The United States, beginning with President George W. Bush himself, has this past two weeks trained its crosshairs on Pakistan, warning that another Sept. 11, if it were to happen, would most likely not be plotted out of Iraq, Afghanistan or even Iran, but Pakistan.
Like the steady drumbeat that has often preceded major moves by the administration, the threat from Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas, considered the home of the top ranks of al Qaeda, has been articulated from the White House, at Congressional hearings and abroad.
Al Qaeda “won’t go away quietly in the night”, having found sanctuaries in ungoverned places, tribal areas and the Frontier Province of Pakistan, FBI director Robert Mueller said in the latest remarks on the matter, according to Pakistan’s Daily Times.
The issue is starting to create ripples, both at home in America and quite obviously in Pakistan, although for different reasons. For Bush critics at home, the barrage of statements is an admission, at the very least, that America is tied down in Iraq when it should be focusing on the threat along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. At worst, it’s an admission that American blood and treasure have been spent in the wrong place.
In Pakistan, the reaction is measured but concern over U.S. intentions is unmistakable.
“That the Americans are up to mischief is also evident from their extraordinary interest in the internal politics of Pakistan and formation of the government, which they are desperately trying to influence to suit their own objectives,” Pakistan Defence says in a posting arguing that Washington, faced with a strong new national coalition government in Islamabad, had stepped up covert and public pressure.
Raids in Pakistan’s tribal areas have already been carried out by U.S. drones, the News said, warning that any further U.S. intervention in region will aggravate the considerable problems there, including the legacy of the militant armies set up to fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
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Cooper writes: “The problem is that these people in the tribal areas have a habit of defying governments, and doing their own thing.”
So you blame the Pashtuns!
Was it also the Pashtuns who sold nuclear technology to the worst enemies of America and the rest of the peace loving free world?
Was it also the Pashtuns who let Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda in to Pakistan before and after 9/11?
Were the terrorists in London, Madrid and so many other places also Pashtuns and “tribal people”?
Either you are a Pakistani or a very naive westerner. Let the Pakis fool you, but not me, trust me!
- Posted by KaburaI know, this low paid Indian writer wants hit’s with this topic on his page so I will give him anyway. It is the US which is most dangrous country in the world and India is comlicit in this crime, secretly helping.
- Posted by Jaffery AdamKabura, I think you still regretting Pakistan independece. Why don’t you snap out of it. Pakistan is sovereign country and it has every right to defend itself via conventional or nuclear.
Pakistan for long has been the major source of global terrorism. Initially, its victims were mostly Hindus, and thus no one really cared, particularly as Pakistan was considered a cold war ally. But now, the US has seen the error of its ways–the error of turning a blind eye to terrorism sponsored and emanating from Pakistan. The US should not be deterred by political considerations from carrying out attacks on Pakistani territories.
The US is the only country in the world with the moral, ethical, and military might to wipe the world of terrorism. Pakistan should be the focus of the US anti-terrorism efforts, but other terrorist countries and organizations should also be targeted. Home grown terrorist organizations in the US, such as those funding Islamic and Sikh terrorism should also be fought by the US.
The American anti-terrorism efforts are essential to bringing peace and prosperity to the world.
- Posted by davidPakistan is only Muslims country with nuke without US control in Pakistan religious fanatics from tribal area would become more powerful in Pakistani government. People graduated from madras’s will use them to achieve their religious agenda.
- Posted by AustinPakistan does not accept refugee from afghan or kashmir they welcome terrorist in these tribal area.
Without US Pakistan will be like 3rd world African country so Pakistani must accept the truth and help US getting rid of religious fanatics,terrorist and madras’s from Pakistan
Dear Sir,
Whatever America says, that proves to be wrong in
long way, and American policy is vice versa. Like American says Al-Qaeda is very dangerous for the world, but despite
several warning by Al-Zahwary and even Mr. Bin Ladin threat of open war against Pakistan nothing could be done except few Sui side bombs which kill few innocent citizens only
There is something wrong with american narration and actual story.
Regards.
- Posted by Askari Kazmi[...] Source: Reuters Blog [...]
- Posted by Pakistan more dangerous than Iraq ? - NaiTazi.comThe World has many places that pose treats to security. Ranking them is a futile process, generated by internal political process, rather than a desire to promote better policy.
- Posted by mike hunterOne of the threats that we confront are groups prepared to cause mass casualties. Their motivation and goal is not defeat of Western interests but to propagandise their legitimacy as an alternative to the Governments of the oil rich States of the Middle East. They will take refuge in any area that they can, Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia,Bangladesh etc.
It is far from the only threat, a fundamentalist, nuclear armed Iran poses another.
It is the nature of order that it is confronted with multiple challenges from different locations at the same time.
Not least the internal threat from people such as Mike Patterson (above), who make such clearly deluded assertions to justify their inability to conduct rational debate.
Clearly terrorism, the use of force against civilians to achieve political goals, is a universal and fundamental reality of human political organisation.
Such partisan approach in confronting terrorism will actually foment it.
I have always believed that Americans are good people, thank you Mr. john cooper for proving it yet again and don’t worry about Kabura he is just a Hindu fanatic, who has noting nice to say about Pakistan.
- Posted by Zahed yaqub[...] The United States, beginning with President George W. Bush himself, has this past two weeks trained its crosshairs on Pakistan, warning that another Sept.Full source on Reuters: Read More? [...]
