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| India-Pakistan | |
| Pakistani Islamists take whole society - western liberals "shocked" | |
| 2011-01-11 | |
wrongly as a force for democracy. Their energetic campaign on behalf of the killer has caught the government flat-footed and dismayed friends and supporters of the slain politician, Salman Taseer, a real hero in a hard country an outspoken proponent of liberalism who had challenged the nation's strict blasphemy laws. Brave soul. rest in peace. wish he lived. It has also confused many Instead, before his court appearances, the lawyers showered rose petals over the confessed killer, Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, a member of an elite police group who had been assigned to guard the governor, but who instead turned his gun on him. It may seem a stark turnabout if you had no idea what was going on for a group that just a few years ago looked like the vanguard of a democracy movement. They waged months of protests in 2007 and 2008 to challenge Pakistan's military dictator after he unlawfully removed the chief justice. military dictators take over in Pakistan to repress the venom spittling holy men. Washington has poured billions of dollars into the Pakistani military to combat terrorism, but has long neglected a civilian effort to counter the inexorable pull of conservative Islam. didn't know that was the job of US taxpayers and their representatives... how about just cutting off the aid until they play ball? By now the conservatives have entered nearly every part of Pakistani society, even the rank-and-file security forces, as the assassination showed. The military, in fact, has been conspicuously silent about the killing. | |
| Posted by:anon1 |
| #6 I doubt by the end of the current century that it will exist |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-01-11 21:17 |
| #5 Pakistan is one of the biggest errors we re left with from the 20th century breakup of colonialism. It should not exist. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2011-01-11 19:52 |
| #4 I blame Sarah Palin, or at least George Bush. |
| Posted by: Halliburton - Mysterious Conspiracy Division 2011-01-11 19:44 |
| #3 Common sense dictates that the US at long last, support Secularism in Pakistan, and encourage a scorched earth policy against the Waziri, Pashto and Balochi jihadis. You can't solve Afghanistan without dealing with the islamonazi vermin. The viral parts of Afghanistan should have been nuked on Sept. 12, 2001. Protect the Northeners, but scrap nation-building. Nation-destruction is of the essence. |
| Posted by: Dino Creck3701 2011-01-11 19:21 |
| #2 Forgot; please cut aid to Pak, Egypt and Palestine. Also, cut aid and assistance to any country not working with us. And, cut our UN dues to that of the average of every other country. |
| Posted by: sam3rd 2011-01-11 10:24 |
| #1 Anon is right. For all the blood and wealth we have poured into Iraq and Afgan; not to mention Pak; what have we gotten? Add to this the utterly misguided energy policy of the last 40 years making us more and more dependent on idiot dictators. Our foreign policy seems to be either non-existent or insane. I would propose that we unilaterally withdraw from Iraq, Afgan this year (as quickly as we can do it safely for our troops). I also propose we draw down the Army by 1/3, but leave the Navy, Marines, and Air Force about the same. Yes, this is partially isolationist, but those 3 forces can provide force projection without long-term commitments. I was for the Iraq and Afgan wars up until very recently, but enough! |
| Posted by: sam3rd 2011-01-11 10:22 |