Pakistan missile hits Afghan mosque

[muse]

We now see a pattern, U.S officlals will pass a comment, certain elements of the U.S. press (read NYT) will then play it up, it will find space in the "talking points" - The Pakistanis will be puton the back foot, they will issue a statement, followed by the U.S official seemingly retracting what he has claimed -Straight talk or U.S. Double talk - you decide:Injun speaking with forked tongue, perhaps but the U.S as well? Et tu

Pakistan not misappropriating US funds, says Mullen


Updated at: 0500 PST, Tuesday, May 19, 2009
WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not using US military assistance to expand its nuclear arsenal, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said on Monday.

"I am not aware of any US aid that's gone towards nuclear weapons," Mullen told a gathering at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think-tank.

He said that the one exception was a portion of US funds in the past few years focused on "improving" security safeguards for Pakistan's nuclear weapons, "which is exactly what we like."

Last week Mullen confirmed that Pakistan was seeking to bolster its nuclear arsenal but he avoided further comment on the subject at Monday's event.

At a congressional hearing on Friday, Senator Jim Webb asked the top ranking military officer if he had evidence that Pakistan was developing new nuclear weapons systems and warheads. "Yes," Mullen replied, without elaborating.

Webb, a Democrat from Virginia, said Pakistan's moves were cause for "enormous concern" and yet were receiving less public attention than Iran's nuclear program.

"We're spending a lot of time talking about the potential that Iran might have nuclear weapon capability and this is a regime that's far less stable and that should be a part of our debate," Webb said at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing.

Webb and other members of Congress have questioned if billions in US military aid has been spent as intended by the Pakistani government.

On Monday, Mullen reiterated that he was encouraged with the Pakistan military's recent offensive against the Taliban in the northwest but he said the bigger question was whether Islamabad would keep up the pressure on the Islamists in the longer term.

"They need to sustain it. They need to provide sustained security for their people," Mullen said.

He played down suggestions that the threat posed by the Taliban meant the Pakistani state was near collapse. "I don't believe they are a country near failure," he said.

 

[TruthSeeker]

The easiest policy is to distrust everything the NYT publishes. Some of it might be true, but their political agendas are so intertwined with their reporting it is impossible to separate fact from spin and disinformation. Pakistani spokesman should just adopt Ronald Reagan's approach to commenting on NYT stories: "There they go again! "

 

[S-2]

"We now see a pattern..."

I do too. Delusional paranoia.

Ask yourselves this-who else sees the same?

Euro press pick up on this fear of yours yet. Asia? Russians? Investigations from Seymour Hersch?

Nobody cares about your nukes. They are an accepted fact of life. Nobody, OTOH, wishes to see our money used to enhance your nuclear weaponry.

Beyond that, revel in the radiation, baby.

 

[muse]

Obfuscation and misdirection - a real shame when a "pro" in one field forgets the lessons of specialization.

The intent of the NYT pieces directed by a section of U.S intelligence community is to create doubt, concern, to create a general destabilized situation, to prepare Amereicans psychoilogically for motivations and justifications for p;ossible "necessary action to come.

Instead of reflecting on that danger, because, see sooner or later the Pakistanis are going kill the Talib and then....it will be time to get real in Afghanistan.

Even positioning an American overseer in Khalilzad may not be able to create the kind of situation that will allow the U.S to evacuate with the understanding that it's concerns will not be disregarded.

I will post for you an editorial from the NYT -- of course it discounts Pakistan, but not entirely, because in the end the deal is with Pakistan, it's the onloy way the U.S can evacuate. So, if I may, indulge us, be serious, we can learn from you - otherwise if we decide we cannot, what purpose would be served?

 

[muse]

NYT editorial -- should have been named a "To do List for India" now that Pakistan will be more expensive than first imagined - let the Indian pay the Americans bill




May 19, 2009
Editorial
India’s Challenges


The Indian National Congress party cannot afford a prolonged celebration after its overwhelming election victory. Much of the postvote analysis has focused on the daunting domestic agenda. But now that Congress has a stable mandate — and can shuck a fractious coalition — it is time for India to exercise the kind of regional and global leadership expected of a rising power.

