i read many of the comments above. i am totally disappointed to know that most of people are giving one sided opinion based upon personal likeness and dislikeness which is totally baseless.
you say pakistan is a hub of terrorism. if pakistani nation is taking education for minimizing the big threat of poverty, if pakistan is helping world to prevent 9/11 again in any region. pakistan has put it's future in danger by using pakistani forces against terrorists in bordering afghanistan and making lifetime enemies just for the sack of better friendship with western world.
Still you say pakistan is hub of terrorism what can pakistan do ??? we should be rational when giving opinion
i admit some people in northern pakistan are involved in terrorism but these people are danger for pakistan itself and are very sort in numbers. you cannot associate some suisider's thinking process as national thought of pakistan.
totally Off beam from your side.
try to draw a line between afghanistan and pakistan. pakistan is not like afghans. pakistan don't think like afghans or other religious fundamentalists. there are sikhs,hindus, christians and other religious believers in pakistan.

uidsfeeckocsd

what the hell Americans want to do??? the bloody blood of Europe is so afraid to go for IRAN,as they found not a single Dog like friend there.but unfortunately for the people of Pakistan the have Mushraf dancing for them .but we will not tolerate any evasion in Pakistan.............. Remember this our AMERICAN FRIENDS :)

Northern alliance warlords, including such luminaries as Dostum, who supported the Soviets and brutalized Afghanis are now blaming everyone but themselves for the plight of Afghan people. These warlords have refused to disarm, continue to grow and sell narcotics, and keep on building their private jails to terrorize people of Afghanistan. They even call for airstrikes against their political opponents. When there is a reaction to such brutalities they claim that Pakistan is supporting terrorism. If the terrorists are coming from Pakistan why not put enough soldiers on the border to kill them as soon as they cross the border? This is just Karzai's excuse to hide his failure. The US and NATO forces should disarm these brutal warlords, establish proper law and order in that country, and stop bombing innocent civilians at the whims of Afghan warlords.

Bush is stupid to waste American taxpayers money on helping Pakistan's military dictator Pervez Musharraf. Bush has since 9/11 given Pervez Musharraf almost 11 billion dollars of American tax payers money to this dictator who spends the money to make infrastructure and schools for terrorist trainees. These terrorists are then sent to Afghanistan as suicide bombers to kill the Afghans, American and NATO troops in Afghanistan. So in this way Bush is helping a dictator who is responsible for killing the Americans in Afghanistan. The US citizens need to wake up and pressurize Bush to take action against Pakistan which is a hub of terrorism.

Arif, President Musharraf himself has painted a bull's eye on Pakistan's forehead because he wanted to claim that he is the only person who can save Pakistan, and indeed the world, from terrorists. To justify this claim he had to 'invent' terrorists where there were none, as we have seen recently in the case of lal-masjid. From the beginning of Afghan war, Pakistani security forces have rounded-up innocent people and sold them to USA as dangerous Al-Qaida agents. Any thug who is caught by Pakistani forces is declared to be Al-Qaeda's #3 person (because #1, and #2 are well known to everyone.) The same neocons who pretended to be Musharraf's friends are now asking him to do more. Giving him the choice: either you invade your own people or we will do it for you. Since their aim is a perpetual war it does not matter which choice Musharraf takes.

Pakistan has play a significant role in war against Terror. it is totally basless that al-Quaida rebuilted its structure in northern pakistan.
pakistan sacrifice lives in minimizing threat of terror not only for it's own boundries but also for a peaceful world.
what is pakistan's point of view please see

http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/SearchSummaryResults.aspx?Keywords=waziristan

pakistan is the only country in the world which has captured over 500 terrorists and handed them to the usa. pakistan has sacrificed many lives to capture the most deadly terrorists who were planning more attacks against the usa. blaming pakistan for all the ills is like asking for more trouble like the one in iraq. no hijacker of the 911 planes were pakistanis yet we are paying the price of a crime committed by arabs. we are a nation of over 150 million and painting a whole pakistan the same color as of the terrorists is so stupid. we need help to fight terrorists, not the finger pointing and bashing. remember that if pakistan is safe, india and usa interests will also be safe. start a fight with pakistan and youre talking about bringing iran, afghanistan and pakistan along with china into chaos and god knows what will they do to india and usa's interests in the region. lets fight the terrorists and not make the allies fight each other. thats what the terrorists want.

DC, I have been in the North West Frontier Province and all over Pakistan. The people are not "anti-Americanism". They watch Fashion TV. Every Pakistani and tribesman I met, from cops to architecture students to network engineers to civil servants, honestly without exception, liked Americans and Brits, and spoke fondly of other visitors who had passed through. (I stress I was in the north of the NWFP, west of Peshawar, I hear it can be quite nasty for outsiders further south in Balochistan, but I don't know). The people I met were interested in the west, in America. In how education worked, how we buried our dead and how we went to church.

I met people who make guns, for terrorists, as breathless CNN reports will tell you. The guns are for farmers. The small illegal - in the lawless tribal region, everything's illegal - gun mews workshops turn out maybe six jamming AK47 copies a week. It's like Texas, everyone wants to be carrying. They shoot them in the air for the cameras and then go back to the shopping.

This may sound horribly naive, but in enquiring about Osama I felt like a tourist enquiring about UFOs of a local Roswell farmer. The so-called terrorist weapons cell was bemused more than anything. This wasn't acting. This was village life, and while I'm not suggesting there aren't more organised and dangerous operartions further south, one shouldn't lump "Pakistan" together so readily - travelling the country and meeting its people is an exhilirating, rewarding and joyful experience for a westerner :-)

QUOTE DC: I think Pakistan is evidence of the true reason for the invasion of Iraq. Pakistan was and is a "hotbed" of nuclear armed anti-Americanism and a terrorist threat; however Pakistan does not have large oil reserves. I've have always commented that if there ever is a mushroom cloud used against the United States it's roots will be in Pakistan and not Iraq.

