WTF? Bush Hails Pakistan As A "Strong Ally" In War On Terror
By Nicole Belle Monday Jul 28, 2008 8:45amPresident Bush praised Pakistan Monday as a strong ally in the fight against terrorists and as committed to securing its border with Afghanistan.[..]
In words meant to bolster the U.S.-Pakistan relationship, Bush said (Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza) Gilani has made a "very strong commitment" to securing the dangerous border region.
Gilani said he wants the people of the United States to know that vast majority of Pakistanis want peace, and want to cooperate with the U.S.
Gilani's White House visit comes amid increased calls by senior U.S. officials for Pakistan to stop militants from staging cross-border attacks on U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Officials and state media said that missiles hit a religious school in a village just inside Pakistan's border with Afghanistan on Monday, killing six people. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the incident followed a series of strikes apparently by U.S. aircraft in recent months against militant leaders holed up in Pakistan's tribal belt.
Um, hello? Reality to BushWorld...
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...and Musharraf is ..where?
That's the first thing I thought of...never heard of Gilani...
Absolute zero credibility. Nothing this career failure says should be ever believed again.
Herr dubyah would rather look stupid than be correct.
Dr. Hussein Matt @ 4:
Oops.....haven't had coffee yet,
Herr dubyah would rather look stupid than be *wrong.*
Has Bush's head gotten bigger?
Nope, it looks like his tie is too tight . . .
It's his first visit to the White House and Bush is just trying to bolster relations with the new leader replacing Musharraf.
al-queda attacks america on 9/11
america give billions to pakistan to help them 'stop terrorism'
al-queda's base of operations moves to and thrives in pakistan.
bush, you fail spectacularly. pakistan is NOT our ally, bush is pakistan's bitch.
Meanwhile the Bush economy keeps taking hold http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/29/home-prices-plunge-record_n_115...
Welcome to BizzaroWorld, the place where up is down, black is white, and Republican administrations follow the rules of law and logic!
Ah yes, the Pakistani border is the most dangerous place in the world that hides the people who perpetrated the attack on America, .......................... and yet ............. our Idiot in Chief Decider says they are this Strong Ally, heppin' tuh pertek 'Mericuh from terruh.
The asshole has outdone himself. And you thought he couldn't get any stupider? .... Surprise !!!
Perhaps C&L and the rest of the posters on here could get a clue if they knew anything about basic international relations.
Had Bush not praised Pakistan (even though they're doing a terrible job at the moment) the U.S.-Pakistan relationship would have soured, at which point you'd end up with a hostile Pakistan that makes the CIA's job much harder than it is now. It's called politics. You guys should look into that.
Plus, you are all behaving like Pakistan owes you something. It's a sovereign country for Pete’s sake.
Big Red Will @ 6:
Mr. Mackey from Southpark?
He's right, you know. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia supply the terrorists for the "War on Terror" and the US corporations supply the expensive arms courtesy of our taxes. US parents supply the cannon fodder. The wealthy creeps reap the benefits and screw the rest of us.
Okay, now when was the last time that bush said something that made sense? Saying bizarre things is his forte.
That's why people are skeptical of Senator Obama, he speaks clearly,logically and intelligently. This is all new to Americans and they need time to become accustomed to it.
FilthyHarry @ 8:
* Bush uses the threat of al Quaeda to instill fear in the US and win 2004.
I'd say Bush was telling the truth when he claimed pakistan as a "strong ally". An ally to his administration, yes. To US interests? Not so much.
Pat @ 12:
Gawly! I've been enlightened. Thanks for explaining the real facts to us poor stoopid peeple!
Isn't it obvious? Like listening to a 6 yr old explain himself? Mr. Obama has made a HUGE impact by rallying for alliance with other nations. Mr. Obama has made headline news as a great leader, and now GW must get on that bandwagon.... just ANOTHER WAGON he should have gotten on LONG AGO...
That's exactly what he's been saying about these guys for years:
www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com
He's says it because he doesn't know what else to say.
He should just stay home
Pat @ 12:
Great Buddha's ghost, I hope your being snarky there pat.
