[quote]krstphr wrote:
I think the others mean that you can blame America all you want and I will agree we do things that inflame situations sometimes, [/quote]
In this particular case, there is no doubt in my mind that aerial raids that kill indiscriminately benefit the Talibans.
So yeah, let’s call it “inflame situations”.
Pakistan may not be overwhelmingly behind the Talibans, but given a choice between the US (even smiley Obama) and the Taliban, the country will rally behind the latter.
And that is what’s happening now.
The Talibans in Pakistan are a threat to the US mostly because of American military presence in the region. Your military went to Afghanistan to kick off Al-Qaeda and that was good. But on the way, Ben Laden and the rest were not much of a priority anymore. It became about expanding the sphere of influence and controling oil flow.
“What should be done”? I sincerely think the US should stay out of it. And here’s why: If your problem with the Talibans is that their ideology doesn’t live up to your standards of civil liberties, then it shouldn’t be any of your business. Just like their war with the Soviets back in the day should have been none of your business. On the other hand, if you fear that the Talibans will get it into their collective minds to come to the US and start slaughtering you, I doubt it. The Taliban government circa 2001 have condemned 9/11. And those folks don’t do diplomacy!
Despite what you may have been told, terrorist operations don’t require government support. If a group of people wants to blow up the subway in NY, they will do it regardless of the Talibans ruling villages in Waziristan.
If the issue is the Talibans getting their hands on nukes, they certainly wouldn’t use it to attack the US. The Talibans are not Al-Qaeda! And besides, India, Israel and Russia would be all over them (and by that, I mean annihilate the place) the minute they even think about doing something foolish.
The solution is education (compared to Afghans, Iraqis are all Nobel Prize laureates). Then, you’ll get more people rallying around pionner activists to push Talibans to the fringe. That takes time and, more importantly, peace.