Daily Times

Legendary auto executive Lee Iacocca had a question for every American: where have all the leaders gone? (First Scribner Paperback Edition April 2008).

He asked the tough questions that America’s leaders must address:

1. What is each of us giving back to our country?
2. Do we truly love democracy?
3. Are we too fat and Satisfied for our own good?
4. Do we really care about our children’s future?
5. Who will save the middle class?
6. Why is America addicted to oil?

The iconic leader shares his lesson learned and issues a call to action to Summon Americans back to their roots of hard work, Common Sense, Integrity, generosity, and optimism. At the end of the day, there is a need to learn from history and to create a national purpose. We need leaders who will show us the way. Let us hear their ideas. In the context of the goal of NAFTA to improve economic, environment, and trade conditions in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Lee Iacocca wrote, ‘The big question when it comes to trade is how we acknowledge global realities and move forward, without destroying our competitive edge. Free trade is one of the fundamental principles of our capitalist economy, but America has a bad habit of giving away the store. Free Trade has to be fair and guarded against corruption.

There is only one way to shift the trade balance. The United States has to begin to act in its own self-interest. This, Iacocca admits, he had learnt from Dr. Tomito Kubo the Chairman of Mitsubishi Motors. Every country has an obligation to put its self-interest first on a global scale; devising a world trade system that strikes a balance between the two extremes of free trade and protectionism. About globalization, Iacocca wrote, to fear globalization is to fear change, but like it or not, change is a constant in our lives. Before you can deal with change you have to see it. Then you have to accept it. This is just a basic life lesson, true of individual, families and companies and of course it is true of Nations.

Free trade is one of the fundamental principles of our capitalist economy, but America has a bad habit of giving away the store

There are plenty of historical examples of nations who perished when they resisted change.  In fact, you can go back and track the successes and failures of any nation in the world, those who succeeded were open to change.  Technological and scientific advances are a cause of political and economic power. But nations are dragged down by their bureaucracy which results in economic failure.

It is astounding to realize that until President Nixon’s historic engagement with China in the early 1970s America was not even talking, let alone sharing technology. Ideas and innovation cannot be walled in or walled out. And nations can’t afford to go in isolation, for whatever reasons-the powerful rulers and Bureaucracy. In the United States Congress was happy to approve the construction of a wall along border with Mexico to keep the illegals out-which just points to the fact that Congress was always ready to respond to fear. It is not so good at solving real problems. Security is a legitimate concern. It makes politicians nervous. There is a lot of grandstanding.

However, real problems on the ground may necessitate addressing situation like that on the Pak-Afghan border (the Durand line). Fencing or Building wall would be essential to stop prevent terrorists from Afghanistan attacking Pakistan. Somewhat more suitable solution of defeating terror would be the early return of estimated three million Afghan refugees, approximately half of them undocumented, and has been pressing the need for an early repatriation of the displaced population. Their presence in Pakistan helps Afghan terrorists to melt and morph among them. Afghan refugees in Iran have also to return to Afghanistan to address the issue of terrorism impacting economy and people of Pakistan. Afghan government must give a firm time schedule for the repatriation.

Addressing the Munich security conference, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan has rendered unprecedented Sacrifices in the war against terrorism. Giving Pakistan’s perspective on global and regional security, Bajwa said that terrorists had sanctuaries in Afghanistan, from where attacks were being planned and coordinated against Pakistan. Gen. Bajwa said the south Asian country Pakistan defeated Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban and other outlawed militant groups and could now proudly say that no organized militant camps existed on Pakistani soil today. There was need of joint efforts by all the countries to eradicate the menace of terrorism, Gen. Bajwa Stressed. Pakistan’s National Action plan (NAP) and other anti-terror operations have wiped out terrorist and also took action against those who financed terrorism. Pakistan is key to Afghan Peace. The U.S. should search for the reasons of its failure in Afghanistan. It is asked to stop blaming Pakistan. The U.S. Should withdraw Financial Action Task Force (FATF) resolution for the sake of justice and peace.

Returning to Lee Iacocca on the issue of building a three-hundred-mile wall to secure the United States border with Mexico, he said the border is two thousand miles long. That is like triple-locking the front door and leaving the back door open. Even if we built a wall that stretched the entire length of the border, it would not solve the problem. Iacocca wrote, I will go one step further. Even if everybody agreed that a wall was workable solution, what the hall are we doing building walls? America does not build walls. It tears them down. One of the most inspirational moments was when Ronald Reagan stood up and said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down that wall”. And the Berlin wall came down tumbling.

Countries build walls when they lack the creativity to solve complex problems. And there is nothing more complex than figuring out how we are going to relate to the world outside our borders. “While we are at it, we have to have a plan for dealing with the eleven million illegal immigrants that are already here. Every immigrant, legal or illegal, comes to America because he wants to improve his lot in life. Most immigrants work hard and make great sacrifice to create better future for their children. It is the American dream.

Lee Iacocca’s book, ‘where have all the leaders gone’, critically examines attitudes and approach of some of the Presidents of the United States to indicate in them presence of positivity.

What is it going to take to convince our leaders that the road forward starts with a conversation? This, Lee Iacocca had learnt from his experience of meeting people like Castro of Cuba and leaders of free world. When it comes right down to it, being a leader in the world is just a matter of winning friends and influencing people with spirit of hope. A Leader has to manage Change, Communicate effectively and like Barack Obama, the one who captures the imagination of the nation. And he has Charisma and conviction.

Conversation is much more than communicating. For leaders it is of vital importance to understand, interpret and define rapidly changing political, economic and social situations. They have to develop “sociological imagination” to understanding what is happening around and making things understandable to others. Effective conversations can help resolve conflicts. The United States need to understand that its policy of “talk and fight” has failed. 17-years long war in Afghanistan should be a learning experience. And that should be the new beginning, if peace is sincerely desired and required.

Conversation means social interaction, usually, informal or friendly interchange of views, sentiments, etc. talk or a talk. Conversance results from experience, study and familiarity with things, people and situations in modern diplomacy, conversation implies an informal discussion between representatives of two or more governments regarding policy, treaties, etc. and it is something familiar to most people today.

The writer is a Former Director of National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Government of Pakistan, a political analyst, a public policy expert and an author. His book post 9/11 Pakistan was published in the United States.

Published in Daily Times, February 26^th 2018.