Pakistan has been kicked out of the Commomwealth - the government has brandished the move as "unreasonable and unjustified". Commonwealth members says democracy needs to be restored before Pakistan's accepted again. So how relevant is the Commonwealth in today's political climate? Is it better to be "in" or "out"? ...

...Lebanese MPs are facing a midnight deadline to appoint a new President. But mediators fear rival camps will fail to reach a deal, plunging the country into a deeper political crisis. Repeated attempts to elect a new President over the past couple of months have been scuppered by rivalries between Western-backed and pro-Syrian factions. If a deal isn't reached, some fear a civil war. Would you like to sample the mood in Lebanon today?

What's going on in Senegal? The country's worst riots for almost two decades have broken out in the past couple of days. It's all down to a decision to ban hawkers (street traders) from the capital Dakar. The city is often held up as an example of peace and stability in the region. So what's gone wrong here and would you like to hear about the troubles?

Australia goes to the polls on Saturday. Polls are signalling a swing to the opposition. There are a few key battlegrounds - labour laws, Australian involvement in the Iraq war, economic growth and perhaps most interestingly - climate change. Aussie PM John Howard has poured scorn on the idea of global warming, while his main challenger Kevin Rudd says he will immediately ratify the Kyoto Protocol and has nominated a loose goal of reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. There's a definite split but are Australians concerned? And is this the world's first climate change election?

Write your comments here.

DO YOU TRUST YOUR GOVERNMENT WITH YOUR DATA?

It's the main talking point in Britain today: in Parliament, in the streets, in the pubs. Two discs with personal information -- addresses, bank details, names etc. -- about some 25 million people in the UK have gone missing from government offices. Or have been stolen, no one knows.

It contained information about virtually every family in the country with children aged under 16. That includes the Prime Minister himself, Gordon Brown, who was forced to apologize to in Parliament today...

The data of millions of people can now be stored in two small discs and lost in the post.

Do you trust anyone with your data, especially your government? Have you been a victim of data theft? Is that something that concerns you, or just an one-off incident that wouldn't happen if normal procedures had been followed?

Email: worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk or leave a blog comment: www.worldhaveyoursay.com

Speak to you later.
Cheers,
Leonardo

IS IRAQ GETTING BETTER ?

Now, we're not talking about the so-called US 'surge'. We've discussed that at length before, and I daresay we will again. No, today we want to know if Iraq is actually, finally becoming more peaceful. The number of road-side bomb attacks has dropped, more people are going to work, the number of month-to-month military casualities is down - so is Iraq getting better ?

Since the invasion back in early 2003 the south of the country had been considered especially dangerous -- think Basra, think lawlessness, think suicide attacks and think allegations of Iranian involvement. But what's it like today ?

The latest figures make for positive reading: rocket and mortar attacks in Iraq are reported to have fallen to their lowest levels for nearly two years. The US military said such attacks in October fell to 369, half the level during October 2006. This is the third month running of reduced rocket fire. Mortar and rocket attacks in Baghdad too, showed a similar pattern, falling to 53 in October from more than 200 in June.

Other reasons for the reduction were the discovery of arms caches following tip-offs from Iraqis, the killing of more insurgents and successful campaigns which focus on the idea of reconciliation.

UPBEAT BRIEFINGS

US commanders and Iraqi officials have been briefing regularly that violence levels have dropped. Some US military officials have said that al-Qaeda in Iraq, the group believed to be behind many of the biggest suicide bombings, has been driven out of Baghdad. One word of caution here however, other senior US officers warned recently that the downward trend in violence was not yet irreversible. But on top of all that there are shifting tribal/religious loyalities which can only be to the good -- because people are not dieing at the same rate as last month, or the month before that.