Your of course aware that Pakistan possesses Nuclear Weapons right?
Your also aware that they killed the person that was running for government that the people supported Right?
Tour aware of the riff between them and India Right.
Best of all your claiming that this idiot bush knows something about being diplomatic?
All I can say is WOW.
So what would be a good nickname for Bush to bestow on President Yousuf Raza Gilani?
I vote for Rasta, or Rasta-Man.
Poopyman @ 16:
and here it comes again: DHS Urges Vigilance Over Next 12 Months: Vulnerability to Terror Seen in Big Events
from in front of a cheese case:"you see, what Americans don't understand is that 'ally' comes from the word 'allocation' and before the government of Pakistan started hindering attempts at securing terrorism they were allocated a certain amount of funds. by receiving these funds they became our allies, in the form of the allocation, so even though they aren't acting as such, the allocation that came first establishes them as allies."
How much of every dollar and all the military aid that we give to Pakistan goes toward their "riff" with India?
Pat @ 12:
Okay, they're a sovereign country. That means they should be able to get along fine without our money, right? Just give the Afghani army tons of resources (and not that worn out shit we bought and sent to them before), and turn them loose. Pakistan and Afghanistan are not friends, and the Afghanis would love to kick Pakistan's ass, I'm sure.
he is so done.
bet he can't wait to putz around @ the ranch and speak at luncheons for those big $$$ (that's what he thinks).
his credibility is at an all-time low.
♫..Bangkok Bob..♫ @ 21:
In Bushco's view, Pakistan's location makes it important in keeping a tight grip on Iran.
So he's willing to overlook Pakistan's drawbacks in order to contain Iran.
I'm not defending him, but I can see the logic in that. Although Bush and logic don't really mix.
It won't be the first time the U.S. supported a state that was counter productive to its own interests. But, one has to make compromises. It's like tango, two steps forward, one step back.
The same applies to the U.S.'s relationship with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
oZer @ 27:
The overwhelming majority in this country and the overwhelming majority of the free world (as evidence by the hundreds of thousands who showed up to see Obama in Europe) are just counting down the days till Bush leaves office. I expect there will be some big parties at home and abroad.
Our dollar is "strong"
Our economy is "strong", "drunk" but "strong"
Our military is "strong"
Our intelligence is "strong"
If he had said they were a weak ally in the war on terror, I would feel re-assured.
Bush code.
Pakistan is a US sponsored CIA satellite state. Where oh where did Atta get the $100,000 wired to him from?
Why was Goss and Graham having breakfast with Pakistan's ISI General the day of 9-11 after the wired cash transfer.
Smoke and mirrors people.
Ruthless People @ 29:
When we can say President Obama, I'm going to explode with excitement.....and relief.
Big Red Will @ 6:
They have to keep tightening the tie to keep the foreskin from creeping up...BAH DAH BOOM!
Bajaboy @ 26:
Well, not really. If you look at the Middle East, the top three U.S. foreign aid beneficiaries are Egypt, Israel and Jordan. They are all sovereign, are they not?
pissed off patricia @ 32:
sucker.
thats what the elites want you to do. they run both sides of the game. you don't think they'd really let something as mundane as an "election" spoil their game?
correction....
Gilani is the elected prime minister, Musharaf is still the president but not in chief of army role anymore.
Pakistan? Isn't that the country next to Iraq?
I forget. Let me call president Putin of Germany to make sure.
.
Chimpy believes that this area of contention is just south of Dallas so he wonders what the big deal is??
This man is SO stupid sometimes I wonder how he remembers how to get up in the morning...
Pat @ 12:
Let’s put aside the boatloads of cash we send to pakistan, and not dwell on the ISI’s historical support of the taliban. And not think about AQ khan, and nukes
put all that aside
are you saying that the pakistani government—in its current form—is popular enough among pakistanis to survive without american support? Can the current pakistani government really turn hostile to america and survive in pakistan? or would a shattered relationship spell the end of the current ruling class?
and, if you want to talk about politics, its a 2-way street. If the situation is pakistan continues on the same path there could be a backlash in american domestic politics against the real (or perceived) foot-dragging on pakistan’s part to round-up various elements along the afghani/paki border.
