lastest from Pakistan - Page 2

**CingularDuality** · 11-03-2007, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic Dog

And now back to the topic of Pakistan...

Musharraf just declared a state of emergency and has enacted martial law.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc...ncy/index.html

While Bhutto is out of the country visiting family... How convenient.

AMosely · 11-05-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

While Bhutto is out of the country visiting family... How convenient.

Cing, are you saying that like the Church Lady?

Quite a turn of events happening here. This may very well eclipse Iran as the 'chief threat,' if this hasn't already happened. Secretary of State Rice is winging it at this point, the supposed American sphere of influence looking more and more like a cobweb.

Kerostasis · 11-05-2007, 03:26 PM

Say what?

As tense as the situation in Pakistan is, they don't represent a "threat" to us as long as Musharraf remains in power. A shift to proper democracy led by people like Bhutto also doesn't represent a threat to us. The only thing that represents a critical threat is the possibility of takeover by Islamic Militants, especially if they gain control of the country's nuclear arsenal. Do we have any evidence to suggest that possibility is imminent?

AMosely · 11-05-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

Say what?

As tense as the situation in Pakistan is, they don't represent a "threat" to us as long as Musharraf remains in power. A shift to proper democracy led by people like Bhutto also doesn't represent a threat to us. The only thing that represents a critical threat is the possibility of takeover by Islamic Militants, especially if they gain control of the country's nuclear arsenal. Do we have any evidence to suggest that possibility is imminent?

It is the situation itself that represents a severe threat to the region and to America. A significant portion of the Pakistani population currently backs fundamentalist leaders - including Bin Laden's Al Qaeda, who is more than likely hiding among them. Musharraf is claiming that these groups are literally gaining ground and cites that as his reason for martial law. If the Pakistani government, under Musharraf or Bhutto were to lose control of the country, you would have an all-out civil war in a nuclear-armed country. Further, that country is already on shaky ground with its closest neighbor, India, who is also nuclear-armed. At issue here is what happens if Pakistan becomes the next leading 'terrorist' state, and what can be done to prevent that from happening - is Musharraf to be trusted? Will Bhutto simply be killed the day after the election, if not before? Pakistan is grappling with some very serious problems.

TheFatKidDeath · 11-05-2007, 05:24 PM

Pakistan is a classic case of the CIA term "blowback" where policy decisions made by US Administrations have come back to haunt us. The current situation should not come as a surprise.

Kerostasis · 11-05-2007, 06:13 PM

"Blowback" is way overused, by the way. Its become a foreign policy cliche. "Oh, theyre only doing that thing because of blowback from what we did before. If it weren't for us, they'd NEVER have done things we didn't like, and everyone would get along." I don't buy it. Foreign nations are pefectly capable of taking actions that hurt us without our help.

TheFatKidDeath · 11-05-2007, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

"Blowback" is way overused, by the way. Its become a foreign policy cliche. "Oh, theyre only doing that thing because of blowback from what we did before. If it weren't for us, they'd NEVER have done things we didn't like, and everyone would get along." I don't buy it. Foreign nations are pefectly capable of taking actions that hurt us without our help.

Overused by whom? The main stream press? Foreign policy analysts? Some poster on the internet? If anything, the lack of any type of meaningful discussion on the term is seriously absent from policy makers in this country. No one can remember past last week.

**CingularDuality** · 11-05-2007, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMosely

Cing, are you saying that like the Church Lady?

Not on purpose.

I actually think that Musharef and Bhutto are going to work together to try to stabilize their country. I think Musharef is a good guy that is just trying to keep his country from plunging into chaos. He's in a bad spot, though. Bhutto is his only hope and he knows it.

As far as blowback goes, I heard someone on the radio joking about what the US Gov't should've expected by supporting another military dictator. I disagree, however. I think that it can often be beneficial to support someone that we don't completely agree with, as with Hussein vs. Iran, Osama vs. USSR, and now Musharef vs. islamic extremists/Taliban. We have to make decisions based on the information available to us. We don't have a crystal ball.

**Gillespie** · 11-06-2007, 06:26 AM

Eh... if Musharef can run a stable dictatorship, then live and let live.

**CingularDuality** · 12-27-2007, 06:53 PM

Well, I think that Pakistan is absolutely the hottest spot on Earth right now. Iraq, Iran, Korea are all insignificant in light of the latest events. I'm very disappointed and perhaps even a bit scared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kerostasis

The only thing that represents a critical threat is the possibility of takeover by Islamic Militants, especially if they gain control of the country's nuclear arsenal. Do we have any evidence to suggest that possibility is imminent?

Funny how quickly things can change, huh?

Atomic Dog · 12-27-2007, 06:55 PM

A bit scared is putting it mildly. I can't imagine this is going to play out well for anyone at all. I really hope I'm wrong.

**CingularDuality** · 12-27-2007, 06:59 PM

Yeah, I can't help but think of how events like these trigger larger events. Like the "butterfly effect". Who really cared about Archduke Ferdinand?

Atomic Dog · 12-27-2007, 07:01 PM

Right! Exactly.

**Dick Blonov** · 12-27-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

Well, I think that Pakistan is absolutely the hottest spot on Earth right now. Iraq, Iran, Korea are all insignificant in light of the latest events. I'm very disappointed and perhaps even a bit scared.

Funny how quickly things can change, huh?

More trouble ahead (I presume this is what you're talking about)

DB

mentholated · 12-27-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

While Bhutto is out of the country visiting family... How convenient.

Its all going according to plan.

11-05-2007, 05:24 PM	#20 (permalink)
TheFatKidDeath Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Santa Monica, CA Age: 39 Posts: 2,799	Re: lastest from Pakistan Pakistan is a classic case of the CIA term "blowback" where policy decisions made by US Administrations have come back to haunt us. The current situation should not come as a surprise. __________________ \|TG-9th\| TheFatKidDeath "Born to Party, Forced to Work." http://www.theonion.com/content/node/55640 - Check me out on The Onion http://www.theonion.com/content/vide...ssfully_avoids - I'm on the local news!

11-06-2007, 06:26 AM	#24 (permalink)
Gillespie Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 1,067	Re: lastest from Pakistan Eh... if Musharef can run a stable dictatorship, then live and let live. __________________ <ArmA Information/SOPs> <ArmA Admin Team> <TG Req. Reading>

12-27-2007, 06:55 PM	#26 (permalink)
Atomic Dog Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 31 Posts: 4,106	Re: lastest from Pakistan A bit scared is putting it mildly. I can't imagine this is going to play out well for anyone at all. I really hope I'm wrong. __________________ \| ArmA SOPs \| PCS SOPs \| TG Primer \| 4th Wiki \|

12-27-2007, 06:59 PM	#27 (permalink)
CingularDuality Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 17,140	Re: lastest from Pakistan Yeah, I can't help but think of how events like these trigger larger events. Like the "butterfly effect". Who really cared about Archduke Ferdinand? __________________ Become a supporting member! Buy a Tactical Duck! Take the world's smallest political quiz! "I was touched by His Noodly Appendage." TacticalGamer TX LAN/BBQ Veteran:

12-27-2007, 07:01 PM	#28 (permalink)
Atomic Dog Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Age: 31 Posts: 4,106	Re: lastest from Pakistan Right! Exactly. __________________ \| ArmA SOPs \| PCS SOPs \| TG Primer \| 4th Wiki \|

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