Comments on: OUR FRIENDS, THE PAKISTANIS http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/ Politics served up with a smile... And a stilletto. Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:07:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: John Burke http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/comment-page-1/#comment-1767723 John Burke Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:30:15 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/?p=5113#comment-1767723 What's missing from Rick's take and so many other commentaries on this subject is that not much has changed about Pakistan's quarter-measure cooperation with the US since 9/11 and through various changes in the line-uo of Pakistan's leadership. Pakistan was unwilling to do much of anything to facilitate the US military action in Afghanistan on 9/12/01 and it still is. The US had to bluntly warn Pakistan's leadership in September 2001 that it faced American hostility if it did not provide the minimal support necessary -- basically the ability to base US search and rescue teams (covertly) inside Pakistani territory in support of the US military in Afghanistan and some intelligence cooperation in running down important al Qaeda individuals (like KSM). In exchange, Pakistan got lots of dough, especially for its military. What kept the Pakistanis more or less in line with this grudging and inadequate support over the next several years was Bush's work ginning up a closer alliance with India -- a major diplomatic development that somehow never attracted the attention of the US media. This was a way to tell the Pakistanis that there might be more than one way to deal with them. A US-India alliance is always an option, and American policies in the sub-continent should continue to make that plain. Otherwise, what leverage do we really have with Pakistan? Money? That's hardly much of an alternative for the Pakistani Army, which worries more about Indian influence in Afghanistan and the prospect of another war with India -- the key reasons for Pakistan support to both the Taliban and Kashmiri separatists. It's not an easy balancing act; the US can't appear to be jettisoning Pakistan as a "major non-NATO ally." But it's silly and pointless to fret about what will make the Pakistanis like Americans more. They do not like having the US military in Afganistan, period. Nothing will change that. We can only make Pakistan's leaders accept it and make do. What’s missing from Rick’s take and so many other commentaries on this subject is that not much has changed about Pakistan’s quarter-measure cooperation with the US since 9/11 and through various changes in the line-uo of Pakistan’s leadership. Pakistan was unwilling to do much of anything to facilitate the US military action in Afghanistan on 9/12/01 and it still is. The US had to bluntly warn Pakistan’s leadership in September 2001 that it faced American hostility if it did not provide the minimal support necessary — basically the ability to base US search and rescue teams (covertly) inside Pakistani territory in support of the US military in Afghanistan and some intelligence cooperation in running down important al Qaeda individuals (like KSM). In exchange, Pakistan got lots of dough, especially for its military.

What kept the Pakistanis more or less in line with this grudging and inadequate support over the next several years was Bush’s work ginning up a closer alliance with India — a major diplomatic development that somehow never attracted the attention of the US media. This was a way to tell the Pakistanis that there might be more than one way to deal with them.

A US-India alliance is always an option, and American policies in the sub-continent should continue to make that plain. Otherwise, what leverage do we really have with Pakistan? Money? That’s hardly much of an alternative for the Pakistani Army, which worries more about Indian influence in Afghanistan and the prospect of another war with India — the key reasons for Pakistan support to both the Taliban and Kashmiri separatists.

It’s not an easy balancing act; the US can’t appear to be jettisoning Pakistan as a “major non-NATO ally.” But it’s silly and pointless to fret about what will make the Pakistanis like Americans more. They do not like having the US military in Afganistan, period. Nothing will change that. We can only make Pakistan’s leaders accept it and make do.

]]> By: Joe http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/comment-page-1/#comment-1767709 Joe Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:11:02 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/?p=5113#comment-1767709 We can't even solve our own problems at home, but somehow think we can solve the Pakistan,India,Afghganistan puzzle?Karzai has no power beyond the gates of his own palace and he's our main man. Afghganistan....the graveyard of Empires. We can’t even solve our own problems at home, but somehow think we can solve the Pakistan,India,Afghganistan puzzle?Karzai has no power beyond the gates of his own palace and he’s our main man. Afghganistan….the graveyard of Empires.

]]> By: Surabaya Stew http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/comment-page-1/#comment-1767707 Surabaya Stew Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:35:11 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/?p=5113#comment-1767707 Love it when we agree Rick; Pakistan is an unreliable ally in the extreme, yet we have no other country to turn to if we want to stabilize the region. Damned if we do; damned if we don't.... Love it when we agree Rick; Pakistan is an unreliable ally in the extreme, yet we have no other country to turn to if we want to stabilize the region. Damned if we do; damned if we don’t….

]]> By: pete dukoski http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/comment-page-1/#comment-1767705 pete dukoski Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:01:08 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/?p=5113#comment-1767705 It's from the Pakistani's the NFL buys towels the fans wave at games. I guess no American company knows how to make them!!!! It’s from the Pakistani’s the NFL buys towels the fans wave at games. I guess no American company knows how to make them!!!!

]]> By: michael reynolds http://rightwingnuthouse.com/archives/2009/12/16/our-friends-the-pakistanis/comment-page-1/#comment-1767703 michael reynolds Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:50:50 +0000 http://rightwingnuthouse.com/?p=5113#comment-1767703 Demonstrating the art of droll understatement: <i> -- one might legitimately question their commitment.</i> Demonstrating the art of droll understatement:

— one might legitimately question their commitment.

]]>