Yesterday, I avoided the news coming out of Pakistan about a massacre at a school, leaving upwards of 140 people dead, 132 of them children. I was trying to keep a positive attitude, and knew that illusion would be shattered if I allowed myself to go there, so I didn’t.
I knew I’d have to deal with it today, so I reached out to Pakistani journalist Kaswar Klasra, with whom I’ve spoken many times over the years about news and issues that affected citizens of both countries.
Today, Kaswar joined me in the second hour of the show. Although it’s often difficult to understand him due to both the connection and his thick accent, it’s worth going back and listening intently, as he said quite a lot. You might want to read his article in India’s Mail Today first, as some of the names and terms he uses will make more sense after reading them.
The last paragraph includes the incredible statement
Speaking to Mail Today, TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan) Commander Abu Hurairuh said, “It was the best way to celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize of Malala Yousafzai.”
Indeed, Klasra told us, this attack was perpetrated by the same Taliban group who shot Malala on that school bus almost three years ago, and was directly in response to her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize last week. Kaswar also told us that the people of Pakistan love and respect Malala, want to rid their nation of the terrorists, and plan to do whatever it takes to get there.
Thankfully, we awoke to a big good news surprise this morning: the news that American Alan Gross had been freed after being held prisoner in Cuba for five years. Gross’ release was part of a bigger deal negotiated between the US and Cuba, the details of which were announced today at noon ET by both President Obama and Cuba’s President Raul Castro at the same time, and does indeed signal the beginning of re-establishing relations between the two neighboring nations.
The White House posted the details of the new arrangement shortly before the president spoke today.
One added benefit of this announcement is that Republican heads are likely exploding today, including those belonging to Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush!
And finally, Susie Madrak told us about :”Witness 40″ from the Grand Jury in Ferguson who has been outed as a complete fraud who made up her entire story.
And so it goes… I’ll be back tomorrow, Ready for Warren and Cuba too… radio or not!
