Senate Republicans tell veterans ‘fight for a job on your own’

Jobless veterans suffer some more as Senate Republicans offer a blatantly political election-year snub to President Obama. While five GOP senators sided with the Democrats on the bill, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who was a captain in the 1970s in the U.S. Army reserves, was key to blocking the vote. Sen. Tom ‘Dr. No’ Coburn, of Oklahoma, stayed true to his nickname, preferring to talk about the abstract idea of bringing down the debt rather than address the plight of jobless in the here and now.

Pakistan's crises, the world's problem

Okay, so first Wikileaks confirmed for us that the Pakistanis are not our friends, having taken our money in one hand, and backing the Afghan insurgency with the other. Now we learn that the Pakistanis have been busy sinking peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government for their own petty national interests. And the Pakistani government is not the most trustworthy ally to begin with. But their pointless rivalry with India, especially in regards to Kashmir threatens to ensure that the region will remain unstable and all because the Pakistan govenrment feels the need to feel good about itself, especially at a time when it can ill-afford the ill will of the rest of the world. However, it's would-be Arab Muslim allies won't come to it's aid in this difficult time. In the wake of the recent floods, the European nations continue to send aid out of the goodness of their hearts and because it is the right thing to do. But with a 'friend' like Pakistan, how long can it expect to continue to count on aid from its Western allies when its effort to thwart peace in Afghanistan continues to get NATO troops killed?

Central Asian militant mayhem

While Pakistan finally gets its offensive underway against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in South Waziristan, the militant factions continue to spread mayhem throughout the region. This time it's Iran. The Jundallah — or Soldiers of God — took responsibility for an attack that killed five ranking members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in the Sistan-Baluchistan region. The Iranian leadership reflexively blamed the U.S. and the UK for this attack. The region is predominately Sunni and has been involved in a struggle with Tehran for years and the officials were there to try to smooth out relations. Both the Pakistanis and the Iranians have vowed to deal a 'crushing blow' to their militant groups. Sadly, recent history has shown that this may not work out as planned.

Obama where art thou?

President Obama is making his pass through the Muslim world this week. Following a swing through Saudi Arabia, he gave his anticipated address at Egypt's Cairo University. Now that he's president, one wishes he could have given this speech in a library in Alexandria. While seeking a new beginning with the Muslim world, he promised no immediate miracles in the wake of his speech. 

He hit all the principle themes: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Arab-Israeli conflict; human and women's rights; and the need for a two-state solution. His speech was what we've come to expect of this president: it was eloquent, nuanced, balanced and designed to show Obama's street-cred. He's a Christian, but he is the heir of Muslim forebears and can cite the Qu'ran. America has made its mistakes, but the Muslim world's got some splanin' to do. America's relationship with Israel is unbreakable, but those cribs in Palestinian territories are a real problem. And he told the Palestinians to get their Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on because resistance through violence is futile.

Whether, or to what extent, Team Obama's efforts will bear meaningful fruit remains to be seen. His next stops will include France and Germany. Maybe now that he's president, he'll be able to make his address in Germany before the Brandenburg Gate.

Memos from the president

Demonstrating that what is immoral isn't necessarily illegal, the people at GITMO and Langley will get off the hook for waterboarding and other acts of enhanced interrogation. Apparently they require "confidence" to continue doing their jobs. However, Team Obama is releasing releasing four secret memos from the Bush administration on the matter. Three of those memos were written by the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Stephen G. Bradbury. The Fourth was the product of the razzle-dazzle dynamic duo OLC lawyer John Yoo and Jay Bybee. The CIA argued for redacting the memos under the "if you publish, they will learn and undercut our methods" argument, while the ACLU, which had pushed for publication, made "the public deserves full disclosure" argument. Congresscritters are already sounding off on the documents, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman  Patrick J. Leahy calling them "chilling." And while Obama isn't necessarily wrong when he says "This is a time for reflection, not retribution," seeking a little bit of justice would seem to be just as a laudible a goal.

The new sultans of Swat

One has to wonder what the long-term effects for innocent immigrants will be in the Faustian bargain the Pakistani government struck a deal with the pro-Taliban Movement for the Implementation of Islamic Law. The cease-fire agreement allows for the application of Shari'a law in the Swat Valley. There is some question about what kind of shari'a law they mean to implement. If present results are any indication, the kind they intend to implement has grim consequences for the future. It seems that Taliban partisans in the Swat Valley of Pakistan are threatening those families with American relatives putting them in a rather nasty bind. Their ideology can be seen in the murder by beheading of Aasiya Hassan who was divorcing her Islamic television station founder husband Muzzammil Hassan (a station ostensibly to counter Islamic stereotypes -- insert tasteless observation here). This policy of appeasement may not even bring lasting stability to the nation of Pakistan. And the rollback of Pakistani troops from the valley may only make matters worse.

Kabul go kaboom

On that other front in the GWOT, you know, Afghanistan, the Taliban demonstrated their ability to mount an offensive by attacking the Afghan Ministry of Justice. Twenty were reported dead and 57 injured in an attack ahead of the arrival of President Obama's special envoy to the region, Richard C. Holbrooke. It seems that at one point, the justice minister was locked in his office for his own protection. Apparently this strike was the same kind as the one carried out in October against the Afghan Ministry of Information and Culture. Now that the Taliban has flexed its muscles, we'll see what happens when Holbrooke flexes his.

