Subj : Pakistan To : BOB KLAHN From : Richard Webb Date : Sat Jan 08 2011 13:26:23 Hi Bob, On Fri 2039-Jan-07 12:06, BOB KLAHN (1:123/140) wrote to RICHARD WEBB: RW> Indeed! IT takes trained troops, it takes willpower, it RW> takes building of infrastructure, the things we're failing RW> to do in Afghanistan. BK> Don't forget, nationbuilding is not good. Nationbuilding is bad. BK> Nationbuilding is the work of Satan. We know that because right BK> wingers tell us so. IT has its downside, I'd agree there, but something *must* be done in that region, and the better thing to do is provide the troops and resources necessary to do just that. PEople who have a future that is other than bleak don't have as much motivation to fight to the point of their own destruction. BK> Best to just let them live in anarchy and grow hard and bitter and BK> hate filled... what can they do, we are protected by oceans, aren't BK> we? That ocean isn't a whole lot of protection these days, especially when we listen to folks moan and groan as they bring them over here on student visas and whatever else. RW>> I'm still waiting to see that freedom for KUwait we fought RW>> for ya know. LEt's either do it right, or bring the young RW>> men and women home. RW> FUnny but nobody has anything to say about that. BK> After Kuwait I was thinking, the next president should vow that no BK> American soldier would be sent to fight, and put his life on the BK> line, and maybe die, unless it's for democracy for the BK> country they are fighting for. I've always hoped for that one. iF that's not what we're fighting for I don't want the young folks going there to die, for *any* other reason. NO other reason is worth it imho. But, now we have a situation where we must do just that, because there are a couple of failed states that we've either two choices: Nation building or annihilation. Funny how we went in my little over half a century lifetime from being a beacon of freedom and justice to the world to being vilified and considered inept. WHat happened to that beacon for liberty and justice we herad about in our civics lessons? IT got snuffed out, and then sold as parts for cheap oil. BK> The Emir of Kuwait would not have been allowed to return by my BK> rules. MIne either, but he did return. Even then I was saying to folks that they shouldn't confuse dying for oil with fighting for freedom. BK>> Maybe just do some precision surgery of the Pakistan BK>> intelligence service. RW> There's a thought. ISI essentially operates with autonomy. BK> Exactly my thought. Appears they're gonna be running the show in the whole country anyway. RW> this is true, but they'll continue to fail unless something RW> drastic is made to happen. Had to pause while writing this RW> msg for the xyl to read me an article from this morning's RW> paper. Seems the government over there is breaking up. RW> THe more moderates are bailing out of parliament and the RW> cabinet twould appear. BK> From what I have heard about that, the parties that are bailing BK> out are not planning to bring down the government. None of them BK> want to be responsible for bringing back the military rule. RIght, but the military will rule over there, and I'm not sure which way that one will go yet. BK>> OTOH, we need to rein in India's nuke activities also. Damn so BK>> much we need to do. RIght, but isn't some of India's nuke activity power generation related as well? RW> Right, and the way to rein in INdia's nuclear ambition is RW> to deal with the failed state which is their neighbor. BK> I suspect India would still want to be the dominant power so they BK> would keep the nukes. They all need to be under world BK> pressure. Probably, but if I had to make a choice I'd just as soon INdia have the whip hand. Regards, Richard --- timEd 1.10.y2k+ * Origin: (1:116/901) .