Because of Trump's lies, no one will ever trust Amerocan politicians

If there's one thing we've learned from the war on Iran, it's that Americans (especially politicians) can never be fully trusted again. Trump lies so much that one can only wonder how such a man was ever elected president.

During his first term he tore up Obama's nuclear policy agreement with Iran (he also moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem). He bombed Iran's nuclear facilities despite ongoing talks. As if that were not enough, he again did the same thing even after Oman announced that negotiations with Iran were successful and it was ready to sign an agreement acceptable to the US. After spending 55 billion dollars on the war and not achieving his aims, he keeps declaring that the US has won, but doesn't explain why he has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a step that is causing oil prices to increase.

Yesterday, when Iran's foreign minister arrived in Islamabad, he announced that it was Iran that had requested that talks be resumed, although Iran categorically said that it was not interested in talks. But Trump nevertheless said that he's sending two envoys (including his son-in-law Jared Kushner) to hold talks with the Iranians (who will not be there).

One can only wonder how a man like Trump has been able to fool so many Americans into voting twice for him.

Democracy vs dictatorship

Until recently I was a diehard supporter of democracy, but recent events have compelled me to change my opinion. Even though Socrates opposed democracy, most countries have opted for it. But considering that it was democracy that cost Socrates his life (he was judged guilty by twelve men who were not his equal in intelligence), it is obvious that democracy is not suitable for mankind.

Consider this: what kind of democracy is this where people like Trump, Netanyahu and Hitler get to be leaders? Trump himself is a convicted felon who knows that he might spend the rest of his life in jail if he's impeached and deposed. Netanyahu is facing corruption charges, so he wants to cause ruckus and mayhem to remain in power. Hitler, it must be remembered, was also elected. Since it's evident that the common man is easily fooled (as in Pakistan where a nincompoop narcissist ruled for four years). a new system (like that in China) would be more suitable for modern times, with some safeguards (like easily removing an incompetent leader like Trump). Of course it will mean doing away with some freedoms, but even in the US, most people don't get the rights given to them by the Constitution.

Failure of talks and future of UAE

It would have been too much to expect the talks to result in any agreement, although there are rumors that it was Netanyahu's phone call to Vance that scuppered a deal. But the cease-fire holds, and there is talk of another meeting between Iran and the US in a couple of days, again in Islamabad. But even if there is a deal, the Gulf States have a lot of thinking to do, and one hopes that they don't align with Israel or India (as the UAE has done).

In fact, the only visitors to the UAE will probably be Indians, who own a lot of property in that country. If ties between Pakistan and the UAE don't improve, Pakistanis will no longer want to remain there, and some of them might even be deported. Whatever happens, the UAE will no longer be the bastion of stability it has so far spent hundreds of billions to portray itself. The Europeans will hesitate to settle there, even if it continues the tax-free regime for them. It will take at least a year for the UAE to attain some semblance of normality, if ever. It is desperately short of money, and one indication is the restriction on foreign airlines to operate only one flight daily to the UAE. This applies to all airlines in the world, not only to India and Pakistan. It will take a long time before the UAE is able to extricate itself from the mess of its own creation.

US-Iran ceasefire: Pakistan's finest hour

Pakistan succeeded in persuading both US and Iran to agree to a two-week ceasefire and hold talks in Islamabad. This will definitely cause Modi many sleepless nights, as Pakistan is on the world stage now because it was able to defeat India in the "Operation Sindoor" air war last year (which most Hindutva terrorist Indians still refuse to concede). Another loser is Imran Khan and his cult followers, who openly mocked Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir when they were reported to be trying to mediate between the two warring countries.

Both the US and Iran claimed to have won, but to most impartial observers, Iran has come out on top. It was able to fight for forty days, inflicting colossal damage to Israel and its Gulf allies. It proved that the US is no longer the superpower it claims to be. 

But the one who lost the most face is President Donald Trump, who until yesterday was warning that he would bomb Iran back into the Stone Age if it did not agree to his demands. "A whole civilization will disappear tonight", he warned. Iran did not flinch. I admire Iran's leadership for its victory. It has saved the Muslim world from being taken over by the Zionists.

Why did 77 million Americans vote for a sociopath like Trump?

It's often been said that democracy is the best system. But that doesn't explain why pedophiles and killers like Trump and Netanyahu get elected (Modi is another psychopath who should have been strangled at birth). And let's not forget that a megalomaniac like Hitler was also elected democratically.

So why should most countries of the planet stick to democracy? Trump's latest antics prove that he's a danger to the world. This man is obviously demented, as his tweet yesterday proves. He threatened Iran with total annihilation if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz. He used the common four-letter word indiscriminately used by illiterate people. But the surprising thing is that he even wrote "Allah be praised" in the same tweet. And this too on one of the holiest days in Christendom (Easter Sunday). No wonder Bernie Sanders and many others have called him crazy. He should not be trusted with the nuclear button. In fact, he should be put in a mental asylum before he does any more damage.

