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This statement perhaps aptly labels our bureaucrats as penned in by Syed Badrul Ahsan (January 11). Nurtured in elitism, imbibed with isolation and lording over in autocratic environment; what more can we expect of our crop of erstwhile CSPs? No wonder shrewd villagers with foresight call them “Charidikay Shamlatay Paray” Babus! Trained, encouraged and enshrined with an aura of exclusiveness and aloofness they remain the right obedient follower and relies of the long gone Raj, who still relish the sceptre and crown which must tumble down in this twenty first century.
   Created by the British in their tradition of aloofness, snobbery and mastery of politics; these outmoded and outdated manipulators (civil servants in name only) are intellectually far above the run of the mill street-wise politicians usually with little education and knowledge; flung into the deep abyss of inglorious and unglamorous job of governance.
   Given this background, the current crop of politicians nurtured in the witless cacophony of sycophants, have no option but to lean on their civil servants (or masters) to carry on their job of minister-ship. No wonder the “Yes Ministers” are manipulated round their little finger by the civil servants (sorry masters)! Seemingly seem to call the shots, the poor (Yes Minister) is deftly manipulated by the trained and skilled bureaucrats in the background; who in reality calls the shots. Poor “Yes Ministers”; theirs is not to reason why; theirs is but to follow and try; following the ideas and briefings ladled out by the backroom bureaucrats. The pen they say is mightier than the sword; but given the combination of the bureaucracy and the army what chances does the poor minister have; given his limited streetwise stick wielding background of slogan mongering and procession participation? Allegorically, he is but a poor helpless flotsam drifting between the devil and the deep blue sea sometimes roused to the full fury of tsunami.
   Pity the poor minister, who knows not what to do, and has none but the voter to fall back upon. Nevertheless, it is a good cushion to fallback upon. Come election time; the poor simple hearted trusting country bumpkin is moved to admiration, faith and hope under the high volume bombastic promises and slogans flying around thick and fast. He surrenders his vote to this momentary; allure going back yet again to empty days of despair. The rejuvenated vote rich politician rides on the glory of sycophantic importance, inculcated into goodies of status symbols and pompousness; egged on by the hand folded most obedient bureaucrat in the background calling the shots, unseen, unknown and unfelt by the Honourable (Yes) Minister.
   Such is the real life merry-go-round of power play choreographed by the backroom bureaucrat. Impressed by their seeming servitude, the enshrined (Yes) Minister goes on grabbing whatever goodies comes his way, with more than a fair share sliced off by the background bureaucrats; leaving the poor Minister; the final fall guy till the next round of election; to foot the bill of lost election; unwept, unhonoured and unsung. That in a nutshell is the saga of the minister and the pen pusher, the so-called most obedient servants, who lord it over the transitory, busy body famously known as the Honourable Minister. Yes; ministers may rise, ministers may fall, but the busy bureaucrat like Johny Walker goes on and is still going strong.
   Crownless master
   Dhaka

US President George Bush has said the United States stands ready to help the Palestinian people realise their aspirations.
   The American President said this in a statement issued by the White House right after the Palestinian Presidential election.
   The President applauded the outcome of the first Palestinian Presidential election in nine years calling the healthy voter turn out and relatively trouble free voting process, a key step towards building a democratic future.
   The US administration views the election as a key test of Bush’s vision for democracy in the Middle East. Also many observers believe the election will create an opportunity to revive peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, who have been engaged in the latest round of their bloody conflict for nearly five years.
   Exit polls pointed to an overwhelming victory for Mahmood Abbas, who was the Prime Minister under the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Abbas has called for peace talks with Israel and is widely regarded as a moderate, even though his campaign rhetoric at times included fiery denunciations of Israel.
   President Bush said ‘America and all free nations strongly support the efforts of the Palestinian people to create lasting democratic institutions. These efforts, he said, are essential for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable, democratic and peaceful Palestinian state that can live alongside a safe and secure Israel.
   In his statement, Bush also called on Israel to follow through on its plan to withdraw from the occupied territories in Gaza and parts of west Bank. He also said the Arab states must take concrete steps to deny assistance to militants attacking Israel.
   ‘The new Palestinian President and his cabinet face critical task ahead including fighting terrorism, combating corruptions, building reformed and democratic institutions and reviving the Palestinian economy,’ said the outgoing Secretary of State Collin Powell speaking on ABC urged Israel to release more Palestinian prisoners as a show of good faith to jump-start peace talks.
   Faiz Chowdhury
   Washington D.C., USA

I have read Yamin Zakaria’s and Sajida Iqbal Syed’s letters about Pervez Musharraf. I will not go into discussing the Arabic language as it is not terribly important in this context. I will make a few comments about the Pakistan government and Musharraf’s political role. I would like to mention Stephen Kinzer’s book ‘All the Shah’s men: An American coup and the roots of Middle East terror,’ Mark Weisbrot’s book ‘CIA and Venezuela’ and Ahmed Rashid’s book ‘Talibans.’
   Musharraf came to power with a cock and bull story that Nawaz Sharif did not let his plane land (but it landed nearby). Pakistan was behind the formation of the Taliban and helped the Taliban to capture power in Afghanistan. Pakistan was helped by the Americans. As American needs changed Pakistan’s role too changed. Now Musharraf has become an anti-terrorist. He wanted to give up his army job but has changed his mind. Who will respect such a person?
   Waheed Nabi
   Sheffield, England