Moving to the Final Round
By Rai Azlan • Dec 4th, 2009 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 11 CommentsFinally one of the most awaited speeches has been made. I have heard President Obama’s Speech in which he announced the plans of U.S. regarding the troops in Afghanistan. Since this speech had been aired, it has become a reason to talk and a topic to discuss. According to New York Times; Leading Democratic and Republican senators broadly endorsed the new approach, but coupled their endorsement with specific, pointed criticisms; they questioned the capacity of the Afghan army to grow as quickly as the president hopes, and raised doubts about the wisdom of setting a target date to begin withdrawal.
To me in the plan about which this speech was made, Mr. Obama tried to make the both ends. He was having a great pressure from the congress where the both forces were having a critical game of “Tug of War” were no doubt he was being used as the rope. He had a pressure from the right wing to send more troops in Afghanistan and on the other side his own home “democrats” were forcing him to withdraw the army from Afghanistan.
Taking the army out of the Afghanistan is a thing which can be done at the time when this battle is turning into useless war. But U.S. can not suddenly withdraw army because there have been no great achievement in the Afghanistan in past 8 years, even the government of Karzai have no credibility and in such situation the so called nation building process has almost turn into smoke. Therefore Obama has announced to deploy 30,000 additional troops, he further says mentioning the withdrawal of troops “Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces, and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011. Just as we have done in Iraq, we will execute this transition responsibly, taking into account conditions on the ground.”
On the performance of Karzai’s government he said “The days of providing a blank check are over” and “We expect those who are ineffective or corrupt to be held accountable.” He also announced to support Afghan Ministries, Governors, and local leaders that combat corruption and deliver for the people. Addressing to Afghani people Obama says, “I want the Afghan people to understand - America seeks an end to this era of war and suffering. We have no interest in occupying your country”.
On Pakistan he said; “We are in Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading through that country. But this same cancer has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan. That is why we need a strategy that works on both sides of the border.”
“We will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to target those groups that threaten our countries, and have made it clear that we cannot tolerate a safe-haven for terrorists whose location is known, and whose intentions are clear.”
in this speech the phenomena of DO MORE is still there, and now what is the role Pakistan has to perform on a point where U.S. is going to have a decisive round of war in Afghanistan. The first thing to rationalize the relation with U.S. Pakistan is said to be the strategic partner of U.S. in this war and so far Pakistan have faced the adverse effect of this expedition. Over the years the slogan of Do More has come up with louder voice. Pakistan need to have a strong stance to get the best out of this situation because the changing direction of air, some way or the other, will affect the Pakistan.
Even after the exit of U.S. from Afghanistan, Pakistan will remain a center of importance in the region as whoever makes government in Afghanistan will need support from Pakistan to insure the stability of the government. The hold of India on the western side of Pakistan border is a threat but it does not seem to be an affordable and do able operation for India after the exit of U.S. and the main reason is the fact of not having a direct border with Afghanistan, and if India want to keep a trade link with Afghanistan; the importance of Pakistan is still there. So not only Afghanistan but also America and India, some how, is dependent on Pakistan for the hold in the region.
So considering this speech and future expectations. Think tanks and authorities of Pakistan must take some serious steps and have some good plans to meet the emerging need of hour. Pakistan also has to take stance because U.S. is looking for some one to blame and to throw the whole responsibility of this whole 8 years long ineffective operation. So far there is no such big achievements have been made by U.S. in this war in Afghanistan. None of the higher leadership from Al-Qaida has been grabbed so far. So Pakistan need to be ready for some blames from the super power, to cover the inability to perform well and achieving the targets.
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A freelance Writer, an Activist, A blogger, potential Entrepreneur, an Icon in the Making, currently doing his MSc in Marketing, love the world of books, explore the world as a traveler, meat people from different wals of life and known as social animal. However still a student of life.
Rai Azlan blogs at http://MyLandPakistan.com and you can follow him on twitter @Rai_Azlan
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Rai Azlan — Above all it-never was a war. It’s & occupation. There is no standing enemy army. Its just angry peasants with guns. Any military would have trouble with people taking a few shots at your back from a mountain then running away.
However try to at Maximum Extent — US will pull out when it feels it has accomplished its goal. The goal is: wipe out the Taliban but it is just as an OPEN EYE Dream & i.e. impracticable & absolutely impossible so that occupation is going to be eternal = D Soviets failed. US have already failed too = D it’s much easier to say go across the border & finish them-all than to do.
Taliban is first of all with full of spiritual order & secondarily military high side spirit. Americans do not understand even ready to get this Phenomena that Fighting the spiritual things is hopeless with all those ideas of sacrifice to Allah Jj, martyrdom, etc Afghanis & ISI Backed Pakistanis are un-defeatable. Why do not you/the West understand Pakistani Army is not ready to Leave Taliban Force so be ready for the more martyrs the more new comers will wish to enter the martyrdom. Its a war for drugs & Caspian oil Route of Central Asian Countries.
