South of West

• Postcards from Hell: 10. The Vimto Factor

  Posted: June 30, 2011, 5:39 pm by Rob Crilly

  Foreign Policy’s Failed States index is slightly more sensible this year, although it still rather resembles a random list of shitty countries. At least Pakistan is down to number 12, dropping below Guinea and the Central African Republic. Maybe this … Continue reading →

• ICC Arrest Warrant for Gaddafi

  Posted: June 28, 2011, 10:01 am by Rob Crilly

  A big victory for the human rights campaigners yesterday, as the International Criminal Court in the Hague issued arrest warrants for Colonel Gaddafi and two of his key lieutenants. “Justice must be delivered to the victims of serious human rights … Continue reading →

• A Religious Conversion

  Posted: June 21, 2011, 9:50 am by Rob Crilly

  Not really much to say about the new decoration for bus stops in Islamabad… The spokesman for the authority said it was part of the drive to give the capital “a more creative and Islamic look Nice. And if it’s … Continue reading →

• Ayman al-Zawahiri

  Posted: June 20, 2011, 9:30 am by Rob Crilly

  Stuff I’ve been reading since Ayman al-Zawahiri took over as emir of al-Qaeda Zawahiri at the Helm – Lawrence Wright says al-Qaeda will now turn its focus back towards Eygpt, at a crucial time in the country’s history Osama bin … Continue reading →

• Let Them Eat Cake

  Posted: June 18, 2011, 4:32 pm by Rob Crilly

  So you have a big Union Flag cake to mark the Queen’s 85th birthday and invite Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the Punjab, to cut it for you. So far so good. But then he comes towards you with a … Continue reading →

• US Getting Public Diplomacy Wrong in Pakistan

  Posted: June 14, 2011, 10:37 pm by Rob Crilly

  The Americans say all the right sort of things in public, the gentle words that Pakistan wants to hear. They are here for the long haul. They want to rebuild trust. Of course they will work with Pakistan’s security forces … Continue reading →

• A Bold Analysis of the Trouble with Pakistan

  Posted: June 12, 2011, 7:02 pm by Rob Crilly

  Pakistan is many things. A country where terrorists plot attacks against Europe, where a brewery founded by British soldiers produces beer, where software developers top the download charts, where tomorrow’s fast bowlers run through their paces on grass verges, where … Continue reading →

• What’s In My Kit Bag, 2011 edition

  Posted: June 8, 2011, 6:46 pm by Rob Crilly

  Back on the road as my Arab spring turns to summer. So here’s what I’ve brought with me: Timbuk2 laptop bag: tough, hard-wearing and looks pretty cool. Didn’t fancy the flourescent courier-style bag, so I got this classic canvas one … Continue reading →

• Rice

  Posted: June 6, 2011, 6:46 pm by Rob Crilly

  Went shopping in Rawalpindi. Didn’t buy anything. Too much choice. Well, too much choice if it’s rice you want. Have no idea what varieties these are, but they were all grown in Pakistan. Nice.

• The Drones Work

  Posted: June 5, 2011, 3:00 pm by Rob Crilly

  Erm, so this is awkward. On Saturday morning The Wall Street Journal runs a story on splits within the US administration over drone strikes, with the American ambassador to Pakistan, Cameron Munter, or his friends, briefing that he is among … Continue reading →

• What’s so wrong with impunity?

  Posted: June 4, 2011, 3:19 pm by Rob Crilly

  Britain’s Apaches have flown into action, attacking a government checkpoint near Brega, as Colonel Gaddafi clings on desperately to power. In Sudan, an attack by northern forces in a disputed border region scatters more than 80,000 people. And at the … Continue reading →

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes