Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Imran Khan On DN!

Please watch this clip and listen to Imran Khan, the only Pakistani politician who makes any sense at all.

Imran Khan is a former captain of Pakistan's national cricket team, and the only Pakistani to lead his team to a World Cup championship. He did it with impressive skill, and even more impressive leadership; then he used the same qualities as a philanthropist when he retired from cricket, raising enough money to found a hospital for cancer patients -- the first and only one in his country.

Then Imran turned to politics, here he could have joined an established party as a famous face, winning a guaranteed seat and enjoying a long turn at the trough. Instead he started his own party, "Movement for Justice". As its leader, he rejects the corruption of all the other ("major") parties, and stands -- alone if need be -- for justice and democracy.

In this interview, he doesn't get everything right; for instance he still thinks the US is trying to "win" the War on Terror. So he tries to explain how to stop the terrorists -- as if the US government would ever do such a thing.

But you'll never find a more honest politician, here or elsewhere. He's boycotting the coming election -- passing up a chance to enhance his personal status in favor of trying to bring democracy to his country.

Imagine if we had a politician like Imran Khan! We should be so lucky -- we don't even have an athlete like him.

Democracy Now! : Pakistani Opposition Leader Imran Khan on Musharraf, Bhutto, and How the U.S. Has Undermined Pakistani Democracy