Frederick Barton: Bring 'people power' to Pakistan

In an opinion piece for Christian Science Monitor, Frederick Barton of the Ploughshares-funded Center for Strategic and International Studies encouraged positive civic energy in Pakistan to help turn the country around.  He writes, “Public mobilization is fast and agile, reaching directly into society and avoiding bureaucratic and governmental delays. It is safe, spreading activity at every level and making retribution more difficult.” With relatively little funding from the U.S., highly-organized local groups could effectively compete “for the exact slice of society the Taliban and other extremists seek to recruit.”   Barton concludes, “Smart power will permit all voices to be heard and promote the rejection of violence and intimidation. It should be our next step in Pakistan.”