A very interesting interview on the issues surrounding Pakistan, Afghanistan and American national security.
Pakistan has been under a state of exception for a long time now, Musharref suspended the constitution to install himself as President. Now it has gone into another state of emergency, formally continuing the current state of exception. Another issue is that the leadership of Al Queda which attacked the US on 911 is in Pakistan, so is the Taliban who are causing stability issues in Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan. Add to that the Pakistani military is becoming increasingly politically illegitimate. Plus the government has nukes, so it is pretty important that it does not become a failed state. (more)
The recent announcement of Australia sending the SASR to Afghanistan along with a Provincial Reconstruction Team points to the unfocused nature of Australia's involvement in the American led "War on Terror". The Howard government chose to join the United States pursuit of terrorism as a military issue. This is in part due to the "Great and Powerful Friends" (GAPF) doctrine of foreign policy that the Liberal Party adheres to. But equally influential on our policy toward Afghanistan has been the weak manner in which Australia has contributed. We are not in control of the outcome, and consequentially the Howard government is just floating along with no focus, and no possible means to take the expeditions in Afghanistan and Iraq to any conclusion. Australia needs to return to the policy of December 2001, pull out of Iraq, and focus its full energies on defeating Al Queda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. (more)
