Posts Tagged ‘Taliban’
Wall Street Not The Only Crisis Spot
Gen. McKiernan
While the nation is concentrated on the proposed bailout of Wall Street its attention is diverted from another crisis that has been brewing for some time. This one, on the battlegrounds of Afghanistan.
There has been a renewed insurgency in Afghanistan. The safe haven the Taliban and al Qaeda has found in northern Pakistan has proven problematic as well.
Many of us feel that the war in Iraq diverted the military’s attention from the real enemy, concentrated in Afghanistan. Now the top U.S. military commander there is, in essence, echoing those concerns.
Gen. David McKiernan is making an urgent public plea for more troops and resources in Afghanistan. His comments came during a briefing with Pentagon reporters.
How sad it is that the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, responsible for the prosecution of the war against the true terrorists who attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, responsible for the safety and well being of U.S. and, by extension, NATO troops in country, has to resort to a public plea for help.
His commander-in-chief, President Bush, has, obviously, been asleep at the switch here. It’s increasingly clear that Bush has no vision of his own. That there are others in the administration, most likely led by the elusive Vice-President Dick Cheney, who are telling him what to do and what to say.
Apparently, Cheney and his cronies are far more concerned with Iraq than they are with the true battle ground – Afghanistan.
Pakistani Troops Fire On U.S. Helicopters
For the second time in a week, Pakistani troops have fired on U.S. military helicopters that have flown into that nation’s airspace, forcing the choppers to make hasty retreats to Afghanistan.
Relationships have been strained between the United States and Pakistan over U.S. military incursions into the country in pursuit of al Qaeda and Taliban operatives without the permission of the government.
The Pakistani government is particularly upset over “collateral” deaths of civilians particularly during bombing raids.
The United States has promised to seek permission of the government before violating Pakistan’s borders. But if this claim by the Pakistani government is correct, that promise is, obviously hallow.
Media reports have indicated that the U.S. is concerned that any military action planned will be telegraphed to the terrorists by intelligence or military elements of Pakistan who are sympathetic to their cause.
Former Pakistani Official Condemns U.S. Incursions
A former Pakistani ambassador to the United Nations is criticizing the United States for military incursions into his country in search of al Qaeda and Taliban forces who have sought refuge there.
Munir Akram says, if the U.S. military wants to enter Pakistan it needs the support of the government there.
“Pakistan must defend its territory,” Akram declared during his appearance today on New Talk Online on Paltalk.com.
Some callers suggested that this is a Pakistani problem, because that nation hasn’t secured its border with Afghanistan. But Akram noted that the United States has a similar issue protecting its border with Mexico.
“The real problem,” he says, “is in Afghanistan.” Where, he says, the NATO strategy is failing.
He says the way the military is conducting itself is “creating enemies.”
There have been news reports suggesting that the United States is increasingly distrustful of both the Pakistani military, some of whom are regarded as rouge forces in support of the Taliban, and the intelligence services, which are suspected of leaking information to the enemy. Akram, who, of course, has heard the allegations, says there is “no evidence of rouge forces.”
Former Pakistani Ambassador To UN To Talk About US Military Raids Into His Country On News Talk Online On Paltalk
Akram
The United States military has been going after al Qaeda and Taliban operatives in northern Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistani government, straining relationships between the two allies.
Joining us on News Talk Online on Paltalk.com to discuss this new policy and its affect on U.S. Pakistani relations tomorrow will be former Pakistani UN Ambassador Munir Akram, who warns that dangerous consequences could be result.
Akram says because it must, of course, defend its nation’s sovereignty, the U.S. military could be pushing the Pakistani army into an alliance with the Afghan Taliban.
“The dangers associated with this move by the U.S. Army are both real and immanent,” Akram says.
“The unilateral incursions by the U.S. into Pakistan seem to have broken the consensus within the Pakistan military to support the U.S. anti terror campaign. Unless reversed, it could lead to an openly hostile relationship between Pakistani and U.S. forces along the border and even result in overt hostilities between them.”
To talk to Akram at 5 PM tomorrow September 18, CLICK HERE. There is no charge.
9/11 Being Remembered In War On Terrorism As Well
