“Sir, there were two bomb blasts today, one in a market, the other one in a mosque at Friday prayers.” “Blame it on those radicals, extremists. They want to terrorize people, those barbaric mullahs, enemies of human race. ”
“But sir, people will not buy it. It is an open secret that U.S.A is behind these attacks, they have employed such terrorist activities before, in Africa, in Iraq, using their private companies such as Black Water and Dyn Corp. Moreover, people know that the extremists will never attack worshippers in a mosque.”
“We will spread it on every media, we will repeat the lie so many times that it will be accepted as truth. Blame all attacks on extremists, you know we cannot name it on Big Daddy; he will send us back to the Stone Age. There will be attacks, cities will burn, people will be lifting bodies of their loved ones, no one will be safe, and eventually they will believe what we want them to believe. People will realize who their real enemies are; those radicals and extremists.” With a pause, “remember that video we made some times back, the girl lashing one? Dig it, we’ll play it again.”
“Sir, there have been protests in different cities today.”
“What for?”
“Some people demanding an end to this corrupt system, they demand U.S mercenaries and C.I.A agents be kicked out, Nato supply blocked, Your Highness’ regime be toppled and an Islamic Shariah system be restored in the country.”
“Ah! Those irrational beings with their utopian beliefs, they want to send us 1400 years back. We must not let them succeed. These radicals think their caliphate will rally Muslim masses, make them super power and turn the table of world order. Order the police to charge on them, arrest them and torture them. We will threaten their lives and jobs and families, we will make their life hell. We will sell some of them to America and they will rot in Guantanamo. We will teach them a lesson they will never forget. ”
“Sir, the police is not entirely enthusiastic, I saw them picking up dropped flags after the protest and kissing them. I am afraid they might go light on these extremists. They might even turn their guns on us one day.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. The police and the army are on our side. They know they cannot annoy Big Daddy, we all get our aid from the same source, and they will never stand against us. Besides, they know quite well who our real enemies are, the radicals and extremists.’
“Sir, a US official who shot two guys today in a market was caught. We have found proof that he was in communication with militants, directing them. The nation is enraged, people are on streets, and they want his trail.”
“We cannot charge him, our survival lies in his freedom. Divert the people, create fake price hike, increase taxes, load shedding, do whatever you can to divert the public. Use force if you want, send in the army, we will crush the protestors. These ignorant masses have radicalized, they have been brainwashed, they are all extremists.”
“What is this noise I hear outside my palace?”
“It’s those protestors sir, it seems like the whole nation has turned against us, they have grown out of control, they have reached your palace, they are celebrating Jummah as-Shuhada!”
“What is their slogan?”
“’No democracy, no capitalism, change of system’ and ‘with our blood, with our souls, we shall sacrifice for Islam’”
“The old Tunisian slogans! They will pay for it. Order the army to charge on them, shoot them if needed. We will do whatever is necessary to keep this country free from extremism. All these protestors, they are not innocent civilians, they are radical fundamentalists.”
Silence…
“Execute my orders! What are you waiting for?”
“Sir, I am afraid the army is not on our side anymore. Sir, the radicals have won!”
By: Rameez Ragheb
Karachi