The Bush administration and the neocon pundits want Musharraf to attack his own country. Under intense pressure, Musharraf has already tried that once and lost 700 soldiers. He realised that instead of fighting Al-Qaeda or Taliban he ended up fighting his own tribals who just do not like any army (including the Pakistani Army) in their area. With great efforts he managed to make a peace accord with the tribal leaders of the area, but the neocons did not, and still do not, want peace, they would much rather prefer those Muzez killing each other.

The Bushies want Pakistan to go on a wild-goose chase again, no matter how much that costs in terms of lives of Pakistani soldiers and civilians. US congressmen who are happy to spend a Billion Dollars a day to make war are so stingy that they will not give a few Million to Musharraf to make peace by doing development work in the tribal area. They want to tie the aid to a progress measure which is based on how much war and destruction Musharraf's army can bring to the area.

The architects of the so called 'War on Terrorism' know that such strategy will destabilze Pakistan, perhaps this is their real aim, because their ultimate goal appears to be to create a war of civilizations. And chasing over-hyped, but geopolitically insignificant, Al-Qaida leaders is just a means to achieve that aim.

It will be foolish for the US army to enter the Pakistani side of the tribal area. After the initial 'shock and awe' the entire region will become like the rest of southern Afghanistan. Then these same Pundits will claim that Osama and Mullah Omar have moved to Peshawar or Quetta, so we should attack those places too. Then Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Pretty soon we will have a situation which would be ten times worse than Iraq. I am sure the Pakistan military is no match to ours and they will not put up any serious fight, but what would we do with the 165 Million outraged people?

The Rev learned some new terminology last week:

The American political-military-religious-economic complex!

Folks we need to consider the evolution/transformation that our country has recently gone through.

Reagan may have been the Great Communicator, if so #43 must be the great prevaricator/prestidigitator!

Dave,

It's a combination of keeping the oil flowing and fighting terrorism. If a country sponsors terrorism then it will be forgiven if it keeps the black gold flowing to the West. Sadam's sin was trying to monopolize the Middle Eastern Oil fields with military action, first in Iran (with U.S. military aid), then Kuwait (with a go ahead nod from the Reagan Administration), and then having plans eventually for Saudi Arabia.

The difference between Iraq and the other leading oil producers you bring up is that Iraq was the only country that tried militarily force to annex other large oil producing countries. All the while being under sanctions that restricted its ability to export oil at full production, and the United States was not benefiting from what little oil that was leaving Iraq. The sanctions were not imposed to turn Sadam into a "good guy"; they were imposed to cause his eventual overthrow by destroying the Iraqi economy, but not causing the starvation of the Iraqi people. The tactic was not working or not working fast enough for PNAC and with the election of the Bush administration PNAC was able to implement their policies.

Posted by: Dave:

"So it's all about oil, huh. You are correct that there is a lot of oil in Iraq (#4 in the world). There are also similar amounts in Kuwait(5), UAE(6), and Iran(3). Saudi Arabia(1), the place where most of the 9-11 hijackers came from, has over twice as much as Iraq. Why would we not invade a small, easy country like Kuwait or UAE (home of some 9-11 hijackers) instead of Iraq, which had a huge army, a lot of land and known problems but was not part of 9-11? Or we could have stayed in our own neighborhood and hit Venezuela (#7 on the list plus an annoying leader). But our best option would have been to take out Canada which is number 2 on the list - they never would have expected it. Given the location of oil reserves, if Bush was smart enough to plan this fairly complex scenario five years in advance, he would have been smart enough to pick a much easier target. The oil arguement is getting old..."

I think Pakistan is evidence of the true reason for the invasion of Iraq. Pakistan was and is a "hotbed" of nuclear armed anti-Americanism and a terrorist threat; however Pakistan does not have large oil reserves. I've have always commented that if there ever is a mushroom cloud used against the United States it's roots will be in Pakistan and not Iraq.

The continued marketing of the Iraq war and further intrusions into the Middle East hinge on a Bush's ability to galvanize his right wing Christian "base" with code worded anti-Islamic statements. Islmo-fascists, Islamic terrorists, etc..; however the marketing techniques required for rallying the anti-Muslim Christian base are exactly the same techniques to inspire terrorists and turn all Middle Eastern Muslims against the United States and aid our terrorist enemies in recruiting, winning the political war for the hearts and minds of Muslims throughout the world.

With regard to American foreign policy and Iraq, Iran and now Pakistand, I agree with everyone who has written or implied that there are several concurrent themes running togher here.

Is it oil, is it al-Qeada, is it threating WMDs...?

I suspect that America needs to stand down and leave all of these countries alone, and come back to the drawing home and determine just what kind of nation we are going to be, totalitarian or free.

And if we are going to be a rogue nation and demand that the other nations of the world comport and submit to the will of the American juggernaut, well lets at least be honest with the American people, our allies and then the rest of the world with respect to what our intentions really are.

Poor Musharaff is just another Noriega figure who is being paid off to dance for the America government; someday, he will be dead or in jail if he doesn't tow the line. If it was Russia or some other nation using him in the same manner, Americans would be crying 'crucify him', or something like that.

The Rev believes that America has lost its moral compass, and it has substitued greed for virtue, and we are willing to confront and steamrool any nation that gets in the way of American consumerism, not to mention American power and its quest for world-wide domination.

Richard,
So it's all about oil, huh. You are correct that there is a lot of oil in Iraq (#4 in the world). There are also similar amounts in Kuwait(5), UAE(6), and Iran(3). Saudi Arabia(1), the place where most of the 9-11 hijackers came from, has over twice as much as Iraq. Why would we not invade a small, easy country like Kuwait or UAE (home of some 9-11 hijackers) instead of Iraq, which had a huge army, a lot of land and known problems but was not part of 9-11? Or we could have stayed in our own neighborhood and hit Venezuela (#7 on the list plus an annoying leader). But our best option would have been to take out Canada which is number 2 on the list - they never would have expected it. Given the location of oil reserves, if Bush was smart enough to plan this fairly complex scenario five years in advance, he would have been smart enough to pick a much easier target. The oil arguement is getting old...

by the way, if you ask me to provide references for what i've stated about musharaf vis-a-vis afghanistan or about "Pushto" people killing hindus, i won't be able to because i'm not sure it's true, but it sounds true. sounding like the truth is almost as good as the truth, so there. nah, nah, boo, boo!

