The day after
I'm still in the hangover of Alan Johnston's release. What a day it was at Bush House. To have him in the programme celebrating the end of the daily "Alan slot" was just special. Soon after coming off air, Alan won a radio award from the for his reports from Gaza. Alan said he now intends to help raise the profile of other journalists held in detention throughout the world.
Shouldn't those of us who demanded Alan Johnston's freedom now demand the release of other journalist kept in detention? That's what , an American writer, journalist and former hostage, asks in an article today. He refreshes our memories and mentions the case of Sami al-Hajj, of al-Jazeera television, who remains detained in Guantanamo.
But what Alan called the best 4th of July of his life was a bit of a roller coaster for others. In Pakistan, all eyes are in the Red Mosque (or Lal Mosque), a centre for radical Islamic preaching. Security forces are outside the mosque in Islamabad, urging students to surrender. Ten people were killed in clashes there on Tuesday.
Still in the wake of Alan's release, we received this email from Pakistan:
Hi WHYS!
It was a great joyful morning in Pakistan with the news, "ALAN FREED!", however, day ended sadly as tragedy of LAL MOSQUE in Islamabad claims several innocent lives.
With regards,
Muhammad Asim Munir
Gujranwala, Pakistan
Should we go back to the story today? What do Pakistanis think of the crackdown on the mosque? Is violence the only way to deal with radicals who've been defying the government for months? What do Muslims outside Pakistan have to say?
Another thought for today: some 30 thousand Ufologists are expected to gather later on in , New Mexico. That's where they say a flying saucer with extra-terrestrials crashed 60 years ago, leading to a cover up by the American government. I'm one for conspiracy theories and would love to hear from people there.
And the comeback of the , the iconic Italian car being relaunched on it's 50th anniversary. The 500 Model is FIAT's biggest hope of staying alive. But what's the appeal of nostalgy? Why so many companies go back to the "good old days" and invest on retro models? Is this a thing of the Third Millennium?
Any thoughts welcome. Send us your comments.
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