Abuse of diplomatic protocol
Posted on 25. Jul, 2012 by S M Hali in Pak-US Relations
By S. M. Hali
Diplomatic protocol is a very historic profession dating back to the Babylonians who initiated the first recorded exchange of envoys with other kingdoms. It evolved as a result of old traditions, when in the early days of civilization, hospitality was extended to an arriving guest. Diplomatic protocol in modern civilization is particularly important because it provides a set of established rules of courteousness both by the host government as well as the guest diplomat, that are to be respected by the comity of nations. It pertains to etiquette in international courtesy and specifies the proper and generally-accepted behavior in matters of state and diplomacy such as showing appropriate respect to the host country’s rules and regulations and not abusing its hospitality and vice versa, the treatment meted out to diplomats.
The world’s sole super power US tends to lead in affairs of statecraft and is looked upon as a champion of democracy. It is heartening to note that whereas diplomatic protocol may have been developed by ancient Greeks, Babylonians, Romans and other enlightened civilizations of that era, but the US takes pains in refining its diplomats in courtesy, etiquette and decorum by exposing them to extended courses in diplomatic protocol to enable them to master the basics of politesse and get a better understanding of multicultural manners.
In this backdrop, a news item titled: ‘Protocol violations re-emerge as Pak-US irritant’, in the Nation last week was very disturbing. The news-report, quoting a number of recent incidents, concluded that the lack of respect of diplomatic protocol by US diplomats accredited to Pakistan, is contributing to the trust deficit, which has plagued the erstwhile allies in the war on terror. Espionage and diplomacy go hand in glove. Espionage is considered by most states as a necessary evil, to the extent that both Washington and Tel Aviv, the closest of allies, also spy against each other. The phenomenon of placing spies in the garb of diplomats is not novel but the US appears to have stretched it too far. Perhaps it is cognizant of the fact that non-diplomat spies, when caught, are not returned. Instead, after a thorough interrogation, which may include third degree methods, may be proceeded against legally and in most countries, including Pakistan, the ultimate penalty for spying is death.
The case of Raymond Davis, a former US Army soldier, private security firm employee, and contractor with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), who on January 27, 2011, killed two persons in Lahore is a glaring example of the abuse of diplomatic protocol. The US government insisted that Raymond Davis was a diplomat and demanded immunity for him under the “Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations”, to the extent that even President Obama “vouched” for Raymond Davis being a diplomat. According to the Nation report, the US Embassy in Islamabad, contrary to all norms of diplomatic protocol, is becoming host to “one of the largest CIA stations in the world”, who are reportedly operating under the cover of diplomatic immunity taking advantage of Pakistan’s hospitality. The report did not provide proof of the unregistered officials being from the CIA but commented that it was an irritant in the diplomatic ties of both nations as despite Pakistan’s repeated requests for identification of US diplomats, administrative and technical staff and service staff, no compliance has been made. Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had advised all diplomatic missions accredited to Pakistan to seek formal permission for carrying licensed lethal weapons as well as provide lists of all such weapons held by them. The report indicates that this order has been flagrantly flouted by the US Diplomatic Missions in Pakistan. It quotes an incident of June 4, in which two SUVs from the US Embassy were stopped at the M1-Exit, on their return from a visit to Malakand. The vehicles were reported to be carrying four US officials and three Pakistani staff members of the Embassy, along with four M-4 rifles with 36 loaded magazines of 20 bullets each and four pistols with 36 loaded magazines. The report mentions that all the weapons were unlicensed. There have been reports of earlier violations too, including the use of fake number plates, unauthorized hiring of houses outside the diplomatic quarters and venturing into restricted areas without permission. So far Pakistan has accommodated US interests in good faith, since both countries are focused towards combating the common enemy of terrorism but if the US fails to respect diplomatic protocol in Pakistan, it will only fuel another crisis.
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S M Hali
Afriq
25. Jul, 2012
"The world’s sole super power US tends to lead in affairs of statecraft and is looked upon as a champion of democracy... US takes pains in refining its diplomats in courtesy, etiquette and decorum by exposing them to extended courses in diplomatic protocol to enable them to master the basics of politesse and get a better understanding of multicultural manners."
hahaha
champion of democracy
- the damned uneducated morons do not even know what democracy is!
His excellency Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, refused to meet the goon but got his message relayed to the mongrel Paul Bremer III the jerk had the audacity to call himself governor of Iraq as if these goons can ever reach those levels that Democracy was
one man one vote
yeah sure champions of mickey mouse BS demokery
diplomacy?
Ask the Lebanese/Russians/African/Asians regarding American diplomacy, manners, etiquett, education, culture, ……..
yobos mafiosi is what they are
KICK THE bloody barbarian BASTARDS OUT and since Mr % is theirs they can take him
Afriq
25. Jul, 2012
amerikan diplomacy – the insane barbarity of a thug nation
diffuse widely and read the brilliant article
URGENT: West Spreads Syrian WMDs Lies For Foreign Intervention
It is believed that NATO and the Gulf State's FSA terrorist proxies have reached the very limit of their ability to destabilize Syria and the West recognizes the necessity of limited strikes to cripple a Syrian government that remains intact, coherent, and far from "crumbling" as the Western media has tried, but failed to portray. Veteran Indian diplomat, M K Bhadrakumar, wrote as much in his most recent analysis titled, "The rise and fall of Turkey's Erdogan."
However, a pretext for such strikes must be fabricated – and there have been stark warnings from analysts and international press from around the world of a possible false-flag chemical weapons attack staged by NATO and its proxies to be then blamed on the Syrian government, and give NATO, Israel, and the Gulf States the impetus they've sought for a wider military intervention.
The hysterical rhetoric coming from the West is directly proportional to the failing fortunes of their terrorist proxies on the ground across Syria. After a year and a half of trying to undermine the Syrian government and its people, only but a collection of towns sheltered by the Turkish military along the border lie in FSA hands, with their attacks repeatedly fended off across the country and the tide of public opinion worldwide turning against them. The West is still paying the price for its lies leading up to the condemned invasion and occupation of Iraq, but seems prepared to reach further yet into the depths of its own depravity.
Spread the word – and remind the public of the outcome when last the West told tales of WMDs, real or imagined, to justify a war of aggression.