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Topic: If US widens Afghan war, what wil Harper do?
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Frustrated Mess
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8312
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posted 25 July 2007 04:43 PM
quote:
The Bush Administration may be preparing to lash out at old ally Pakistan, which Washington now blames for its humiliating failures to crush al-Qaida, capture its elusive leaders, or defeat Taliban resistance forces in Afghanistan.One is immediately reminded of the Vietnam War when the Pentagon, unable to defeat North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong forces, urged invasion of Cambodia. Sources in Washington say the Pentagon is drawing up plans to attack Pakistan’s "autonomous" tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Limited "hot pursuit" ground incursions by US forces based in Afghanistan, intensive air attacks, and special forces raids into Pakistan’s autonomous tribal region are being evaluated.
Eric Margolis
From: doom without the gloom | Registered: Feb 2005
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jester
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11798
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posted 26 July 2007 06:49 AM
The idiot in the White House may have an endless supply of stupidity but he has a very limited supply of cannon fodder. If the US does mount cross border incursions,they will be small SF operations with specific,limited objectives.Even the big Dick in the administration can't be dumb enough to create another 160 million enemies by endorsing indiscriminate military action in western Pakistan but if he and the administration are,Canada's contingent in Afghanistan will face much greater danger. These two arseholes insist on creating geopolitical enemies out of people who's concerns are rooted in economic,not political difficulties. Harper is attempting to distance Canada from offensive military action,emphasising reconstruction of both infrastructure and civil authority. If he endorses military adventurism against Pakistan,he will be history in Canada. Support for Canada's involvement in Afghanistan is now 50/50 but if Harper does not disavow any sort of Pakistan incursion,that support will plummet.
From: Against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain | Registered: Jan 2006
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unionist
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11323
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posted 26 July 2007 09:25 AM
quote:
Originally posted by jester:
Harper is attempting to distance Canada from offensive military action,emphasising reconstruction of both infrastructure and civil authority.
How's he doing so far? quote:
If he endorses military adventurism against Pakistan,he will be history in Canada.
Really? What if Al-Qaeda launches an attack against Toronto from its base in Pakistan? Oh, I understand, then it wouldn't be "offensive" military action, and it wouldn't be military "adventurism", right? You see, I'm always skeptical about a "critique" that says, "if Harper does such-and-such, it'll be really bad". It often implies two things: 1. Everything he has done to date has been fine. 2. If he actually does do such-and-such in the future, check back with me and see what I'm saying then. Canada has zero (0.00) business having armed people in Afghanistan. If you can justify that, then you can justify anything.
From: Vote QS! | Registered: Dec 2005
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West Coast Greeny
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 6874
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posted 26 July 2007 10:16 AM
Even Bush isn't dumb enough to take action against Pakistan. Period. American military action in the frontier zone would increase support to replace Mushareff with an even more radical dictator, likely fundamentalist in nature. Remember that this is a country with over 150 million people, a country locked in one of the worlds most contentous border disputes, a country with nuclear weapons.Furthermore, even if Bush wanted to pursue action against Pakistan, I don't think he could. His troops are already busy in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he certainly doesn't have the political capital to start drafting citizens. The Pentagon draws up plans all the time. Wasn't there a thread here discussing how they drew up a plan to invade Canada in the '20s? It won't happen. Maybe they would drop a bomb on Bin Laden if they find him there, but otherwise, it just won't happen.
From: Ewe of eh. | Registered: Sep 2004
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Frustrated Mess
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 8312
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posted 26 July 2007 10:21 AM
To answer my own question: quote:
PENTAGON and State Department officials have said US special forces will enter Pakistan if they have specific intelligence about an impending terrorist strike against the US, despite warnings from Pakistan that it will not accept US troops operating independently inside its borders.The statements on Wednesday were the clearest assertion yet of the Bush Administration's willingness to act unilaterally inside tribal areas in north-western Pakistan where al-Qaeda's commanders are believed to have taken refuge.
SMHMeanwhile ... quote:
The Pakistani military says the country has successfully test fired its nuclear-capable radar-dodging cruise missile.A military statement says the indigenously developed Babur (Hatf-VII) missile has a range of 700 kilometres and "near stealth" properties. The missile was last tested in March and first fired in 2005, since then its range has been increased from 500 kilometres.
Australia Broadcasting[ 26 July 2007: Message edited by: Frustrated Mess ]
From: doom without the gloom | Registered: Feb 2005
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jester
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 11798
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posted 26 July 2007 04:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by unionist:
How's he doing so far?
Heading for a majority government  
From: Against stupidity, the Gods themselves contend in vain | Registered: Jan 2006
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