor and his selective reading of history and passing it to his obvious lesser educated friend to further mutilate and abuse it as per his skewed leanings. I am sure you are ‘greatly honored’ by receiving answers from your heroes doing the same job of propagating disinformation and fear mongering like yourself. I will stop here and won’t keep you from your mission. Go, clean your gun and off ! (but, please spare our innocent Pakistanis behind to earn a living for their families). By the way, the WEATHER is cooling off a bit, so relax and use your pen for better things. Pen is and has always been and will remain mightier than a sword, Khan Sahaab. Silly philosophy this!
One more try !!
NKhan: Go and preach hatred as much as you like. I am an existentialist who loves life and everything life stands for. I also happen to be a realist who believes that when the choice is between ideology and self preservation then the later must come first. All you brave ones can do your job of creating fear and hatred and incite death; I choose life and love and knowledge and enlightenment and tolerance and prosperity for my people. I am very ‘impressed’ by your this “ex-magazine” editor and his selective reading of history and passing it to his obvious lesser educated friend to further mutilate and abuse it as per his skewed leanings. I am sure you are ‘greatly honored’ by receiving answers from your heroes doing the same job of propagating disinformation and fear mongering like yourself. I will stop here and won’t keep you from your mission. Go, clean your gun and off ! (but, please spare our innocent Pakistanis behind to earn a living for their families). By the way, the WEATHER is cooling off a bit, so relax and use your pen for better things. Pen is and has always been and will remain mightier than a sword, Khan Sahaab. Silly philosophy this!
OPERATION LION HEART
An Iraqi kid Saleh Khalaf endured dozens of surgeries since he was maimed by an explosion in Iraq. At Oakland hospital, USA where his life was saved, he faced a final medical hurdle — the removal of shrapnel from his brain. The courageous boy was nicknamed by doctor as Lion Heart when he was to face the last serious medical hurdle: brain surgery to remove the shrapnel. This operation was also named as Operation Lion Heart and from there this has become a cliché of the day.
Earlier different names have been given for FATA operation and presently the on going operation of U.S, Afghanistan and Pakistan is a joint operation named as Operation Lion Heart. This is for sure that initiation of name must not be from Pakistan side.
In order to know the news from across the border about the Operation Lion Heart; Following news item may be help full.
Operation Lion Heart
by IOL (reposted)
Thursday Nov 20th, 2008 7:54 AM
ISLAMABAD — American, Pakistani and Afghan troops are conducting a coordinated operation to hunt down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants along the Afghan border (code name OPERATION LION HEART).
“Pakistan doesn’t have the drone technology. Therefore, we have to depend on them (US forces),” a senior Pakistani government official told IslamOnline.net, requesting anonymity for the sensitivity of the issue.
The latest such attack targeted a house in the north western Bannu district, the first US missile strike outside the rugged tribal regions.
“The attack is part of a coordinated operation jointly launched by Pakistani and US forces along Pak-Afghan border,” confirmed the government official.
“It killed six foreigners, including key Al-Qaeda leader Abdullah Azam.”
The latest strike came five days after two missiles fired from a US drone aircraft killed 10 alleged militants in the North Waziristan region.
The American army has conducted nearly 39 drone attacks inside Pakistan during the past ten months killing hundreds of tribesmen, including children and women.
Colonel John Spiszer, who commands the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade, told reporters in Kabul that the operation, codenamed Lion heart, takes cooperation between US, Afghan and Pakistani forces to “the next level.”
The Pakistani government official confirmed that the joint operation is part of a clandestine tactic agreement between Islamabad and Washington.
The deal, reportedly clinched after President Asif Zardari’s first official visit to Washington in September, allows US drones to strike targets inside the restive tribal belt where suspected Al Qaeda and Taliban militants are reportedly taking shelter.
Under the understanding, Pakistan will continue to publically complain about the strikes and Washington would never acknowledge them.
The Pakistani government denies any such deal insisting that Pakistan is a sovereign country and no body would be allowed to attack its soil.
