More Entangling Alliances

After the State Department welcomed six Pakistani legislators to the United States to show them how America values Pakistan’s security and wellbeing, the six legislators were insulted before departure when they were asked to be scanned twice before boarding their plane. Pakistan, a country whose citizens are required to go through increased security checks before they fly into the U.S., was infuriated as to why the Obama administration would order this if it considered Pakistan an “ally” in the war on terror.

USAID has pledged to spend $750 million on “various projects in the tribal areas” and another $37 million is pledged “by Congress to spend on exchange programs intended to show skeptical Pakistanis that the United States is a real ally, a country that wants to help, not hinder, Pakistan.” Yet, I have to pay out of pocket for college, room & board, food, and books all on my own. I’m also pretty sure that Niccolo Machiavelli warned, “The Prince who contributes to the advancement of another power ruins his own… a Prince ought never to take the side of a neighboring state more powerful than himself, because even if he is victorious he is at the mercy of his neighbor.” And at this rate, Pakistan wields more regional power and respect than the United States does, especially if USAID is resorting to bribing foreigners into believing the U.S. is the land of candy, rainbows, and butterflies.

Pakistani Leadership Standing up to US Aggression

Good for Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani for standing up to the US drone bombing program, which according to the Pakistani government killed 140 civilians for every terrorist.

No wonder the Obamabots didn't want to answer Helen Thomas's question about what motivates terrorists:

Obama vows to bring "every element" of U.S. power against terrorists. Great.

Speaking in response to the recent terror attacks, the president said:

"We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable."

"We will continue to use every element of our national power to disrupt, to dismantle and defeat the violent extremists who threaten us, whether they are from Afghanistan or Pakistan, Yemen or Somalia, or anywhere where they are plotting attacks against the U.S. homeland," Obama added.

This is no doubt meant to be encouraging to us, to assure us all that the "administration is doing enough to contain security threats."  But let's consider what this actually means in practice.

Most immediately, it means that Obama has ordered the airport security process to be reviewed.  If it's found to be wanting, as I have a sneaking suspicion it will be, we'll probably get to enjoy arriving at the airport three hours early instead of two.

Clinton discusses threats to Pakistan's sovereignty

It appears that our Secretary of State is preparing Americans, in a very sly way, for potential military involvement in Pakistan:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Pakistanis have experienced a change in attitudes about fighting terrorism as they see a growing threat to their own nation.

Clinton tells CBS' "Face the Nation" that Pakistan's civilian and military leadership have had a significant change in attitudes about fighting terrorists.

She says that change has come as Pakistan's leaders have seen terrorist groups join forces and threaten Pakistan's sovereignty. [my emphasis]

When's the last time you heard a Cabinet member discuss threats to U.S. sovereignty?

The entire 20 minute video, including an interview with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, can be viewed here.