A Leauki's Writings

As is well-known by now, I think, Taliban forces have been attacking Pakistan and have moved to positions close to Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.

Hundreds have died in the last three months and we can expect thousands or tens of thousands to die if the fighting escalates and the Pakistani government cannot control the invasion.

Will the world help Pakistan? Will the be a donor conference? Will Obama promise to give one billion dollars to help Pakistani civilian victims of the conflict?

Would it help if the Taliban were Jewish?

 

Update:

It is now clear that the world simply ignores Pakistan's problems and the victims of the war. There has been no conference, no promises to give 4 billion dollars, and little aid.

But Pakistan needs help. The government has asked for help. The situation is not just unstable, it's too close to disaster.

 

 

 

 


Comments (Page 2)
2 Pages1 2 
on May 10, 2009

but I don't see why Australia has any responsibility

Not suggesting Australia play if it doesn't want too, but it will have to continue on living in the same general neighborhood. I guess Bali is a distant memory there today. Isolationism is great until trouble knocks on your door. Maybe if you don't upset them, they will let you live in piece. Funny how we (US, UK, and Aus.) all look alike to the extremists.

on May 11, 2009

the pakistani military--specifically their isi intelligence agency--provided training, support, arms & supplies to the afghan taliban for years in order to destabilize afghanistan.  unfortunately for everyone but the taliban, the isi apparently neglected to consider pushtun tribal allegiance on its side of the border.

if the us hadn't abandoned afghanistan after using it as our proxy to defeat the ussr and had instead helped rebuild and normalize the place afterwards, the taliban likely be nothing more today than another bunch of backwoods religious nuts.  by the same token, if we hadn't deserted somalia after the cold war, there would prolly be no pirates of east africa.

finally, if we hadn't been distracted and drained by our adventure in iraq, we mighta finished what we were doing in afghanistan 8 years ago, there'd likely be one less failed state in the region in which al quaeda could find refuge.

the essential homeland security question should never be "how long since we were last attacked?" but "how many fewer or more places are there to provide a harbor for those who want to attack us?"

on May 11, 2009

I'm also not sure if the Mujahedeen were strictly "terrorists". They did fight the Russian military after all. I don't know enough about that conflict to judge strategies.

how bout them uighurs? they're possibly not islamic terrorists because they're fighting the chinese military?  or the chechnyans?  not terrorists cuz they fighting the russians?

how about the group who blew up the king david hotel? not terrorists because???

on May 11, 2009

how about the group who blew up the king david hotel? not terrorists because???

King David hotel was a military base at the time.

(Not that I excuse the attack. But it's not the same as attacking a school or a hospital or other civilian structure.)

 

the pakistani military--specifically their isi intelligence agency--provided training, support, arms & supplies to the afghan taliban for years in order to destabilize afghanistan.  unfortunately for everyone but the taliban, the isi apparently neglected to consider pushtun tribal allegiance on its side of the border.

True.

 

if the us hadn't abandoned afghanistan after using it as our proxy to defeat the ussr and had instead helped rebuild and normalize the place afterwards, the taliban likely be nothing more today than another bunch of backwoods religious nuts.  by the same token, if we hadn't deserted somalia after the cold war, there would prolly be no pirates of east africa.

I agree. However, there were always the "end the war" crowd who wanted the US to retreat.

 

finally, if we hadn't been distracted and drained by our adventure in iraq, we mighta finished what we were doing in afghanistan 8 years ago, there'd likely be one less failed state in the region in which al quaeda could find refuge.

See what I mean?

On the other hand the current Iraq works and the Al-Qaeda base that used to be there is gone.

The US can stay or run away, but it cannot listen to the "anti-war" crowd AND keep the barbarians under control.

 

on May 11, 2009

I am not declaring Pakistan a failed state. I am merely declaring it a forgotten state.

And India has nothing to do with this.

So quickly people forget the Mumbai bombings, carried out - according to the evidence at hand - by Pakistani terrorists (possibly even ISI trained/supported). If you think the conversion to Islamic fundamentalism of a major bordering power isn't an extremely important issue to the Indians, you should think again. If Pakistan isn't fixed, the relationship with India will continue to deteriorate, and Pakistani-sourced terrorism within Indian borders will eventually be responded to with excessive force - much like if a nuclear Mexico started blowing up movie stars in California and oil ranchers in Texas.

Not suggesting Australia play if it doesn't want too, but it will have to continue on living in the same general neighborhood. I guess Bali is a distant memory there today. Isolationism is great until trouble knocks on your door. Maybe if you don't upset them, they will let you live in piece. Funny how we (US, UK, and Aus.) all look alike to the extremists.

We don't all look alike - Australians, Canadians, the Irish and New Zealanders can travel freely in places where Americans and Brits would be beaten on site. Where the accent doesn't work, 'kangaroo' does. (except I'm guessing in Afghanistan these days, where our SAS has apparently revived Project Phoenix). But that's by the by. Australians will fight beside Americans because of ANZUS, and I'm not going to do anything about that. Still, it's more India's problem than Australia's.

on May 11, 2009

So quickly people forget the Mumbai bombings, carried out - according to the evidence at hand - by Pakistani terrorists (possibly even ISI trained/supported). If you think the conversion to Islamic fundamentalism of a major bordering power isn't an extremely important issue to the Indians, you should think again.

What are you talking about? This isn't about India. I was solely writing about the situation in Pakistan. I don't think the majority of the Pakistani population supported the terror attacks in Mumbai  and the attack of the Taliban is not in retaliation for that attack.

 

If Pakistan isn't fixed, the relationship with India will continue to deteriorate, and Pakistani-sourced terrorism within Indian borders will eventually be responded to with excessive force - much like if a nuclear Mexico started blowing up movie stars in California and oil ranchers in Texas.

Pakistan won't be fixed if we allow the Taliban to take over.

 

on May 11, 2009

In the old days your left-winger was convinced that 1. some societies are better than others, 2. socialism is a better society, and 3. all societies should become socialist. That MEANT something back then.

They still do, they just pretend that socialism isn't an aspect of society, but merely a .... i don't know what they pretend that it is.

on May 11, 2009

who uses the term geopolitical? really? That is like a lithmus test for BS.

Caring is doing, taltamir. What have you done for Pakistan's forgotten millions recently?

Yes, I, a college student living in poverty (legally speaking, heh, poverty in the USA is pretty rich living lemme tell you) in a country where politically affiliating with the republican country means you are a potential terrorist to the ones in power (see napoliatano and barak obama) will use the awesome might at my disposal to aid pakistan...

This is why I have abandoned the failed concepts of humility and rejecting power. the sad thing is that for generations men in my family have done great things and have had powerful connections. And we are raised to beleive humility is good and power corrupts and thus must be avoided. It is amazing how every ounce of wealth was donated, every ounce of power rejected...

Anyways, I am musing, I plan on accumulating as much power as possible and never refusing a promotion, rank increase, or a higher powered position, but until I actually am in a position to do something, I can only talk.

on May 14, 2009

Update...

on May 14, 2009

Are there many protesters worried about the civilian victims of Pakistan's military action against the terrorists?

Why not?

 

on May 15, 2009

Leauki
Are there many protesters worried about the civilian victims of Pakistan's military action against the terrorists?

Why not?

 

they are too busy protesting iraq and israel.

on May 15, 2009

they are too busy protesting iraq and israel.

Who cares about Pakistanis when there is even one Arab terrorist who is not perfectly comfortable?

 

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