I appreciate your correction of my misreading, and you are right. There is no "old" Pakistani government. It's not a democracy, but has always been controlled by the military, even when civilian leaders are in power. And I was clear to point out that it was a Cold War event -- that's my point. Short-term interests have unforeseen long-term consequences. What was sown during the Cold War is being reaped today.
I think you meant to refer to southern Afghanistan, rather than southern Pakistan? Southern Pakistan consists of partly of Baluchistan and of Sindh. Sindh is hardly a hotbed of islamic fundamentalism, but the parts of Baluchistan which border Afghanistan are. The worst problem is in the Northwest Frontier Province and the so-called tribal areas, along the Afghan border. Jon Spencer wrote: > Oh boy! An exciting day to turn the tables! I did not say "people of > Pakistan." Rather, I said "people in Pakistan," not thinking it necessary > to offer a long and boring recital of what we all already know. > > When you say it was the Pakistani gov't with US money who put the Taliban in > place, you imply something that isn't true. It was the OLD Pakistani gov't, > of which remnants remain in power, but most have been purged. It was also a > cold war era event. > > Things have changed. The "people IN Pakistan" who put the Taliban in place > come primarily from the south, where trouble still boils. The cold war is > over. Power vacuums come and go, and so thugs will come and go. > > The fact is that it is difficult to watch everyplace in the world, so that > errors can and do occur, and people with hidden agendas can get away (for a > while) with their mischiefs. It is easy to hide in the frozen north and > pontificate on things which will not directly affect you, especially when > (in your frozen north case) you depend upon the citizens of the US to defend > you. It is not so easy when you live next to one of the top targets in the > world for a terrorist's attack. (I had to get in at least ONE ad homonem > attack, since people on this list are so fond of them, and at least one > personal ownership issue. And yet, both statements have a lot of truth in > them ... :-) > > And, if you haven't noticed, Manny is in jail. And Clinton gave the Panama > Canal to the Chinese. So, some problems have been rectified, and others > have not yet been rectified. > > Jon > > Marc A. Schindler wrote: > > My original point was to ask why the US was so obsessed with Iraq when > Pakistan > presents a greater danger. And there's more to it than saying they were put > into > power by the "people of Pakistan." It was the Pakistani government plus > extremist > clerics, using US taxpayer dollars, who put the Taliban into power. > > This is Manuel Noriega all over again. > > Jon Spencer wrote: > > > Who objected to Marc's obvious statement? The Taliban was put in power by > > > people in Pakistan. > > > > This is a real "Duh!". By the way, are you advocating that we attack > > Pakistan first, and THEN Iraq? I have a better idea. First, we'll attack > > Israel - that will completely fool the fake Islamists and we can sneak in > a > > sucker punch at both Pakistan and Iraq when they are still in shock. > France > > can come next. > > > > Jon > > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > -- Marc A. Schindler Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland �The first duty of a university is to teach wisdom, not a trade; character, not technicalities. We want a lot of engineers in the modern world, but we don�t want a world of engineers.� � Sir Winston Churchill (1950) Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author�s employer, nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^^=============================================================== This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^^===============================================================
