War in Iraq is a reality that we all have to live with. For media it is a commercial opportunity that knocks on their doors every now and then and like any sensible commercial organization the media bosses are making the most of it. Whilst the western media with its own vested interests vis-à-vis their ratings are presenting a water down version of the events in Iraq to ensure their ratings do not go down in case they were to show the real devastation this so called “war” has brought upon the people of Iraq. Our local media barring PTV are leaving no stone unturned to secure points with the viewers hoping that once this is all over, these “newcomers” would have enough credibility to compete with the stalwarts of the news industry. Media is not the only “ambulance chaser” in this case, politicians, pseudo analysts, kings & queens, and despots alike are all eager to cash in on this “golden opportunity”. In Pakistani context we have seen obscure analysts, former generals and brigadiers, uncouth politicians, and numerous others appearing on satellite as well as state-run television talk-shows with their absurd analysis, advices, and comments. The parliamentary leader of the ruling party in Pakistan has been the pick of the lot with his comments about our “nuclear assets” and their utility. A real bright remark!

Clergy, Made in Pakistan, or otherwise, have also not let this opportunity slip their fingers. A number of “fatwas” for jihad were issued by eminent clergy of the Muslim world inclusive of the Mufti-a-Azam of Russia, calling for the faithful to rise against US in the name of Allah and defend the Ummah against the infidel. I will not get into the argument of the double standards our clergy around the globe employ to serve their own self interest and would only focus at the religious right in Pakistan who has been the most vocal in the country against the war in Iraq. With a borrowed idea of “million march” these leaders have mobilized millions throughout the country in anti-war rallies. “Jihad”, “death to the infidel” and prospect of “ultimate victory over aggressor” were some of the slogans televised all over the world by our zealous media men, and in some cases by the western media when it suited their interests. However none of the leaders occupying the central stage in these rallies in Pakistan or otherwise had any practical answers to the problem faced by the world----United States’ disdain for international law and the naked acts of aggression against the down trodden citizens of Iraq. To me it looked more like a show put up by them to flex their muscle in order to intimidate their individual governments, and in Pakistan in particular to let the government know which side the bread is buttered in the likely show down on the matter of Legal Framework Order also notoriously known as LFO.

We have always wished for our religo-political leaders to put their money where their mouth is. But that has never happened. More often than not they have joined hands with the opposing sided, leaving the ordinary people perplexed. On the other hand, the “infidel” world held in contempt by our religious leader have more often than not left these so called beacons of light dumbfounded with their actions. Whilst we were chanting “death to the infidel”, we witnessed huge anti-war rallies in Europe, and else where in the non-Muslim world, and what made these rallies unique was the fact that the people in those countries resorted to a kind of “Jihad” that has alluded our clergy and people living in the Muslim world so far. Jihad against American goods and services. They are not only calling for a boycott of US goods and services but are matching their words with their deeds. We have witnessed the Belgians boycotting the American owned gas station as a protest against American atrocities in Iraq. We saw violent reactions of Greeks, traditionally averse to supporting a Muslim cause, throwing tomatoes and eggs at American embassy in Athens. We were also shown a restaurant in a very small industrial town in Russia whose owner has publicly banned the entrance of American citizens to his place of business and has also vowed to keep American products out of his restaurant. In stark contrast to the Muslim world in general and Pakistan in particular the so-called “morally bankrupt” people of the West have once again proved to be conscientious human beings, a trait very few of us posses!

There was a news item in the local daily the other day that the sales of American based fast food chains have gone down by ten percent during the latter part of the previous month. It was a moment of relief for few of us who felt elated to be part of a nation who has realized its moral duty to boycott American goods. An animated discussions followed the readings, however our sprits were dampened by a few “realists” who insisted that the downward trend in the sales at these restaurants is un-related to the killings of innocent women and children in Iraq. So a collective decision was made to visit these restaurants at various times of the day to access the accuracy of the claims made by the “idealists” and the “realists”. A number of trips were made to these restaurants and much to the dismay of the idealists the realists came out as “winners”. Not a single restaurant in the city was witnessed as having a dull moment. Instead what perturbed the idealists was the presence of large number of police personnel lounging outside these restaurants at the expense of taxpayers’ money and their safety. So much for Pakistani support for the Iraqi people!