It can start with neighboring Pakistan, arguably the most dangerous country on earth. A report in The Times on Monday reminds us just how dangerous: The United States believes Islamabad is rapidly expanding a nuclear arsenal thought to already contain 80 to 100 weapons.

We have consistently supported appropriate military aid and increased economic aid to help Pakistan fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda, strengthen democratic institutions and improve the life of its people. Squandering precious resources on nuclear bombs is disgraceful when Pakistan is troubled by economic crisis and facing an insurgency that threatens its very existence.

Trying to keep up to 100 bombs from extremists is hard enough; expanding the nuclear stockpile makes the challenge worse. Officials in Washington are legitimately asking whether billions of dollars in proposed new assistance might be diverted to Pakistan’s nuclear program. They should demand assurances it will not be.

India is essential to what Pakistan will do. New Delhi exercised welcome restraint when it did not attack Pakistan after the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai by Pakistani-based extremists. But tensions remain high, and the Pakistani Army continues to view India as its main adversary. India should take the lead in initiating arms control talks with Pakistan and China. It should also declare its intention to stop producing nuclear weapons fuel, even before a proposed multinational treaty is negotiated. That would provide leverage for Washington and others to exhort Pakistan to do the same.

It is past time for India — stronger both economically and in international stature — to find a way to resolve tensions with Pakistan over Kashmir. If that festering sore cannot be addressed directly, then — as Stephen P. Cohen, a South Asia expert at the Brookings Institution, suggests — broader regional talks on environmental and water issues might be an interim way to find common ground. Ignoring Kashmir is no longer an option.

India has played a constructive role in helping rebuild Afghanistan, but it must take steps to allay Islamabad’s concerns that this is a plan to encircle Pakistan. It should foster regional trade with Pakistan and Afghanistan. More broadly, India must help to revive world trade talks by opening its markets. It could use its considerable trade clout with Iran, Sudan and Myanmar to curb Tehran’s nuclear program, end the genocide in Darfur and press Myanmar’s junta to expand human rights.

India is the dominant power in South Asia, but it has been hesitant to assume its responsibilities. The Congress Party has to do better — starting with Pakistan.

 

[S-2]

"The intent of the NYT pieces directed by a section of U.S intelligence community is to create doubt, concern, to create a general destabilized situation, to prepare Amereicans psychoilogically for motivations and justifications for p;ossible "necessary action to come."

Wow.

I'm stunned.

 

[s90]

arguably the most dangerous country on earth

Why are americans so stupid?i know its deliberate but still!

 

[Skeptic]

NYT editorial -- should have been named a "To do List for India" now that Pakistan will be more expensive than first imagined - let the Indian pay the Americans bill




May 19, 2009
Editorial
India’s Challenges

India is the dominant power in South Asia, but it has been hesitant to assume its responsibilities. The Congress Party has to do better — starting with Pakistan.

Congress and more importantly India already has more than its share of domestic issues to sort out first. The elections were won, not by singing slogans of becoming a super power and stabilizing the region, but with promises of secularism, development and internal security for its citizens. We'll play the game of "Who's the regional superpower" later. We have people to feed, we have kids deprived of good education, we have a economy which is in transitory phase and Indian diplomats know well enough what will their participation will be perceived as, if and when they do become a party in this Pakistani mess specially.

Seems like US is running out of tissue papers to wipe out the marks of its misdeeds in SE Asia. We don't have anything to do with it. If India can manage to get its act right domestically, I think it'd have done it's share of contribution to regional stability. NYT better put on their introspective goggles and review US policies and incoherence in their stance.

Thanks but no thanks.

I will quote from another comment in response to this article:

The US has done irreparable harm to the region for decades now and for you to write this and pass the buck to India which has its own way of dealing with crises is pitiful and self serving and reckless.

 

[muse]

Seems like US is running out of tissue papers to wipe out the marks of its misdeeds in SE Asia. We don't have anything to do with it. If

India can manage to get its act right domestically, I think it'd have done it's share of contribution to regional stability. NYT better put on their introspective goggles and review US policies and incoherence in their stance.