- Posted by Pakistan more dangerous than Iraq ? - NEWS.Tuls.NetIn a certain aspect Pakistan is definitely the most dangerous, before blasting me to oblivion read below, I am sympathetic with the Pakistani public but some facts and some US mentality contribute to some kind of deadlock situation.
i) Despite extreme bullying by US Gov and Pakistani Gov, the tribal areas in Pakistan continue to defy them (whether they are right or wrong is not being discussed) but the fact is that they have defied some really strong force and will continue to defy until the US and Pak gov back off or they are blasted to oblivion.
ii) This defiance is what scares the **** out of the US Gov, because the US Gov cannot go on full attack against these people as they risk of a severe response, so severe that they realize they won’t be able to withstand without sustaining some serious damage. Hence they are trying to make the world believe that these people are capable of another Sept 11 attack.
iii) Whether they are capable of doing it or not, is not the point here but the fact that these people are opposing US way of thinking is really a cause of concern to the US and US has always been happy with preemptive strikes and at the current moment they are weighing their options to be able to strike while justifying their attack.
The problem is that these people in the tribal areas have a habit of defying governments, and doing their own thing. A few of the terrorist minds may take advantage of that. US understands the later but not the former, and if they get impatient go for the attack many innocent lives will be lost in the name of defending the US against terrorist attacks.
I have no problem in defending my own country but if I have to wipe out hundreds of people then I am not at all OK with it.
Kabura has gotten it wrong, there is hardly any terrorism in Pakistan, the suicide bombings are more due to desperation and injustice, I can give a detail reasoning of that but that is going to make this comment into an article.
- Posted by john cooperI love how the U.S. always tries to make a little case for themselves before going in and invading a country for material reasons. What are they after in Pakistan, now, the uranium? Or do they just want to go there to bug India and China?
- Posted by UzmaImran Khan for prime minister
- Posted by hudiPakistan is not only more dangerous than Iraq, it is the most dangerous, destabilizing colonial and artificial entity on the planet.
Pakistanis have a lot of nuclear weapons, but most of them don’t have food (Roti) for the day.
The entire al-Qaeda organization is based in Pakistan, not necessarily in FATA as it is claimed by many, but in the rest of the country.
Pakistan is a country which is build up on hatered of Hindus, Jews and Christians.
Poverty, support for terrorists, growing population, radicalization of the society, religious extremism, fanaticism, secterianism, growing inflation etc. make Pakistan a ticking nuclear bomb.
Pakistan lives on terrorism, by milking the generous Uncle Sam and the Saudis. “War on terror” will end when there is no Pakistan, which can’t exist without the export of terrorism to her neighborhood and the rest of the world.
- Posted by KaburaRUBBISH! absolutely rubbish!
- Posted by FarooqAgreed…. Pakistan is no where close to Iraq Afghanistan.
- Posted by MAlthough Pakistan has its share of problems with militancy but it is a battle we are fighting because of american created mess in Afghanistan. If you want to reduce the risk of future attacks commit some forces and resources to fix the debacle called Afghanistan
Pakistan more dangerous then Iraq? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Any journalist who has spent considerable time in the country and really traveled and interacted with the local community knows this to be far from the case. There are always two sides to a story: one which is being reported and debated by the media. And one which is the reality on the ground.
Yes Pakistan has been a place of refuge for many. For millions of Afghan refugees forced to flee due to Soviet-era invasion. A refuge for Kashmiris fleeing Indian repression. The Observer’s Jason Burke has said about the country:
“…Pakistan’s bizarre capacity to absorb shocks that would destroy most nations.”
For further insight please see http://cheshmgir.wordpress.com/2008/04/1 9/pakistan-is-so-stable-it-is-boring/
- Posted by SyedI am surprised to see no mention of the efforts Pakistanis and Pakistani forces are making towards improving this situation.
Did the author miss this story?
- Posted by Mustafahttp://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iczAY frbIQwsE4hiHdjURlYsSpCgD904G2C06
Leave us alone Americans!
- Posted by ZeeshanYou people dont know anything about Pakistan.
America is just a big bully!
It’s US GENERAL DEMPSEY facing all 3
Iraq Afghanistan and IRAN !
If we do or omit to do the wrong thing now, we end up a lot worse than 1974 Saigon .
To be more exact , we end up losing the US Infantry .
SEvere fighting will break out at the tipping point
when some troops are out and onthers not.
We end up with the surviving US Infantry taken
as human shields on
-undisclosed locations throughout the middle East
-Co-Located with Targets such as N-Missile sites,centrifuges,Mullah’s and Dictators
How to say goodbye at gunpoint of one an other ,ends
up with shots fired in most cases !
Look at the live blog in Washingtonpost about iraqdebate
- Posted by hlgOr look at the live blogging in absnews about DEM
debate ,i copy them all out and treat them effectivelywith homebuild searchengines. There you will read :
“If Democrats will take the course of action their way (GEN W Clark as an example) we can pull them all out within the 16 month .One by one ..in their body bags.”
The US is the only country that employs terrorism as a tool of state policy. The enormously grave crimes the US has committed against humanity and is still committing prove beyond doubt that it is a criminal country to its core.
- Posted by Mike Patterson