September 7, 2006
Putting them in their place
A few days ago, the nation of Pakistan signed a treaty with pro-Taliban forces in the Northern Waziristan region. They will leave them alone as long as the Islamofascists stick to themselves and don't export terror. From the Christian Science Monitor:Pakistan signs peace deal with pro-Taliban militantsDonklephant sums it up very well:
Critics say treaty, which calls for end to terrorist actions, seems 'a total capitulation' by Islamabad.
In a move that some say appears 'a total capitulation' to pro-Taliban forces, Pakistan signed a peace deal with tribal leaders in the North Waziristan region of Pakistan Tuesday, and is withdrawing military forces in exchange for promises that militant tribal groups there will not engage in terrorist activities.
Did We Just Lose?
To understand what this means, go back to our original purpose in invading Afghanistan. The government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, had an intimate relationship with Al Qaeda in the years leading up to 9/11. The Taliban gave Al Qaeda a safe haven in which to train and house recruits, a ‘home’ where Al Qaeda leaders could meet and plan.Well, if the Taliban violates the terms of their agreement, we will have a nice target-rich environment. The old adage of: "Give 'em enough rope" comes to mind. I bet some very nice satellites are being shifted around right now... Posted by DaveH at September 7, 2006 9:36 PM
After 9/11 we set out on a course of punishing the Taliban and denying Al Qaeda the use of this safe haven. Our purpose was not primarily to bring democracy to Afghanistan, or build schools for Afghan girls, but to improve our own security by denying Al Qaeda a secure base of operations.
The Taliban were overthrown. Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri escaped, along with a number of Taliban, over the border (we believe) into the Waziristan region in southern Pakistan. The Pakistani government — formerly the chief Taliban sponsor, but now an ally-of-convenience in the War on Terror — vowed to root them out, while forbidding us to do any of the rooting ourselves.
Now, after five years of futile efforts by the Pakistani government, they’ve signed a deal in which they promise to walk away if the Taliban behave themselves. It is a Pakistani surrender. They got beat, and now they are walking away.
But Waziristan — Talibanistan — is still legally under Pakistani sovereignty. So any US military action there will be a violation of same, and any tacit acquiescence by Pakistan’s military dictator, General Perfez Musharaf, would most likely bring down the general’s government.
In other words, Al Qaeda and the Taliban have traded Afghanistan for Waziristan, and gained this huge advantage: we dare not attack them there for fear of bringing Musharraf down.
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