So as we know it's a fight for ideology, rather it's a 3rd world war. How many more countries have to be involved for it to be called a 3rd world war! To defeat the Islamic ideology and to impose Freedom or democracy all over the world US would have to fight the Tribe's in Pakistan, Musharraf is too impotent to do the job for you guys. But if that happens (US wage war on the Tribes) there is another Iraq but this time it has nukes. Basically a war without an end.

Regrettably, America does not see a contradiction in demanding that every other nation of the world (including Pakistan) compromise their principles, in order to make them comport with the American belief system.

America has been asking President Mushareff to turn on his own people for years. Mushareff keeps trying to balance the demands and the pressue that he feels from both sides, the American and the Pakistani sides.

The question is which side will win out in the end. Should America stand up to Pakistan?

Answer: Shame on you Mr. Arkin for posing such a question, for Pakistan is not responsible for Osama Bin Laden or al-Qeada, that honor goes to America; we created that problem.

And, from all indications we are going to be responsible for creating even more enemies of this type in the future, if we are not willing to compromise and change our own policies (just as we are asking others to do). In other words, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, we need to make some changes ourselves in America, instead of continuing to create problems and enemies abroad that are of our own making!

Excuse me,
but it looks in U.S., especially in journalism, people forget about history. Let us go back a few years when Taliban occupied and then ruled Afghanistan for few years. Taliban were supposed to be religious schools' students, but where did they learn how to use tanks, heavy artillery and fighting techniques ? This is where you have forgotten history. Pakistan trained and armed the Taliban and the reason was and is obvious. Just as Syria has always had eyes on Lebanon as a lunch to have, Pakistan has her eyes on Afghanistan. It was thisParvaz Musharraf who was in charge of the traning and arming the Taliban. And we should not forget, the Taliban were and are Pashtu just like the majority of Pakistanies who live in Baluchestan, Wazirestan and other eastern provinces, so Musharraf had and still has the goal to unite these tribes under one flag. And don't forget, during the India-Pakistan seperation, it was the Pashtu people who killed thousands and thousands of Hindu Indians who were living in where now is Pakistan or they were un the run to India, Train loads of women and children were massacred by Pashtu tribes by order of Mohammad Ali Jinah.
So, if you see Musharraf being to passive with the Islamists who are all Pashtu, is because they are the one who support him against the secular governments like Butho or others. He has deep roots in Fundamentalism himself or actually he is a Taliban in army uniform.

JTM writes: "Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, it has feasted on U.S carrots for 50 years and produced bullets that have been killing westerners for more than a decade."
Please provide some concrete numbers as to how many carrots have been given to Pakistan? Who took them because it wasn't the people dying on the streets? Whatever little aid Pakistan got was given to bolster the military. In 2003 it received a $3 billion 5-year defense-aid package; yeah, that buys a lot of carrots but unfortunately and sadly they're shaped like bullets because that's what you gave us.
The truth is that in the last 60 years, the US has never been honest in its dealings with Muslims--from Israel/Arabs to India/Kashmir/Bangladesh, the US has always tried to kill democracy in order to make a quick buck! I could list all the dictators the US has supported (and continues to support) over that period, but I may not have enough space (even on the net). I understand Americans are loath to check facts, but it's worth the effort.
By the way, has anyone counted how many people (non-Westerners because, you know, we are also people) have died by Western bullets? Even if you leave out the Colonial times, the number would be shocking! How many non-Westerners died ath the hands of the US in: Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Iraq. This doesn't even include all the internal killings that were a direct result of action by the CIA.
Using JTM's logic, you should get rid of the police since they have not been able to stop thieves, rapists, and murderers. This is the knee-jerk reaction that Americans have been reduced to--sadly.

After reading all the comments I am pretty surprised that mostly educated people are now acting like terrorists. It is shameful. Kill this , do this , go on war with Pakistan ... for heaven's sake , we have to understand , this is not the solution and it will never solve anything. it will put more miseries as Iraq and Afghanistan into the plate. The need of the hour is that US should support Pakistan more in fighting against these extremists. Pakistan is already on nearly an insurgency after Lal Mosque case and this is the time when US can offer support to root out this problem once n for all rather than standing up against your ally.

The neocons have made so many foreign policy misjudgemnts it is almost laughable now if it were not so devastating to this country. This whole problem with Pakistan would not have happened if we had kept our eyes off of revenging Bush's daddy in Iraq and gone into the mountains of Pakistan and taken Bin Laden out early. Instead, at the most critical time in Bora-Bora we depended on a small group of tribes who did not get it done.
What has happened to us as a people? We fell asleep and let Bush and Chaney do whatever they have wanted under a smoke screen of fear.
Our press lost its courage to challenge the loss of our personal freedoms.
Through torture and spying we have become cheapened our integrity as a country and we have paid a stern penalty with our loss of respect internationally.
For catering nearly every decision toward big business and politicizing the Supreme Court we have severely damaged the infastructure of our cultures and our society.
We have mismanaged our domestic decisions as well.
The decision to irrigate farmers land in Oregon was carried out so ineptly that Tens of Thousands of salmon rotted in waterless riverbeds. This decision is so representative of the complete lack of nuance and tact this administration has consistently defaulted too. It is really rather pathetic.
This list of freedoms and checks and balances we have given up is seemingly endless and staggering to the imagination. How in God's name did we let this happen without so much as a whimper?
The Dems better get their spineless act together or this country will continue aimlessly marauding toward more and more chaos.
But most of all, we the people, must fully wake up. We better take our country back. From writing letters to Congress to getting back involved from within, from school boards to bussiness boards, from election machines to the upholding of our personal rights while opposing terrorism, we must get re-involved. Oh yea, we probably ought to get off the old argument that there is fuzzy science with regard to Global Warming and simply turn down our thermostat, use fewer plastic bags, each of us doing what we can in and around our living space. A billion people doing a lot might not happen. But 6 billion people doing a little, might make the difference. This is the critical point in history if not us who?

