Petraeus: Next two weeks key to whether the Pakistani government survives
James Forsyth 2:23pm
If you want an idea of how worrying the situation in Pakistan is, read this story from James Rosen:
The number of attacks against non-combatants in Pakistan doubled last year and US officials say they don't know what the Pakistani Taliban's aim is. The only thing that offers some reassurance is that command and control of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons is split up to the extent that the capital falling wouldn’t necessarily mean that control over the nuclear weapon passes to the insurgents.‘Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, has told U.S. officials the next two weeks are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will survive, FOX News has learned."The Pakistanis have run out of excuses" and are "finally getting serious" about combating the threat from Taliban and Al Qaeda extremists operating out of Northwest Pakistan, the general added.
But Petraeus also said wearily that "we've heard it all before" from the Pakistanis and he is looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining the United States' next course of action, which is presently set on propping up the Pakistani government and military with counterinsurgency training and foreign aid.
Petraeus made these assessment in talks with lawmakers and Obama administration officials this week, according to individuals familiar with the discussions.’
Hat Tip: Playbook
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Daniel Korski
May 1st, 2009 3:56pm Report this commentJames
The testimony that Michelle Flournoy, now a senior Pentagon official, gave to Congress on Pakistan is also worth reading.
You can find it here: http://armedservices.house.gov/pdfs/FC042909/Flournoy_Winnefeld_Testimony042909.pdf
She suggests a new funding mechanism -- the Counter-insurgency Capability Trust Fund -- to help boost Pakistan's capabilities. I see this as an internal US matter i.e how to sort out different funding lines, not a new answer to the problem raised in your post. But the focus in her evidence on the lack of US-Pakistani trust is interesting.
Rhoda Klapp
May 1st, 2009 4:02pm Report this comment"US officials say they don't know what the Pakistani Taliban's aim is."
Maybe to take control of the country?
"capital falling wouldn’t necessarily mean that control over the nuclear weapon passes to the insurgents."
Obama was strangely unequivocal about this in his press conference. He's not worried, which some take to mean US forces have some sort of controlling influence over the nukes.
London Calling
May 1st, 2009 4:07pm Report this commentUS officials say they don't know what the Pakistani Taliban's aim is?
1. To dodge the US drones on the
border with Afghanistan.
2. Recruit more members.
3. Collaboration with Iran.
4. Bio-terrorism?
jim
May 1st, 2009 4:43pm Report this commentI thought the goal of the Taliban was to create a Pashtun homeland, scrapping the Durand line. Thus reuniting the Pashtun groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan into one medieval country. Looks like they are about to succeed as well.
Kim O'Hara
May 1st, 2009 6:45pm Report this commentI'm afraid the Americans have failed to understand the tribal nature of Pakistan, particularly the differences between the Pathan frontier tribes, the source of the present crisis, and the Punjabis and Sindhis of the plains. I'm no fan of Pakistan, but I have to acknowledge that the Pathan miltants have no chance of seizing power because the other ethnic groups, and the Army, would not allow it.
Verity
May 2nd, 2009 1:36am Report this commentKim O'Hara - Thanks so much for your comment that "the Americans have failed to understand ...".
They are so naive, those colonials, don't you think? Their country is over 300 years of age - older than most countries on planet Earth - but I wish they had a State Department and people who could understand international politics! I wish they had a couple of decent universities, the poor sods, that could teach international politics and governance. And who could train people to develop the atom bomb, and the space technology to send people to other planets. And send units to take photos from Mars! I mean, they are just so naive - compared to Jack Straw and Ed Milliband who insulted the entire Cabinet of India by addressing them by their first names rather than their official titles, or whatever trash du jour is currently occupying a formerly great and powerful British government office...
It makes me just sick that these naive colonials they have "failed to understand" their brief as well as you understand it.
You are the type of person who makes the British look provincial and bitter.
KB
May 4th, 2009 2:42pm Report this commentDrudge has a pointer to this NYT report. There's something scary in every paragraph.
Nobody has yet mentioned how the ISI - whose ex-chief now controls the nukes - is riddled with Taliban/AQ sympathisers. Nor how strangely fatalistic Pakistan's politicians appear - what is it, their religion, some twisted form of noblesse oblige?
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