Link: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/11/20/18552310.php
American Forces Press Service also mentions of this operation Lion Heart. Link:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51989
An Iraqi kid Saleh Khalaf endured dozens of surgeries since he was maimed by an explosion in Iraq. At Oakland hospital, USA where his life was saved, he faced a final medical hurdle — the removal of shrapnel from his brain. The courageous boy was nicknamed by doctor the Lion Heart when he was to face the last serious medical hurdle: brain surgery to remove the shrapnel. This operation was also named as Operation Lion Heart and from there this has become a cliché of the day.
Earlier different names have been given for FATA operation and presently the on going operation of U.S, Afghanistan and Pakistan as joint operation is named as Operation Lion Heart. This is for sure that initiation of name must not be from Pakistan side.
In order to know the news from across the border about the Operation Lion Heart; Following news item may be help full.
Operation Lion Heart
by IOL (reposted)
Thursday Nov 20th, 2008 7:54 AM
ISLAMABAD — American, Pakistani and Afghan troops are conducting a coordinated operation to hunt down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants along the Afghan border (code name OPERATION LION HEART).
“Pakistan doesn’t have the drone technology. Therefore, we have to depend on them (US forces),” a senior Pakistani government official told IslamOnline.net, requesting anonymity for the sensitivity of the issue.
The latest such attack targeted a house in the north western Bannu district, the first US missile strike outside the rugged tribal regions.
“The attack is part of a coordinated operation jointly launched by Pakistani and US forces along Pak-Afghan border,” confirmed the government official.
“It killed six foreigners, including key Al-Qaeda leader Abdullah Azam.”
The latest strike came five days after two missiles fired from a US drone aircraft killed 10 alleged militants in the North Waziristan region.
The American army has conducted nearly 39 drone attacks inside Pakistan during the past ten months killing hundreds of tribesmen, including children and women.
Colonel John Spiszer, who commands the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade, told reporters in Kabul that the operation, codenamed Lion heart, takes cooperation between US, Afghan and Pakistani forces to “the next level.”
The Pakistani government official confirmed that the joint operation is part of a clandestine tactic agreement between Islamabad and Washington.
The deal, reportedly clinched after President Asif Zardari’s first official visit to Washington in September, allows US drones to strike targets inside the restive tribal belt where suspected Al Qaeda and Taliban militants are reportedly taking shelter.
Under the understanding, Pakistan will continue to publically complain about the strikes and Washington would never acknowledge them.
The Pakistani government denies any such deal insisting that Pakistan is a sovereign country and no body would be allowed to attack its soil.
Link: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/11/20/18552310.php
American Forces Press Service also mentions of this operation Lion Heart. Link:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51989
Aftab S. Alam
Well Come Back.
Man; You have been absent for a very long time?
TPS—– soona soona sa lagtaa tha
Dr Raza Haider is also off line now a days.
An Iraqi kid Saleh Khalaf endured dozens of surgeries since he was maimed by an explosion in Iraq. At Oakland hospital, USA where his life was saved, he faced a final medical hurdle — the removal of shrapnel from his brain. The courageous boy was nicknamed by doctor the Lion Heart when he was to face the last serious medical hurdle: brain surgery to remove the shrapnel. This operation was also named as Operation Lion Heart and from there this has become a cliché of the day.
Earlier different names have been given for FATA operation and presently the on going operation of U.S, Afghanistan and Pakistan as joint operation is named as Operation Lion Heart. This is for sure that initiation of name must not be from Pakistan side.
In order to know the news from across the border about the Operation Lion Heart; Following news item may be help full.
Operation Lion Heart
by IOL (reposted)
Thursday Nov 20th, 2008 7:54 AM
ISLAMABAD — American, Pakistani and Afghan troops are conducting a coordinated operation to hunt down Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants along the Afghan border (code name OPERATION LION HEART).
“Pakistan doesn’t have the drone technology. Therefore, we have to depend on them (US forces),” a senior Pakistani government official told IslamOnline.net, requesting anonymity for the sensitivity of the issue.
The latest such attack targeted a house in the north western Bannu district, the first US missile strike outside the rugged tribal regions.
“The attack is part of a coordinated operation jointly launched by Pakistani and US forces along Pak-Afghan border,” confirmed the government official.
“It killed six foreigners, including key Al-Qaeda leader Abdullah Azam.”
The latest strike came five days after two missiles fired from a US drone aircraft killed 10 alleged militants in the North Waziristan region.
