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2006-03-06 India-Pakistan

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Posted by lotp 2006-03-06 10:08|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Hmmm...could this be nuance?

Posted by Grunter 2006-03-06 10:41|| 2006-03-06 10:41|| Front Page Top

#2 Misunderestimation on Musharraf's part, methinks. Dubya's cowboy boots have steel reinforcements and extra pointy toes.

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2006-03-06 10:45|| 2006-03-06 10:45|| Front Page Top

#3 Interesting article, lotp.

"These developments and the additional security measures necessitated by the Karachi explosion reportedly made Bush and his advisers realise how fragile the situation is in Pakistan and how unsatisfactory Musharraf's much-vaunted counter-terrorism operations have been.

It shouldnt have taken this for us to realize it, but thank God we're coming around.

The madrassas continued to flout his instructions without any action being taken against them.

We're being played.

Posted by Jules 2006-03-06 10:48|| 2006-03-06 10:48|| Front Page Top

#4 There was a really good article on rantburg around 2003, about the rise of the Taliban and Musharraf was quite the double-dealer back then as well. He's basically a Hillary Clinton. He'll do whatever he needs to do to stay in power. The reason he cooperates with the US is that he uses the power of the US to his advantage. I think that's why he's a bit shook up now. He knows we have the power to keep him in power or get him out. I bet we'll see more cooperation from him now that he realizes the game is going to turn hardball.

Posted by 2b 2006-03-06 10:56|| 2006-03-06 10:56|| Front Page Top

#5 back then ... meaning way back then, not 2003

Posted by 2b 2006-03-06 10:56|| 2006-03-06 10:56|| Front Page Top

#6 Musharaff is indeed the man in the middle, with everybody gunning for him. Unlike the typical dictator who spends all of his time cultivating his loyal underlings like a mob boss, Musharaff doesn't seem to have as much juice. He can only push so far in any direction before he gets pushed back, and harder than he can push.

Were he to have studied his dictator manual better, he would have known that he could never, ever stop reinforcing his position *or* oppressing his enemies. He can never have friends or allies, only those that either work for him, and those he seeks to eliminate.

It doesn't matter what Bush offers, beyond a certain point, it doesn't matter, it will neither strengthen Musharraf's hand nor weaken his enemies. The only alternative left to Bush is to do that himself, directly. Which is not easy.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-03-06 13:17|| 2006-03-06 13:17|| Front Page Top

#7 Was W offereing anything or just sending a message?

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 13:49|| 2006-03-06 13:49|| Front Page Top

#8 Mushie only goes on the attack when it is policially expedient for him to do so.

I predict a hugh build-up in the relationship between the ChiComs and Paki-Waki.

Posted by Captain America 2006-03-06 14:08|| 2006-03-06 14:08|| Front Page Top

#9 CA, possible, but. Will he still have access to his nukes? Will the Chinese help him when the newly allied Indians get fed up? Does he really want the Afghan Army to get technical support when they pursue Taliban in hot support? There's a lot of down side for Perv and Pak if they lose our friendship. They'd love to, but they can't.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 14:47|| 2006-03-06 14:47|| Front Page Top

#10 THe problem is that Pakistan is notb a real state. It exists only because of a religion. Were its citizens stop becoming fanatic muslims then part of them would start looking either to India or to Afganistan. It would implode and its elites would lose provileges. That is why from its creation they have pandered to Islamists, have supported the Deobandi inspired madrassas and tried to help them in brainwashing the population.

The end result is that Pakistan is a enemy.

Since Pakistan only reason to exist is opposing India it goes without saying taht it is the structural ennemy of India but it is also a structural ennemy of Afgahnistan both because part of its territor belongs legally to Afghanistan after the expiration of the Durand treaty but also because its conquest or at least its subjugation through a puppet regime (read the Taliban) would greatly increase its strategic depth against India, an obssesion of Pakistani generals.

So Pakistan is our ennemy, and it has two other ennemies India and Afghanistan. The ennemy of my ennemy is my friend. Could be a good idea to support Adganistan about those Durand treaty territories. After all I cannot see how Afghan rule on tyhe North Western Frontier Provinces could be worse that Pakistani unrule. I suspect that Afghns would hold them with atighter leah and not allow it to remain a terrorist nest.

Posted by JFM"> JFM 2006-03-06 15:38|| 2006-03-06 15:38|| Front Page Top

#11 Let's finish with Iran before we go getting Pakistan as an enemy. Every country in south west Asia and north Africa is a potential enemy. It'll be easier if we deal with them serially rather than in parallel.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 15:49|| 2006-03-06 15:49|| Front Page Top

#12 It would not be us who would be dealing with Pakistan but Afghanistan, India and Pakistan's own minorities.

Posted by JFM"> JFM 2006-03-06 17:36|| 2006-03-06 17:36|| Front Page Top

#13 JFM, There's nukes in them thar hills. we'll be involved.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 17:38|| 2006-03-06 17:38|| Front Page Top

#14 It would not be us who would be dealing with Pakistan but Afghanistan, India and Pakistan's own minorities.

Posted by JFM"> JFM 2006-03-06 17:43|| 2006-03-06 17:43|| Front Page Top

#15 This is one of those fights that can be started without us, but I suspect needs us to finish.

The tone of this article, though... I find it very hard to believe that, while Rantburgers have been discussing Musharref's double dealing for years, President Bush was unaware until after he landed in Afghanistan. I think he's actually been playing Pakistan, waiting for India to come around. After all, he's had India in his sights since before he started his first run for the Presidency, by all accounts.

Posted by trailing wife 2006-03-06 19:02|| 2006-03-06 19:02|| Front Page Top

#16 TW, this is coming from an Indian newspaper and I doubt their media are as objective and factual as ours.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2006-03-06 19:05|| 2006-03-06 19:05|| Front Page Top

#17 *beverage alert*!!!

f&*king Spembles...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-03-06 19:33|| 2006-03-06 19:33|| Front Page Top

#18 The author is B. Raman, a former Indian spymaster.
He has close links with his fellow spooks throughout the world.

Posted by john 2006-03-06 20:08|| 2006-03-06 20:08|| Front Page Top

#19 His contacts in Pakistan are unrivaled.. this is a man who used to run spies and forment trouble within Pakistan.

Posted by john 2006-03-06 20:12|| 2006-03-06 20:12|| Front Page Top

#20 Pakistan ever needed outside help to brew trouble?!?

Posted by trailing wife 2006-03-06 21:23|| 2006-03-06 21:23|| Front Page Top

#21 john - I was questioning the credibility NS (sarcastically) gave to our MSM....purely

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2006-03-06 21:48|| 2006-03-06 21:48|| Front Page Top

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