What does all this mean for the ordinary people of Iraq, whether they're in the north, in Baghdad, or in the south -- how has this now changed their day-to-day lives ? As ever with Iraq there are echoes for this topic well beyond Iraqs borders. There's a US Presidential election in under a year: does this play well for Mr Bush, or does it play well for whoever gets the Democrat ticket, what will the voters in the US think ? What does it mean for the countries who've got forces at the sharp end, on the ground, all over Iraq ? Does it mean a withdrawal is closer ? If you have friends or family serving in Iraq, does this bring forward their return home ?

Let us know what you think, as ever.

DO YOU TRUST YOUR POLICE ?

The reason I ask is because London's Metropolitan Police force has been found guilty of endangering the public over the fatal shooting of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber...

POORLY BRIEFED

During the trial, the jury heard that police commanders had made a string of errors on 22nd July, two years ago, that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes. The family's solicitor, said the police had been an "unstoppable force" when they pursued him, and the defence had "descended to the gutter" to blacken his name.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

Can the police be trusted where you are to always get it right ? Is there a bigger question - even though one man died, are our streets safer because the "bad guys" think they might get shot ? We're not saying that Jean Charles de Menezes was one of the "bad guys" -- he wasn't. No argument. No debate. He simply wasn't. An innocent man died.

But are the police, in many parts of the world, perhaps not what they appear to be. Think of Iraq - questions over militants dressed as police, and then killing people. Think Gaza - a police force used as a bench mark for peace and self-determination. Northern Ireland - where sectarian tensions are policed by people from different sides of that same sectarian divide. And for every expert who says the police are a bench mark of a civilised society, you'll find someone else who says they're not to be trusted, not to be looked to, when YOU are in trouble. Tell us what you think.

BIG PROBLEMS IN MEXICO - MILLIONS AFFECTED.

Also today Mexico. A massive rescue operation is under way in the southern Mexican state of Tabasco after rains caused the worst flooding there in more than 50 years.
More than one million people are believed to be affected, with 300,000 thought to be trapped in their homes and more rain forecast in coming days. Most of the state is under water and its governor has urged anyone who owns a boat to help the rescue operation.
President Felipe Calderon said the situation was "extraordinarily grave". If you're there we want to hear from you. Call us, tell us what's going on. And be safe.

As ever:

WORLDHAVEYOURSAY.COM
TEXT: +44 77 86 20 60 80
PHONE: +44 20 70 83 72 72

Later, Peter :-)

IMMIGRATION ISSUE - THE ITALIAN WAY
Italy's centre-left government, long accused by critics of being soft on immigration, has pushed through a decree allowing police to expel European Union citizens believed to be a danger to society...

Of course the new legislation is causing controversy. It appears to directly contradict the principle of unlimited cross-border travel to which other EU countries adhere. But the Italian government says the new law is vital to stop a spate of violent crimes in the country, which it says has been carried out by immigrants - some of them from Romania.

So is the Italian government right? Is this the way to deal with troublesome immigrants? Are other EU countries too soft on immigration? Or is this a step too far? Your thoughts please.

GRIM PREDICTION FOR US IN MIDDLE EAST

US troops could stay in the Middle East for the next 50 years, according to a US general. John Abizaid, former commander of US forces in the region, says America needs a presence due to the rise of Sunni and Shia extremism in Iraq, the "Arab-Israeli" conflict and US dependency on oil.

Could this turn out to be a reality? Your thoughts please.

PUBLIC vs PRIVATE HEALTHCARE

What healthcare provision do you have in your country? Do you pay for private treatment or are you somewhere where you rely on the public health system? If you had the choice (and the money), would you prefer to pay for private care? Or do you think systems like the NHS in the UK are the way forward? In our meeting yesterday, Paul came up with the idea of looking at socialist vs capitalist health care systems, using the Michael Moore film "Sicko" as an example of exposing various systems around the world. Would you like to discuss this today? Let us know.

HOW OFFENSIVE IS THE "N-WORD"?

We've done a few shows about the "N-Word", but it's back in the news again today - this time in North Texas after a student took offense to the use of the word during a class discussion about a classic American novel. Richland High School officials are issuing an apology to one of their students because he was disturbed by the use of the racial slur during a class discussion about Huckleberry Finn.

