U.S. Hopes to Use Pakistani Tribes Against Al Qaeda, blares a New York Times headline. The article outlines a new military proposal to arm, finance and support tribesmen in the now war torn tribal regions of northern Pakistan, to fight against invading Taliban from the west. the plan calls for shipping in men and equipment en-mass into Pakistan in order to train and arm these so called "friendly" tribals to the teeth.
One shudders to think of the sheer stupidity and the severe short sightedness of American military policy as it was arming so called "friendly" Mujahideen in the 80's that has brought Afghanistan to its present state. Now the U.S is proposing to repeat its mistake for good measure in Pakistan with no thought of whats going to happen to all these armed "friendly"tribals after the dust settles. What of the extremely fragile political situation in the country? what of the Pakistani public that doesn't want anything to do with America or its war, and what of the ever present and growing Anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.
Its not that big a stretch of the imagination to see these tribesmen, at best using the American's own weapons and training against them or at worst using them against the government and people of Pakistan and taking over a nuclear state.
Either outcome would be disastrous for all involved.
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