Thanks but no thanks.

I will quote from another comment in response to this article:

Quote:
The US has done irreparable harm to the region for decades now and for you to write this and pass the buck to India which has its own way of dealing with crises is pitiful and self serving and reckless.

Skeptic, most ordinary persons in the U.S don't have a clue as to how precarious is the international position of the U.S. In their papers we see them refer to Omaba presidency thus as as the "mellow presidency", and how it has disarmed potenial adversaries - this is but wishful thinking, unfortunate and unpalitable facts are that U.S are serious trouble and hope now to write checks on the accounts of others (read India).

That's the great hope, that the Inidan is do desperate to be a part of a club it was earlier not worthy of being a part of, the price? well, I suppose the Indian will decide if the price is right.

Some American think that Pakistan wish for the Aemeircan to fail in Afghanistan - this is misrepresentation - Pakistanis are agast in amazement at the the arrogance, that the American is openly hostile to the Pakistani and imagines that he will succeed without Pakistan and without accomodation of Pakistani interests - Some Americans tell us the world is not about the sentiment of friendship but only interests - to these we remind them that shared interests make for good foundations of relaltions worth carry forward.

The "Indian to do list", the American as prescribed will no doubt be met with great welcome among informed Indians, perhaps they will see in it the interests they hope to share with our would be double speaking "ally".

 

[Skeptic]

Skeptic, most ordinary persons in the U.S don't have a clue as to how precarious is the international position of the U.S. In their papers we see them refer to Omaba presidency thus as as the "mellow presidency", and how it has disarmed potenial adversaries - this is but wishful thinking - this is but wishful thinking, unfortunate and unpalitable

With you on this. I agree Obama and his "Achievements" have been over emphasized by the media and many have started to view him as the "Hollywood President".

U.S are serious trouble and hope now to write checks on the accounts of others (read India).

Does not seem to happen in near future. Unlikely

That's the great hope, that the Inidan is do desperate to be a part of a club it was earlier not worthy of being a part of, the price? well, I suppose the Indian will decide if the price is right.

Utterly Baseless. India has never shown interest to be part of the Afghanistan Solution in any other way than civil support. For that we've been paying out of our pockets and hoping for revival of old relations with Afghanistan as payback.

Some American think that Pakistan wish for the Aemeircan to fail in Afghanistan - this is misrepresentation - Pakistanis are agast in amazement at the the arrogance, that the American is openly hostile to the Pakistani and imagines that he will succeed without Pakistan and without accomodation of Pakistani interests - Some Americans tell us the world is not about the sentiment of friendship but only interests - to these we remind them that shared interests make for good foundations of relaltions worth carry forward.

Here is the mistrust and the root cause of current diplomatic tension between Pakistan and US. The fact is that the WoT has continued beyond the duration it was supposed to. With continuing war, Frustration has crept in US which created doubts on the intentions of ISI / GoP and PA, that they are not doing enough. Ongoing war with a Islamic force has spurred Islamists in Pakistan, who have created several theories that how US is there to destabilize Pakistan.

The "Indian to do list", the American as prescribed will no doubt be met with great welcome among informed Indians, perhaps they will see in it the interests they hope to share with our would be double speaking "ally".

Indian foreign policy has mostly been inclusive and even while maintaining relations with Israel, they did not fallout with the Arab nations. The relations are mostly issue based - Israel for defence equipment but moral support for Palestine. Moreover, this will lead to polarization of Hindu extremists who'll blame all muslims as terrorists and Muslim extremists, who'll take this as an opportunity to strengthen projection of India as Anti- Muslim.Same applies to the US. We are most eager to engage US in any economic / financial tie up, but Indian support is not up for Sale. There will be serious protests within India if they agree to be a part of it and the communal voices that have been slowly calmed, will inflame once again. No-one wants it specially Congress, which holds secularism and communal harmony as top priority in it's agenda.

Thanks but No Thanks