It seems that the current Pakistani govt is more dependent on america’s support than the other way around.
Ruthless People @ 29:
Have you not heard the latest "news" from Fox, the DUDE and Rodney? Those two hundred fifty thousand Germans were there only for a concert and bratwurst. Those who think otherwise are just "naive."
oZer @ 27:
Apparently "Pickles" has been looking at real estate in Dallas. I would not be surprised if W sits around at SMU and points out to visitors that he's so important he has his own library.
Looks like J. Kerry was right:
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG741/
Smart move on the Pakistan President's part. Look Pakistan got billions of US dollars and Nukes to cooperate with the Bush Administration. Now that Bush is on his way Leaders will say anything to keep the money coming their way. Once Bush is out it's every man for himself. The US has already been told they can't use Pakistan boarders but still no one is listening. I wonder how much Pakistan is asking for now to lie for the White House.
oZer @ 27:
The only credibility this evil, dim-witted, self-serving bastard ever had, was that nurtured and portrayed by the MSM.
♫..Bangkok Bob..♫ @ 11:
Wonder what his IQ numbers are? Lower than a baboon!
I liked the part where Bush stated that Pakistan had a "vibrant democracy": a country headed by a former general who came to power in a military coup, rewrote the constitution and still had to break it to remove judges from the supreme court. I guess that sort of thing might make sense to the Shrub since he's stacked our Supreme Court with supportive zealots, has twisted the constitution to give near absolute powers to the executive branch, has broken federal and international laws, and came to power in murky circumstances.
VegasRage @ 20:
This is Bush's feeble attempt at diplomacy.
first bomb them.
then praise them.
What would Zeus do? @ 46:
I believe that a certain late Ms. Bhutto would disagree with that "vibrant democracy' reference.
Truth B Told @ 31:
Anyone who considers the Pakistani government our ally is foolish, Pakistan is for Pakistan, and the interests of the US and of India matter not to the military regime. Pakistan is basically a larger, Indo-European speaking version of your average Sub-Saharan African state (i.e. failed, not commanding any sense of authority beyond the army, poor people who join any radical group willing to give them a voice to be heard from) and the sense that an army trying to restrain a large, well-populated state from collapsing altogether is going to really care about restraining a group enjoying popular support among some Pashtuns on the border is, IMHO, damnfoolery.
And Truth B Told, I challenge you to open a history book on how Pakistan emerged as a nation and tell me the US had a great deal to do with nationalism among Indian subcontinental Muslims, something that emerged in the aftermath of British colonialism. Also, explain to me how something as bumbling as the CIA is capable of restraining the Baluchis and Pashtuns and other groups with little stake in Pakistan from imploding. Of course, in your mind those darkies who follow Allah can't manage themselves, it requires Whitey to do it, so why am I bothering to raise this?
BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan and Rachel Maddow @ 49:
I think the Bhutto family as a whole is like the Ghandi-Nehru family, an aristocracy that promises far more than it delivers on the democratic front.
Pat @ 12:
So was Iraq prior to herr dubyah's invasion/occupation.
Yeah, I like the commitment Pakistan made when it gave complete authority over to Taliban/AQ tribal leaders in the dangerous border region.
I suspect this has more to do with those F16's Carlyle Group wants to sell the Pakis - for use against terr'rists, of course. We all know how well *our* F16s helped us against our terr'rists...
Did they say anything about securing their border with Iraq?
That's the true litmus test as a friend of Amerikkka!
Waaaaaait a minute! That guy that Bush is with. Isn't he Maude's husband?
Different Anonymous @ 53:
Yip! And lookr' just hows much thems coffers filled up toooo!
You gotta remember. The bars hang real low with the Bush administration. They think they got credit from the WSJ movie review of Batman-The Dark Knight.
What sicken's me are all the jokes about this administration. NOBODY... and I mean NOBODY dispises this administration more than I do, but I feel that to joke about this atrocity this nation has brought upon itself and to the world (aka the Bush administration) is to dismiss it. I personally feel that this administration should NOT be honored in ANY way. Not even as joke material. What we have done to thew Iraqis is NOT a laughing matter. What we have brought upon this nation by putting this imbecile into office, is also NOT a laughing matter.