Should the school have apologised? How offensive is the "N-Word"?

SHOULD PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE TO THINK ABOUT OBESITY?

A kids' channel here in the UK is getting ready to broadcast a show that teaches pre-school children "toddlerobics". These are daily exercise sessions as part of a fun show on Nick Jr. It's got a serious message - recent British government figures suggest a quarter of children will be obese by 2050, and the key is getting younger kids active. But should children - aged two to five - really have to worry about obesity? And why not get them out in the fresh air, rather than in front of the TV?

IS THE SURGE WORKING ?
The death toll for US combat troops in Iraq has dropped to 27 last month. That's the lowest monthly total since March last year and that figure is part of a downward trend that appears to confirm Pentagon claims that its "surge" strategy is a success...

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

The key question: is the surge working ? Will this trend continue ? What's the explanation behind a drop in levels of sectarian violence ? Could this really be light at the end of the tunnel ? A year from a US Presidential election does this look good for the Bush White House ?

IS A JOB A DEATH SENTENCE ?

Hundreds of US diplomats have protested against a government move to force them to accept postings in war-torn Iraq. About 300 angry diplomats attended a meeting at the state department, at which one labelled the decision a "potential death sentence". If too few volunteer, some will be forced to go to Iraq - or risk dismissal, unless they have exemptions.

Is it a death sentence ? Why shouldn't they go ? Just like joining the military, didn't they know what they were getting into ?

DO YOU BELIEVE HER ?

Former Beatle star Sir Paul McCartney's estranged wife heather Mills has been savaged by the media after an interview she gave yesterday. The British media has reacted angrily to Heather Mills' claims that press coverage has pushed her "to the edge". Mills, who is separated from Sir Paul McCartney, told breakfast tv that she had received "worse press than a paedophile or a murderer". She also appeared to compare herself to the late Princess Diana and Kate McCann - the mother of the missing 4 year old in Portugal. Daily Mail columnist Amanda Platell said: "No-one who watched her yesterday can now be in any doubt about the extent of her self-delusion." And the tabloid Sun newspaper ran the Beatles-inspired headline: "Help! She needs somebody."

Is she deluding herself ? Or, is she speaking the truth about a celebrity driven media culture that builds people up, only to knock them down ? Could this argument be applied to ordinary people who're in the public eye as well ? Gerry McCann, father of Madeleine, went back to work today - six months after his daughter went missing. Can he ever have a normal life again ? He'll be working with the public in his job as a cardiologist, doing admin he says, and MRI scans. How can anyone really walk into a doctors office, find it's Gerry McCann, and behave normally ?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

WORLDHAVEYOURSAY.COM
TEXT: + 44 77 86 20 60 80
PHONE: + 44 20 70 83 72 72

Later, Peter :-)

Ros and the team are winding down after a frenetic 2-hour show in Phoenix, Arizona. You can listen again here.
Come and join our meeting to set the agenda at 1200GMT - +44 207 557 0635 and we'll call you back.

On to today's mix:

GOING TO IRAQ IS A "POTENTIAL DEATH SENTENCE"
Several hundred U.S. diplomats have expressed their anger about the State Department's decision to force foreign service officers to take jobs in Iraq, with some likening it to a "potential death sentence." ...

TROOP SURGE "WORKING"?
Meanwhile new figures suggest the death toll for US combat troops in Iraq has dropped sharply. 27 died last month - the lowest monthly total since March last year. So is the "surge" strategy actually working? Is it fair to compare monthly totals when so many more Iraqi civilians are dying every month?

PRESSURE INCREASES ON PKK REBEL FIGHTERS
Turkey, Iraq and the US have all taken steps to combat the threat of Kurdish fighters based in northern Iraq. Turkish television said Ankara had closed its air space for air traffic bound for northern Iraq, where fighters of the Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, have bases. How much impact will the new measures have?

