damn Bush administrations double standards

[SherEPunjab]

AQ Khan stole nuclear weapons technology, secretly gave it to libya, N. Korea, and Iran, and Pakistan lets him go scot free. Pakistan was proven to incubate and develop the Taliban. The military has ties with Islamic terrorist organizations operating in Asia, and, indirectly with those fighting against western interests. Its the only 'islamic' nation that has nuclear weapons. After it ran its much criticized tests a few years ago, S. Hussein proudly proclaimed to the world that, "Muslims now have the bomb." So what do we do? We give billions of our tax dollars to Pakistan.

WTF??

We never find WMD in Iraq, yet we go to war with that country.

Someone please explain Bush's logic...


To me its a clear case of double standards. If nothing else, if our leaders don't have brains, knowledge or charisma, can they at least have principles? is that too much to ask of the number one country in the world??

 

[Dari]

It's all about interests. In the case of Pakistan, the damage has already been done. Furthermore, Pakistan is very important to the United States (and the international community) for a litany of reasons. Yeah, they've strayed in major ways, but that's because we let them. Remember, they were a nominal ally for a long time. That took them into the hands of the Chinese.

But now, instead of pointing fingers, the US and Pakistan need to work together to solve many of Pakistan's mistake. Hypocrisy? Maybe. But this is all about American interests, which may or may not be good for Pakistan (or India).

 

[chess9]

ShortPunjab:

Nice name.

Well, here's the deal. If you are a petty tyrant with nuclear weapons, but are a friend of the U.S., we will give you lots of foreign aid so you can buy enough conventional WMD-preferably from us-to keep your democracy-minded slaves in check. On the other hand, if you tried to OFF my old man, your days are numbered, even if your idea of WMD is the printing press.

-Robert

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: Dari
It's all about interests. In the case of Pakistan, the damage has already been done. Furthermore, Pakistan is very important to the United States (and the international community) for a litany of reasons. Yeah, they've strayed in major ways, but that's because we let them. Remember, they were a nominal ally for a long time. That took them into the hands of the Chinese.

But now, instead of pointing fingers, the US and Pakistan need to work together to solve many of Pakistan's mistake. Hypocrisy? Maybe. But this is all about American interests, which may or may not be good for Pakistan (or India).

"We let them stray?" Dari, I don't see how so. Are we to keep tabs on every aspect of the 200 or so odd countries of this world? Is there no such thing as personal responsibility? AQ Khan stole the nuclear weapons technology in the 70's. I wouldn't simply put that as a minor 'stray.' Thats downright criminal and clearly the goverment of Pakistan was well aware, if not in cahoots with this behavior. Its not a question of US letting them or not, its a question of personal responsibility. Had they not wanted to sell nuclear technology to rogue nations such as Libya, or N. Korea, they did not have to. They chose to. And where I'm from, we don't call someone that publicly supports us and then goes behind our back and does things against our interests an "ally."

Our politicians may call them ally's, but our politicians are the ones that sometimes, apparently, don't give a sh*t about us or this country. As I learn more about our political system -- and not just the stuff we learn in textbooks, I start to realize how significant of an impact money plays in our political stances and behaviors. Pakistan is a buyer of our military weaponry, could that not be a reason we don't want to slap them too hard for this? But letting them go with a pat on the back is simply not good enough. Money or opportunism (sp?) should not be the driving factors in our foreign policy, or domestic policy for that matter...

We've proven we practice big stick diplomacy, but if our true intent is to bring good to this world, I don't see how giving them a pat on the back and letting them get off the hook so easily is a step in that direction.

BTW, I'm certainly not the only one that feels this way. Most people aware of the situation do -- as much as this administration is trying to cover it up. 2-3 nights ago this very question was posed to one of our politicians on Nightline. He made up some - it was obvious - beat around the bush about "looking at the bigger picture" He NEVER answered the question directly... quite frankly they HAVE NO answer to this... I'm not trying to just pick on this issue, there are thousands of double standards that this country has had and has, and from every political affiliation, however i think this has extra relevance considering we just invaded a country to find out they really didn't have the WMD that we thought they did, and then, we find blatant fault with another and... NOTHING??

it just aint right.