In order to be the worst president in United States history, it follows that George W. Bush be both stupid and lacking in common sense. Declaring that Pakistan is an ally in the fight against terror, whatever the hell that is, is akin to declaring Mississipians an ally in the fight against illiteracy. I mean no offense to Mississippians, but Mississippi is ranked as the state with the lowerst average IQ in America. And of course, it overwhelmingly supported George W. Bush. To those who don't realize it, there really is a correlation between one's IQ and his or her political persuasion. Click on the link below:
http://chrisevans3d.com/files/iq.htm
Bush: Clearly, no longer a dry drunk.
The lying chimp.
Dumbasses voted for him.
General_Rennenkampf @ 50:
hiding a little of your racism in that post by projecting at me?
oh, sure there is some bumbling aspects to the CIA.... the overt CIA. But there is a CIA within the CIA. And they don't bungle so much.
Who is this retarded simian from another planet and why in the fucking hell has he come to mine ?
Truth B Told @ 62:
A little of my racism? As a Southerner, I probably have picked up some of the undercurrent of it here, but I'm smart enough to know that nonwhites and nonwesterners can pick up guns and shoot at them without the White Man's Burden of teaching them how to do so. You see a dark street illuminated with one streetlight, and you point at shadows and see monsters when what you see are deer or pet dogs walking around.
Different Anonymous @ 53:
DING! DING! You nailed it!
General_Rennenkampf @ 64:
so....
why was Atta wired $100 grand from the ISI general just prior to 9-11.... and why was the same General having breakfast with soon-to-be CIA director Goss and Sen. Graham of FL?
Truth B Told @ 66:
Got an actual source for that? Atta was Saudi, and I doubt that the Pakistani regime would be especially friendly to a Saudi fanatic, it doesn't quite seem to mesh with their style or way of doing things. If you can't provide a source, then you're pointing at shadows on a dark street that your friends told you are monsters to scare you.
WHAT THE FUCK.... Now I've heard everything... excuse me but I'm going to the bathroom to clean my ears out with a Q-Tip. JCB
that is code for, we just gave them billions of dollars
The beautiful thing about the war on terror is that over the next 100 years
our allies will become enemy's and our enemy's will become allies, and
then back again, and again and again............you see?
Google News shows one report after another where Bush is assuring Pakistan he respects their sovereignty at the same time as investigations are underway regarding allegations that recent air attacks within Pakistan, killing civilians, were the work of the US.
So .. what else is new.
Destroy the village to save the village.
War is Peace.
Violations of Sovereignty are PROOF of Respect of Sovereignty.
pfffffffff
"A strong ally."
Yep. A strong ally ... of al Qaeda. Giving aid and succor to any terrorist organization ...
Ooops.
What's that? What do you mean, the MEK, UNITA, the Contras and Alpha 66? Damn, boy, ain't you a true American? Those are OUR terrorist organizations! It's A-OK to support them no matter what they do!
You ignorant fucks! Were you born yesterday!
The Pakistan you see today is the result of the geo-political machinations of the USA, stretching back to the day Pakistan was created just after the second world war. The USA armed and supplied just about any nut willing to fight against the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan including Usama bin Laden, and that money and those arms were channeled through Pakistan. The USA controlled the Pakistan military and anyone who stepped out of line was eliminated, even dictators (General Zia). Then after 9/11 you went across and fucked up Afghanistan. You meddling morons then accuse Pakistan of conspiring against the USA. Well if you bothered to look at the Pakistan border areas you will find millions of Afghan refugees that have come over so they don't become collateral damage in your excuse of a war. There're the ones who cross the border to fight for there freedoms in their land.
If anything you should Pakistan more money, for all the shit you have out her through. Pakistan is a very amenable country, very hospitable, and should any of you happen to travel there you would be treated with absolute respect. The same would not apply in reverse. That in itself tells you all you need to know about the whole situation.
Your're just a bunch of mugs.
