Clinton warned on Pakistan aid if justice not reinstated

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Pakistan's leadership over the weekend that aid could be if Islamabad does not defused a crisis over a top judge, U.S. officials said Monday.

Pakistan's government announced on Monday it would reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice.

Clinton told reporters that reinstating Chaudhry was an important move toward reconciliation in Pakistan.

ABC News

Clinton warned Pakistan of aid cut if no deal

Reuters - ‎47 minutes ago‎

By Sue Pleming WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Pakistan's president and opposition leader over the weekend US aid could be at risk unless they defused a crisis over a top judge, US officials said on Monday.

AP Analysis: Zardari pays to end Pakistan crisis The Associated Press

Big win for Pakistan protesters Christian Science Monitor

Obama and Afghanistan

A number of commentaries have been published recently exploring President Barack Obama's strategy in Afghanistan.

During the election, Obama promised to withdraw troops, except a non-combat residual force, from Iraq, but increase the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. He saw the mountainous country as the central front against terrorism and vowed to tackle al-Qaeda, which operates both in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is less clear whether Obama is intent on stamping out the Taliban or is open to negotiations with that fundamentalist group.

Most of the opinion pieces question whether a "surge" would work in Afghanistan or whether the U.S. might be heading into another Vietnam-like quagmire.

The steady growth and expansion of the Taliban in recent years is well-documented. They now control much of the rural countryside in the eastern and southern parts of the country, and they are closing in on the capital Kabul. It is mainly in the northern areas, where the old "Northern Alliance" was based, and Kabul that U.S. and NATO forces can find any friends in the country.

Taliban forces are holed up in rugged mountain strongholds that are extremely difficult to operate in. Even small areas in this region can only be secured with large numbers of forces, and consequently many supply and communication routes are vulnerable to attackers.

NATO forces also appear to be losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the people. The Taliban, at least, appears to have little trouble finding new recruits even though they have adopted suicide tactics similar to those used by al-Qaeda.

Obama reportedly plans to increase troop strength in Afghanistan by about 30,000 with a lot of the concentration in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar. He also plans to use more private security companies to guard bases and transporation routes. The Kandahar bases is under rapid expansion to host an extra 10,000 U.S. troops.

Pakistan is often mentioned in the same breath as Afghanistan whenever the war is discussed by the new administration officials. Obama has hinted that he will place more pressure on Islamabad to exterminate insurgents in their mists, and that he will take unilateral action in certain instances.




Sky News
Obama's War Fearing Another Quagmire in Afghanistan
New York Times, United States - 16 hours ago
By HELENE COOPER WASHINGTON — Can President Obama succeed in that long-lamented “graveyard of empires” — a place that has crushed foreign occupiers for more ...
President Obama revs up Afghan fight; backseats Iraq at Clinton debut New York Daily News
Obama's Vietnam? Washington Times
Obstacles are many for US in Afghanistan Kansas City Star

Pakistan air strikes underscore continuation of Bush policy

President Barack Obama launched his first air strikes into Pakistan indicating that he will continue the Bush policy of unilateral military action against the spoken will of the Pakistani government.

This is the first action since Obama took office on Tuesday that is likely to attract some opposition from progressive groups that supported him strongly during the campaign. Vanity Fair has this to say:

Obama can't be expected to pander to liberals for the next four years. But the decision to double down in Afghanistan carries considerable risk. Like the economy, it is a huge problem. But even the economy can be expected to bounce back sometime in the next few years. If Afghanistan turns into Obama's Iraq, he may miss the support of the anti-war left, which, it's worth remembering, helped propel him past Hillary Clinton not so very long ago.

Los Angeles Times
Strikes in Pakistan Underscore Obama’s Options
New York Times, United States - 1 hour ago
Even as the CIA continues its strikes just inside Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, Mr. Obama and his top national security aides are likely to review in ...
Suspected US missile attacks kill 18 in Pakistan Los Angeles Times
Suspected US Missile Strikes Kill at Least 20 in Pakistan Washington Post
Deadly missiles strike PakistanBBC News




WELT ONLINE
ANALYSIS: Obama, Pakistan and Afghanistan —Najmuddin A Shaikh
Daily Times, Pakistan - Jan 22, 2009
The “hard earned peace” that Obama is seeking in Afghanistan (and Pakistan, since for some time now the American security establishment and many who are now ...
Video: Obama, Clinton At State Dept. CBS


Afghan, Pakistani Officials Welcome Broader Strategy From US ... Voice of America
Obama names Mideast, South Asia envoys Los Angeles Times

Mumbai attacks: Preemptive strike against Obama?

A new theory suggests that the Mumbai attacks were focused on neutralizing President-elect Barack Obama's strategy in the region.

“There’s a lot of clamour for action against Pakistan from India,” Pratap Bhanu Mehta, the head of the Centre for Policy Research. “This attack was not just an attempt to scuttle India’s peace process with Pakistan. It was in many ways a pre-emptive strike against [Barack] Obama’s strategy for the region.”

Obama had promised to focus US efforts on the tribal regions that border Afghanistan and Pakistan, including pressuring Islamabad to step up pressure against al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives working in the area.

However, ifPakistan diverts its forces to the border with India in fear of possible reprisal for the Mumbai attacks, Washington will have to tread more carefully in the region.

