How are countries that are harboring terrorists our allies?

Question

I keep seeing people criticizing Obama's idea of invading Pakistan, stating that they are our allies....if they are our allies why would they let known Al Queda leaders take refuge in their country?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, reality rarely falls into "black and white".

As much as our idealism feels good, it rarely matches what is real. Pakistan and many other Islamic nations are trapped. They cannot "turn" on fellow Islamic peoples, yet don't want the attention of the United States or other peoples (numerous and growing) who are trying to disinfect the world of terrorism as a method of communication.

With our help, delicately applied rather than aggressively, we have managed to minimize Al-Qaeda's influence and effectiveness while not totally alienating a sovereign nation.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could just lump all nations into "good" and "bad".

Kind of like some of our own citizens try to do with us?

Answer 2

Musharraf is having a devil of a time in Pakistan. We have made him, and Pakistan, our Allies because though we don't like him much, he's better than the alternatives. He claims he wishes to eradicate Al Queda, but has been unable to do so. True or not, we have to step delicately into going into Pakistan. They have nukes, and though those nukes cannot reach the U.S., they can reach throughout the Middle East, where we have many interests, and where a nuclear holocaust just wouldn't be that hard to ignite.

I think that in principal, Obama is right. But after the last week, I'm a little put off by his naivete about dealing with heads of state. I can't help thinking about how JFK rushed into a head to head meeting with Khrushchev days after his inauguration, ignoring the advice that he needed to take more time to assess the situation, which resulted in a disastrous meeting that affected the Cold War in a very bad way. Now I worry that Obama, if elected, would make the same mistake and ignite not a cold war, but a very hot one. He's right, we have to deal with Al Queda in Pakistan, but I have doubts about his ability to do that without being ham handed about it.

Answer 3

It is not the government policy to harbor terrorists, but like any other country, the wack job groups that live inside their borders harbor terrorists. Hey you know what, those doctors that blew up a jeep in England were members of a group we consider an enemy, so was England harboring terrorists??

NO

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

it's way too complicated for a liberal. There are too many factions in that country that will protect terrorists, and the present administration is barely in power. The country possesses nuclear bombs. Read up on it before you ask such questions. It makes liberals look simple.

Answer 5

They don't exist to serve our interests, Pakistan cannot completely purge Al-Qaeda without seriously agitating a certain part of their population, if they did exactly what we wanted them to do, that is, completely massacre Al-Qaeda, there would be revolt and probably, a new fundamentalist government would take over... keep in mind that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, so it pays to be delicate.

Answer 6

You just keep calling them allies so when you invade, you have the element of surprise.

Obama is really on to something.

Answer 7

Saudi Arabia because of oil, Pakistan because it has 'the bomb' and the U.S, may need its active or passive support for military action against George's new enemy, Iran.

Answer 8

And you have some unequivocal evidence that Musharraf and his government are knowingly hiding OB and his boys? Or are you just guessing?

Answer 9

Obama's a chickenhawk. Hee!