FilthyHarry @ 23:
It's almost like G. W. Bush is setting us up for a terrorist attack, and is making up the excuses beforehand. Trust me when I say this, 911 was the best thing to ever happen to the Bush cronies and Halliburton. All those no bid contracts and government thefts without oversight was like a dream come true for Bush.
Remember, G. Dubya, his dad, the previous Bush, and his grandfather Prescott, ALL had a history of dealing with, and making money with the help of America's Enemies.
From Bush fabricating a war for profit, Iran Contra, to Prescott helping the Nazis at the height of World War II. These men have been, and always will be criminals that make their money at the cost of lives of Americans and people abroad.
It's like evil is in their very genes.
jason king @ 73:
Hmm, I hardly think the US of 1945-48 had much of an interest in South Asia, it wasn't until well into the Seventies we took interest in that part of the world. Mind providing citations the US controlled the ISI? For some reason, I don't think the US really would have bothered with Pakistan until it developed nukes. Yes, we were bastards to Pakistan, but Pakistan emerged out of Islamic nationalism and the desire of the Hindu majority in India to expel Muslims to West and East (later Bangaladesh) Pakistan.
You have to see this from the Cheney/Bush point of view in order for it to make sense.
Since Bin Laden is the justification for the War on Terror™, and since catching or killing Bin Laden would end the justification for the War on Terror™, by harboring Bin Laden, Pakistan provides a vital service to the Cheney/Bush agenda, allowing them to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into their favorite military and industrial corporate sponsors with no-bid contracts, soaring energy prices and widespread corruption.
Naysayers will of course take a different tack, making the argument that a nuclear tipped Pakistan must be mollified instead of threatened, regardless of actual events on the ground including terrorism and attacks on US forces. This is the diametric opposite of Iran, which can be threatened at will (and for convenience) precisely because it does not have nuclear weapons.
Mick @ 17:
How about this, genius. This "prime minister" is a CIA plant sent in to build a base of support and overthrow Musaharraf. You know, meddling in the internal affairs of other countries...which is against the law...ours and the worlds. Or perhaps he is a BUSH plant...his daddy was head of the CIA ya know...so the Bush plan is to undermine TWO countries...Pakistan AND the United States.
The Bush family is dangerous. They are criminals. World class criminals. Do you REALLY think they are just walking away in January.
bush is pakistan’s bitch. - they should make that a bumper sticker!
At some point, I'm waiting for the "good, peaceful Pakistanis" to finally say, "ENOUGH!" however I'm not holding my breath. I don't believe there are enough people in Pakistan that really care what al Qaeda or the Taliban are responsible for as long as its not their children they've killed. The administration, vis a vis, BUSH, stated up front that we would go to the ends of the earth to capture OBL and then what? we went to Iraq! Makes perfect sense in Bush's brain I suppose. A real leader would have pooled military resources from all around the Afghanistan/Pakistan border area and squeezed until it hurt; tighten the noose so to speak. Not quit at the border! War is hell and it sucks to be in a war zone but if the peaceful people living in the northwestern area of Pakistan just stand there and allow themselves to be run over by al Qaeda or worse, well..take a guess at what might happen. Had they asked the military, theirs, ours or someone else's, to come in and clear them out and we didn't, that would be one thing. But the tribal leaders have made their deals with the other side and we're now fighting to make up lost ground. I feel badly for the peaceful people in the war zones!
You know... If you don't stand real still, they won't be able to blow smoke up your ass. Larry Craig likes his smoke sitting down.
Numinous @ 74:
Ya, I'm not a conspiracy nut but these people capitalized and profited SO much from the attacks on 9/11 its not hard to see why some people think they are culpable in someway. Personally I too am expecting big threats either real or imagined to increase in intensity between now and election day. Also a national catastrophe necessitating an emergency power grab sometime around new year's should Obama be elected is also with the scope of possibility when looked at through the spectrum of what these crooks have pulled in the last 8 years (yes including the 2000 election).
curtilingus @ 30:
War = Peace
Ignorance = Strength
Pakistan = Our Friends
You will OBEY the Talking POINTS Lord Cheney has delivered unto us! It is for our good!
Yeah, right!
