wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

USA should not give any more aid to Pakistan without assigning it to specific purposes. The last times Aid was all pretty much used for the wrong things. Money in wrong hands = more trouble for the US and the world! BTW - US trained Bin Laden! Do we want to train more Anti-Americans in Pakistan? No need to show the wrong people new tricks!

Sure, If the terrorists go to India via Pakistan, and a number of them happen to be Pakistani... then sure India has a right to be there. India has dealt with the terrorist activities esp in Kashmir for a very long time... The past attacks in Mumbai affected every one, right from the Jews to Indians and non-Indians alike! Every one has the right to be there to stop the Taliban and terror attacks. If Pakistan could handle it, even the US would not have had to step in.

Yeah, I noticed his distinction between Al Qaeda and the Taliban - that Al Qaeda is a terrorist group; implying that the Taliban are militants. I wish Brian would've asked him to clarify what he meant about that.

Oh yes, there it is. He believes in “militants.” In other words, terrorists he supports are called “militants.” So typical.

the way in which your guest describes the relationship between the ISI and the Taliban is absurd. Indeed, US policy in pakistan has been and continues to be an exercise in contradictions and futility, and bears significant responsibility for the instability in the region. but the guest unintentionally sheds light on another major problem: an inability to take responsibility on the part of the local actors and acknowledge basic facts such as the ISI/Taliban alliance.

Still - if we're talking the "root cause of terrorism" and the whole reason "terrorism" is being discussed is 9/11, and 17 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, why is it the 1 country that's been missing from the whole discussion over the last 9 years?

Jim, I recall that Ahmed Rashid was on Brian's show.

Does he think the cross-border raids have any purpose beyond the democrats trying to defy their image as weak on foreign policy? And what's the real effect of them on Pakistan? What do they actually achieve? Are they more de-stabilizing than anything else?

I live in NYC, the corruption of the politicians is legendary. Clarence Norman, the Bronx machine, DA Hynes giving the retired borough president a car, drive and a salary of one hundred thousand dollars.

Spitzer, Cuomo selling Attica to a NYS authority for 500 machine dollars.

pretty funny

Yes!!!! Of course... its India's fault. I had to wait for it.. but it finally came out of his mouth.

In 2003, the Pakistan Daily Times reported, “Ikram Sehgal, chief editor of the Defence Journal, said on Saturday that there would no harm in Pakistan’s recognition of Israel if Tel Aviv could be pursued to refrain from a pro-Indian policy.”

Does Mr. Sehgal still hold this position? Why can’t Pakistan be friendly with both Israel and India? Isn’t it time that Pakistan and India dealt with their own issues?

I hope this post is sufficiently liberal enough for the WNYC censors.

"at that time" ask your guest, what do they think now?

Does Mr. Sehgal support Palestinian suicide killings or would he agree that such actions constitute terrorism?

In the current Defense Journal issue, they write:

“The massive level of destruction, bloodshed and widespread massacre in and around the Gaza city reminded us that in the old doctrine of Greek or Roman power politics there is no scope for mercy, decency, human values and respect for other’s rights.”

I know they are talking about Israelis, but perhaps you could ask Mr. Sehgal if this sentence doesn’t apply much more to the Palestinians? Does the Defense Journal support the current use of Palestinian children as human shields used by Palestinian adults?

Will the WNYC censors delete my post for not being liberal enough? We shall see.

Yeah,

But you spent the money fortifying your efforts against india and sponsoring terrorism.

You bread terrorism, you propped up the Taliban, your ISI has created this Frankenstein Monster.

So please spare us this nonsense that you are some innocent victim.

Brian, you should have Ahmed Rashid (Descent into Chaos) and Aeysha Siddiqua (Military Inc, Inside Pakistans Military Economy) on your show.

In the Book, Military Inc., Inside Pakistan's Military Economy. Talks about the how Generals and higher ups in the Pakistani military are millionares. They own factories, companies etc.

The military has its own independent sources of funding that have nothing to do with the defense budget. Also no one is allowed to question the defense budget.

It seems to me that Pakistan's military will still call the shots even if military aide is reduced since they have independent funding.

As a result you have a private sector that is not dynamic. This was not always the case. This is the result of policies over the past 40 years, which were accelerated under General Zia, and Musharaf.