Newsweek: "The Silent Surge"

[Robb]

http://www.newsweek.com/id/235633">Pakistan's foreign minister on what his country is doing to combat militant Islamists.

Excerpts below, it's a terribly interesting interview, to be taken with the appropriate seasoning.

Aren't those fierce Pashtun mountain warriors that have taken down every empire?
"Every foreign empire. We are not foreigners. They do not look at us like aliens, but as saviors, because the people living in the tribal belt are sick and tired of the Taliban."

Is there a role for American drone strikes in the silent surge?
"People understand that drone strikes are a precise and superior technology that has taken out some well-known targets. The problem has been the collateral damage. The issue of sovereignty remains. We have used airfire of late and nobody has complained. A missile fired from one of our planes can also target innocents. But when a U.S. drone fires and kills, people complain. That is why we have been talking with the administration about transfer of technology. When you give us the ownership, we will face the consequences, as well."

[Warpy]

1. They have a point, actually

because people do tend to look at things a little differently if they come from "friendly fire" rather than some foreign devil. It's also true that most people are sick of the Taliban, who are rather like the televangelist crowd as they tote their holy writ and put Caligula to shame with their habits.

Musharraf coddled the Taliban and the al Qaeda they were sheltering in Pakistan and Stupid's administration coddled Musharraf. Those days are over. The last thing urban Pakistan wants or needs is to be overrun by the crazed and corrupt Taliban. At last, they're taking the threat seriously.

[lumberjack_jeff]

2. Transfer of technology? To Pakistan? Anyone remember AQ Khan?

Someone od'd on stupid pills.

[Robb]

3. I think he probably figures

"...Well, no chance in hell, but it never hurts to ask?" :D

[eleny]

4. Mortenson's books about building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan...

.... make this feel close to home even though it's the other side of the world.