COLLECTIVE MADNESS


“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."

Friday, October 23, 2009

Keep your fingers crossed

It looks as if the "militants" in Pakistan are overreaching. With any luck, we've reached a turning point in Pakistan:

Pakistan militants hit air force base
By CHRIS BRUMMITT, Associated Press Writer Chris Brummitt, Associated Press Writer 19 mins ago

ISLAMABAD – A suicide bomber on a bicycle attacked a major Pakistani air base on Friday, killing seven people in an escalating campaign that strikes at the heart of this nuclear-armed nation's security forces.

The strike was one of three bombings in northwest Pakistan that killed 24 people and wounded at least 28 as the army pushed a seven-day offensive deeper into al-Qaida and Taliban territory close to the Afghan border.

About 200 people have been killed this month in a string of militant attacks on military, police and civilian targets nationwide. The onslaught is undermining confidence in the U.S-backed government and risks sapping public support for the assault in South Waziristan.

The civilian government and politically powerful military are under intense international pressure to root out Islamist militants that are also blamed for rising attacks on U.S. and NATO troops across the frontier in Afghanistan.
Hopefully, the Pakis have determined that the Islamic threat is real. Before, they showed less than desirable resolve when it came to doing the hard work of waging a sustained and real war against their bad guys. As soon as they took too many casualties, they backed off and tried to make deals. Maybe, this time will be different. If it is, and the Pakis press the offensive, we could finally see some progress in Afghanistan. But don't be surprised if the UN tries to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by calling for cessation and peace talks.

8 comments:

  1. Terrorists strike air force base in Nuclear Pockeeston.

    Meanwhile, Obama escalates by deploying 40,000 more troops in the war against Fox News.

    ReplyDelete
  2. No, technically your post was to Debka, but okay ): ....WiO brought up the story in the previous thread.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. If Pakistan really did engage (and, stay engaged,) I could, perhaps, be convinced to look at the Afghanistan operation again.

    But, only if we get out of the "community organizing/plumbing" business, and back into the "killing the bad guys" business.

    Which, of course, we won't do; so the whole idea is a moot point.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Is there any validity to the idea I've seen bandied about that it's just a fight between the 'city' and the 'country'?

    The city folk being more easy in their ways, not really wantng to make much of an effort, till really forced to, the county folk looking down at the luxurious city, most often from above(high, in the mountains, higher elevations) desirous of a softer life below, envious?

    ReplyDelete
  5. heh, radio talk show just said Michael Moore had (has ?) stock in.........Haliburton :)

    Can't vouch, but that's what I just heard.

    This was on the Michael Medved show, interviewing some guy who has written a book on hypocrisy.

    Believe me, according this guy, if all his stories be true, there is so much hypocrisy, one best not make the accusation, least it be turned back on you.

    If you are pointing the finger of acccusation at the other person, you have three pointing back at you.

    I, of course, continue living my o so blameless life.

    I've never had any stock in Haliburton, and that, at least, is the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've never had any stock in Haliburton, and that, at least, is the truth, in bed

    ReplyDelete
  7. NATO ministers seem to have agreed to back a further effort.

    ReplyDelete