Terrorist Attack in Mumbai - The Indian 9/11

• News Report via NYT Source.
• Photos via getwonder.com. (Warning: Some images are graphic.)

Pakistani Elect - Victims or Secret Supporters?

Pakistan's president claims that the Mumbai, India attacks were directed not only at India, but also at the peace process. [We are no to blame! We are victims too! Please continue sending us money Barak!]


President Zardari of Pakistani is kinda shady. We've seen this kind of empty apology during peace talks many times before. Frankly, I don't like him. I know he was democratically elected, but still, that doesn't mean that he is above corruption. Zardari seems typical of the Middle Eastern political scene - corrupt to the core and trying to put a nice sorry face to the West so they can continue to get the Billions of dollars in aid to be siphoned off to some Swiss account.

Nevertheless, I feel like it is important to support the democratically elected government in Pakistan and not erroneously and somewhat irresponsibly blame them for the attacks just because terrorist may live within their borders. By constantly undermining and pressurizing the government, the world would weaken the government's ability to fight these terrorists...

If only we had President Dwayne Palmer from the 6th season of 24 on hand! He would find a way (with Jack Bauer's help, of course) to covertly scare Pakistani officials into expediting their search for terrorists and make peace agreements with their neighboring allies.


I'm just kidding. Coercion is effective in television dramas only. It is my general political opinion that nations must be left alone to suffer. It is not the responsibility of this nation to protect foreign innocents who suffer at the hands of their oppressors. Although tragic, our military solution is not the best solution. (I'll continue my thoughts on foreign policy in another post.)

An immediate fire that needs to be put out, from what I've read, is the Pakistani government's tolerance for jihadists operating from within their borders. Apparently, Pakistan has been permitting extremists to keep Afghanistan and India on Edge, but they are now having trouble differentiating the "good" terrorists from the "bad terrorists--the ones who set off bombs within Pakistan. I think President Zardari would see great success in stabilizing foreign relations by petitioning NATO for more troops in Pakistan to help fight their own war on terror. But in order to be effective, NATO will have to send increased troops into neighboring countries, such as Afghanistan, as well.

Yes, the world ought to push Pakistan to do more. But we must also realize and appreciate that despite the corruptness, they are making sacrifices and small steps forward as a growing nation, barely 50 years old. We should give this elected government a chance and their early conduct has shown that they do mean business.

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Listening to: Joe Hisaishi - Princess Mononoke