If we were to analyze Pakistanis as a nation and as a part of the Muslim Ummah we would find very few instances where Pakistanis have come out as a force to reckon with. The Independence Movement, three wars with India, and post 1977 election campaign comes to mind, if one was to think real hard. If we recall, as recent as 1996, while our forces were fighting for their lives in Kargil, Pakistani nation was busy watching the Cricket World Cup, and it was only at the conclusion of the World Cup that Pakistani viewers turned their attention to the news coming out of the Kargil front!

The apathy of Pakistanis can be easily measured by their continued acceptance of “Life Buoy” soap, which the company has been shoving down their throats for almost four decades without ever bothering to alter its shape or packing and without improving its contents. If Pakistani manufactured Life Buoy were to be placed in a supermarket in US it would be thrown out before the supply truck leaves the market’s premise. Yet Life Buoy thrives in Pakistan and so does its manufacturers. It is true for Bedford trucks and Vespa rickshaws as well. Half a century old technology is being sold to us without anyone of us, including the government, ever questioning the legitimacy of the product being offered to them or exercising their right to own a fuel-efficient and environment friendly product. So how can we as a nation take a principled stand on a mega issue such as war in Iraq, when we readily accept exploitation and devastation, so to speak, without raising an eyebrow? This is where Jihad is needed!

Jihad does not always mean sending unassuming and untrained youth to fight in foreign lands or smashing musical events and private parties. Jihad, at times, requires fighting against injustice, illiteracy, poverty, disease and so on and so forth. Jihad requires prudence, planning and execution—mere edicts of Jihad are simply not practical. As a nation, we should stop raising empty slogans of Jihad in Iraq, or make idle speeches on T.V urging Ummah to unite in this hour of need. We as Pakistanis and as Muslims should put our money where our mouth is. We cannot accept the present government or the governments to follow to lead us from the front---they have their own self-interests, their own objectives and goals, and uniting the nation or Ummah will never be one of their objective. It is for us the people of Pakistan to do something on our own, by choice and of our freewill. We must fight this demon that calls itself US. We all know we cannot fight with the sword, at least for the time being, but we can definitely wage a war armed with will and conviction.

If we as a nation decided today that we are going to boycott American goods and services we shall be embarking upon a different kind of Jihad. This Jihad will be more effective than a military styled Jihad. We can all live without Lux, or Pert, or Vim, or a Big Mac. Surf or Wheel is not the end of life as far as detergents are concerned. I am sure there are a number of Pakistani manufacturers who are capable of producing better quality and cheaper products than Proctor& Gamble, or Lever Brothers. These entrepreneurs are inhibited to undertake such ventures because they simply cannot match the marketing might of these giants. These industrial giants will annihilate them just like the Allied forces annihilated Iraq. We are fortunate to get a favorable government line for a change, “Pakistan first”. Let this be the guiding light of the new century, let us be Pakistani for once and buy Pakistani at least for once. Let us boycott every American goods and service presently being offered to us and prove to them that we are a nation and not a group of people with a wooden bowl!

I am sure some quarters would raise their concern about the ills that such boycott would bring to our economy vis-à-vis employment, export to US and so on and so forth. For these ladies and gentlemen, I have one thing to say, every time there is a stand-off between India and Pakistan, the executives of these organization are the first to charter a flight to Dubai leaving the middle management behind to be handled by a remote control from Dubai. It is the Pakistani Human Resources that manages these companies. They cannot just extract their machinery and equipment and be off with it. If at all a vacuum is created as a result of an effective boycott of American based companies, I am sure that Pakistan has enough talent and capital to fill this void in a cheaper manner. As far the exports are concerned, no doubt American market pays our exporters more than the European Union and rest of the world, which simply means a “loss” in the profit. So be it. All in the national interest, wouldn’t you agree!