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Comments

• [1] J Reilly from Bellmore, LI September 16, 2008 - 10:37AM

  I heard on the TV news this morning ( I think it was channel 11) that Pakastani troops have recieved authorization to fire on American troops. Can you confirm this? Maybe your guest has some thoughts on this.

  
  
• [2] Robert from NYC September 16, 2008 - 11:11AM

  The United States of America is a moth-eaten democracy. We have entered the decline and fall of the USA so who will write that book.

  
  
• [3] Peter from Flatbush, Brooklyn September 16, 2008 - 11:15AM

  If the Pakistani government would agree to alow an incursion to take out Al-Qadia fighters in the tribal areas, would the Military be on board, or would they take action against the US idependently?

  
  
• [4] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ September 16, 2008 - 11:16AM

  "ISLAMABAD, Sept 14: India has closed Chenab water flow and as a result the shortage in Pakistan has become more severe.

  Sources told Dawn on Sunday that the water blockade by India could adversely affect the Kharif crops, particularly cotton and sugarcane which were in maturity stage and required final watering, and the sowing of Rabi crops early next month.

  They said that the Pakistan Indus Water Commission had taken up the matter with the federal government and convened a meeting on Tuesday to take stock of the situation and try to reach a diplomatic solution with New Delhi.

  If the Chenab closure prolongs, the sowing of Rabi crops, particularly wheat, would be hit severely."

  Dawn reported on this situation--how important is this in the ongoing Indian/Pakistani tensions over Kashmir?

  One analyst I heard suggested India did this at the instigation of the US in order to make Zradari more compliant with US wishes.

  Please get comments on this.

  
  
• [5] jawbone from Parsippany, NJ September 16, 2008 - 11:18AM

  Link for the Dawn story on India closing water flow to Pakistan:

  http://www.dawn.com/2008/09/15/top1.htm

  
  
• [6] Merrill Clark from Summit, NJ September 16, 2008 - 11:20AM

  what a contrast from shortly after 9/11, when the US strongarmed Pakistan to cooperate and President Bush said that if a country was with the US, then it was against it. It shows how weak the US presently is.

  
  
• [7] Andres from Manhattan September 16, 2008 - 11:21AM

  It's clear that this was the US stance after they supported Uribe's raids of the FARC camps in Ecuador. Sound familiar? Apparently it's ok to attack a neighboring nation if there are terrorists on the other side. Attention Sarah Palin: it's called the Bush doctrine.

  
  
• [8] Priya from Brooklyn September 16, 2008 - 11:22AM

  Does Tariq Ali think that the bombings in Delhi this week were funded from Pakistan? Or a purely domestic act?

  
  
• [9] Merrill Clark from Summit, NJ September 16, 2008 - 11:22AM

  I meant to say if a country is NOT with the US, then it was against it.

  
  
• [10] Rob from Brooklyn, NY September 16, 2008 - 11:23AM

  Thanks for having Tariq Ali on! NPR needs more voices from beyond the mainstream of American political opinion such as Ali's.

  
  
• [11] Sarah from Queens September 16, 2008 - 11:26AM

  I have to agree with Mr. Ali in emphasizing that the way the U.S. image of Pakistan is grossly misconstrued in popular understanding of what the country is actually like.

  Also, Obama should not have said he would go into Pakistan with force- I think this shows a weakness and misunderstanding on his behalf, though it could also be just playing to the right in appeasing their sentiments that we have to keep fighting the invisible/imaginary war against Al-Qaeda.

  
  
• [12] AWM from UWS September 16, 2008 - 11:26AM

  The difference between Obama and McCain on Afghanistan is that Obama mentions it and it's importance often.

  McCain, not so much...

  
  
• [13] Waheed from Queens, New York September 16, 2008 - 11:28AM

  Can US of A afford to divide a neuclear armed Pakistan Armed Forces at this critical time?

  
  
• [14] ddbc from brooklyn September 16, 2008 - 11:33AM

  haven't we learned the danger in conflating the democratic & republican views on use of force as the same? perhaps their rhetoric regarding a hypothetical situation is similar. however, the underlying philosophies that gird their world view and therefore their decision-making processes are diametrically opposed. we are talking gut (or should i say knee-jerk) reaction decision making with armed conflict as the default versus deliberation and diplomacy erring on the side of problem-solving without resorting to war as a first option.

  so to say that there is no difference is a dangerous and ill-considered response.

  unless, that is, you think that there is no more difference between obama & mccain than there is between gw & gore.

  
  
• [15] Bob September 16, 2008 - 11:59AM

  There are about 500 terrorist camps inside Pakistan's border regions! Al Qaeda & Taliban plan and execute cross border attacks into Afghanistan and direct their worldwide terrorist network from there. Pakistan has mounted attacks on these border regions with little success and has signed peace agreements with local tribal elders (enablers) with the understanding that they are free to attack Afghanistan and other countries but not Pakistan! Are we supposed to not respond and defend ourselves? The Pakistan ISI has used Islamic terrorists to achieve it's goals for a long time! Now that Iraq has been put on the road to reconstruction and calm we will be able to concentrate on doing the same in Afghanistan!

  
  
• [16] Kelly from Park Slope September 16, 2008 - 02:12PM

  Pakistan aiding terror modules in India: Antony

  16 Sep 2008

  NEW DELHI: Holding Pakistan responsible for supporting terror modules and militants operating in India, defence minister A K Antony on Monday said it was the UPA government's endeavour to defeat such nefarious designs.