[jthomas1600]

OK. So the Iraq wars been going for 8 years the Afghanistan war is growing in scope and intensity and what the heck is going on in Pakistan. I've linked a recent AP article. The Taliban are not just being a nuisance in Pakistan, they are bordering on sustaining a genuine military campaign. With the proximity of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran does it even do any good to confront one with out confronting them all. By waging a war in Afghanistan are we just driving the Taliban into Pakistan? Is it possible the Taliban could actually take over the Pakistan government at least part of it? US politicians seem to be down playing this possibility, but I don't know. Anyway, wondering what everyone else thinks.

The Facts

For those not real familiar with the area, this map shows the close proximity of these nations.

[nolidad]

OK. So the Iraq wars been going for 8 years the Afghanistan war is growing in scope and intensity and what the heck is going on in Pakistan. I've linked a recent AP article. The Taliban are not just being a nuisance in Pakistan, they are bordering on sustaining a genuine military campaign. With the proximity of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran does it even do any good to confront one with out confronting them all. By waging a war in Afghanistan are we just driving the Taliban into Pakistan? Is it possible the Taliban could actually take over the Pakistan government at least part of it? US politicians seem to be down playing this possibility, but I don't know. Anyway, wondering what everyone else thinks.

Sadly you are very correct. Al-Queda and the Taliban have many safe havens in Palistan and the borders are near impossible to close due to the terrain. We must also remember that Pakistan is not doing much to overthrow Islamic radicals in their border and they are a nuclear power in the region!

With these activities and with Iran increasing its nuclear capabilities- it is no wonder that the US is retrofitting the B-2 Stealth fleet to hold the 30,000lb. M.O.P. bunker buster bomb.

[Ax]

We can't just go in, and with this weekend's attacks, we may be asked for help their, or at least the U.N. Of course the Pakistani army may want to fight this themselves. You can't just go in without clearance and we'd need that. Although, I agree that if your foe is where you are not, you should go to where they are, but you have to do it without starting another international crisis.

[Epaphras]

It's tough because if we simply left Afghanistan, the borderland between Afghanistan and Pakistan would like fall (back) to the Taliban and Al Qaida. But we can't go into a sovereign country...but then again what worth is an arbitrary political border through the mountains in a situation like this?

I'm less likely to blame Pakistan -- the area is a true wilderness/Wild West, and they have very little control over it. Our hands are tied as long as they won't let us go in there. It can be interpreted either as Pakistan harboring them, or they simply want to save face by doing it themselves. It may actually be a pride issue, where they don't want to ask for help. They've done it before (refused to ask for help) after natural disasters and such.

All of it is made more delicate by the fact that a) there are violent fundamentalist elements within the Pakistani power structure/government, and b) they are nuclear. What a mess.

[nolidad]

All of it is made more delicate by the fact that a) there are violent fundamentalist elements within the Pakistani power structure/government, and b) they are nuclear. What a mess.

This is an understatement.

[JerryLove]

Yes. The Taliban is actually from Pakistan. It's a big problem for that country.

[ICTHUS]

Originally Posted by Epaphras

But we can't go into a sovereign country...

QFT

If only this doctrine had been respected by previous American (and Canadian) administrations.