My name is
Satan, er, uh, Santa. And, I approve of thisbrainwashing, er, us message.Bush -- "Yousufie, yur doin' a helluva job!"
One day soon, I will stop having to hear that whingeing voice, and stop having to see that stupid face, and I will be happy. Bush gets on my nerves so much that not too long ago I literally busted the volume knob off my car radio turning down the sound of that arrogant, fake-ass cowboy voice of his.
Pakistan is an ally. It's John McCain who knows where and how to capture Bin Laden. He just won't share unless you make him President. (Snark.)
Read the LA Times article. This issue is far, far more complex than the OP would suggest.
♫..Bangkok Bob..♫ @ 21:
Pakistan is like a child with Ak-47. You need them to behave and cooperate, but if you spank them, they will shoot you.
My beef is that Bush needs to be straight with us about the real realtionship we have with the bastards who's own intelligence services continue to support Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Out troops are once again dying for nothing. They can't win unless Pakistan takes action.
But being straight with us might jeopardize that F-16 deal huh?
It all depends on what Bush means when he says "ally". There is no question Pakistan is Bush's ally in the War on Terror, not necessarily the United States' ally. The fact that Pakistan has WMD and is in conflict with India keeps fear running at an all time high. Fear is still a main weapon Bush and his thugs employ at will on the world. Just how did Pakistan acquire all that technology for WMD? It had been reported that high ranking US officials have been funneling wearpons technology and funding to roque groups within Pakistan for decades. The Pakistan Intelligence is an extension of the CIA after all.
Valerie Plame was not the first CIA agent exposed by our own government officials. To find out just what kind of ally Pakistan is to Bush, look up the name RICH BARLOW.
He was the CIA's expert on Pakistan's nuclear secrets, but Rich Barlow was thrown out and disgraced when he blew the whistle on a US cover-up.
General_Rennenkampf @ 75:
It's quite true that Jason @ 73 jumps the rails, especially in making a 30-year jump between his first and second sentences. However, it's not true that "it wasn't until well into the Seventies we took interest in" South Asia. If nothing else, there was the Chinese invasion of India in 1962 which lead the Kennedy administration to consider the possibility of a nuclear strike on China should it be repeated, the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war which lead LBJ to impose an arms embargo on both nations, and the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, to which Nixon and Kissinger paid close attention.
And before any of that, the US was giving military aid to Pakistan as early as 1954 (India turned it down) and Eisenhower visited India in 1959.
So in fact rather than not taking an interest, it would be far more accurate to say that we have spent the last 60 years trying to perform a balancing act between Pakistan and India, sometimes favoring one, sometimes the other, but ultimately trying to stay on the good side of both.
BaScOmBe hearts Lara Logan and Rachel Maddow @ 49:
Amen, that was an ISI hit job for sure. The Taliban had no reason to kill her.
WHAT......is he zonked out on meds.
Liberal AND Proud @ 77:
Sure. They are going to walk away and stay away. About as much as Musharref and his army buddies will in Pakistan.
As for Bush and the neocons, this isn't over. They WILL advance the PNAC agenda. If Obama wins, he will be asked to play ball. If he won't they will destroy his presidency and use FOX to broadcast their propaganda. Either that or an assassin's bullet or maybe a plane crash.
These people are deadly serious and to make fun of them and wish them away as people did with the Nazis in the 1930's is a huge mistake.
Americans have no idea who they are dealing with.
Bush lives in OppositeWorld.
LarryE @ 88:
You're correct, and I accept your statements here.
Ruthless People @ 13:
and Drunky McDrunkerson from The Simpsons...
Pat @ 12:
So, too, was Iraq a "Sovereign country", numb nuts! It was, in FACT, a sovereign country which was NOT in cahoots with the terrorists we had the most to fear from, as Pakistan CLEARLY IS! The fact that Iraq was a sovereign country stopped the Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rove monsters not in the least, from constructing a pyramid of lies, and invading. It's not called "politics", as Bushworld defines it, it's more sheer lunacy, dictated by which Middle Eastern country offered the least resistance to an invasion, relative to their gargantuan oil supplies. You "should look into that" before presuming to criticize those who are aware what is really going on in the asylum known as the White House!