as far as working with Pakistan -- I'm all for it. But that does NOT mean pouring billions of OUR DOLLARS into that country that continues to support terrorism. Maybe Mr. Musharraf doesn't personally, but his military does. How else can they find Pakistan military issued weapons on the hands of terrorists? If you have seen the footage of that country, they have young children in madrassas hitting their heads against the Quran, and learning nothing more than Islam is the one and only - ANYTHING. Its their math, its their science, its their life. Unfortunately, that also teaches them that if you are NOT Islamic then you are not worthy. Pouring in money is not going to get anyone anywhere (except Musharraf and his cronies) in terms of making pakistan a better country. Sure they are poor, but there are plenty of poor countries that aren't such a hotbed of terrorism. They need to get their act together, not us. If they need help, we'll be there, but the problem is they are EXPECTING a fat check. Musharraf has made this abundantly clear. Oh yeah, they need 20 Apache helicopters and 300 million dollars to catch a guy that lives in caves and rides donkeys. Ridiculous. If they wanted to catch that bastard they could. I just dont' know why the Bush admin is falling for this crap.

 

[KGB1]

Musarref really "tricking" the americans? Hmm... maybe its American's deceiving Americans. "There" is bin laden hiding in Afghan or Pakistan, we gots to find his arse.. This guy is in some remote island laughing his ass off at the way the events have turned out. The whole thing is a diversion, war on terror is a diversion.

What beef do you have with the american's selling off some excess inventory to the pakis? There is no gov't willing to buy american technology (Id prefer russian guns because russia doesn't want to "buddy" up with you after you purchase their guns) Russians sell without commitment or warranty, america sells the products to you and they INSTRUCT how, you use them. (peace in middle east? HA, how is that possible with America funding the whole Israel amry? )

I see that you're awakening to the double standard, also to brief on the Islam situation. Both india and pakistan were always in conflict, now they have bigger weapons to fight with. It's unfair what's going on over there is not being sorted out through communication, but rather building up arms. War is what makes the world go around my friend (sure its easy to say this sitting in front a PC relatively safe, but I understand the signifigance of it) Death is eventual, and war is a quick means to gain capital, work, and moderate the population of growth. (Lets all forget the whole "war" is the last option..its usually the FIRST thing discussed)

 

[SherEPunjab]

Originally posted by: KGB
Musarref really "tricking" the americans? Hmm... maybe its American's deceiving Americans. "There" is bin laden hiding in Afghan or Pakistan, we gots to find his arse.. This guy is in some remote island laughing his ass off at the way the events have turned out. The whole thing is a diversion, war on terror is a diversion.

What beef do you have with the american's selling off some excess inventory to the pakis? There is no gov't willing to buy american technology (Id prefer russian guns because russia doesn't want to "buddy" up with you after you purchase their guns) Russians sell without commitment or warranty, america sells the products to you and they INSTRUCT how, you use them. (peace in middle east? HA, how is that possible with America funding the whole Israel amry? )

I see that you're awakening to the double standard, also to brief on the Islam situation. Both india and pakistan were always in conflict, now they have bigger weapons to fight with. It's unfair what's going on over there is not being sorted out through communication, but rather building up arms. War is what makes the world go around my friend (sure its easy to say this sitting in front a PC relatively safe, but I understand the signifigance of it) Death is eventual, and war is a quick means to gain capital, work, and moderate the population of growth. (Lets all forget the whole "war" is the last option..its usually the FIRST thing discussed)

its not the selling of weapons that i have beef with. its the principle of the matter. Iraq has been proven to not do something that we supposedly attacked it for, and Pakistan has (i know its not apple to apple, but its as close as we'll get in real life situations). And we attack the first country and fund the second. My beef does not extend beyond this fact. I just hoped that our politicians were principled people, that the corrupt or bad ones were in some weird country somewhere ending with a -stan. But I think I've been naive, even our great country has opportunists running it. what do you mean by its all a diversion?

 

[Dari]

What's good for America is alright in my book.

 

[NonSequiter]

damn Bush administrations double standards

It'd probably be more fair to say America's longstanding and continuing double standards. It didn't start with this administration, and won't end with it either. Pakistan is just one example, and not even the most flagrant. How about the tragic comedy of trying to isolate communist Cuba for the last two generations, while granting MFN status to communist China? We can't even stay consistent when deciding whether economic engagement or aggressive disengagement is the best way to bring about change in a communist country.

So yes, I totally agree with you about Pakistan and can't tell you why the current administration is taking the steps it is. But at the same time, i can't tell you why this administration or others have treated plenty of other geopolitical issues the way they did either. If you have any ideas why this is the case, feel free to share them.