i see indians taking this as an opportunity to bash pakistan and settle the score against pakistan by using the usa. before blaming pakistan, the americans should know that pakistan is the only country in the world which has captured over 500 terrorists and handed them to the usa. pakistan has sacrificed many lives to capture the most deadly terrorists who were planning more attacks against the usa. blaming pakistan for all the ills is like asking for more trouble like the one in iraq. no hijacker of the 911 planes were pakistanis yet we are paying the price of a crime committed by arabs. we are a nation of over 150 million and painting a whole pakistan the same color as of the terrorists is so stupid. we need help to fight terrorists, not the finger pointing and bashing. remember that if pakistan is safe, india and usa interests will also be safe. start a fight with pakistan and youre talking about bringing iran, afghanistan and pakistan along with china into chaos and god knows what will they do to india and usa's interests in the region. lets fight the terrorists and not make the allies fight each other. thats what the terrorists want.

i see indians taking this as an opportunity to bash pakistan and settle the score against pakistan by using the usa. before blaming pakistan, the americans should know that pakistan is the only country in the world which has captured over 500 terrorists and handed them to the usa. pakistan has sacrificed many lives to capture the most deadly terrorists who were planning more attacks against the usa. blaming pakistan for all the ills is like asking for more trouble like the one in iraq. no hijacker of the 911 planes were pakistanis yet we are paying the price of a crime committed by arabs. we are a nation of over 150 million and painting a whole pakistan the same color as of the terrorists is so stupid. we need help to fight terrorists, not the finger pointing and bashing. remember that if pakistan is safe, india and usa interests will also be safe. start a fight with pakistan and youre talking about bringing iran, afghanistan and pakistan along with china into chaos and god knows what will they do to india and usa's interests in the region. lets fight the terrorists and not make the allies fight each other. thats what the terrorists want.

Pakistan is a failed state. Partition should be rolled-back and the North =West Frontier given back to Afghanistan so reuniting the Pathan people. Kashmir would no longer be divided. The number of nuclear-armed states would be reduced by one. The only problem would be for India: what would they do with all those surplus generals?

Mr X is correct that U.S should be offering carrots instead of bullets to Moslems. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, it has feasted on U.S carrots for 50 years and produced bullets that have been killing westerners for more than a decade. Look at just about any terrorist attack in the world (WTC I, East Africa, 9/11, London etc) and the footprints go back to Pakistan, not to Iraq or Iran or Cuba or NKorea. U.S is right in holding Pakistan's feet to the fire, although it is about 20 years too late...

It is unthinkable that American can make such stupid mistake by trusting Pakistan.

Mr X is correct that U.S should be offering carrots instead of bullets to Moslems. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, it has feasted on U.S carrots for 50 years and produced bullets that have been killing westerners for more than a decade. Look at just about any terrorist attack in the world (WTC I, East Africa, 9/11, London etc) and the footprints go back to Pakistan, not to Iraq or Iran or Cuba or NKorea. U.S is right in holding Pakistan's feet to the fire, although it is about 20 years too late...

i think that america and pakistan's friendship is not on true basis.both countries should consider this point.this is very comprehansive..........................Azhar Hussain

i think that america and pakistan;s friendship is not on true basis.both countries should consider this point.this is very comprehansive..........................Azhar Hussain

Pakistan and Mushraf is two face nation , and their action and public stattement are very diffrent. This is very historical truth about this country. There are intellecutal in this country and there are 100 times more fantics exists in this country and untlimately the ruler have to work with the fundamantlist below the table to survive. goverment backed up ISI agency itself funds the terrorist and send across the world.
US has to live in reality that all the excuse they show or the terrorist capture are just gamics to get funding from US and get good country accptance. However Pakistan is in general with the Bin Laden and its alias.
So wake up US and work with open eye wih Pakistan , remmebr all the master mind of terrorist are still safe harboured in Pakistan somewhere.

Pakistan and Mushraf is two face nation , and their action and public stattement are very diffrent. This is very historical truth about this country. There are intellecutal in this country and there are 100 times more fantics exists in this country and untlimately the ruler have to work with the fundamantlist below the table to survive. goverment backed up ISI agency itself funds the terrorist and send across the world.
US has to live in reality that all the excuse they show or the terrorist capture are just gamics to get funding from US and get good country accptance. However Pakistan is in general with the Bin Laden and its alias.
So wake up US and work with open eye wih Pakistan , remmebr all the master mind of terrorist are still safe harboured in Pakistan somewhere.

The neocons have made so many foreign policy misjudgemnts it is almost laughable now if it were not so devastating to this country. This whole problem with Pakistan would not have happened if we had kept our eyes off of revenging Bush's daddy in Iraq and gone into the mountains of Pakistan and taken Bin Laden out early. Instead, at the most critical time in Bora-Bora we depended on a small group of tribes who did not get it done.
What has happened to us as a people? We fell asleep and let Bush and Chaney do whatever they have wanted under a smoke screen of fear.
Our press lost its courage to challenge the loss of our personal freedoms.
Through torture and spying we have become cheapened our integrity as a country and we have paid a stern penalty with our loss of respect internationally.
For catering nearly every decision toward big business and politicizing the Supreme Court we have severely damaged the infastructure of our cultures and our society.
We have mismanaged our domestic decisions as well.
The decision to irrigate farmers land in Oregon was carried out so ineptly that Tens of Thousands of salmon rotted in waterless riverbeds. This decision is so representative of the complete lack of nuance and tact this administration has consistently defaulted too. It is really rather pathetic.
This list of freedoms and checks and balances we have given up is seemingly endless and staggering to the imagination. How in God's name did we let this happen without so much as a whimper?
The Dems better get their spineless act together or this country will continue aimlessly marauding toward more and more chaos.
But most of all, we the people, must fully wake up. We better take our country back. From writing letters to Congress to getting back involved from within, from school boards to bussiness boards, from election machines to the upholding of our personal rights while opposing terrorism, we must get re-involved. Oh yea, we probably ought to get off the old argument that there is fuzzy science with regard to Global Warming and simply turn down our thermostat, use fewer plastic bags, each of us doing what we can in and around our living space. A billion people doing a lot might not happen. But 6 billion people doing a little, might make the difference. This is the critical point in history if not us who?

