President Obama will meet with President Asif al-Zardari of Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan Wednesday morning at the White House. On the top of the agenda- a collaborative military effort in the border region of the NorthWest Frontier Territory against insurgent forces.
“The possibility is now real that we will see a jihadist state emerge in Pakistan — not an inevitable outcome, not even the most likely, but a real possibility,” said Bruce Riedel, Brookings Institution scholar.
With a larger population of insurgent forces in a country with nuclear capabilities, it is only a matter of time before this ticking time bomb of a situation explodes.
Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday, “this isn’t about ‘can do’ any more; this is about ‘must do.’ ”
As David E. Sanger of The New York Times sees it President Obama has three objectives to keep in mind: we must work with the Pakistani and Afghani governments to support a cooperative military effort in the tumultuous border region, we must increase covert ground actions, and finally, we must keep the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal as our number one priority.
6 comments:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/05/04/robertson.interview.zabiullah.mujahid/index.html
That's a good read on the subject. I think it's important to distinguish the issue as not necessarily having anything to do with Osama bin Laden or even Al Qaeda. Regardless, it makes you wonder about a lot of things about the region as well as US war efforts in the area.
Have you read the book "Three Cups of Tea"? It explains the conflict almost perfectly and is based on a true story of a American's relationship with a Pakistani tribe. Recently in January the government shut down all the schools because they disagreed with young girls being taught the same subjects as young boys. It's weird how it feels that not everyone as you mentioned receives both sides of the story.
I couldn't agree with you more. Pakistan could potentially be the next problem Obama will face. Al-Qaeda is raining down on them and they need to openly make a statement to counter them. It's a scarty situation in that area and it may blow up even more in the next few months.
Hey Lindsay, I think your prediction of a "ticking time bomb," is somewhat true. As you have stated, there are more groups of Al Qaeda within Pakistan then there are any other Arab nation. We must be steadfast and confident in our fight overseas, for if we are not we will face must bigger problems from the entire middle east; something that could put our country in complete danger.
This subject is very important to our country because it ultimately defines our safety and well being. The terrorist infrastructure is very wide and expansive. That is why Obama should keep a good eye on our country's relations with Pakistan and Afghanistan. A very close friend of mine spent 6 weeks in Kabul, Afghanistan helping small communities develop their construction techniques and related activities. For the most part many of these people live in turmoil and have become desensitized to the treacherous day to day activities. For our safety and those overseas, Obama I agree should develop healthy and sustainable relations with these countries of suspect.
Actually, I think our problem doesn't lie within Al Qaeda. It's more about the Taliban than Al Qaeda. And, also note that Pakistan and Afghanistan aren't "Arab" nations, necessarily.
Post a Comment