Pakistan's tribal fight in Waziristan

cs monitor ^ | June 25, 2004 edition | Ben Arnoldy

[Flavius]

Pakistan's tribal fight in Waziristan

Compiled by Ben Arnoldy from AP and Reuters

March 16-28, 2004: A major Pakistani operation against foreign militants and their local supporters in Waziristan leaves 130 dead, including 48 security forces. The Power of the Tribe

Part 1 of 2

Key to governing Afghans: the clans

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April 18: At Pakistan's behest, a tribal force, or lashkar, heads out to hunt for local Al Qaeda supporters. None are found.

April 24: Pakistan strikes a deal with Naik Mohammad and four other tribal leaders accused of sheltering Al Qaeda. Foreigners, excluding top militants, are offered amnesty provided they disarm, obey Pakistani laws, and register with authorities.

April 30: An initial registration deadline passes with no foreigners stepping forward.

May 10: Naik Mohammad says that no foreign militants are hiding in areas under his control. Islamabad dismisses the claim.

May 15: An extended registration deadline comes and goes; still no registrants.

May 5 and 20: US forces cross the Pakistani border into Waziristan and retreat after official protests. Many see the raids as US pressure on Islamabad to act militarily.

May 30: Pakistani forces block roads to the main town of Wana and shut down its bazaar as part of "economic sanctions."

June 7-9: Another lashkar heads out and returns empty-handed.

June 9-14: Pakistan attacks Al Qaeda hideouts near the Afghan border. At least 72 people are killed, including 55 militants.

June 17: A Pakistani rocket attack kills Naik Mohammad after his phone is traced.

[Flavius]

guess its not all just for show

[meenie]

There is an example of a continuing problem that many people do not think of. A conflict has the natural inclination to keep spreading and involving more people. For instamce, WW II would have been rather simple if it had been confined to the Axis powers and the nations that formed the Axis. As it turned out relationships between people caused the conflict to spread throughout the world. We see the same phenomena in the War on Terror.

It will keep spreading until it engulfs the world. Until enough death and destruction is attained to change people's minds in seeking a different solution than conflict, it will continue to spread. Realism dictates that the next decades will see more conflict and destruction than ever seen before in human history. Most of the blame will be due to increase in technology and the ability to kill more.

[Valin]

Realism dictates that the next decades will see more conflict and destruction than ever seen before in human history.

I want you to be wrong, but it wouldn't suprise me a bit.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
C. Dickens