The neocons have made so many foreign policy misjudgemnts it is almost laughable now if it were not so devastating to this country. This whole problem with Pakistan would not have happened if we had kept our eyes off of revenging Bush's daddy in Iraq and gone into the mountains of Pakistan and taken Bin Laden out early. Instead, at the most critical time in Bora-Bora we depended on a small group of tribes who did not get it done.
What has happened to us as a people? We fell asleep and let Bush and Chaney do whatever they have wanted under a smoke screen of fear.
Our press lost its courage to challenge the loss of our personal freedoms.
Through torture and spying we have become cheapened our integrity as a country and we have paid a stern penalty with our loss of respect internationally.
For catering nearly every decision toward big business and politicizing the Supreme Court we have severely damaged the infastructure of our cultures and our society.
We have mismanaged our domestic decisions as well.
The decision to irrigate farmers land in Oregon was carried out so ineptly that Tens of Thousands of salmon rotted in waterless riverbeds. This decision is so representative of the complete lack of nuance and tact this administration has consistently defaulted too. It is really rather pathetic.
This list of freedoms and checks and balances we have given up is seemingly endless and staggering to the imagination. How in God's name did we let this happen without so much as a whimper?
The Dems better get their spineless act together or this country will continue aimlessly marauding toward more and more chaos.
But most of all, we the people, must fully wake up. We better take our country back. From writing letters to Congress to getting back involved from within, from school boards to bussiness boards, from election machines to the upholding of our personal rights while opposing terrorism, we must get re-involved. Oh yea, we probably ought to get off the old argument that there is fuzzy science with regard to Global Warming and simply turn down our thermostat, use fewer plastic bags, each of us doing what we can in and around our living space. A billion people doing a lot might not happen. But 6 billion people doing a little, might make the difference. This is the critical point in history if not us who?

The neocons have made so many foreign policy misjudgemnts it is almost laughable now if it were not so devastating to this country. This whole problem with Pakistan would not have happened if we had kept our eyes off of revenging Bush's daddy in Iraq and gone into the mountains of Pakistan and taken Bin Laden out early. Instead, at the most critical time in Bora-Bora we depended on a small group of tribes who did not get it done.
What has happened to us as a people? We fell asleep and let Bush and Chaney do whatever they have wanted under a smoke screen of fear.
Our press lost its courage to challenge the loss of our personal freedoms.
Through torture and spying we have become cheapened our integrity as a country and we have paid a stern penalty with our loss of respect internationally.
For catering nearly every decision toward big business and politicizing the Supreme Court we have severely damaged the infastructure of our cultures and our society.
We have mismanaged our domestic decisions as well.
The decision to irrigate farmers land in Oregon was carried out so ineptly that Tens of Thousands of salmon rotted in waterless riverbeds. This decision is so representative of the complete lack of nuance and tact this administration has consistently defaulted too. It is really rather pathetic.
This list of freedoms and checks and balances we have given up is seemingly endless and staggering to the imagination. How in God's name did we let this happen without so much as a whimper?
The Dems better get their spineless act together or this country will continue aimlessly marauding toward more and more chaos.
But most of all, we the people, must fully wake up. We better take our country back. From writing letters to Congress to getting back involved from within, from school boards to bussiness boards, from election machines to the upholding of our personal rights while opposing terrorism, we must get re-involved. Oh yea, we probably ought to get off the old argument that there is fuzzy science with regard to Global Warming and simply turn down our thermostat, use fewer plastic bags, each of us doing what we can in and around our living space. A billion people doing a lot might not happen. But 6 billion people doing a little, might make the difference. This is the critical point in history if not us who?

William Bolton needs to get his head out of his "...". This man is absolutely clueless in regard to Muslims and Islam, he is simply spewing ignorance.

Stand up to Pakistan? What a sick joke! The Bush/Chaney team will never do that! They label Pakistan as an ally because Pakistan really does have nuclear capability. Our guys could have crushed bin-Laden and his minions long, long ago were it not for current rules of engagement which prohibit pursuit of the enemy into its Pakistani hideouts.

Stand up to Pakistan? What a sick joke! The Bush/Chaney team will never do that! They label Pakistan as an ally because Pakistan really does have nuclear capability. Our guys could have crushed bin-Laden and his minions long, long ago were it not for current rules of engagement which prohibit pursuit of the enemy into its Pakistani hideouts.

The whole world can't be run like two camps - those who are with the US, or those who are with the terrorists.

Right on: peterwilliams

And when you take into consideration American jingoism, any Americans who are considering starting a family during the next decade, might want to think about it again.

For it appears that you would be raising a solider if you were to do so, one that would have to fight in the American Intercontinental Million Man Army during the New American Century. Well, that is if the Bill Kristols and others of his ilk have their way and America continues to take on the world.

And the tragedy of the latter is that the ones who are pushing for American world-wide domination through war and economic strangulation, won't go and fight themselves!

