Working With Liars And Thieves

September 14, 2009: Twice in last two months, there has been rocket fire across the border in Punjab (a huge province divided between Pakistan and India). While such attacks have declined since peace talks began five years ago, the fact that they continue indicates lack of discipline in the Pakistan military, or inability to halt the operations of Islamic terrorists on their side of the border. India believes there are major terrorist training camps in Pakistani Punjab, pretending to be religious schools, and tolerated by local officials, who are either sympathetic to the Islamic radicals, or terrorized by them (or both). Pakistan has tolerated Islamic radicals for decades. This was originally thought to be a way to make the country stronger (or at least more honest and disciplined.) But that has backfired, as the Islamic radicals are more interested in fighting among themselves, or overthrowing the government to establish a religious dictatorship.

In Pakistani Waziristan, air raids and attack helicopters have killed hundreds of Taliban, and caused over 120,000 civilians to flee their homes. But the army is reluctant to advance on the ground, preferring to attack the Taliban from the air. This is giving air force jet fighter-bombers their heaviest exposure to combat operations since the 1970s. Also today, another Hellfire attack on a Taliban safe house took place, the third in a week.

Former military dictator of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf , admitted that he diverted billions of dollars worth of American military aid, meant for operations against Islamic terrorists, to build up Pakistani military forces facing India. Musharraf made no apology for this criminal behavior, saying he did it for the good of Pakistan. The U.S. has since put more restrictions on aid to Pakistan, but it is expected that the Pakistanis will continue to steal and divert American aid, and lie about it to the U.S.