 

Trump and Netanyahu should be tried as war criminals

The Iranian government should demand that Trump and Netanyahu should be tried and sentenced as war criminals by the International Court of Justice. This is the only way psychopaths like them will be prevented from wrecking the world economy and causing immense damage to the environment.

The whole world is suffering because of the antics of these two mentally deranged fanatics. Every country on the planet has seen massive increases in fuel prices. Pakistan is no exception. Yesterday, petrol and diesel prices were again increased substantially. Trump had every opportunity to reverse course and declare an end to the war on Iran. Apparently he wants his friends to become billionaires. His speeches have caused oil prices to spike and share prices to stumble. Some people have earned billions from betting. 

The saddest thing of all is that Trump was manipulated by Netanyahu into declaring war on Iran. The Western nations should realize that the problem is Israel's Zionists, not Iran. But unfortunately that is not likely to happen soon.

Pakistan should not mediate

Even though Pakistan has received a lot of favorable attention from the warring nations, I believe it should not have offered to mediate. The reason, of course, is that Trump cannot be trusted. He tore up the agreement between Iran and Obama, he attacked Iran (twice) while negotiations were in progress in Oman, and now, he keeps lying about ceasefire with Iran, while sending troops to the region. Chances are, he will order an invasion of Iran while talks to stop the war are in progress.

Another thing: even if the talks are successful, can anyone say with certainty that Trump and Netanyahu will stick to the terms of the agreement? I strongly doubt it. The UN is powerless to do anything if the perpetrators are strong (like the US and Israel). There have been many resolutions to resolve the Kashmir dispute, but the impotent UN can only look on. A strong UN would have sanctioned India, the US and Israel, but that is impossible. So, as I said, Pakistan should stay out of it.

Arabs will be the real losers in this war

I have a horrible feeling that the current war will lead to the end of the world. Both the pedophile (Trump) and the mass Muslim killer (Netanyahoo) are crazy and there's nothing they will not do to save themselves. They might even use nukes to silence Iran.

Whatever happens, the poor Arabs will be the losers. If Iran wins, it will ask them for reparations caused by attacks by the US. The US is already demanding five trillion dollars to continue the war, and half that amount to end it. The Arabs are in a Catch-22 type of situation. The UAE, in particular, will be the hardest hit. No longer will its residents proudly claim that it's the best place on earth. They will have to endure years of hardship like we have done. Power blackouts and water and food shortages will be the norm, unless of course the war ends immediately. Even then, as I said, a big chunk of its income will go to the US or Iran, assuming that it remains the tourist hub it used to be, which is doubtful.

But if this turns out to be a world war, humans will probably become extinct. Which will be a good thing for the planet. 

Cashless economy

Published in Dawn on March 15, 2026

THIS refers to the letter ‘Documented economy’ (Feb 23). For obvious reasons, our tax-evading traders, smugglers and other such ‘nation-lovers’ will strongly resist the introduction of a cashless economy. It will surprise the tax collectors to know that there are restaurants in posh areas that have banners showing ‘cash only’ and ‘credit/debit cards not accepted’ announcements. In such cases, the only thing is for tax inspectors to raid such places and seal them.

However, in malls, supermarkets and registered outlets, the government can impose a surcharge on cash payments above Rs2,000, thus increasing its revenue and also encouraging people to pay by credit or debit cards. Payment of utility bills by cheques or through online apps should be encouraged.

People buy groceries worth more than Rs20,000 at a time. Such people will not at all mind paying extra if they are charged five per cent more by the government.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi 

https://www.dawn.com/news/1982278/cashless-economy

I've always hated extremists, so why do I support Iran?

Ever since I was a boy of ten, I've been suspicious of those who are, or pretend to be, deeply religious. A relative of mine one day stopped shaving and turned into a fanatic. He would take money from people, then pretend to be violently sick, or disappear. Once he was recovered after more than two years from a town five hundred miles away. People thought he was mad, but sometimes it was evident that he was acting. He's dead now, so I'll never know the truth.

When the clerics took over Iran, I hated them. I believed that they would kill their opponents, suppress their women and turn the country into a living hell. Of course some of all this did happen. But it's also a fact that they turned Iran into a welfare state (petrol was so cheap that some of it was smuggled into Pakistan). Women were forced to wear the all-enveloping burqa, but surprisingly Iran has more educated women than in most Islamic countries. 

But the main reason I support the regime in Iran is that it has successfully resisted the US and Israel for more than forty years. Despite decades of sanctions, it's managed to fight a war with the two evil countries and in ten days it has survived the bombs and missiles rained upon it. Trump seems to have concluded that the war is unwinnable, so he's talking about a cease-fire. Even though Iran has lost much, it has the potential to become the region's super power. The Zionists will never be able to strike Iran again.