ANTI-GAY US CHURCH GETS RECORD FINE
A church whose members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality has been told to pay almost $11m in damages. The Westboro Baptist Church was taken to court by the father of Lance Cpl Matthew Snyder, a marine who died serving in Iraq in March 2006. The church cited its constitutional right to free speech in its defence. It's certainly one of the most outspoken (and some say extreme) churches in the US - but should it have been hit with such a large fine? What constitutes free speech?

DO HIGH PROFILE FIGURES HAVE A RIGHT TO PRIVACY?
Martin from the WHYS team was interested in this one yesterday. In the past 24 hours Heather Mills - the ex-wife of Beatle Paul McCartney - conducted a number of TV interviews here in the UK criticising the media (the tabloids mainly) for the way she has been treated in the past couple of years. She said she had a dossier of 4,400 articles that were either critical or abusive. During one of the interviews she said:

"I've been close to suicide. I'm so upset about this... I've had worse press than a paedophile or a murderer and I've done nothing but charity for 20 years."

Unsurprisingly most of the papers here in the UK have reflected her outbursts in a negative light. In another twist her publicist Phil Hall resigned, after reportedly pleading with her not to conduct the interviews.

Is Heather Mills right? Has she been hounded so much by the press that this was the only way to let off steam? Do high profile figures have a right to privacy? Your thoughts please.

Don't forget to post to our NEW BLOG - it's here and much easier to post

Half the team are asleep, getting some vital shut-eye before the broadcast from Phoenix. We're LIVE from 1700GMT. We're having our meeting in a few hours time - so ahead of that, do you have any thoughts or ideas that you'd like to discuss with us and our Phoenix audience? Do let us know by posting here or calling us to join the meeting at 1300GMT on +44 207 557 0635.

I'm sure the team over there will be bursting with ideas, and we have a few of our own here in London...

TWO STORIES FROM BURMA
After an uneasy lull, Burma's back in the headlines today. A Human Rights Watch report suggests children as young as ten are being forcibly recruited to the Burmese army. The report allege senior generals have tolerated the blatant recruitment of child soldiers. Meantime, around 100 Buddhist monks have rallied in public for the first time since the recent pro-democracy protests were crushed. We heard accounts of Burmese people last week, but would you like to hear more from there - is the rally significant and what is the mood changing once again?

RENDITION IS OK?
The director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, Michael Hayden, has defended the methods it uses to interrogate terror suspects. Mr Hayden said programmes such as extraordinary rendition produced what he described as "irreplaceable intelligence". To what extent should terror suspects be interrogated? Do extreme measures actually yield tangible results?

BLACKWATER IN IRAQ
Private security firm Blackwater's back in the news. The US State Department yesterday confirmed it had granted "limited immunity" to Blackwater guards who have been accused by Iraqis officials of murdering 17 Iraqis in a public square in Baghdad. We recently looked at the question of immunity - should we return to this subject?

SHOULD THE US END ITS CUBA EMBARGO?
I know the team over in Phoenix are quite interested in this one.

It's been going on since 1960 and President Bush says it'll carry on until the Cuban government ends its 'monopoly' on power.

But not for the first time the US and UN aren't on the same page.

For the 16th consecutive year, the UN General Assembly has this week passed a resolution calling for the embargo to end. Is it right to?

INTEREST RATE CUT?
Iain from the team is interested in the Fed's interest rate announcement later today. It happens as we're on air and could have worldwide ramifications for the housing and savings markets. If you're in the US what significance would a 0.5% cut have on you? Thoughts please

Two topics today, for you to get your teeth into, both from the Middle East.

WHY IS THE UK BEING SO NICE TO SAUDI ARABIA ?

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has been welcomed ceremonially to Britain by the Queen, with a state banquet at Buckingham Palace later today. The Liberal Democrats here, and a number of charities said the visit should not take place because of the kingdom’s poor human rights record...