I fail to understand that why the educated segment of Western countries, especially that of US is so much captivated to Al Qaeda or a couple of battle hardened militants in Afghanistan and border areas of Pakistan. If history was of any help, it shows that Pakhtuns (ethnic group inhabiting southern Afghanistan and north west Pakistan) have always been militantly opposed to any foreign occupation. Their opposition to any symbol of foreign occupation is time tested for centuries. If NATO countries or for that matter US security establishment mistakenly thinks that they can force "civilization" and "western value of liberalism" down the throat of these people, it is such a miscalculated judgment, which has backfired for Soviets during 1980s, for British Indian army in 1890s and early 1900s, for Persians and Mughal Indians during 17th and 18th century. If US military establishment thinks that Musharraf can do the job of saving the almost failed venture of NATO/US forces in Afghanistan, they are day dreaming of a favorable outcome. Neither Musharraf has power base within the army nor Pakistan army has the resources to sustain the campaign against Pakhtuns in tribal belt. Western governments should realise that large portion of Pakistani army conscripts is comprised of people who have ethnic and tribal affiliation with the very people whom they are fighting the low intensity war at the behest of US. I do not think that this will continue forever. Furthermore the moral of the Pakhtun tribal people is much higher then that of Pakistani army, as it is boosted by the tribal code of Pakhtun Wali and their believe that they are waging a war which is sanctioned by their religion. Furthermore there is a deep sense of alienation with the general population against this campaign being waged against the tribes.

I also strongly do not believe that any significant logistic support is being offered by these areas to the so called "Global Terrorist Operations". There are far safer places for any potential "terrorist group" including those in Southern Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen, Indonesia and Congo. The argument that Pakistan is being used as the base for terrorist campaigns is really a tired one. Furthermore if Western security establishment, especially that in Washington thinks that it can switch on or off the logistic support to any army, militant group, or war lord, without any negative side affect is simply against the logic. In Afghanistan politics, war lords, fight against Talibans (read ethnic tribal Pakhtuns), drug trade, corruption, ethnic rivalries, factional warfare and class friction along with conflict between modernity and tribalism interact in a more complex way then most of the arm chair analysts in Washington or other Western capitals would like to think or be able to understand.

A $5b arms deal with Pakistan in 2006?

I suspected a few years ago that President Pervez Mushareff was being set up to become the next President Saddam Hussein, or even worse, the next President Manuel Noriega. Will he eventually be jailed, or receive capital punishment at the hands of the Americans, when we take over Pakistan with the help of India? Let us not forget that he has a less than friendly neighbor on his border, India.

Once he accepted the arms deal from America, last year, and the visit from Cheney (which he could not refuse), I said to myself that you are in trouble now buddy!

And is anyone thinking what I am thinking, using Mr. Arkin's words, "...al Qaeda has prospered during the near yearlong cease-fire. "They were able to operate, meet, plan, recruit, and obtain financing in more comfort in the tribal areas than previously,".

Er herm, we were told that America's troops were destroying alQaeda, and thus the need to continue fighting in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Oops!!

In the Rev's opinion there needs to be a change of policy, one far bigger than that America, simply changing its tactics or strategy in Pakistan.

Let's face it, #43 is at war with non-western leaning Muslim nations and Muslims around the world, the ones who will not capitulate to the will of #43!

Oil. After WWII when the importance of oil was realized it was no coincidence that at that point the CIA was formed. That the bulk of this earth strangling substance was under mostly barren and infertile land and largely inhabited by what was seen as primitive peoples emboldened the spies to assassinate any Mideast leader who would interfere with their siphoning. Those CIA/Big Oil approved Arab leaders were elevated by the wealth creating an even more disparate social and political climate just as, to an insidiously subtle extent, it has in the U. S.
There is little if any oil in Afghanistan or Pakistan, plenty in Iraq. To the eternal shame of the American people they allowed the great-grandson of a war profiteer, grandson of same (and apparently traitor), and son of a CIA/Big Oil war profiteer to seize office through subterfuge, sabotage, intimidation and outright lies thus implementing a plan, born years before 9/11, to invade oil rich Iraq. This achieved at least 5 objectives;

1) Control of every drop of oil by friends of Bushco (recall the Iraq Oil Ministry was immediately surrounded by protection while the world's oldest artifacts were looted as well as Cheney's paranoia regarding the minutes of his meetings with his pals, the Oil Barons, when a map of Iraq was drawn up carving the spoils between them)

2) Provide even more wealth to war mongers like the Carlyle Group, of which G. H. W. Bush was heavily invested and other, mostly GOP entities like GE which would profit from the destruction while....

3) Cheney's old pals at Halliburton et al could loot the U. S. treasury while pretending to "nation build."

4) Placate our longtime welfare recipients Israel, whose number one concern at the time was Iraq. This allowed the largely Jewish influenced U. S. media to provide cover for the lies that traitors such as Richard Perle (war cheerleader now scarce), Wolfowitz (1st to bring up Iraq at a cabinet meeting after 9/11), Douglas Feith (avowed Zionist and author of the WMD lies) invented to use U. S. troops to do Israel's bidding. Unconcerned at the inevitable screeds of "anti-semite" that accompany even the mention of Israel in a public forum I submit that American Jews, who've overwhelmingly voted progressive over the years (indeed created both the NAACP and ACLU) were perhaps even more intimidated into silence by the same bludgeon of "patriotism" other americans experienced as well as the charge that they would betray Israel should they question anything. Indeed, here we witness hand holding by such personalities as the far right Daniel Pipes to the, supposedly left Alan Dershowitz thus surrounding any critics with a political spectrum that is circular.

5) Created a platform that allowed these avaricious control freaks to further strengthen that control by whittling down the rights of we, the people and slowly strangle all forms of legal dissent.

Is there any doubt that any American President before this weak seed would have held Bin Laden's head aloft within 90 days of 9//11 (even the much maligned Jimmy Carter)?
Want to fix America? Trace back to when it finally broke, November 22, 1963. Look at Nixon, E. Howard Hunt, and George Herbert Walker Bush. Look at Texas and Big Oil. Once this premise is digested all that has happened to our once great nation since makes sense and those who were involved in the act or its cover-up rise to the surface, like something that needs flushing. Go ahead America, jiggle the handle.

