Militant Muslims try to kill Musharraf again, why no press?

I have heard, and I don't know if this is true, that the U.S. has a contingency plan for this type of situation. Should there be a coup (and the U.S. finds out in time), it is rumored that we already have strike forces ready to immediately go in and either take out or take control of all the nuclear missile facilities in the country. Again, I don't know how credible this is, but I've heard it a couple of different times.

 

Scary situation all around though. Many analysts rate Pakistan as the biggest threat to the U.S. (in the form of a coup) - who knows what hell would be unleashed if that happens. If nothing else, that country isn't dirt poor and has a pretty damn strong conventional military as well.

 

It was the first thing I saw on CNN when I turned it on after the Rox game.

 

Ottomaton,

Sent you an email.

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It is ironic that this happens on the anniversary of Jinnah's birthday.....or perhaps it is symbolic.


Several possible reasons for the attacks on Musharraf:

<a HREF="http://www.saag.org/papers9/paper871.html">AFTER MUSHARRAF, WHAT?</a>

The apparent proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Technolgy by Pakistan and/or its leading scientists is very troubling.


I am not sure that taking control of the Pakistani <i>Government</i> could be done by Islamic militants alone. The Pakistani military has some elements that are sympathetic to the fundamentalist cause and it would probably take an alliance between the two groups to allow the takeover to occur and be sustained.

 

I have read those same type of scenarios, but the reaction in the Muslim world will be terrible if the <i>Islamic Bomb</i> is taken away.

A really bad situation if things go the wrong way.

 

There are two extremely big counterbalances to Pakistan in the immediate area, China and India. For some weird accidents of history and hatred of communism, were are more friendly with Pakistan home of the autocrats and terrorists than we are with India.

 

Heh, I'm in Islamabad (20 minute drive from Rawalpindi) right now.

 

Musharraf has really had to play ball with us these past two years. It isn't talked about in the press, but many elements in Pakistan financed or assisted in 9/11.

Most of all, Unocal's gigantic natural gas pipeline project would run through Afghanistan (where have I heard of that country before now?) and Pakistan. Something else that gets kept out of the press.

 

i think the assasination attempt isnt getting that much coverage because some people in pakistan believe these attempts to be staged (at least the first attempt 10 days ago was thought to have been staged. not sure what the thoughts on the most recent one are yet)

as for pakistan's role/hand in terrorism around the world, youre correct, it isnt talked as much as it needs to be. but once in a while, there are some stories that come out. heres some:

- Pakistan is Jihad's Incs Global HQ
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34696

- Pakistan helped Afghan al-Qaeda
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7262880^1702,00.html

- Holy War 101 - Newsweek takes a scary look at the University of Jihad in Pakistan. the madrassa schools in Pakistan continue to churn out students of Jihad
http://www.msnbc.com/news/996640.asp

- Barry Bearak has written a terrific report for the New Yorks Magazine on one of the undeclared members of the Axis of Evil...Pakistan
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20612FF3A5E0C748CDDAB0994DB404482

- Are you ready for Jihad? Pakistan's Madrassa schools churning out Islamobots, who are eager to kill the infidels.
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Nightline/World/pakistan_antiamericanism031026-1.html

- Pakistans Jihad Culture
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20001101faessay940/jessica-stern/pakistan-s-jihad-culture.html

- The University of Holy War...Again the madrassa's in Pakistan busily turning out hate-filled ISlamobots eager to slaughter the kaffirs
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3155112.stm

- Washington Post editorial on Pakistan's continued support for the Taliban
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49233-2003Oct31.html

 

Ottomaton,

Sent another email.

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This article goes into some detail on the possible groups involved against Musharraf.

<a HREF="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-12-2003_pg3_1">EDITORIAL: Who could it be?</a>

An editorial about Pakistan's involvement in nuclear technology proliferation:

<a HREF="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-12-2003_pg3_2">Op-ed: Nuclear issue and decision- making</a>

An interesting read on the challenges facing Musharraf:

<a HREF="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_29-12-2003_pg3_3">Op-ed: Fighting a mindset, not just terrorism </a>

 

Major,

<a HREF="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/30/international/asia/30DIPL.html">A Nuclear Headache: What if the Radicals Oust Musharraf?</a>

 

There is no way for any terrorist to even think about getting a F-16 close enough to our shores to drop a nuke on us. If they were going to go that route, they would smuggle it in a cargo container, more than likely. A "coal-burning" early-model F-16A like the Pakis fly would not survive very long in our air defense environment, especially since they are over 20 plus years old. And they are notorious shortlegged, especially without air-to-air refueling.

 

Well, I was in Canada when it happened, and it was front page news there for whatever its worth. Though I guess he didn't have to compete with Survivor or Ryan and Trista's wedding...

 

Musharraf is just another example of people who we could work with while putting our ideals on the back burner. We're buddies with this shady guy but somehow India gets the cold shoulder? Saudi Arabia gets our thumbs up, while China gets the bird? How about we make friends with everyone?

 

If India could have provided overflight rights to Afghanistan and some basing sites next to Afghanistan, then the need to <i>deal with</i> Musharraf would have been lessened.