WOOPS

On Monday, the British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells called for Britain and Saudi Arabia to work more closely together, despite their differences. He said the two states could unite around their “shared values”. But the Foreign Office was later forced to rebut the king’s claims that Saudi authorities had provided information which could have averted the terrorist attacks here in London on July 7th 2005.

So, our question today: WHAT CAN THIS VISIT TO LONDON ACHIEVE ?

Can it lead to freedom and democracy in Saudi Arabia ? One e-mailer to the BBC has already said “Al Saud are our leaders, they are just, and they implement Sharia laws which we all accept as Moslems. The majority of Saudis love the Monarchs and we confer acceptance on each king upon his coronation” — so, is there any way this trip could dent the kings popularity at home ? Another e-mailer (this time from the UK) says “We accept them, but they cant accept us? Insane!”

WHAT DO YOU THINK ?

Contact details down the bottom

Also today: EGYPT IS GOING NUCLEAR.

President Hosni Mubarak has said Egypt is to build a number of nuclear power stations to generate electricity. Mr Mubarak said he had decided to go ahead with the programme because energy security was such an important factor in Egypt’s development. Egyptian officials announced plans last year to revive civilian nuclear activities but at the time they spoke of building a single power station. The United States said it would offer its co-operation in the project. But US officials insisted there were no comparison between peaceful use of nuclear technology by Egypt and Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

Is that fair ? Why does the West say it’s OK for some countries to go nuclear (India, now Egypt) but not others. Double standards ? Or a carefully assessment of risk versus need - Egypt needs power. Fact.

As ever the contact details

WORLDHAVEYOURSAY.COM

TEXT: +44 77 86 20 60 80

PHONE: +44 20 70 83 72 72 Later, Peter

PS don’t forget a special show tommorow, live from Phoenix, Arizona in the US. Ros and half the WHYS team are setting up as we speak. We could tell you the talking points, but that would spoil the surprise. Or you might think that 24 hours before transmission we dont actually KNOW what the topic is going to be. No. It cant be. Wash your mouth out Dobbie. 1700 GMT, on a radio near you.

Peter

Dear World Have Your Sayer, morning / afternoon / evening, Peter Dobbie here with news of today's World Have Your Say on air at 1700 GMT, live from studio S38 here at Bush House.

IS YOUR CHILD SAFE. RIGHT NOW. IS HE, OR SHE, ACTUALLY SAFE ?

Today we're devoting a big chunk of the programme to a question: do you protect, or rather overprotect your children.

But through encountering risks, children learn how to overcome challenging situations, nurturing their character and fostering a sense of adventure, resilience and self-reliance. Mr Gill says that restricting children's play limits their freedom of movement, corrodes their relationships with adults and constrains their exploration of physical, social and virtual worlds.

What do you think ? Do you worry for your childrens safety ? What lengths WOULDN'T you go to to safeguard your kids ? Let us know your opinion.

BLOOD, GUTS, GORE -- YES PLEASE.

Also, not on the show as such, but more of a talking point. Remember the original Haloween movie with a young Jamie Lee Curtis being chased around by a man in a mask, slashing all and sundry, like death was on special that day. Buy one, get one free. Slashers Are Us. Anyway, that movie is 25 years old this week, and there's a special 4 CD boxed set being released too. It all comes together with the new Cronenberg film -- a man known for his blood, guts and dark themes; plus there's another new film called Eastern Promises out here in London, based around a story about the Russian Mafia. It's dark too, sinister and as one of the guys in the WHYS office said this morning "when it's gory, it's REALLY gory". MMMmmm, yes well....

What occurs to me is that films have become so much more violent since the original Haloween a quarter of a centuary ago, but WHY ? Are we all immune to violence, is it a male thing, do we need violence on screen because of our own bottled-up emotions that we cant get rid of any other way ? There's no delicate way to ask this but why do we like blood and guts -- the more blood and guts the better. You go to any cinema multiplex and I bet you 2 of the 6 films wouldn't be anything you want your children to see. But we grown ups flock top them, or do we ?