I make these assertions here publicly, joining the millions who've become aware of this heinous act and its aftermath through the unfettered internet and ask you to consider that these charges, made public by many, go unchallenged by the mighty Bushco.

Bush / Chaney will set the whole middle east afire beforew they leave office...
1" anyone with half a BRAIN KNOWS THE usa IS SUBJECT TO MORE TERROR ATTACKS. TO BELIEVE OTHER WISE IS TO HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND.

2" Bush/chaney know anyone getting out of iraq will be blamed for what comes next. The real blame should lay with the iraq government for failing to make a true government for all the people.

3" Bush/chaney had their eye on iraq for oil well before 9/11, they needed a reason to be in aisa, ben ladin gave it to them.

4: Bush / Chaney are in over their lying heads and afraid to get out or to take on ben ladin....

5: Bush thinks he will leave the white house with history looking kindly at him.... WRONG...HISTORY WILL SHOW THIS ADMINISTRATION AS IT IS, FILLED WITH LIARS, GREED SEEKERS, AND THE DISTORYER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LEAVING US AS THE MOST HATED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.AND TO TOP IT OFF HE WILL TOTALLY BANKRUPT THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE OF HIS FAILURES.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN GENERAL IS THE SAME AS BUSH, FOR THEY ARE ALL AT FAULT FOR WHAT HAS HAPPEN HERE AND IN IRAQ AND AFGAN. IT WAS HIS GOP THAT GAVE HIM HIS POWER OF DICTATORSHIP, AND HAS CONTINUED TO DO SO. I AM ASHAME TO SAY THERE ONCE WAS A TIME I VOTED REPUBLICAN, BUT I NEVER VOTED FOR BUSH, MY VOTE WAS ALWAYS MIX TICKET, BUT NOW I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR REPUBLICAN AGAIN.

Those who, like scientist1, advocate an attack on the enablers of terrorism should also look at the clandestine work of CIA. By that logic America should bomb itself because the CIA has enabled and in many cases created the problems which are now being faced by America. Too bad Americans don't spend as much time on studying history as they do on the Paris Hiltons of their world.

Such truths as have been told in the above comments and in Mr. Arkin's column are among the antidotes to Bush administration hype that sustain hope that a once and future great America will survive. Thanks!

Such truths as have been told in the above informed comments and Mr.. Arkin's column are among the antidotes to Bush administration hype that sustain the hope that a once and future great America will survive. Thanks!

It seems that the author is slipping into xenophobia. The whole world can't be run like two camps - those who are with the US, or those who are with the terrorists. There are many who have and want nothing to do with both. Many such nations (China and Russia come to mind) - would be happy if US is made weak by constantly focusing on terrorism.

The best way for US security is to have a three pronged approach:
(i). One one side it should not be a world police and spend just 10% of the wealth it spends on weapons of war towards peace and helping the huge world population that is at or below the poverty line, and
(ii). Stop being a pro-Israeli party and help establish peace in middle-east by helping establish a viable independent Palestinian state, and
(iii). US should actively help support the establishment of a peaceful islamic state where those who want to live under whatever rules they feel is right for them.

Hey - just be like Captain John Luke Picard of Star Trek. They find many Alien life forms - but they don't destroy them just because the other life form has different life style and rules.

Peace!
PW

Pakistan is complicated country the govt. of Pakistan needs all the assistance it can need and must provide all assitance. The USA correctly is providing economic assistance for health, education and economic projects this is a very good approach and we will all reap benefits in the future. What is needed in Pakistan is not bombs from the USA but a disciplined and strategic approach based on the needs of Pakistani population. The USA must push for democratic elections and get rid off The present dictator general musharraf. Pakistan is a big country with population approaching 170m. I like the people of Pakistan I spent 5 years in Pakistan.

I'm a Pakistani and I agree that there are many problems with what the West has termed "Radical Islam." However, in my humble opinion, no one seems to be looking at the source of the problem. Yes, Islamists want to bring Sharia (Islamic Law) and other extreme measures to "Islamic" countries, but they wouldn't enjoy the support they have if there was a reasonable alternative to what the Mullahs propose. With so much Western influence (debauchery, decadence, hedonism, etc.) Muslims are losing the social structure in which they have so much pride. (The strange thing is that unless you look at the social societies of early Islamic history or those of Muslims in Spain, there isn't much to be proud of). On top of all other problems, the majority of the Muslims are poor and uneducated, even the so called Ulema (Muslim scholars). These issues can't be solved with a single bullet (sorry for this allusion).
If you want to eradicate militancy from among the Ummah (Muslims), several long-term solutions need to be proposed including financing educational institutions, supporting democratic institutions, empowering the working class, building infrastructure in rural areas, etc. "Shock and Awe" strategies and controlling natural resources like oil only increase the support for the ignorant and militant Muslims. Ultimately, the US needs to partner with nations (not dictators or regimes, but the people) and treat them with dignity rather than giving them crude labels that only inflame their hatred of the West (keep in mind that almost all Muslim nations were part of a Colonial subculture that until the last half of the 20th century used their military power to subdue indigenous people).
The reason why six years later (after 9/11) America still can't solve the militancy problem in Muslim nations is because it's looking for a bullet when it should be looking for a carrot.

Everyone has said that deterrence doesn't work with terrorists, but how about those enabling the terrorists? Pakistan is an old and valued ally of the US, but does anyone think that a US president, faced with, say, a terrorist attack using small nukes on US cities, could fail to respond in kind against those known to provide safe haven? I suggest that in the face of an attack that truly threatened national survival the national consensus would be that any president would be remiss in not acting to remove as best he could any chance of another strike, even if this meant the annihilation of several nations. Pakistani citizens should know that religious extremists have placed their nations' neck on the chopping block.

Just thinking the unthinkable, here, not trying to create panic. I just think it would clarify the situation if nations such as Pakistan and Syria know that they are playing with fire and that an attack on the US might be met with force other than an invasion.