The American army has conducted nearly 39 drone attacks inside Pakistan during the past ten months killing hundreds of tribesmen, including children and women.
Colonel John Spiszer, who commands the 1st Infantry Division’s 3rd Brigade, told reporters in Kabul that the operation, codenamed Lion heart, takes cooperation between US, Afghan and Pakistani forces to “the next level.”
The Pakistani government official confirmed that the joint operation is part of a clandestine tactic agreement between Islamabad and Washington.
The deal, reportedly clinched after President Asif Zardari’s first official visit to Washington in September, allows US drones to strike targets inside the restive tribal belt where suspected Al Qaeda and Taliban militants are reportedly taking shelter.
Under the understanding, Pakistan will continue to publically complain about the strikes and Washington would never acknowledge them.
The Pakistani government denies any such deal insisting that Pakistan is a sovereign country and no body would be allowed to attack its soil.
Link: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/11/20/18552310.php
American Forces Press Service also mentions of this operation Lion Heart. Link:
# Comment 11 Above
American Forces Press Service also mentions of this operation Lion Heart. Link:
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51989
# 10
Sir! nice of you to be so generous! I am extremely humbled.
Due to the high load of spam, the security module of our Apache webserver is giving false positives alerts and that is why some of the comments and also posts were unable to get published. With the help of support, we have been able to resolve the problems. Sorry for the hassle, and if you encounter any problems regarding the sites, please let us know.
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regards
Team TPS
Dear TPS Team, I greatly appreciate your cooperation and ever willingness to assist; please forgive me if somehow I sounded like blaming you guys for the problem. I was not. However, I do apologize again and want to thank you for your efforts to provide this wonderful opportunity to be part of this forum and ‘public debates’.
Big THANK YOU!
Keep up the great work!
Dear Aftab and all, you are always welcome, and TPS is TPS just because all of you. We are always at your service.
Team TPS
Dear Aftab Sb, you better read my post and comment and then rejoin. I have so many friends from left liberal. i have find good friends in them but i’m glade that you’re not rightist as there is lettle place for facists. I’m niether the supporter of Taliban in Fata not adhere to their way of thinking but i had asked some valid questions. IF you are not the correct person and surely not you shouldn’t answer to these questions. Le our spokemen of Govt and Pak army come forward and clarify this.
Being a blogger and citizen journalist you should have done the work our friend Khokhar has done. He has presented a news in his support that is what a right, reasonable and best person should do. Although, i respectfully disagree with him on the point that it was suggested by ISAF so we have accepted it. Being a soverign state the least can we do is to not accept every thing at least the names after crusaders.
Dear Aftab S Alam,
This NKhan is not willing to display his full name but provoking other innocent people to stand up and fight….
Are Pakistanis left to fight in whole Muslim world. Is we are the guardian of every Muslim country borders. Already we have reached to the weakest level on the name of Jihad and religion. Is this our religion says… forget every thing and just fight and fight. We have paid unbearable opportunity cost already. Our children are dying with hunger but people like NKhan are more worried about revenge and crusaders.
Mr. NKhan, like I said above and I’ll repeat. You have a right to think, say, and do what you think is right. Allow me the same rights, please. My issue with you is that you justify as truth such crackpot ideas being circulated, you try to emmotinalise the readers about the history of Crusades without elaborating its true cause. It was a war of interests, expansionism. This Richard was a maniac who neither cared about his people nor anyone else (greatest enemy of the Jewish people, too). What Salah-ud-Din Ayubi and King Richard did in the 12th. century is irrelavent now can not be allowed to dictate our thinking and actions today. We are responsible for our times like they were for theirs. For me, a single paisa spent on war machinery is one too many as I see too many of our children hungry and sick and uneducated without a roof on their heads. For me a single drop of blood of my people is cruel and cold blooded wastage. I really and honestly don’t care what happend in that remote century between the two rulers; the ground reality today is that my muslim children are denied access to the basic human rights in the name of ideologies. Lets first provide them what they must have as humans, the very basics and then they will have times for ideologies. Like I said between selfpreservation and ideology; existence must come first. Wars and conflicts are themselves big human tragedies and problems how can they provide any solutions.
