So it looks like the army of Pakistan has Al Qaeda on the run - and maybe Mr. #2 has been cornered. What took so long? I don't mean this as a snarky bastard but really...what took so long? About 200 billion dollars has been spent in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as untold more on security upgrades every where. No doubt much was needed in any event but it sound like it is taking putting foot soldiers on the ground in mountain valleys. Not the most expensive highest tech warfare. I suppose the real key was Pakistan deciding it was going to get to it and squeeze Al Qaeda up against the western commandos of any number of nations working in the Afghan mountains.
If this works out well and the real dirty work is done by poor saps earning 40 buck a month which they send back to Mom in Islamabad, take the time to be grateful.
Comments
Robert Paterson - March 19, 2004 6:39 AM
The sad thing is that if they get him - will this help elect Bush?
Alan - March 19, 2004 6:47 AM
Nah - look at the polls. I think he is going to get hammered. He has built such a era of fear, even capturing Osama and his mamma won't change the mood in relation to terror and the people are really going to vote on the budget. He will lose on a massive Democratic turn out and a quiet Republican one.
Alan - March 19, 2004 7:18 AM
More here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3548833.stm.
Ikram - March 19, 2004 4:58 PM
What took so long? Please. Colin Powell was in Islamabad, and came with a $544 million cheque (in debt forgiveness) and an upgrade of PK status to 'major non-NATO ally' (which makes arms purchases easier). In exchange, Musharraf launched an attack on an ALQ stronghold in South Waziristan (part of the Federally-Administerd Tribal Areas). Quid pro Quo, heavy on the Quid.
The real question -- why didn't GWB bribe PK earlier? It may have saved some Spanish lives.