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Resurgence of the Taliban in Pakistan: Hamid Mir

Commonwealth Club
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Bob B Avatar
Bob B
Posts: 14
Posted: 06.11.09, 02:08 PM
Hamid Mir has some great advices for both Obama’s administration and regular Americans travelling to Pakistan. I have particularly liked the question asked by a state department official who was advised by his colleges to grow beard in preparation for his trip.
Mir’s great sense of humor compounded by his hands-on experience as award-winning journalist is a source for a lively discussion on how US should engage Pakistan. I agree that it is important to differentiate between Taliban and Pakistan, although the US suspects that this country is currently a home of Osama bin Laden. It’s essential to understand that drone attacks will antagonize Pakistani people and ultimately create more suicide bombers rather that eliminate Al-Qaeda
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tsmitheugene503 Avatar
tsmitheugene503
Posts: 23
Posted: 06.11.09, 02:09 PM
The reason things have not yet changed is because Obama kept Robert Gates as his Secretary of Defense whom held that position with Bush in office. Didn't Obama learn from Bush's mistakes? Here is an article from The Australian explaining the damage that is being caused from our "drone attacks": http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...0-2703,00.html

"the latest Predator strike, and reports that Washington was intensifying its aerial bombardment, were likely to reinforce sentiment in favour of the militants and make it even more difficult to achieve peace."

This sounds all too familiar...
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pokerandwine Avatar
pokerandwine
Posts: 25
Posted: 06.11.09, 02:29 PM
I am not sure whether it's all Robert Gates' fault or Obama's fault in keeping him as a secretary of the state. As far as I remember, when running for the president Obama has already expressed willingness to use force against Pakistan in case there will be an evidence of terrorist activity. Anyway total damage caused by drone attacks can hardly be justified by the minor success in eliminating insignificant terrorist figures. Thanks for the article.
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