Unstable central governments in BOTH Afghanistan AND Pakistan with insurgent groups financed by the Heroin trade will continue to plague these nations efforts for years. Until JOINT cross border operations are conducted in those havens for these criminals, both nations will suffer at the hands of these fanatics. Benazir Bhutto's death was NOT a random act of terrorism. She struck fear in the hearts of MANY Paki militants because: 1.) She was a western educated WOMAN. 2.) She came from a powerful political family. 3.) She had the support of PROGRESSIVE Pakistanis 4.) She was a threat to the "business as usual" types of both the Taliban, Al Queda AND Musharraf's regime.
At least twice in the article, the spectre of "Al Qaida" was brought up. If the Pakistani military were not yielding to pressure by the Americans, they would have continued to allow the territories to govern themselves, just as they had for decades. It would have remained a regional affair.
If taking over the government of an Islamic county wasn't alright for the Russians, why is it alright for the Americans? We are in for the same treatment that the Soviets got, but on a larger scale.
This is a homegrown insurgency. Is there a groundswell of angry Islamic nationalism in Pakistan? Of course there is! That, however, is a sociological phenomenon growing in intensity from Morocco to Mindinao.
As the article stated, this is an insurgency (aka: rebellion) that is not motivated by "terrorism". We have become the "target" because we are the "foreign intruder", not just in one country; but in half the world!
I remember 60 Minutes going into Peshawar after the Soviets left Afganistan. It was (and is) the largest arms bazzar in the world. Everything from hand made jezzails to Soviet RPGs and artillery. Someone had scrawled on a wall "Might does not make right" and someone else had scribbled underneath "But it does make history". It's like the Wild Wild West out there (without Jim West and Artemis Gordon ).
Originally posted by khyland: Several weeks ago Musharraf said that Al-Qaida was not in Pakastan ,now they are fighting them.What gives, I think he is playing us for fools.
Nah, just self preservation. He denies it publicly, then privately requests funds from the suckers, errr I mean US.
What is happing in Pakistan now is similar to what happened in Russia in 1917. History has shown what happened there because of the non-attention of the rest of the world. At the very least, it requires serious attention.
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