It seems to me that the US is now completely out of control with regards to its foreign policy. Unilateral drone strikes on the foreign soil of (admittedly dubious) allied sovereignties with no visible justification other than their geographical location. (A sentiment apparently shared by the UN, and the rest of NATO. Can you imagine the international uproar which would result from an American attack of this nature on a European country. And yet, Pakistan is apparently far enough away that the global powers-that-be feel its just not worth bothering with pesky obstacles like international law. After all conferences and resolutions are tedious and cut into the time needed for deciding which investment bank will need bailing out next.) But then of course... Uncle Sam doesnt really need to resort to Reapers patrolling the skies over London, Paris or Berlin to preserve order in the now slightly less Wild West. As it happens its far easier just to spy on your friends instead so you know what theyre up to before their own subjects... Now - obviously pretty much everyone is spying on everyone else these days. Its an unhappy habit from the Cold War which our intelligence services are all very reluctant to give up. After all - if WE stop spying first, how will we ever know if theyve stopped too? And god forbid we miss listening in on Putin and Kim Jong Un organising their next session of topless bare-back horseriding in the Urals. The problem is that there IS a genuine and present threat lurking in Pakistan with its feudal, misogynist roots thrust deep into its neighbouring states. (Ironically also a product of the US intervention here in the Cold War) The Taliban is an entirely malevolent force in the world. A Loosely associated group of habitually violent, uneducated group of men brought up to despise and fear women, modernity, intellectualism and rationality. Their only tools are fear, their only response to criticism hatred and revenge. And these men have tacit approval from at least 3 member states of the Arab League. But turning the Middle east into the OK Coral is not the answer. Sure a few cowboys were dead but it didnt work out very well for Marshall Earp.
Posted on: Sat, 02 Nov 2013 21:44:24 +0000