Tell us what you think, as ever via the usual contact details.

BBCNEWS.COM/WORLDHAVEYOURSAY
TEXT: +44 77 86 20 60 80
PHONE: +44 20 70 83 72 72

Later, Peter :-)

It’s accompanied by the slogan “Sexual orientation is not a choice”. Thousands of these posters have been printed and will go up on city walls and public offices around the Italian region.

Some gay rights groups have welcomed the campaign - but conservative politicians have condemned it.

Is this kind of campaign going a step too far in confronting prejudice? Or are shock tactics the only way to confront prejudice? And, should we confront prejudice?

We’re talking about this on today’s show at 1700GMT - leave a comment and if you want to take part, then please leave your contact details (these will not be visible).

Just want to say thanks to Anna in Sweden for sending a very touching and personal account of her struggle to have children. And to Alma in the US who says I should consider not having children at all, because of the kind of world they'd have to live in. Much food for thought….!

Well, it's kids again today, but we're not discussing the merits of having or not having them…
What on earth you do when they misbehave? How many of you have had your child throwing a tantrum in public, refusing to listen, demanding attention, or a toy? How do you discipline them?

What if you banned smacking, as some countries have already done? How would you enforce such a law? Do you inspect children at school and report their parents to the police? If you were a teacher facing such an obligation, would you feel duty bound to follow the law? Or would you talk to the parents first?

Here's the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7061603.stm

BURMA CALLING
It's been a month since the protests in Burma were brutally suppressed. Here at the BBC, we've been trying to hear from people inside the country to find out how the crackdown has affected them. Despite the odds, one of our producers has managed to communicate to people by email. The link is below. We'll hear from her and we want to know what you think of the news that Aung Saan Suu Kyi has met Burmese military leaders in Rangoon.

Here's the story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7061458.stm

Speak to you soon, Anu

The tension in Somalia is increasing. Yesterday the UN stopped distributing food in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, after government troops abducted the local head of the World Food Programme. The WFP said about 60 soldiers stormed the UN compound and no explanation has been given for Idris Osman's detention. Unrest since the ousting of Islamists by Ethiopian-backed troops at the end of last year has displaced thousands of people in and around the capital. Control of food aid is a key weapon in winning popular support. We've highlighted the situation in Somalia on numerous occasions, and feel now's a good time to revisit the problems. We're hoping to speak to Somalis - what would you like to ask them?

A Nobel prize-winning scientist has had an upcoming lecture at the Science Museum in London cancelled after saying in a recent interview that "black people were less intelligent than whites". Dr James Watson, who won the Nobel Prize for co-discovering the structure of DNA, caused widespread anger when he said Africans and Europeans didn't share the same brain power. We got a few emails from you suggesting we cover this story and we did debate it in our meeting yesterday. It appears it's still worth talking about - are you interested to find out the scientist's reasoning behind the statement? Let us know.

Did you have a bad journey into work today? Bet it wasn't as bad as the problems faced by French commuters. A nationwide strike by public transport workers there has left the country with almost no train, bus or metro services. The industrial action is the first test of President Nicolas Sarkozy's resolve to push through his public sector reform agenda. Are you keen to hear from a few of the poor souls who battled through the rush hour?

Wherever I look there are anxious faces here at TV Centre this morning. Later today, the Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, will give details of big job cuts. Media reports say over 500 positions in BBC News will go. Of course this won't affect you directly and perhaps there is a sense of naval gazing about this item, but do you worry there could be a drop in the quality of output as jobs are axed? Does streamlining make a company or corporation more efficient or do cuts of this magnitude harm it forever? Your thoughts - whether we're right or wrong to include this talking point - are welcome.

Hi there, it's Peter Dobbie here blogging on James' log-in, with news of today's World Have Your Say -- on air as usual at 1700 GMT. Today we're looking for your thoughts on Pakistan and Burma.