On top of all this, I wonder:
Bush/Gilani = Molotov/Ribbentrop?
And if that's the case, who's Poland?
1). Bush is a lame duck at this point, and even if he wanted to pressure Pakistan, he really can't.
2). The Prime Minister is the first genuinely elected politician Pakistan has had for a long time, since before Musharraf.
3). It is important for geopolitical reasons (increasing regional stability, improving India/Pakistan relations, balancing against Chinese/Russian dominance in Central Asia), Ideological/Economic reasons (helping a fellow democracy establish itself on a firm, reformist basis, liberalize Pakistani markets out of the hands of the military to increase local prosperity and foreign trade), and internal Pakistani political reasons (this PM is the head of a coalition government that recently fell out over the issue or reinstating anti-Musharraf judges who are allied with one coalition member and bear grudges against the other) for powerful, wealthy nations with an interest in Pakistan's current and future status to bolster this new government.
4). The alternatives to a stable, responsible Pakistan working with Indian and the U.S. to ensure regional security and trade is an unstable, irresponsible, easily subverted Pakistan sponsoring terrorist attacks inside India, and potentially acting as a long-term client state to larger neighbors looking to pressure India directly and Western Europe through threatening trans-Near East trade (Russia).
5) This Prime Minister hasn't even served a year yet, and some of you are labeling him a Bush puppet. What has he done to warrant this label? Fighting Musharraf for the political control that is his right as a duly elected official? Trying to marginalize religious radicals in the military and Parliament? Attempting to begin the very tricky process of transferring power from the military back to civilian control, and maybe addressing some of the institutional problems that caused the military's intervention in the first place?
The biggest misstep I can peg on him is leaving Pakistan at a time when he should be there focusing on putting back together and strengthening the democratic coalition that his wife's assassination brought together, but considering that his trip is an attempt to impress the people back home with his diplomatic ability and the United States' continued interest in Pakistan, one could argue that strengthening his coalition is precisely why he came here (not the move I would have made though).
I hate Bush as much as the next guy or gal, heck, more considering how this damn Connecticutter(what do you call citizens of that state anyway?) has sullied the name and reputation of my home state since he was elected; no matter how able, a Texan won't likely see the inside of the White House for another 50 years due to this moron. But, what he's doing here is standard, boilerplate diplomacy that, thankfully, even he isn't too big of an idiot to screwup, something I was beginning to doubt given his behavior at the G8 and the bellicosity with which the Bush Admin has been referring to the Pakistanis of late. The reason we dislike the right is because of their knee-jerk, hateful, thoughtless reactions against anything said that doesn't mesh with their world view or flatter their national figures; lets not emulate them by immediately declaring anything Bush or a Republican says as nefarious, wrong-headed, and stupid, without taking a few minutes to think about it critically first.
The War oF Terror.
One letter off.
pakistan has been a strong ally-- which side do you think george is on???
after all, they've been very helpful in hiding osama--
General_Rennenkampf @ 67:
PROOF...
http://911blogger.com/files/DOD_FOIA_response_20-May-08.pdf
I don't advocate anything else from this site other than the link I have provided. Also, the fact that you think things don't seem to mesh makes it all the more probable they actually do considering how twisted these bastards are. Through all the discussions on Pakistan and Afghanistan, it is surprising nobody every brings up Turkey which is where most black market material flows through.
Anyone Watch Charley Rose today
New York Times
“US Government Sources say Pakistan’s “ISA” implicated in the bombing of India’s Embassy in Afghanistan”.
Blaming Pakistan’s “ISA” for involvement in the bombing of India’s Embassy in Afghanistan is a brilliant move.
Pakistan is a partner in this war on terror maybe not perfect but none the less a partner.
This now gives India a green light to move on Pakistan and heaven help us if this turns to all out war with India and Pakistan and the Americans making incursions on the Pakistan northern border all it takes is one guy to change the world as we know it and once it starts
where will it stop because if I were Pakistan not all of my bombs would be going to India I would draw the only other Super Power into this
also they have the range to hit China or Russia and it is all down hill from there.
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