Vancouver Sun

Mumbai attacks ‘were a ploy to wreck Obama plan to isolate al-Qaeda’ Times Online - 4 hours ago Relations between India and Pakistan were on a knife edge last night amid fears that Delhi’s response to the Mumbai attacks could undermine the Pakistani army’s campaign against Islamic militants on the frontier with Afghanistan. The Region: India and Israel: The parallels Jerusalem Post Pak shifts from Afghanistan to India PRESS TV

TopNews

Obama: Mumbai attacks will not defeat India's democracy
Jerusalem Post, Israel - Nov 28, 2008
Obama was monitoring the situation in Mumbai, where more than 150 people were killed in violence that began Wednesday night when gunmen attacked 10 sites ...
Investigation Begins as Assault in Mumbai Ends Washington Post
Obama sends condolences to Indian PM for Mumbai attacks victims Xinhua
A message to Obama? Ynetnews

Condoleezza Rice briefs Barack Obama on Mumbai attacks

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice briefed President-elect Barack Obama on coordinated attacks in Mumbai, the State Department said Friday.

"I can confirm on the record that Secretary of State Rice has called president-elect Obama twice since the attacks on Mumbai began to brief him on the situation," said spokesman Gordon Duguid.

The attacks left at least 160 dead, including two Americans, and hundreds more injured.

Many see the attack as the first international challenge to the incoming Obama administration. The attacks were specifically aimed at foreigners particularly Americans, British and Israelis although most killed were Indian citizens. There are some clues leading toward neighboring Pakistan, and possible al-Qaeda links.

American forces have been unilaterally striking at targets in Pakistan with drone aircraft from across the border in Pakistan. Obama also indicated during the campaign that he might conduct unilateral strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan.

Mumbai is no stranger to terrorist attacks but this is the first time such a brazen and prolonged operation has been carried out against such high profile targets. It also marks the first time an Islamist group has targeted primarily foreign targets during an attack on Indian soil.

Voice of America
Rice briefs Obama on Mumbai attacks
AFP - 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called and briefed president-elect Barack Obama on the series of attacks in Mumbai, ...
Iran outpost decision up to Obama, Rice says Deseret News
Obama Speaks Again to Rice, Gets Briefed on Mumbai Attacks ABC News
Obama speaks to Rice on Mumbai terror attack Times of India

Anti-war groups fear Obama cabinet of "hawks"

A Los Angeles Times article today reported that antiwar activists are fearful that President-elect Barack Obama is selecting hawkish appointees for key national security posts.

During the early part of his campaign, Obama attracted media attention for his consistent opposition to the Iraq War, which set him apart from his opponents.

However, so far, Obama has leaned heavily toward nominees who supported the war. Sam Husseini of the Institute for Public Accuracy noted: "It's astonishing that not one of the 23 senators or 133 House members who voted against the war is in the mix" for cabinet positions.

Many groups are worried about Obama's current commitment to pull out troops from Iraq in 16 months, a key campaign promise that he reiterated repeatedly throughout both the primary and general election campaigns.

Others believe that Obama should be given a chance, and note that he's not even in office yet. "I take him at his word that he is committed to ending the occupation of Iraq in 16 months and that he's going to assemble a team that's committed to that goal," said Tom Andrews, national director of Win Without War.

Obama has also said that he plans to ratchet military operations in Afghanistan and also possibly Pakistan in pursuit of al-Qaeda and the Taliban. However, many military commanders are ready to negotiate with the Taliban, at least, frustrated in their efforts to squash the fundamentalist organization.

Family Security Matters
Anti-war groups fear Obama appointees are too hawkish
Newsday, NY - 13 hours ago
BY PAUL RICHTER | LOS ANGELES TIMES WASHINGTON - Anti-war groups and liberal activists are increasingly concerned at signs that Barack Obama's national ...

Activists: Obama Cabinet picks backed war United Press International
Keep Gates Wall Street Journal
Iraq war protesters fear cabinet shortlist Sydney Morning Herald

Will Benazir Bhutto assassination impact U.S. elections?

Shortly after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the first woman leader in a modern Islamic country, even before an official statement from the Bush administration, presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani released a statement before any other candidate bringing up the specter of the war on terrorism.

There obviously was some politicking going on here, and one wonders what impact the tragic events in Pakistan today will have on the elections, both the general election and the primary election.

Will the terrorist act reinforce the "climate of fear" that has prevailed since 9-11 and play into the hands of hawks both in the primary and general?

Those interested in moving toward peace and a stabilization of world relations will have to work extra hard in the coming days and months to insure that sound judgment prevails over raw emotion.

Barack Obama released this statement today after learning of the fateful events:

I am shocked and saddened by the death of Benazir Bhutto in this terrorist atrocity. She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world.

Hoping for Obama on Pakistan

Here's an interesting, in-depth analysis of Barack Obama's Pakistan position by a Pakistani intern at the Woodrow Wilson Center and Brookings Institution. You may remember this is the same place that Barack gave his speech in which he stated he would unilaterally attack Pakistan on "actionable intelligence" on the whereabouts al-Qaeda leadership.

Obama and Pakistan: Let’s Hope for the Best

The author, Haider Mullick, tries to give a positive spin on the issue.


Black Women for Obama

A new organization, Black Women for Obama, has announced its formation through a press release.

The group states that it has opened chapters in "Georgia, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and Indiana, and are actively recruiting members to form state chapters in the remaining first primary states - New Hampshire, Iowa, Florida, and Nevada."

I checked the organization's website but could not determine whether they were an independent campaign group, commonly known as a "527" or not. Most of the links at the site returned error messages.