L
Posted on 05/01/2009 5:29:43 AM PDT by Schnucki
General David Petraeus, the commander of US Central Command, has reportedly told American officials that the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive.
Gen Petraeus reportedly said that "we've heard it all before" from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining the next course of action for the US.
"The Pakistanis have run out of excuses" and are "finally getting serious" about combating the threat from Taliban and al-Qaeda extremists operating out of north-west Pakistan, the general added.
He made these assessments in talks with US congressmen and members of the Senate, according to the Fox News channel.
Officials said that Gen Petraeus and senior officials in the Obama administration believe that the Pakistani army, led by Gen Ashfaq Kayani, is "superior" to the civilian government.
American officials have watched with anxiety as Taliban fighters advanced earlier this month to within 60 miles of the capital city, Islamabad. In recent days, the Pakistani army has sought to reverse that tide, retaking control of strategic points in the district of Buner even as the Taliban struck back by kidnapping scores of police and paramilitary troops.
However, the US secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, said last Saturday that It would be "unthinkable" that the Pakistani government of President Asif Ali Zardari would be toppled by the Taliban, adding: "Then they would have the keys to the nuclear arsenal of Pakistan, and we can't even contemplate that. We cannot let this go on any further."
The anxiety with which US officials are monitoring events in Pakistan is compounded by a battle in Washington over how best to help the Pakistanis. Some members of Congress want to attach strict conditions
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
And I relied on your spelling for my post!
General David Petraeus has earned my respect and trust. If he says this is true, I believe him without a doubt. He is a no BS straight shooter.
Do the Pakistanis really care? Aren’t they all Muslim? And isn’t the goal of every Muslim to be even more Muslim? I don’t think the Islamic world sees themselves as we do. One mans Taliban ( a word meaning students) insurgent is another mans pious brother.
Just throw a few trillions the Talibans way. Sharing the wealth fixes everything....or so I've heard. Obomas tax slaves will pick up the tab, and the problem will be solved. Why worry?
L
Uh......the democrats control Washington, remember? We have a surrender-n-chief in charge.
How do you propose to do that? And what takes their place?
BO’s May 15 speech:
“We will be negtiating with the Taliban to convince them it is not in their interest to use those nuclear weapons.”
(translation: “I’ll charm them into doing the right thing”)
Maybe she can get another one of those 'reset' buttons. Wonder what it will say in Arabic?
The President will tend to this after the conclusion of the 100 day festivities scheduled to wind up about May 15.
“Officials said that Gen Petraeus and senior officials in the Obama administration believe that the Pakistani army, led by Gen Ashfaq Kayani, is “superior” to the civilian government.”
I am baffled. Isn’t this the arrangement that existed under Musharraf? Why on earth did the Bush administration go to such lengths to undermine this? Did musharraf himself want out?
The Hejaz should revert either to the Hashemites or Turkey. The Eastern Province of SA should become an American protectorate. Najd and Asir can revert to the barbarism which is their nature.
FATA and NWFP should, along with Afghanistan, be conquered, occupied, and reconstructed. Baluchistan should be independent, or joined to a Free Iran. The rump Pakistani state (Sind and Punjab) should rejoin India, but could be made a bantustan under US protection if that's easier.
“They have 70 crude weapons that can make a big bang and leave a hole in the ground. We can erase their nation from the face of the earth.”
As long as fracturing the world economy with a nice regional nuclear exchange doesn’t bother you or constitute cause for concern, then arguably yes.
I'm pretty sure the Pakistani general public had a lot to do with it. Musharraf was pretty unpopular by the end.
It may be that Pakistan is irretrievably lost at this point -- maybe not; but I think it's set to become a big mess.
If it really starts to dissolve, the most important thing will be to send in teams to secure the Pakistani nukes. I'd be willing to bet that the Pakistani gov't is even more alarmed than we are at the idea that Taliban might gain access.
The nukes will be brought out.
Apparently, the administration thinks that if they simply don't think about it, it can't happen. Note the words "unthinkable" and "can't even contemplate that".
Bush managed to walk a tightrope with Pakistan for 7 years, because he knew what the nuclear threat was.
Obama's administration may set us back 30 years in their 1st 120 days. Pakistan obviously can read the tea leaves. Obama won't come to help them, Obama will criticize them if they take any untoward action against captured taliban, Obama will ridicule them if they don't fight "fair", and will probably ask them to enter talks with the enemy.
Sadly true, and they will.
There is no such thing as a "world economy".
Good God! Why would they do us that favor? Only half :-) The typical ZerO voter would not notice, because, his income is coming from a red state. The loss would be all those ZerO voters.
Not even Petraeus can save us from the incompetence of those above him who want us to be loved for doing nothing.
It is time for ZerO to understand that leadership is not consensus in a world in need of adult supervision. Sure, the kids are going to hate you for spoiling their good time. Do you want Mullah Omar providing that adult supervision?
“There is no such thing as a “world economy”. “
I disagree. While large countries do have economies which are partially self-sufficient, global finance (including fedgov’s borrowing) is absolutely global.
Pakistan is a nation of 176 million people and about twice the size of California. Conquering, occupying, and reconstructing it is a pipedream. And exactly who would do that? Does the political will exist to embark on such an undertaking?
I have visited Pakistan many times and lived in Saudi Arabia for five years and Iran for two years. What you propose doesn't pass the laugh test. It is preposterous and totally divorced from reality.
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