The soon-to-be-released Hollywood movie "Charlie Wilson's War"

tells the story of behind-the-scene activities that led to the massive

CIA backing of the Afghan resistance against the Soviets in the 1980s.

Based on a book of the same title by late George Crile, it focuses on

the efforts of a "scandal-prone, womanizing" US Congressman Charlie

Wilson and "out-of-favor, blue-collar" CIA operative Gust Avrokotos who

both… Continue

COMSATS Institute of Information Technology is organizing the 5^th International Workshop on Frontiers of Information Technology (FIT 2007) on

December 17-18 at Marriott Hotel Islamabad, Pakistan. This workshop is

sponsored by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and Pakistan

Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL).

Since its inception in 2003, the International Workshop on…

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As I saw the reports this week out of Munich about Siemens pleading guilty to bribing politicians and officials in Nigeria, Russia and Libya, it reminded me that Siemens is a large player in Pakistan. Has any one looked into Siemens engaging in similar corrupt practices in Pakistan?

And, how about the behavior of other American and European companies operating in Pakistan? There are definitely laws on the books in the West such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the…

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I was discussing the recent Newsweek story

about Pakistan with my daughter Michelle who is a sophomore at UC

Berkeley and a member of the Muslim Students Association (MSA) on

campus. I explained to her my feelings about Newsweek's bias and some of the predictable reactions by my friends. In response, she told me about

what happened at UC Berkeley last week where an anti-Muslim group was

having "Islamo-Fascist Week" and how… Continue

The cover of the Oct 29, 2007 issue of Newsweek has a picture of bearded, young, angry Pakistanis with their fists punching the air. The caption says: The Most Dangerous Nation in the World Isn't Iraq. It's Pakistan.



The crux of the argument it offers is captured in a quote from Bruce Riedel, former senior director for South Asia on the US National Security Council. Here's the quote: "If you were to look for where Al Qaeda is going to… Continue

The statement last week by Nobel Laureate geneticist Dr. James Watson regarding Africa as a laggard has slightly re-opened the taboo subject of the link between race and intelligence.

Here's what The Times of London reported: "The scientist, who won the Nobel prize for his part in discovering the structure of DNA, was quoted in an interview in The Sunday Times saying he was…

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Here's some good news I'd like to share with you:



Pakistani scientist in Nobel team http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/14/nat5.htm





WASHINGTON, Oct 13: Pakistani professor Adil Najam, now teaching at the Fletcher

School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, US, is amongst the team

of scientists… Continue

Pakistan Link, a California weekly published by NEDian Arif Mansuri, has produced a special supplement on the recently concluded NEDians Convention 2007 in Silicon Valley, CA. Please take a look at it. You might recognize some NEDians in the pictures including the Pro VC Dr. Shamsul Haq and several others who have made a name for themselves and for NED in Silicon Valley and the United States.

You may…

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For more blog entries by Riaz, please visit Haq's musings.



Last Saturday on October 6, 2007, I was invited to attend the inaugural conference of Indo-American Council (IAC) by my Indian friend, Dr.

Hasan Kamil, a Silicon Valley venture investor and a graduate of

Aligarh Muslim University, MIT and Berkeley. Dr. Hasan Kamil's wife,

Talat, an accomplished entrepreneur in her own right, was a co-chair of

the conference along… Continue

This blog post is from: Haq's musings



I launched PakAlumni Worldwide just three weeks ago after the successful conclusion of NEDians Convention 2007. PakAlumni Worldwide is a social network to specifically address the needs of Pakistani

university alumni and students by providing them with an international

online platform to… Continue

Russians shocked Americans 50 years ago today by being first in space. The fear of Russian ascendancy and worries about Americans being left behind in Science and Technology goaded US government and people into action and US put a man on the moon in 1969.



Here's a report on Sputnik's launch in InformationWeek:



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Former US Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan has been promoting his book

"The Age of Turbulence" for the last couple of weeks. Among other

things, he is talking about his reasons for supporting the Iraq

invasion and his assessment that the Chinese stock market is a bubble

waiting to burst. On the question of his support for Iraq invasion, he

explains that he was convinced Saddam Husain would block the Strait of

Hormuz if not removed from power and that would have… Continue

Come, come, whoever you are.

Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.

It doesn't matter.

Ours is not a caravan of…

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Faruq Ahmad is a friend of NEDians who recently attended NEDians Convention 2007. He wrote the following piece for San Jose Mercury News, the largest-circulation daily newspaper in Silicon Valley, CA

It's reproduced as follows:

Pakistan poised for key role in the innovation economy

By Faruq Ahmad San Jose Mercury News

Article Launched:09/21/2007 01:36:48 AM PDT…

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At the NEDIans Convention 2007, Rehan Jalil was recognized by Silicon Valley NEDians for enhancing NED's image & perception in the world of technology and business.

This week, Sept 18 issue of Wall Street Journal highlights NEDian Rehan Jali's company Wichorus as follows:

Rehan Jalil founded his wireless-broadband company WiChorus Inc. two years ago and based it here in the heart of Silicon Valley. But when it actually starts selling its gear to phone companies next…

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NED Alumni Convention 2007 organized by Silicon Valley NEDians in Santa Clara and San Jose was a great success with about 400 people in attendance. There were two keynote speakers, three panel discussions, and evening banquet followed by stand-up comedy and music entertainment. For more this please visit NED Nama, the Nedians blog.

Riaz Haq