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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan called a 'crucible of jihadi culture' |
| 2007-07-21 |
| Pakistan has been described as a “nuclear-armed crucible of jihadi culture, exporting terrorists and destabilising its neighbours”. According to Professor Vali Nasr of the Naval Postgraduate School, writing on Friday in the Christian Science Monitor, “For too long, Washington has coddled the Pakistani general, turned a blind eye to his crushing of democracy, and read too much into his pro-West rhetoric. The US must change course. And there are signs it’s about to. After almost a decade under Musharraf’s rule, Pakistan hasn’t changed much. He has initiated reforms and revamped the economy. But where he was expected to do most, fighting Islamic extremism, Pakistan’s record is most disappointing.” Nasr maintains that Al Qaeda and the Taliban use Pakistani soil as a haven and training ground. Recent deals between the government and Pashtun tribes have in effect ceded the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies. “Musharraf speaks of ‘enlightened moderation’, but he has done more to pulverise secular democratic parties than contain Islamist ones,” he argues. He believes that Pakistan only catches foreign jihadis when pressured by the West. It bans extremist groups that get out of hand, but it has been reluctant to uproot the infrastructure of extremism. Extremist groups proliferate and operate in the open because General Musharraf finds them useful in convincing Washington and Pakistan’s middle classes that the military is all that protects the country from a Taliban-like Islamic state. Nasr is of the view that the Pakistani government was fully aware of what went on in Lal Masjid, yet chose to ignore the extremists between January and June, even as they sought to impose Islamic law on the capital. It was not until General Musharraf sensed public anger at his “dithering” and confronted a diplomatic crisis when the extremists abducted Chinese nationals, that he stormed the mosque. “Frustrated with developments in Pakistan, many in Washington look to elections and a civilian government for solutions. Democracy should be welcomed, but it will change little. The last time there was a transfer of power to a civilian government, in 1988, the military still chose the foreign minister and informed the prime minister that it would control the nuclear programme, intelligence, security, and policies toward Afghanistan and India. This time, too, the military will continue to call the shots - especially when it comes to Afghanistan.” According to Nasr, “In dealing with Pakistan, Washington has preferred to see the logic of the war on terror as self-evident, not recognising that even close allies will not cooperate if it does not serve their interests. It is only by addressing Pakistan’s interests that Washington can secure greater cooperation from Islamabad. Washington cannot give Pakistan the sphere of influence in southern Afghanistan that it desires to make sure it will not be encircled by India. However, Washington can give Pakistan greater interest in Afghanistan’s stability than it has now by encouraging Kabul to include Pakistan’s allies and clients in government; and more important, to finally recognise its international border with Pakistan.” |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #12 sherman anti-trust act prevents any us-based companies from participationg in a price setting cartel. besides, opec doesnt directly set prices, they manipulate supply and that drives price. |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2007-07-21 14:07 |
| #11 Maybe we need an "OPEC" of the West that "fiddles" with the price of food and water to the Maybe we need an "OPEC" of the West that "fiddles" with the price of food and water to the Muslim mideast.Muslim mideast. Now that's just plain brilliant, the added beauty is that government doesn't need to get involved, there are plenty of CEO's like Scrushy loose out there, surely there are a few in food import-export that want to be billionaires. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-07-21 14:01 |
| #10 It is one of those "knots" (or turbans if you will) that has to be somehow undone. Alexander the Great knew how. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-21 13:59 |
| #9 All true, but now is not the time for this. With Iraq hanging in the balance and the U.S. military already stretched, we will have to continue to rely on the pseudo-cooperation of the Pakistani government for the time being. |
| Posted by: Grumenk Philalzabod0723 2007-07-21 11:57 |
| #8 Washington cannot give Pakistan the sphere of influence in southern Afghanistan that it desires to make sure it will not be encircled by India cannot and won't if they keep acting up. Perhaps we need to invite India in to help? How would you like that, ISI? What're you gonna do, Pak Army, lose AGAIN? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2007-07-21 11:25 |
| #7 Either Musharraf has to clean out the Paki border areas or we need to I don't think Perv can do it. And I desperately hope we have the will. |
| Posted by: lotp 2007-07-21 11:11 |
| #6 The US must change course. And there are signs itÂ’s about to. What signs? Afghanistan won't be quieted unless Pakistan is quieted. What's the best way to do this? It is one of those "knots" (or turbans if you will) that has to be somehow undone. Saudis will have to quit funding via charities and the madras's. How does the West get a handle on that? It would help if we become more oil independent and did not have to rely on the mideast to the extent we do. Saudis and others cannot eat or drink oil. Maybe we need an "OPEC" of the West that "fiddles" with the price of food and water to the Muslim mideast. Either Musharraf has to clean out the Paki border areas or we need to; otherwise these jihadist problems will continue to spawn, fester, and cause the rest of the world continued problems. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2007-07-21 09:55 |
| #5 pakistan is oprations central but you need to look at saudi re funding and ideology!!!! |
| Posted by: Paul 2007-07-21 08:23 |
| #4 And avoiding the fact we may have no better organized enemy than the ISI. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-07-21 08:03 |
| #3 Meanwhile carefully avoiding the fact that the Koran and Islam are the source of all jihadi culture. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2007-07-21 06:36 |
| #2 H3ll, just hit it with a hammer, or drop it on the floor. |
| Posted by: N Guard 2007-07-21 06:22 |
| #1 Pakistan called a 'crucible of jihadi culture' Even a crucible made from the most refractory sort of material will shatter when exposed to extreme thermal excursions. If you know what I mean. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2007-07-21 02:03 |