Kiya Durgat Bun Rahee Hay Yehan American, Brits Or Nato Ally-
Pakistan-o-Afghanistan – Yehan Jaisay Inko Milna tha Doodh Malaey-
Buss Thora Arsa Aur Deikhna Yehee Hoga America Jo De-Ga Do-Haeey-
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091004/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan
US is keeping world busy in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan Issues.Prosperous war industry is backbone of US economy and this way they are earning more than their expectation.If you compare the data of causalities of US troops from Vietnam to Afghanistan one can easily find see the difference.like
In Korean war deaths are 36574 out of 326863
Vietnam war deaths 58000 out of 549000
first gulf war 467 out of 700000
second gulf war 4500 115000
In Afghanistan 929 71000 +30,000 more in this month,
So in last case among this 900 men most of them were died on accident like situation and only 50% causalities were done on the basis of one to one fight.
So what is on hue and cry ,loss of 450 soldiers in 6 year war is no big deal and in return how much arms deals they made is more to be concentrated.
Obama has also come under the pressure of last regime,other wise all knows that if they didn’t get control the third rated army of Alqaeda in last 7 years so how will they go for victory in coming years.
They want to keep us busy in war games and will extract maximum benefits through our strategic weakness which is being prominent more as we are indulging in war activities.
Nobody can think of development, peace and prosperity if our army would be busy in borders and due to these attacks our urban side is highly disturbed.Young cream is desperately looking for opportunity to fly away for safe destination and on providing chance they are doing so.Left over we have will die hard criminals or incompetent corrupt people who is taking control of state matters.
US economy is in shambles. May be war is getting some people ugly amount of money in US but thats about it.
Nazia is spot on.
I expect more attacks inside Pakistan so that it will blame all on RAW of India. A war with India will do nicely for this Military Industrial complex of USA.. They cannot sell weapons to china. India is the only country with dollars and Pakistan must do its part to thin it.
The Army leadership or Civilian leadership of Pakistan will not ask for Nuke power status for Pakistan but will ask for defanging Indian nukes.Nukes of Pakistan and India are required for PEACE IN SUBCONTINENT
@ 4 Blaming RAW for attacks in Pakistan was the story of the past since now it is proven that India is involved in helping militants in Balochistan and Waziristan.
It seems contradictory raising militancy on one hand and asking for PEACE on the other hand!!!!!!!!!!
@ Saima….u r right
@5
our rehman malik says that India is involved behind this mess in front of our media but on the other hand he took no time to give evidence and wanted terrorists to India and Iran by officially proving that terrorists supply line is coming from Pakistan.
You people trust Dr Pervaiz hoodbhoy just review his analysis and then try to notice what he actually is pointing in this column under the heading”is it really India”.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/world/12-is+it+really+india–bi-04
Saima, Aisha,
We in India love balochs who are secular if allowed.But we donot condone terrorism. This proof you are talking give it to world and show to world
Recently during the fight in Waziristan weapons that were found being in use by the militants were of Indian origin and also the numbers dialled by them were of Indian embassy,and it seems naive shunning the truth that India isnt causing disturbance in Balochistan.Why does India has several embassies in Afghanistan near Pakistan border?Are you people naive of the fact that Bramdagh Bugti is getting financial aid from India in Afghanistan under the auspices of Karzai and the mayhem he has created in Balochistan can only be felt by those punjabi’s living in Balochistan.Recently i went to Quetta and every one there knew the covert involvement of RAW and CIA there.
@ Johann definitelt he ll never acknowledge the fact of indian involvement ,but i am amused to find Nazia shunning the truth only by agreeing to one article?I can recommend many articles supporting my stance if its just the game of one article..
I would quote Irfan Hussain here,
In his recent article in Dawn he wrote “……a conversation I had a couple of years ago with a visiting Western journalist in Lahore.He covered Pakistan for news weekly from New Delhi,and was a frequent visitor.I said something inane about how he must miss the social scene in Delhi.His reply surprised me.
“I love visiting Pakistan because when i write a critical piece about India,my Indian acquaintances are furious with me.In Pakistan,when i write something negative,everybody agrees with me.”
I think thats what is we are encountering in Pakistan.Definitely blaming everything on India isnt a prudent approach as India does after every mishap there but negating the truth as manifested every now and then isnt pragmatism as well.
@ Johann we in Pakistan and particularly in Balochistan know how much India love Balochs lol…
Kindly keep your bucket of love on the other side of the border without meddling in Balochistan..No one needs your shower of love here.
@9
you know waizirsatan is a place where all kind of weapons are made in small houses and caves.Here arms like lever actions rifles to sniper , machine guns, automatic guns, anti aircraft guns,Russians KK and AK47 or Indian M4 and all kinds of pistols and revelovers are found abundant in their local ware house.These geniuess people just need a sample of any design of fire arms and in weeks they can make same like that.
All over the country the people and tribal groups go there to buy latest arms from waziristan.They just pick them and give them money and after that it is job of army supplier to supply it to their destinations in proper packing.All over the country the arms are supplied from there.In this business whole network of private and govt people are involved.
I am not dependent on one report but I rely on ground realities and want to probe the real matters through relevant people.You know since our army is involved in war games, the job of rangers in Lahore,cholistan and Kashmir borders have relaxed a lot as Indian army has become clam too.
If ordinary citizens make funny claims like that then we should ignore him but if people know the culture of this area or army men make unrealistic comments then it is just accounted as part of propaganda to cover up efficiency of our LEA and weakness of our system.
If I am Indian agent I just spend dollars or money and all kinds of arms can be supplied to my desired place.