The US doesn't have much of an alternative in Pakistan. It is either a friendly dictator who is now taking some steps to fight the Taliban and terrorism in Pakistan instead of promote it, or a fundamentalist government similar to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Which would you choose?
A democracy... and there was a democracy before Musharaf and that general made a putsh... If the Us wants a democracy in Irak then how can they possibly deal with Musharaf.. they have to be consistent in their approach
Those were great years. I was about 15 years old at the time. I can remember being old enough to understand we were at war, but not old enough to comprehend all the variables of why we were at war. I do remember the pink ribbons, though.
Bad analogy. That was the media's story before 9/11. As we find out the so called Chechan "freedom fighters" were mostly trained in Al Quaeda camps and were fomenting terrorism in Russia. Ever since 9/11 relations with Russia and China have been much better. Why? Because both nations have been actively dealing with terrorists within their boarders for a long time and only now Washington starts to look more favorably on those countries defending themselves against terrorism.
Yes and they all vote straght Baath party or they get shot when they leave the polls. Man I can't believe you would even post this!
Maybe you should reread my post. We deal with Musharaf because he is the only viable option. The US would prefer to deal with democracies but we don't routinely involve ourselves in correcting internal struggles. Musharef since 9/11 has made strides to cut off dealings with the Taliban and has generally made good faith efforts to stamp out terrorists in Pakistan. If he falls we will deal with an Anti-American government that would be the Taliban part II. This would be worse than dealing with Musharef. We deal with the Saudis - a dictatorsihp, Jordan, Kuwait etc. We deal with most of the South American countries - many dictatorships. I don't see how we are being inconsistent. The key thread is that they are governments favorable to relationships with the US. We don't deal with Iraq, Iran, Syria, Cuba, North Korea and a few others.
Yep, this is a tough call. Tell me the solution? Offer the Palestinians an independent state? Oh wait, they turned that down, didn't they. What is it they really want? Anything other than the destruction of Israel? Clearly they want only the 1% of what they have not been offered. I guess 99% just wasn't a good enough starting offer. And yes, my wife is a jew and is quite involved in the support and the politics of Israel. And she too is no fan of Sharons. She wishes there could be a real moderate in power. Even Netenyahu was too militant for her. But he will probably make a reappearance, because Israel is afraid to put anyone that the Palestinians may consider "soft" into power. They know that Afafat and Hamas and Islamic Jihad regard moderation as weakness. And if they are as violent and reckless with a guy like Sharon, how bold would they be with a "soft" leader? Too risky now. Sad but true. That is the mentality, and there is no debate about that. And the Jihad is really just an excuse as you well know. It isn't about religion. It isn't about a homeland. It is about seizing what the Israelis created while the palestinians were busy spending that same 50 years devoting their effort to hatred instead of farming and education and building and innovation. Now I know you will say I am being unfair about this. But we both know it is fact. The palestinians fled, went to the neighboring arab countries, where they were unwelcome, and became a lost people. Then when Israel was converted by hard work from a wasteland to an irrigated and well maintained oasis....well then it was time to clamor for the "right of return"....Why couldn't they do the same thing in Jordan that was done in Israel? Because it's easier to let someone else do the work, and then attempt to take it away then to actually do the work. And Jerusalem.....never was a Muslim holy place desecrated by the jews. But look what the Islamic fanatics did not only to the Jewish and Christian holy places, they even had an armed siege in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem just this year. So tell me how wonderful the arab people are, and I will agree with you. But don't tell me how wonderful the "palestinians" are. What is a "palestinian" anyway? Oh, I almost forgot...they are the people that danced in the streets when New York was attacked. Peace, rs7
Talking about brainwashed. If the proper evidence is presented.... You are repeating like a robot what you hear constantly everywhere. There is no f#%^&#@ evidence? Second, are you, as a Regular Joe, able to recognize the evidence? I guess an article in "NY Times" is good enough evidence to you. If the proper evidence is presented... AMEN