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2010-07-04 Afghanistan

'Root of Afghan Challenges; Outside Afghan Borders'

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Posted by Fred 2010-07-04 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top
File under: al-Qaeda

#1 Yea, it's in Mecca.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2010-07-04 04:39|| 2010-07-04 04:39|| Front Page Top

#2 Pappy,

Why are Pakistan desperate for an islamist govt in Kabul when that same forece could cause Pakistan trouble in the long run?

Strategic depth,General Ul Haq dream,Anti Indian presence on the western front?

Posted by Paul D 2010-07-04 08:10|| 2010-07-04 08:10|| Front Page Top

#3 That all sounds right to me, Paul D. They seem like hamsters on a wheel; having chosen their direction, unable to stop and unable to get off. I have the impression they don't think in the long term, but only as far as the next byzantine plot, because if they thought beyond that, they'd notice that everything they do makes their society's bottom line worse.

Posted by trailing wife 2010-07-04 09:06|| 2010-07-04 09:06|| Front Page Top

#4 Why are Pakistan desperate for an islamist govt in Kabul when that same forece could cause Pakistan trouble in the long run? Strategic depth,General Ul Haq dream,Anti Indian presence on the western front?

Pretty much, tho it's not so much strategic depth as a Pakistan view that Afghanistan their 'back yard' and they have a permanent say in its future.

As for the Islamist government, one has to look at Pakistan itself - essentially an oligarchy laid over a bedrock of tribalism, with a state-sponsored (and populist-supported) Sunni-based religion.

Afghanistan may cause problems for Pakistan in the long run, but more likely for the oligarchs.

Posted by Pappy 2010-07-04 11:54|| 2010-07-04 11:54|| Front Page Top

#5 Strategic Depth was always a hilarious tactical excuse. The mightee Pak army could no more withdraw there than could England fight from Cuba.

Posted by Shipman 2010-07-04 12:46|| 2010-07-04 12:46|| Front Page Top

#6 There is hope in that the Sindh,Balochs dont support the Talibs.From my recent reading of Pakistan only the Punjabis and Pasthuns support the Taliban.Sindh people seem to be Sufi and Balochs secular.Unfortunately The Pak army are mostly Punjabi and Pashtun and the Punjabi part of the army fear break up of the country which Sindh,Balochs and Pasthuns welcome.

The break up of Pakistan is best for the West/ region which the Punjabis fear!

Long War Journal have an article about the Pak Army allowing punjabi militants back into South Waziristan to fight in Afganistan.

Why do we fund the Pak army when they support/train/fund the insurgency?

Posted by Paul D 2010-07-04 15:34|| 2010-07-04 15:34|| Front Page Top

#7 The mightee Pak army could no more withdraw there than could England fight from Cuba.

Actually strategic depth is viewed from the buffer-territory back toward the home country. The Warsaw Pact region was 'strategic depth' to the USSR.

Why do we fund the Pak army when they support/train/fund the insurgency?

(Sigh) I'll repeat my comment from yesterday to another Rantburger:

1. Research 'Cold War History'. Not all foreign policy relationships happened just yesterday.

2. There's this little thing called "supply routes into Afghanistan".

The break up of Pakistan is best for the West/ region which the Punjabis fear!

I won't argue your reading about the various tribes (for lack of a better word). Whether or not it's better for the West and the region for Pakistan to break up is debatable.

Sometimes it's better to have all the elitist incompetence intact.

Posted by Pappy 2010-07-04 16:05|| 2010-07-04 16:05|| Front Page Top

23:25 gorb
23:21 gorb
23:19 gorb
23:17 gorb
22:50 Pappy
22:40 Nimble Spemble
22:39 JohnQC
22:00 Mike Hunt
21:52 Procopius2k
21:31 Mike Hunt
20:37 Tyranysaurus Slomong2642
20:32 Rex Mundi
20:22 Pappy
20:17 wt
20:14 ed
19:53 ed
19:47 Frank G
19:47 Cyber Sarge
19:42 rammer
19:30 crosspatch
19:18 lotp
19:16 bman
19:03 ed
18:30 ed