Pakistan's presidential election can go ahead as planned on Saturday, but the legality of President Musharraf's bid is still in doubt. The Supreme Court says that no winner can be announced until it has ruled on whether General Musharraf can stand for re-election while still army chief. The court wants more time to consider the arguments...

So the question today: is this deal good for Pakistan ?

Also today more news from Burma.

The top US diplomat in Burma is to hold talks with the country's leaders, as a UN envoy prepares to brief the Security Council on his recent visit there. Shari Villarosa was invited to meet unspecified leaders and would raise concerns over the military's crackdown on recent protests. The Burmese military ruler has agreed to meet the detained pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, but only on condition she renounces her opposition to the regime and calls for an end to international sanctions. A spokesman for her party, the National League for Democracy, said if the military wanted talks, it should release her first.

What do you think ? Should Aung San Suu Kyi ditch her principles and talk ? Would the outside world continue respecting her ? Would it be her "in" to real power ?

As ever:

BBCNEWS.COM/WORLDHAVEYOURSAY

TEXT: +44 77 86 20 60 80

PHONE: +44 20 70 83 72 72

Later, Peter :-)

AND HERE ARE THE EMAILS SOME OF YOU COULDN'T POST AS A COMMENT...

Max

"The Bhutto-Musharraf deal is a joke! Pakistan as it EXSITS today and has been run almost from the beginning is another joke! The 'world' itself is a joke! Shocking views?! The views of an 'Indian' who HAS to be anti-Pakistan!?

Let me enumerate; (also cross-referencing with a recent 'WHYS' programme where Imran Khan spoke):

Some facts:

1) President Pervez Musharraf is the FIRST Mohajir President (Mohajir - is a term used in reference to Muslims from India who fled to Pakistan after the 1947 partition and to their descendants). This fact is NOT liked by the Punjabis of Pakistan or the Sindhis of Pakistan.
2) Nawaz Sharif is a leader of the Punjabis or is a Punjabi from Pakistan.
3) Ms Benazir Bhutto is a leader of the Sindhi's or a Sindhi from Pakistan.
4) The Mohajir's have historically been discriminated against by the other people of Pakistan. This was the genesis of the MQM (Mohajir Qaumi Movement), and is the reason for its continued rise & existence.
5) The bulk of the Mohajir population of Pakistan is concentrated in Karachi.
6) The bulk of the economy of Pakistan is 'in' Karachi. It is almost as if: If Karachi disappears, the bulk of the Pakistani economy disappears or Pakistan disappears!
7) Pakistani's are highly intelligent people. Especially, in the sense that they are definitely NOT less intelligent than anyone else.

Not ONE of these facts was mentioned by Mr. Imran Khan when he spoke on 'WHYS', or by anyone else for that matter. These facts are important because they determine the dynamics of the political situation in Pakistan. Similar facts determine the political situation in every country.

Some questions:

a) Are Ms. Benazir Bhutto & Mr. Nawaz Sharif the ONLY intelligent Pakistani's in the world? Are they the ONLY people who can claim to be leaders of Pakistan?
b) Looks as though they are; otherwise why does the question of 'dropping corruption charges', even arise?
c) Both Ms. Benazir Bhutto & Mr. Nawaz Sharif have been the Prime Minister, at least, twice (please correct me if incorrect). How many more chances do they need to prove their capabilities? Do they have any interest in the welfare of the ordinary people of Pakistan?
d) Or, are they only interested to get back into power so that they can make more money and help their core support groups also make more money through corrupt or unethical or unfair means?
e) A Mohajir friend of mine likened the period of rule of the 'Benazir-Sharif' duo as a revolving door democracy. One party goes out, the other gets in and BOTH are equally corrupt! Pervez Musharraf took power & the revolving door stopped! Was he telling me the facts?
f) Why are large numbers of well-educated as well as uneducated Pakistani's emigrating to almost every country in the world by legal or illegal means? If their Government(s) was/were taking the country forward, at least in an economic sense, these Pakistani's might very well stay in, and flourish in Pakistan.
g) Is this whole jig being enacted for the sake of democracy in Pakistan OR is the enactment a desperate attempt to keep the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan in known hands rather than, perhaps or definitely, allowing it to fall into the hands of the Muslim fundamentalists?

