The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I started the blog as an outlet for my impotent rage about the Iraq war; not coincidentally it began in the same month as I resigned from the Labour Party. Since then it’s turned into a sort of guide-in-progress to a strange world, while also of course battering at the British political scene.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write?

Naturally; the blog began before my stint as a professional reporter, continued during it, and goes on in parallel to my life in business. Over the years it’s developed a string of odd specialities, all of which originate in things that nobody else discussed at the time. For example, in the very early days, it specialised in the British occupation of southern Iraq because nobody was interested in providing news or analysis about it - the pro-war side was starry-eyed about the Americans, the anti-war campaign wasn’t really interested in what was happening other than that it should stop.

Later, with a lot of other blogs that opposed the war, we were the first to discuss Iraq in terms of counter-insurgency strategy - at the time Rumsfeld didn’t even accept that there were insurgents in Iraq. Now look at it. From there, it moved on to the politics of technology - things like the Viktor Bout investigation, the EFPs, the Vodafone Greece hack, the mystery telephone call to Asif Ali Zardari’s office during the Mumbai attack.

Why is that important to you?

Craft should be its own satisfaction, but I’m mostly motivated by curiosity. That, and anger. Orwell said of Dickens that he was “generously angry”, and I’ve always hoped I could be that.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?

I don’t want to give a list of scoops, or a list of blunders, but I have made some interesting friends.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?

A constant flow of e-mail - it really is that crude.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?

Everyone is delighted by the Obama campaign’s use of the Web, but it already feels tired and conventional to say so. I’m involved with MySociety.org in the UK, which has done some very nice applications for democracy - but systems for collating information on politicians and lobbying more effectively are really improvements for places where there is a strong existing culture of democracy. I don’t imagine that some of these things would work as well even in Italy - let alone Pakistan.

I work in the mobile industry, and I am optimistic about some of the applications created by the emerging market operators - airtime as a currency is one, Nokia is developing a set of agricultural extension service tools. I read yesterday that AWCC just turned on EDGE data service in most cities of Afghanistan; what I would like to answer is “whatever they invent with that”.

On the downside, the fake calls to the President during the Mumbai raid, using the availability of things that only national telcos had a few years ago and probably the open-source Asterisk switching system, demonstrate just how innovative you can be for evil. It’s possible that the purpose of the actual raid was to increase the effectiveness of the phone call!

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?

Surely. But this can be for good or ill, or just for useless waffle. A good friend of mine argues that it is a mistake to try to shut down jihadi Web forums because, assuming they behave like other Web forums, they will attract idiots and timewasters and committee fetishists, and waste the time of the competent and committed people dealing with the idiots. I think he overstates, but I’ve been on the Net too long to deny that there’s some truth in there.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?

I’m trying to identify the places where the driving forces of the time cross over and connect; I’m trying to be funny, as well. If the blog was a band, I hope it would make the girls dance as well as make the boys stroke their chins over the lyrics.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?

If they can define you they can outsource you.

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?

I’d rather not answer this.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?

In no particular order, I’d like to visit Lebanon, Brazil and Northern Norway.

What is your favorite book and why?

Evelyn Waugh’s Sword of Honour trilogy - it’s all about the irony of life and the fight for integrity, and it’s also both funny and a masterpiece of English style.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?

Among English-speakers, accent.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?

No.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

You’d better ask someone who does, because mine is 100% nonprofit. Some people have racing eons, amateur radio stations, or credit accounts at Ikea, I have a blog. I’m ambivalent about the rise of the professionals - it’s true on one hand that the pros contributed to a hell of a lot of very good reporting and writing (think of Talking Points Memo, who were the pioneers of pro blogging) and more than a few of the early amateurs are Queen’s bad bargains like Glenn Reynolds, but I do feel there’s something to say for amateur status and we’re rather overshadowed by the super-traffic people.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?

Probably; but this is related to the pro-am issue. I certainly had when I started the blog - I had a free summer with university computer privileges. But since early 2005 it’s worked quite well in what time I can spare.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?

This reminds me of Orwell’s observation that nothing could make war more likely than a series of international football matches (I don’t agree with this)! Certainly there are more than a few who seem to be doing the opposite. But overall, it’s the elite who start wars; so we ought to do our best to promote scepticism.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?

I dislike awards ceremonies.

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?

The Viktor Bout investigation runs and runs. However, once in about 2003 I posted a picture of a dead whale and that’s lastingly popular, so I’m not sure the server log is a guide to anything.

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?

As a Bradfordian I have a special interest. I’m on record as saying that Pakistani society is more stable than it looks - like Lewis’ Naples, the proof is that it’s still there. And there is no obligation for everywhere to be like Surrey or Westchester County, NY.

I really fear my own government’s policy towards Pakistan; we’ve encouraged the PPP to break with its brief understanding with the PML-N and essentially abandon the achievements of the lawyers’ movement, and the tendency to think of Pakistan as a problem for the campaign in Afghanistan is quite insane.

I don’t think the Government fully realises how important the Kashmir issue is, either.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?

All the time - it’s the defining characteristic of good blogging, and there’s a reason why the worst US hard-right blogs call themselves dittoheads.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?

The failure of representation, which may be even more important than poverty. I don’t just mean electoral democracy, either. When the UK was “developing”, it took the creation of the trade union movement and the Labour party to “develop” a decent standard of living for most people.

What is the future of blogging?

I think it’s going to progressively lose uniqueness, and just become part of general Internet culture, just as Web sites in general, mailing lists, USENET groups have.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?

I think it’s been a useful shop window, but then I don’t know how many people it scared off!

What are your future plans?

I’m going to redesign the thing and move into independent hosting real soon now. Just like ever since 2004

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