[DieHard the Hunter]

I am not convinced that the Pakistani government is involved at all.

[wrench]

India has a more defined target than did the US after 9-11. Look how eager the US was to retaliate after we were attacked.

Does the world expect India to just suck it up and move on?

[CondorFlight]

India cannot simply sit by and permit itself to be attacked.

These (and previous) attacks were acts of war.

If supported by the Pakistan government, then Pakistan is at war with India.

If not supported by Pakistan, but carried out independently of Pakistan’s ability to prevent them, then Pakistan must acknowledge that it does not have sovereignty over certain tribal areas.

Hence, in the latter case, India can make “war” against these “independent” tribal areas while maintaining that it is not involved in war against Pakistan.

And if Pakistan will accept that—permit India to clean up some of these fiefdoms and tribal areas—and refrain from fighting (akin to letting someone else come in to clean up your house), then

the region, and the world, will be the better for it.

(An even better solution is for an “international” force to clean up the tribal areas, at Pakistan’s invitation—”help us to restore our sovereignty”.)

I doubt Pakistan will agree; but that kind of solution gives Pakistan a face-saving way out; and after the departure of the “forces”, it may be able (for the first time) to really establish its authority in the tribal regions.

[Izzy Dunne]

US officials fear that should the firm evidence emerge that the Mumbai terror attacks were planned and directed from within Pakistan, it would certainly escalate tension between the neighbouring countries and could also provoke an Indian military response, even strikes against militants,

Why the "fear", I wonder.

If such firm evidence does emerge, I would hope for such escalation, rather than the limp-wristed hand-wringing with "strongly worded letters" these yahoos seem to want.

[angkor]

Karachi newspaper.

[I see my hands]

"We have to.. guard against over-reaction"

Uh, okay, I'd fight you but I'm wearing my new shirt.. My ma just got it for me..

[trek]

"Poof!, where's the poof!"

Zardani can not act without Poof!

[mamelukesabre]

If I were george bush, I’d use this as an excuse to go in and confiscate all weapons grade nuclear fuel in BOTH countries...pakistan AND india. According to UN law, they are both in violation by merely possessing these things.

That would send a VERY CLEAR message to iran, would it not?

What’s wrong with my idea?

[seoul62]

The truth of the matter is not always so predictable, look deep into the matter and connect the dots./Just Asking - seoul62......

[Piquaboy]

I don’t think the Pakistani government has any control over those tribes on the border.

[pallis]

Peace brothers, peace! Soon Okenyan will ascend to divinity and bring world peace. He will show us the way.

[MaxMax]

Kill all the men, rape their women and take their gold.
Rinse/repeat

[boxer21]

India would be better placed to threaten Great Britain.

[skimask]

Has anyone noticed how quiet "The Chosen One" has been on this matter.

On one hand hes trying to push Bush out the door every day but on this matter hes saying basically..."Call me after 1/21/09." and I may be able to get it on my calendar.

[The Duke]

I thought the terrorist funding was traced to the UK - maybe they should be considering other targets(?)

[Bon mots]

I've seen a lot of fear-mongering on this site and others about the direness of a full-scale nuclear war between India and Pakistan, and it is not at all like the hyperbole would lead you to believe.

One poster here said that 25% of the world's population would die if they went to nuclear war! Unbelievable. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If they both set off ALL of their nukes it wouldn't affect you at all unless you were visiting the immediate area. The left has everyone convinced that a few nukes would make the whole world uninhabitable and irradiated. That is nonsense.

Don't forget, some 1021 nukes were set off just outside of Las Vegas, at least 100 of which were above ground. People have lived there the entire time and they used to watch the mushroom clouds from Vegas hotels. The entire nuclear arsenals of BOTH India and Pakistan is between 75 & 150 small nukes.

The Nevada Test Site is a United States Department of Energy reservation located in Nye County, Nevada, about 65 miles (105 km) northwest of the City of Las Vegas, near 37°07′N 116°03′W / 37.117, -116.05.

During the 1950s, the mushroom clouds from these tests could be seen for almost 100 miles in either direction, including the city of Las Vegas, where the tests became tourist attractions. Americans headed for Las Vegas to witness the distant mushroom clouds that could be seen from the downtown hotels.

Another myth is that our cities would be uninhabitable for hundreds of years. I disagree.

Hiroshima, Japan today.
Nearly 3 million people live in Hiroshima Prefecture, and over 1 million in the city itself.

The entire Indian and Pakistani nuclear arsenals combined are less than what was set off just 65 miles outside of Vegas above ground.

India:
Though India has not made any official statements about the size of it nuclear arsenal, the NRDC estimates that India has a stockpile of approximately 30-35 nuclear warheads and claims that India is producing additional nuclear materials. Joseph Cirincione at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (3) estimates that India has produced enough weapons-grade plutonium for 50-90 nuclear weapons and a smaller but unknown quantity of weapons-grade uranium. Weapons-grade plutonium production takes place at the Bhabha Atomic Research Center, which is home to the Cirus reactor acquired from Canada, to the indigenous Dhruva reactor, and to a plutonium separation facility.

Pakistan:
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimates that Pakistan has built 24-48 HEU-based nuclear warheads, and Carnegie reports that they have produced 585-800 kg of HEU, enough for 30-55 weapons. Pakistan's nuclear warheads are based on an implosion design that uses a solid core of highly enriched uranium and requires an estimated 15-20 kg of material per warhead. According to Carnegie, Pakistan has also produced a small but unknown quantity of weapons grade plutonium, which is sufficient for an estimated 3-5 nuclear weapons.

[familyop]

The average Pakistani is far more anti-American than the average Iraqi. A few of our fellow Americans who are very special constituents have stayed rich due to business with Pakistan for a long time.

Pakistan also has oil, and more importantly, some extra-lucrative oil trade agreements for certain foreign partners.

[Eagle74]

The Indian security forces appear to be incompetent cowards.

[G8 Diplomat]

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off

[GladesGuru]

India is an ally. As such, America could help clean out the “tribal areas”.

Much like the Spanish Civil War, the caves and hide out holes of the tali-whacko crowd would be a dandy place to test new weapons.

Islam is, when all is said and done, both antithetical to America and the West, it irreconcilable as well.