Today’s bombing in Lahore – the third major terrorist attack in Pakistan’s cultural capital this year – is likely retaliation for the Pakistan military’s recent operations in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). On April 24th, the military started operations to roll back the Taliban in the Buner, Dir and Swat Valley districts of the NWFP.
The latest incident demonstrates the militants are capable of attacking anywhere in the country. The militants are seeking to intimidate the Pakistani people and weaken Pakistani resolve in the fight against terrorism. In the past, such attacks have swayed public opinion in favor of peace talks instead of military operations.
However, this time we are likely to see a different reaction. The Pakistani public now seems to understand the ultimate objective of the Taliban is to undermine Pakistan’s democratic institutions nationwide. They also see that the Taliban militants have no intention to lay down their arms since they refused to do so even after President Zardari agreed to their demands in the Swat Valley in early April. One week after the government conceded in Swat, the Taliban moved in to the neighboring Dir district.
Pakistan has turned a corner in the fight against the Taliban in the last few weeks. The public and civilian leadership has finally galvanized behind the military to confront the Taliban militarily, rather than pursue peace deals. Any sign of retreat by the Pakistan military at this time would confuse the Pakistani public and revive international concern about stability in Pakistan.
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The problem with Pakistan is President Obama has not gone there to talk to the militants yet. I am positive that once the militants hear the voice of our President, they will see the light and realize that we can all live in peace and harmony!
Can I get an AMEN?
Or, we could just drop a nuke and solve the whole problem!
Can I get a hu-rah?
At least the Pakistani Army seems to understand that, should they lose to the Taliban, their heads would be first on the chopping block. The Army can at least be expected to fight hard.
The Pakistani Army may be compelled to take the necessary and difficult actions to reduce the Taliban threat. Unfortunately, the US and the Obama administration won't be much help. Other than keeping the Taliban from flooding back into Afghanistan, this is a Pakistani fight. It is interesting also to note that by taking and holding most of Afghanistan, the Bush administration actually compelled another Islamic nation to fight the radicals.
This is a good thing… Obama has committed so many foreign policy errors in his first few months, that they are starting to stack up. (for a list of the top ten foreign policy failures, you can hit:
http://firstconservative.com/blog/political-humor… )
The Pakistanis need to rid their country of Islamic militants on their own. US ineptitude in foreign affairs will prevent any assistance from Washington.
SUBSTITUTE OBAMACRATES FOR TALIBAN IN THIS ARTICLE AND YOU HAVE WHAT WE FACE IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC……THEY WILL HARRAS US UNTIL THEY "UNDERMINE" OUR INSTITUTIONS.THANKS FOR LEADING OUR DEFENSE AT THE GATES.
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