If you like to solve cryptic crossword puzzles (which I do, though I am just above average) then you may read between the lines and find out why:
- the deal is a joke
- Pakistan is a joke
- the world is a joke.

Just by the way, some of the interplays mentioned above apply to India, as well as other countries and..."

Considering that the Bush envoy, Richard Armitage, threatened to bomb Pakistan back into the stone age, what is the actual real possibility that the people of Pakistan will be allowed any chance at a real and free democracy when they are all living under constant threat from US President Bush?

Kirk Wentzel, USA

I think anything that gets Pakistan moving toward a more free society and moving away from Military rule would be a good thing. It's not a perfect solution but perhaps it's a start. I doubt there exists a "perfect" solution because the sides are too polarized.

John Anthony, Oregon, USA

Listening to the proposal of power sharing gives me a very bad feeling. It's like hearing a fox inviting a chicken to help it guard the henhouse.

Andrew, Australia

But look at the past range of leaders and you will see that Pakistan has not benefitted from an honest leader. Bhutto has been widely accused of corruption as was Nawaz Shariff. Musharraf is labelled a dictator so it seems that no matter who is running Pakistan there will always be someone from the ruling elite acting in their own interests above the nation. As for democracy and elections, no matter how transparent an election could be the principal figures up for the top post will enivatbly come from that same pool of ruling elite and will be tainted by corruption - it is just the way it is in Pakistan.

Andrew Viens, Vermont, USA

I think that it is quite obvious what the president of Pakistan, Musharrif is doing by saying that he will not give up his military post until after he wins the election. As a man who took power in a military coupe he has no intention of giving up the instrument of rise to power. He intends to stay in power using the military if he looses his reelection bid and if he does win he will ignore the promise to give up his uniform like he did last time.

John - Salem, Oregon

Aung San Suu Kyi doesn’t need to talk to the junta. The condition that she renounce sanctions is proof that sanctions are workingl

On to today, and the team have been working on two main topics for the show, but that doesn't mean we're closed to your ideas, so please do send us your stories.

Bruce from WHYS has been looking at the situation in Pakistan, on the eve of Presidential elections there. The mood has changed since yesterday, with former Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, saying she's now "optimistic" of a power sharing deal with President Musharraf. But how will it work? Should another ex-PM Nawaz Sharif be offered a similar deal and what will this all mean for democracy in Pakistan?...

Here's a question for you. Is the 'American Dream' alive and well, or is it a unobtainable myth?

Generic definition comes from a book written in 1931 - "The Epic of America" by James Truslow Adams:

"[America is]...a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement"

Matthew from WHYS has been looking into this, as delegates in Washington host a summit to defend the concept. Are Americas' millions of immigrants really able to access the wealth promised to them, and can anyone rise out of poverty to become a millionaire, or even president in one lifetime?

For those outside of America, what does the 'American Dream' mean to you? Maybe you would like to migrate to the US? If so, why?

Staying in the US and former President Bill Clinton has told an English newspaper that for the first time in his political life "ordinary voters in the heartlands are concerned about who would be most likely to restore America's standing in the world" in the wake of the Iraq war, lack of action on climate change and other policies. Is that statement true? To what extent are so-called "ordinary" voters, away from the big cities, concerned with the image of the US across the world? Your thoughts please.

The head of football's world governing body, FIFA, Sepp Blatter, says he's ready to challenge European Union employment law to encourage the development of home-grown footballing talent. Mr Blatter wants clubs to be limited to fielding five non-nationals in their starting elevens, even though such a restriction would contravene EU law. Can you imagine what the top clubs will say about that? Are you for or against Mr Blatter's plans?