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The Overt War in Pakistan
September 11, 2008 | Posted by Kip - 8:40am | 33 Comments
Kip thinks the apparent decision to overtly undertake commando operations in Pakistan is a positive step. There is simply no way to win in Afghanistan without going after sanctuaries in Pakistan.
That said, our focus has to be on defeating the underlying social, economic, and governance issues that allow these sanctuaries to exist, including urgent repair of the Frontier Corps.
Pakistan will continue to complain that the US is violating its sovereignty. Either Pakistan is a sovereign state capable of preventing santuary, or it isn't. You can't claim the rights of sovereignty simultaneous to claiming you can't control the area from which attacks are being launched against another sovereign state. And certainly you can't have your military and intelligence agencies participate in attacks against another sovereign state and claim immunity.
Ali Zadari and General Kayani have some tough choices to make in the coming days. While going unilaterally into Pakistan may not be a "good" idea, it is at this point better than allowing this sanctuary to remain unchallenged--a hail mary pass late in the fourth quarter.
That said, our focus has to be on defeating the underlying social, economic, and governance issues that allow these sanctuaries to exist, including urgent repair of the Frontier Corps.
Pakistan will continue to complain that the US is violating its sovereignty. Either Pakistan is a sovereign state capable of preventing santuary, or it isn't. You can't claim the rights of sovereignty simultaneous to claiming you can't control the area from which attacks are being launched against another sovereign state. And certainly you can't have your military and intelligence agencies participate in attacks against another sovereign state and claim immunity.
Ali Zadari and General Kayani have some tough choices to make in the coming days. While going unilaterally into Pakistan may not be a "good" idea, it is at this point better than allowing this sanctuary to remain unchallenged--a hail mary pass late in the fourth quarter.
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