Negotiation with Islamic people by anyone that is not Islamic is ridiculous since the Islamic can lie or falsely agree to anything on the basis that they are dealing with an unbeliever and are not required to respect or be truthful to the unbeliever. When an Islamic buys a person at the market they make them a member of their family so it may be said "there are no slaves here". The reason outsiders are not welcome in their closed society is they are afraid of "family members" running out saying help me, I want to go home! Of course the Islamic community has nothing to hide and that is why they want to hide the identity of women and keep their neighborhoods closed to the world. A lot of missing children can be found there, growing up in terror as a slave to their "new family". I cannot be forced to respect a religion that is represented by people that commit murder and have no respect for my religion. Let so called moderates clean up their religion or let them be counted with the murderers. God knows well all that we do, according to the Koran.

The Indian prime minister, who has taken over as Musharraf's PR agent, is likely to protest. Perhaps he will pull the plug on the Indo-US nuclear accord. Condoleeza Rice watch out! If you thought the Indian government fighting with the Aussies over a terror suspect was over the top just wait for this one!

Bush always runs away from challenges when they are hard. He ran away from the tough fight in Afghanistan where our real enemies were, and put 80% of our military resources, equipment and funding into invading Iraq because he thought it would be a cakewalk, thus leaving al-qaeda and the Taliban to flourish next door in Pakistan.

And don't expect a productive and successful response from Bush on this latest disasterous NIE. No, we'll hear all kinds of excuses for why he can't/won't fight al-qaeda where they live, plot and scheme -- in Pakistan, land of nukes and thousands of madrassas turning out tens of thousands of jihadists.

Bush is alway looking for the easier, softer way...and someone to take the blame when it turns out to be a catastrophe.

seeing as bush and his government have not found anyone to blaim for 9/11, it seems only natural to them to point fingers at pakistan and make pakistan a scape goat!

Its about time we called a spade a spade. The two countries most responsible for terrorism on the planet today are Saudia Arabia (financing) and Pakistan (training and logistics).

Examine the major terror incidents over the last five years and you will see their prints. It may not be official policy of either country to support or promote terrorism, but by financing, supporting and promting radical madrassas, islamic groups and their extreme agendas, the result is the same.

Interestingly, these are both non-elected governments and yet our "best friends". We really need to learn to associate with better people and think longer-term.

If Pakistan is the strong hold of Bin Laden's terrorist group why did Bush want to send 190 million to Pakistan?

I agree with Mr Arkin. US should not keep it's eye closed. There is a common perception
in pakistan that MUllah and Millitary have
marriage of convenience. But after 9/11
this relation is in stress but still intact.
US should pressure MUshrraf to do more about
this millitant and at the same time push
for real democracy instead of 'Controlled democracy'.

The Central Role of Al Qaeda in Bush's National Security Doctrine -

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=6307

Who the BLANK is going to fight and pay for Bush's multifront crusade against BLANK?

Every empire falls; but it's still shocking to see how quickly the US is going down, thanks to the Republican zionochristofascist liars-about-Saddam's WMDs, isn't it?

6 years! The US still doesn't who it is fighting, or where the enemy is--unless, of course, they look at Bush and Cheney.

US foreign policy towards Pakistan and Southwest Asia is in inconsistent and in disarray???

--- What a surprise! How did that happen???

Maybe the Pentagon's New "Communications Outreach" Programme can ride in to the rescue with a little public diplomacy spin to make everybody feel better.

I am sure the can broadcast, post and blog their good news in Urdu and all the other appropriate area Southwest Asian languages!

--------------------------------
Pentagon starts spin unit to target talk radio, bloggers

Will Menaker
Published: Tuesday July 17, 2007

With public opinion on both the President and Iraq war cratering, it's hard to imagine any amount of PR could turn back the tide. But don't tell that to the Pentagon's public affairs division. Ken Silverstein reports on the latest efforts to spread the good word on Iraq in Monday's Harper's.

The new "Communications Outreach" program is the latest effort to bypass the traditional media and work directly with talk radio and bloggers.

The project was originally called "Surrogates Operation" and is the brain child of former ABC executive and assistant secretary of defense for public affairs Dorrance Smith.

Less kindly, Silverstein remarks that "the Pentagon's public affairs division has become a dumping ground for administration cronies."

Silverstein reports that the "Communications Outreach" program "reportedly provides talking points and briefings to retired military officials who now support the administration in appearances as media pundits."

The genesis of the idea came in 2006, "when the press and retired senior military officials were pummeling Donald Rumsfeld."

Also on board are Erin Healey, a former junior assistant press secretary at the White House, Julie George, who formerly worked as deputy coalitions director for Rick Santorum, and perhaps most telling is another person reportedly involved with the operation is the presence of Jocelyn Webster, "who formerly worked in the White House's political operation for Sara Taylor, the Karl Rove aide who now finds herself in a bit of hot water."

The relative inexperience of these true-believers is an old theme for the Bush administration, Silverstein writes.

"Healey may have some knowledge of defense matters, but she's certainly no expert," he says. "Webster and George were described to me by one well-informed source as 'very young with no background in national security or foreign affairs.'

This person said that some defense officials have been 'put off to say the least by these neophyte political appointees telling retired and active personnel in uniform what to say and what to think.'"

Webster is also among those whose name has surfaced in Democratic investigations. She's on the list of current and former White House staffers who used Republican National Committee email addresses and was among those dealt with a controversial Powerpoint slideshow that involved briefing the General Services Administration about Republican prospects for the 2006 election cycle.

"Please do not e-mail this out or let people see it," one of the emails said, according to Harper's. "It is a close hold, and we're not supposed to be e-mailing it around."

Know what blogs the Pentagon's strike force may be working with?

[Source: "Raw Story";[Hat tip: Information Clearing House] http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Nowhere_to_go_but_up_Pentagon_0717.html Contact Ken Silverstein at ken@harpers.org.