It is not possible for President Obama to declare a surge against Pakistan. After all, we are allies, and we are not supposed to be fighting on their soil. Why did it take so long to finally endorse the troops requested by General McChrystal?
The excuse came in the form of waiting for Afghan election results, despite the fact that the US knew well in advance that Karzai had no serious competitor. And, as reported earlier, the only possible man who could have had a chance at winning was pressured by the US to withdraw. See U.S. pressured Abdullah Abdullah to withdraw from presidential race.
This afternoon, we heard Richard Holbrooke say: 'no country is more important to our success than Pakistan', during an interview with Fareed Zakaria. He also spoke of the hostility faced by Secretary of State Clinton during her recent visit to Pakistan. We wondered about the same animus in our report: Pakistan: 'Kerry-Lugar bill is unacceptable' - who is the real enemy?
According to all indications, al-Qaeda is no longer operating in Afghanistan. And the number of 'dangerous' Taliban has been reduced to less than one hundred men. The question has already been posed: do we need another 30,000 men to take out 100 men?
During another interview this Sunday on State of the Union, National Security Advisor, General Jim Jones was pressed hard about this surge, its meaning and its purpose. A single sentence stood out amid all of the rhetoric: the troops will be concentrated on the porous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan where the fighting has been heaviest.
Another fact which has recently emerged on Democracy Now! was the quiet work being done by the CIA in Pakistan, supported by private mercenaries (i.e. Blackwater) who are conducting a war so secret that it was indicated that the current administration may not have known about it. This is inclusive of the drone attacks which have killed many Pakistanis, including civilians.
And we have reason to worry about Pakistan now more than ever: President Zardari has been forced to relinquish some powers, as he has been accused of corruption. The Pakistani Army has never been expecially excited about American presence or assistance to the country. And then, there are those nuclear arms that need to be secured.
So as everyone continues the conversation about President Obama's war in Afghanistan, we may want to pause and read between the lines.
Comments
Now for a new third U.S. war, in Pakistan.
Soon a new 4th war , this time a BIG WAR with Iran.
When will America wake up. America is on the verge
of going bankrupt. Enough is enough. NO MORE WARS
and get America out of 'harms way'.
ABOVE ALL;
Stop having America being the 'sucker' for Israel.
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