Pakistan is NOT our ally

With the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden, it is time to face an uncomfortable truth. After a decade and trillions of dollars in aid, Pakistan is not really our friend or ally in the War On Terror. This has been evident for years, became obvious during the OBL capture, and is now something we can no longer ignore. During a recent set of sting operations on terrorist bomb-making factories, the Pakistani military or intelligence warned militants time and time again before raids

The two sites' locations in the tribal areas had been shared with the Pakistani government this past week, the officials said Saturday. The Americans monitored the area with satellite and unmanned drones to see what would happen.

In each case, within a day or so after sharing the information, they watched the militants depart, taking any weapons or bomb-making materials with them, just as militants had done the first two times. Only then, did they watch the Pakistani military visit each site, when the terror suspects and their wares were long gone, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters of intelligence.

It is an uncomfortable truth. But clearly it is time to scale back our aid to this nation, as we prepare to eventually pull out of Afghanistan.

Good News in the War on Terror

Finally some good news is being reported in the war on terror. CNN has up a story telling of how local civilians in Pakistan have formed a Militia to fight Taliban fighters in their area. About 400 Militiamen have taken up arms against the Taliban who recently detonated a bomb at a Mosque during Friday prayers. 40 people were killed and 80 other wounded. These people have had enough and are willing to fight back. The Pakistani military so far has supported the militia and has helped when requested. This is a great happening in the war on terror and should be encouraged.

In case you missed it, we invaded Syria on Sunday

Apparently, while Democrats were obsessed with the idea of Bush ordering an invasion of Iran before the election, Special Forces instead decided to enter Syria in pursuit of Al Qaeda. Syria is furious.

A U.S. military official said the raid by special forces targeted the foreign fighter network that travels through Syria into Iraq. The Americans have been unable to shut the network down in the area because Syria was out of the military's reach.

"We are taking matters into our own hands," the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids.

The attack came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the Syrian border, which he called an "uncontrolled" gateway for fighters entering Iraq.

Hopefully, this does not mean we are entering a new phase of the war. But some quotes from officials in the article make it sound like the military is trying to get in a few parting shots before the election.

Pakistani Opposition Leader Assassinated

I must admit that I have not been following the political debate in Pakistan very closely, but I know that a lot of people considered Benazir Bhutto a far better leader than President Pervez Musharraf. Others claimed she was the country's best hope for a truly democratic government. She has been a harsh critic of Musharraf, and has been imprisoned on multiple occasions for airing her views. She was assassinated in what appears to be a suicide bombing.

The bomber detonated as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

The number of wounded was not immediately known. However, video of the scene showed ambulances lined up to take many to hospitals.

The attack came just hours after four supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif died when members of another political party opened fire on them at a rally near the Islamabad airport Thursday, Pakistan police said.

Several other members of Sharif's party were wounded, police said.

Bhutto was participating in the parliamentary election set for Jan. 8, hoping for a third term as prime minister.

Will this be the end of opposition to Musharraf? Or it is more likely to create a martyr to the cause and crystalize dissent into outright revolution? Only time will tell. But additional unrest in Pakistan is likely to greatly hinder American attempts to keep the Taliban fighters from reorganizing.

Newt calls war on terror 'phony'

In a speech the other day, Newt Gingrich said that we are waging a phony war on terror. His point was not that there is not a war to be waged on terror groups, but that the way we have been approaching it has not been realistic.

"We've been engaged in a phony war," said Gingrich. "The only people who have been taking this seriously are the combat military."

I think that this is a serious critique of the way the war has been run - as opposed to when Edwards called it a bumper sticker war and totally discounted that it needed to be waged. Gingrich's point on the other hand was that if we want to win then we need to take out those things that support terror groups - namely monetary support, of which a large part comes from middle east oil. Energy independence was where he was going. I think he made a good point, though I think that the use of the word 'phony' might have been over stating the case - surely used for dramatic effect, he knew what he was doing.

I know there are some ethical concerns about him as a presidential candidate, but when listening to him work out a lot of the current issues in American politics makes me wonder if he really is the best person for the job. Granted right now he gets to work in general political theory and not actually have to work with others on the issues. At the very least he would make political debates interesting.

Bombing Plot on JFK Airport Foiled

Only a week after John Edwards declared the War on Terror a "bumper sticker", four men have been charged with plotting to blow up jet fuel flowing under New York's Kennedy Airport. Terrorism as a philosophy and methodology is alive and well.

"The devastation that would be caused had this plot succeeded is just unthinkable," said Roslynn Mauskopf, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, where the criminal complaint was filed.

The alleged ringleader of the plot, former JFK Airport employee Russell Defreitas, 63, was the only person in U.S. custody. Following his arrest Friday night, Defreitas appeared in Brooklyn federal court Saturday but did not enter a plea. He is scheduled to have a bail hearing next Wednesday.

Two other suspects are in custody in Trinidad. Abdul Kadir, a citizen of Guyana who has served as a member of the Guyanese Parliament and a mayor of the city of Linden, and Kareem Ibrahim, a citizen of Trinidad.

We need to understand that really the U.S. is fighting two wars. One, a war against Islamic Extremists who wish to subjugate the world under their dark rule. This war is similar to World War II or the Cold War. Two, we are fighting a war to get across to the world that Terrorism is unacceptable as a tool of war. This War is more like the movements to ban chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. If we do not win the first War, our children may live in a world shrouded in the shadow of tyranny. If we do not win the second war, our children may live in a world without certainty or safety, where every person with a gripe feels they have a right to harm others by any means.