ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia will import an increasing number of Pakistani military and security advisers and personnel. Gulf defense sources said Riyadh agreed to permit additional Pakistanis for a number of projects as well as to replace some of the Westerners who have left the kingdom over the last year. Pakistan is regarded as a leading ally of Saudi Arabia. Islamabad helps train Saudi military and security personnel as well as help operate aircraft and naval vessels, Middle East Newsline reported. Moreover, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have engaged in a joint venture to produce light weapons and ammunition in the kingdom. The sources said the two countries plan to expand the project to include mortar and heavy munitions. Islamabad has reported that Saudi Arabia has increased manpower levels for Pakistani nationals for construction projects. They included the construction of a transmission line from the Saudi cities of Mecca to Taif. Saudi Arabia has instituted a law that requires that 35 percent of the manpower by foreign companies be composed of Saudi nationals. But the law has been relaxed to facilitate major projects in communications, energy and the military. Pakistani nationals also serve as doctors, paramedics and nurses in the kingdom.
They're a little late getting to this story. (Maybe we should change the slug to "Next year's news today"). A move like this is a further confirmation that people do not — repeat, not — act from rational motives. Make me the potentate of a major Middle Eastern power, with a jewelled turban and comely dancing girls, and then tell me we need technical assistance to upgrade our armed forces and see who I hire... Go ahead. Do it...
Well, anyway... Does it make sense from the standpoint of rationality to have the Paks train one's military and security personnel? We're talking about Pakistan, whose president admits it's a failed state, whose security forces are riddled with fifth columnists, and whose army hasn't managed to win a war yet. I think I'd go with India, who beat the Paks three for three, or at least France, who did at least manage to conquer Mexico 150 years ago, for awhile. The Soddies instead tell themselves, "They're Islamists, which means they're just like us! We should stick with them! Besides, their generals sound very ferocious and have lotsa medals. And they have a bomb. Never know when you're gonna need a bomb. And nobody would ever retaliate on us, 'cuz we're the Guardians of the Holy Mosques™..." |
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