By the way, I do have taste for nicer things in life like decent three meals and education and health care and comfortable home but I want equal opportunities for all to pursue them.
I must agree with Saleem Khan above. Pakistanis are not born and contractually under obligations to die for the entire Muslim world. We have huge problems and where is this Muslim world, who really cares about our hardships. We have to wake up and be united and work for betterment of our people.
@ Salim Khan and Aftab Sb,
Salim Khan wrote: “Our children are dying with hunger but people like NKhan are more worried about revenge and crusaders”. No my friend I have never pushed to start a crusade. If you visit teeth, there I have been chasing a person Zaid Hamid. My nickname there is “talkhaba”. Who is Zaid Hamid? He is the person who emotionalize the TV viewers due to his rhetoric about “Zionist” and “Hindus”
I’m strictly against these slogans. We have the enemies with in us in our country. Our corrupt politicians are more danger than Zionists and extremist Hindus. But my friend I again request to read my post. I haven’t pursued the readers to start a counter crusade. But don’t have we the right to ask why an operation is named after the name of a crusader king?
Aftab Sb wrote: “Pakistanis are not born and contractually under obligations to die for the entire Muslim world.” I agree with you. I don’t believe in the slogan of Muslim Ummah at all. Pakistan first. Okay. But what morals are behind becoming an ally of the world Terrorist # 1 US? Had US attacked china instead of Afghanistan, and Pakistan being on the side of US, I would have criticized the Pakistani regime with same tone. Leave a side the religion, who will support US and its attack inside Afghanistan or the FATA? What morals are supporting and providing logistic support to an oppressor who has violated not only the international laws but also his own state laws?
I would also like to respond to one of your previous comment, wherein you have said that TPS is dominated by the Jihadies. You wrote: My response to NKhan just won’t be allowed by him or his kind of ‘Jihadis’ to come through. I suppose they have ‘hijacked’ this forum and this is the message - either tow their line or get out!”
I have spent a few hours on reading most of the posts at TPS but didn’t find rational for your claim. If one or two rightists (and not Jihadi) has posted a few of their comments where two to three threads are added on daily basis what would be their ration? Wouldn’t you tolerate a person to start his thread/blog containing his point of view although this post of mine is just reporting and not analysis? Don’t be afraid my friend. The rightists haven’t learned how to use this technology yet. They will come here but the left liberal and supporter of supper powers still dominates all forums including this one.
I extend my hands for friendship to you and hope that arguments and rationality will rule our friendship. We all are Pakistanis and love this country. Our thoughts are different but this difference should not part us away.
We belong to the community of bloggers/citizen journalist and are trying to identify ourselves as journalist but making codes and ethics for ourselves. And for this we will to be gathering in Karachi soon. Would you fight there or making this society ready for disagreement for a positive change?
Hope this time you will respond while presenting your argument by quoting my specific sentence in the above post and will let me know where in am wrong.
NKhan Sb, I am surprised that you find me so irrational ! I guess you and I see things diferently which is fine as I honestly do not think that difference means or should be considered deficient.
Your generous offer of friendship is humbly accepted and I am honored by your this gesture. Having said that, let me just assure you, I never considered or thought of you as enemy of any kind. A misguided friend remains a friend and that’s why a wound inflicted by a friend hurts more, much more.
On supporting the US stand against the terrorists of all kinds irrespective of their caste and creed. Let me just say this in the shortest possible way. I am a realist. An enemy of my enemy is my friend and I do support and will support destruction of my enemies by any means necessary. I do not want that Pakistan and its people should be dictated to live a life of deprivations and sufferings simply because some Osama, some Zuwaheri, some Omar or anyone of such schoold of thought wishes so. They must fight their wars in their countries not in Pakistan. There are no ideological interests in this world it all boils down to the “haves and have nots” and I wish to see my country and my people not among the careers of that infamous ‘bowl’ anymore. Muslim of Saudi Arabia is different and so his thoughts, same with Egytian muslim or Malaysian, Morocco is a different world than Indonesia and it’s about time that PAKISTANIS accept this and safegurad their and only their interest. We must choose our friends as it suits us not to some crazy mullah from some remote distance from middle of nowhere. Period.