Virtual Taliban state in Northern Pakistan.

[Ned]

Flubber, running? I'm not so sure running would be the right term. But clearly AQ will be part of the leadership in any new Iraq and will enjoy basing rights, etc. The Taliban's cozy relationship with Osama is the prototype.

[Zkribbler]

But clearly AQ will be part of the leadership in any new Iraq and will enjoy basing rights, etc.

"Clearly??"

Which of the many factions now vying for power will want these crazies to share power with them??

[DanS]

If the Pakistani gov't isn't taking our money and effectively governing Northern Pakistan, perhaps we should reduce our payments to the gov't and increase them directly in like measure to the tribes.

[Dr Strangelove]

Maybe we should make it clear to them that if they're going to allow our enemies to operate freely from their terrortory that we might consider our alliance to be breached and that we might be in the market to purchase a new ally. Furthermore we might make it clear to them to what extent we could isolate them economically and make it difficult for Pakistan to function. Then again we could mention how warm our relations with New Delhi have become and how sympathetic we've become to their historic complaints. Finally we could mention how easy it would be for Pakistan to allow covert operatives to contact northwestern tribalists who have become disillusioned with their Taliban neighbors and how much it would be in Karachi's favor if these tribalists were able to chase off the Taliban in a manner simlar to that achieved in Afghanistan a few years ago. If that fails then I understand that Mr. Bond no longer cares how his martini is mixed, if you get my drift.

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Dis


So leaving Afghanistan in the hands of the Taliban was a better option?

You do know that warlords and the Taliban - and not the central government - control pretty much everything outside of Kabul, right?

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by Lonestar


Pakistan is South Asia, not the Middle East

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Middle_East

Egypt is partly in Asia. Pakistan and Afghanistan are part of the Greater Middle East.

Point, set, match. What, are you Texan too like Slowwy?

[Zkribbler]

Before U.S. intevention:
Kabul: Taliban
Most of country: Taliban
A few provinces: Northern Alliance

After U.S. interventions;
Kabul: Central government
Most of country: Warlords
A few provinces: Taliban

That's a marked improvement.

[DRoseDARs]

Ask the people who live there (that aren't warlords or Taliban) if they think so...

[SlowwHand]

DRose, blow me.

[DRoseDARs]

I believe the appropriate response is: Are you cute?

[Zkribbler]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Ask the people who live there (that aren't warlords or Taliban) if they think so...

Well let's see, women are being shot for wearing make up.

Kids are being shot for listening to music.

Ancient artistic treasures aren't being blown up because their existance violates the Koran.

Yep, they say things are less worse.

[TCO]

I don't think we can (or should) invade Pakistan. So better just to leave this be. If they start causing us probles, do some Tomahawking. Otherwise, used money, etc. to attempt to cause them problems. I loved the way that we used indigenous forces to defeat the Taliban. Hate how we are trying to nation build.

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Modern Afghanistan is a successor state to the Mogul Empire.

Not really.

[Ned]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Before U.S. intevention:
Kabul: Taliban
Most of country: Taliban
A few provinces: Northern Alliance

After U.S. interventions;
Kabul: Central government
Most of country: Warlords
A few provinces: Taliban

That's a marked improvement.

Did you intentionally ingore al Qa'ida?

[DRoseDARs]

al'Qaeda and the Taliban are considered the same thing for the sake of this argument. Really, after the Taliban was "removed" from power they kind of melted into the terrorist organization. Think of them as the local chapter of al'Qaeda in Afghanistan.