Is the West ready to get tough on Pakistan?

Verity

"...especially as Barack Obama makes snarling at Pakistan the biggest plank of his foreign policy."

Really, Fraser! Obama hasn't got a plan of "his foreign policy" because he's not in a position to have any foreign policy. No matter how he poses and postures, he's only a candidate, for God's sake!

Herbert Thornton

Fraser speculates on the possibility of another major terrorist attack, found to be plotted from the lawless Pakistani tribal areas and suggests that an Obama Presidency may be inclined to "move".

This seems to me to raise all sorts of questions. What, for example is the likelihood of finding proof of where they were planned? I suspect that the idea of global terrorism having what Fraser calls a nerve centre is what might be called conventional, World War II thinking. Pakistan's tribal areas are of course a strong possibility, but it seems to me to be entirely possible that they could be planned in Sudan, or Iran - or for that matter, London.

Also, what scale of attack does Fraser have in mind, and where? Would a repetition of the bombings in India within the last several days count?

Verity

I agree with Herbert Thornton. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio ...".

And why dress up the post with a photo of Obama? He has absolutely no official standing of any kind. He's just an aspirational, inyerface person.

John Maszka

My comment is on America's foreign policy. I think the best arrangement would be for the US to respect all other states' sovereignty and allow them to work out their own domestic politics. The US has played God so many times in other state's domestic affairs, and it has almost always come back to bite us.

We need to adopt a foreign policy that respects all other states' sovereignty, and allows for specific bilateral arrangements as needed without offsetting our overall multilateral commitments. This way, America can be the country that everyone else trusts. We can be the country that the world looks to for humanitarian assistant, economic assistant, technological assistance, and democratic leadership; rather than what we are today, feared and hated by the international community. How long can any state continue in such a way?

What if we were spending $500 billion/year feeding, educating and healing our own citizens, and repairing our own infrastructure? It wouldn’t be long before we could start extending those benefits to the rest of the world. Who would hate us for that? No state would want to be at war with such a country.

What other realistic choice do we have? As it stands, unless we intend to use nukes, or fight solely from the air, we can’t stand against nations such as Pakistan (or Iran) in traditional, boots on the ground combat; our military is far too small. Waging such a battle in a prolonged war against countless non-state actors is nothing short of insane, foolish and arrogant.

The most intelligent option we have is to adopt a new foreign policy that will ensure the all the current states of the world that the US no longer intends to encroach on their sovereignty (something the greater majority certainly do not believe today). That doesn't sound like Obama or McCain.

Consider Senator Obama. He’s just returned from a world tour, in which he proclaimed his intention to continue the military war on terror, and to take it to the soil of one of America’s own allies. It's ironic that Senator Obama has publicly proclaimed a unilateral policy of preemptive war, yet we still tend to associate Senator McCain with President Bush.

Now consider Senator McCain. He’s proclaiming the need to continue the military war on terrorism as well. How long will it be before either of these candidates has the United States in direct opposition to the greater Muslim world? Both candidates are blindly assisting the efforts to radicalize moderates against the United States. In this great political campaign, what we need is a candidate that understands that the hearts and minds of over a billion Muslim people hang in the balance; not between Obama and McCain, but between moderate and radical. And US foreign policy can tip the scales. What we need is a candidate that can wage war where it can be won, at the negotiating table.

Milliband Secondus

Any kind of western action in Pakistan is unthinkable. However with the boots on the ground that we have in Afghanistan, and the logistical ability it ought, with help of the Afghan army, to be possible to seal the border. If the Pakistanis then sealed their side of the tribal areas then presumably the problem could be contained?

Edward Rivers

Why does Ombama feel so much like blair 10yrs ago, Americans should heed the warnings of Brits who would say that youth and ambition does not always equal success. Blair fooled the Brits, don't let Obama fool the world.

Edward Rivers

The reason Obama is mentioned in relation to foreign policy, is he seems to be much of this debate. His middle Eastern visit seems to have sparked a new debate in western foreign policy.

Ian C

Fraser, you write as if you presume Obama is President already. And if you claim otherwise why not comment on your (presumbaly already researched) view about what the differences in the two candidates would mean in terms of policy on this?

Jonh Mazka, you seem to belong to the State Department school of thought that says everything can be negotiated. That has been tried for the past 30 years and more and failed. At this rate it is going to result in the US and Allies having to deal with both Pakistan and Iran all in one, if the current appeasement continues. If the Middle and Near East countries want to becoem part of the civilised world there are certain conditions that they need to meet, certain lines they cannot be allowed to cross any further. Which presidential candidate is most likely to deal with that most effectively?

Chris M

John Maszka

'Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun!'

It was declared on us.

We have to pursue and win by whatever means. The alternative is unthinkable. Capitulation is not an option.