Pakistan's Push in Border Areas Said to Falter (militants gain strength)

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Pakistan's Push in Border Areas Is Said to Falter
By CARLOTTA GALL and MOHAMMAD KHAN
Published: January 22, 2006


PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Jan. 19 - Two years after the Pakistani Army began operations in border tribal areas to root out members of Al Qaeda and other foreign militants, Pakistani officials who know the area say the military campaign is bogged down, the local political administration is powerless and the militants are stronger than ever.

Both Osama bin Laden, who released a new audiotape of threats against the United States this week, and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, are believed to be living somewhere in the seven districts that make up these tribal areas, which run for more than 500 miles along the rugged Afghan border and have been hit by several American missile strikes in recent weeks.

The officials said they had been joined by possibly hundreds of foreign militants from Arab countries, Central Asia and the Caucasus, who present a continuing threat to the authorities within the region.

The tribal areas are off limits to foreign journalists, but the Pakistani officials, and former residents who did not want to be identified for fear of retribution, said the militants - who call themselves Taliban - now dispensed their own justice, ran their own jails, robbed banks, shelled military and civilian government compounds and attacked convoys at will. They are recruiting men from the local tribes and have gained a hold over the population through a mix of fear and religion, the officials and former residents said.

An American military official in Afghanistan, in an e-mail response to questions about Pakistan's tribal areas, said: "I believe this region is going through a period of revolutionary change, in which moderates and extremists fight for the future of their nations. And with vast, lawless areas in which Taliban-style justice holds sway, Pakistan faces serious challenges." The official agreed to comment only on the condition of anonymity....


http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/international/asia/22pakistan.html?pagewanted=all

[thebigidea]

1. of coure they are bogged down. They don't want to fight for us.

who the fuck wants to get bogged down in some bloody civil war for George Bush?

If Bush was really serious about this "terror" crap, we would've heard a lot more about Pakistan on the teevee instead of Iraq and Iran.

We bombed and regime changed Afghanistan for "harboring terrorists" - why is Pakistan given a free pass? Especially if these fucking "tribal regions" aren't even under the control of Pakistan?

some cowardly missile strikes aren't going to flush 'em out. They need people on the ground, and not some asshole warlord stooges that'll play both sides against the middle.

[arewenotdemo]

3. Could not agree more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This has been blindingly obvious forever.

But I'm sure some of our fellow DU'ers will have a different slant.

;-)

[arewenotdemo]

2. This is SO fucking ridiculous

If this area is "autonomous", then as far as I can see it's not REALLY part of Pakistan (proper, if you will). What EVER prevented the U.S. from going in and taking care of business??? Does anyone here really think the U.S. doesn't have a replacement-in-waiting for Musharraf if he bites the dust?

And how in the fuck can the US media refer unhesitatingly to Pakistan as an "ally in the war on terror" when the conventional wisdom has it providing refuge to Bin Laden, Zawahiri, et. al????

[IndianaGreen]

4. Musharraf is a military dictator that came to power via a coup

I won't shed any tears when he is blown to bits by an angry countryman of his.

I won't shed any tears when the military dictatorship of overthrown by an angry population.

And neither should any of you!

[arewenotdemo]

6. Might take a coup now or then to clean up any nest of vipers

[lovuian]

5. My Biggest fear is Mushareff the Bush puppet gets kicked out

and the militants get in and have Pakistan's nuclear bombs... thats a freakin Nightmare...