One hell of an 'international migraine'

On that other front in the War on Terrorism things continue to get ugly. A report by the International Council on Security and Development contends that the Taliban's influence in Afghanistan has significantly increased since a year ago. The problem is particularly worrisome in the wake of an attack in Pakistan by militants on NATO supplies. The guards at Pakistan's Port World Logistics terminal were overwhelmed by about 300 militants. In the meantime, Pakistani officials were waffling over whether Zaki ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks and a member of the officially banned militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, had been captured in a raid on a training camp on Monday. But a still mad as hell India is sniffing warily over the news of the raids which it suspects is an attempt to buy time. With a friend like Pakistan, fighting the Taliban and bringing stability to Afghanistan is going to be an ugly affair indeed.

Angry and inquiring minds want to know

Answers are beginning to emerge to questions that many are asking in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks. What did the Indian government know? That there was a maritime attack against Mumbai in the works. When did they know it? A least a month ago. Pakistan is again in the hot seat with India demanding the Pakistani government turn over 20 people, including Dawood Ibrahim, India's most wanted. But India's not the only country pressing Pakistan with demands. China is not amused and wants know what did Pakistan know and when did it know it. China is worried about the possibility of Islamic terrorism within its own borders and doesn't want its erstwhile ally expanding the franchise. And even as the questions continue to proliferate, its likely that no one will like the answers that will emerge, especially the Indian government.

In the aftermath

Mata Bharat is in a righteously foul mood, and with good reason. Indian Home MInister Shivraj Patil and National Security Advisor MK Narayanan have resigned in the immediate aftermath of last week's terrorist attacks in Mumbai that has left 183 people dead and about 300 wounded. It has also wounded the already bad relations between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani government denies involvement and at this early stage in the investigation it is unknown if the Pakistani government either backed or had knowledge of the attacks.

At this point the particulars seem clear, terrorists claiming to be members of a group called the Deccan Mujahideen hijacked a boat, and with a great deal of planning and precision targeted two luxury hotels and a Jewish community center in an area that was known to be frequented by western visitors. Evidence currently points to an origin in Pakistan and that their plan was in fact to create indescriminate murder and carnage.

The current questions are what did Indian authorities know, when did they know it, why didn't they do anything, and what are they going to do to prevent another incident like this in the future? What also seems clear is the inadequacy of India's police and homeland security apparatus which appears to be undertrained, underequipped, and underfunded. Whomever replaces the Home Minister, I'm sure there are plenty of Indians who might prefer it if the next person in the position were the avatar of Maa Durga.

Remembering their sacrifices

The world remembered the war that made Veteran's Day necessary in the first place. A handful of WWI veterans are still around and ceremonies in France marked the occasion. While people were revisiting the ghosts of wars past, some were grappling with the ghosts of wars present. The incoming administration is considering a new approach to the Afghan war that would include a more regional effort and more boots on the ground. That could be dicy as Pakistan's army, in it's efforts to deal with the Taliban, has discovered the tunnels the insurgents have been digging to give them access to and from Afghanistan. But for most, today will be a day of remembering the loss of loved ones and praying that we will not have to one day confront the ghosts of future wars.

Dooms day

While the rest of America was preparing to decide its doom at the ballot box, Gen. David Petraeus was off visiting Pakistan after being doomed for his efforts in Baghdad by being promoted to CentCom (gee ... thanks?). He was getting an earful over drone attacks inside Pakistani borders. Meanwhile the doom of Osama bin Laden's former press secretary, Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, of Yemen was decided at the end of last week and was announced on Monday. In the newest episode of GITMO Law, a jury of nine U.S. military officers found him guilty of conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and making of propaganda videos for al-Qaida. Who knew? He apparently mounted no defense and may find himself doomed to a life sentence.

Pakistan: Not in our backyard!

The Pakistanis are not happy campers. Pakistan's top general is declaring his intention of defending the country's borders "at all cost." Pakistan's government of the hour is now stuck with the conundrum of what to do since it wasn't told beforehand of the loosened rules of engagement. This comes in the wake of the Sept. 4 attack by the coalition forces in South Waziristan and allegations that Team Bush signed off on a secret plan authorizing attacks by special forces against the enemy hanging out in Pakistan's tribal region. The new orders seem to be driven by a mistrust of Pakistan's security apparatus, though the revelations may have forced the Pakistanis to kick it up a notch. Admiral Mike Mullen has probably provided the most honest appraisal of the war in Afghanistan, which will almost certainly get him sacked. He has noted that Afghanistan and Pakistan are linked in the current violence and that Afghanistan's problems run deep and wide. "We can't kill our way to victory."

Remember, remember the eleventh of September

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The irony is that while a new CNN poll shows that only one in 10 Americans think terrorism is an issue now, Team Bush doesn't get much credit for the present feeling of security. The memorials to those who died are also moving sluggishly. And while President Bush took the day to dedicate the Pentagon memorial, New York City Mayor wants the World Trade Center memorial open no later than 10th anniversary of the attacks. Both presidential candidates were expected to appear together at Ground Zero to remember the nearly 3000 people who died there.

Torchwood calling

Clearly, here's a man who's missed his calling. A Briton hacker has lost his extradition appeal in the European Court of Human Rights. Gary McKinnon is accused by the U.S. government of hacking into 97 military and NASA computers. McKinnon claims he was seeking information on UFOS. Of course, while the hacks probably do constitute a criminal act, the real scandal is that he defeated whatever countermeasures were in place and accessed the NASA, Army, Navy and Air Force computers in the first place. As the computer attacks occurred after Sept. 11, 2001, he could be tried as a terrorist in the U.S., and that can only end in tears and a trip to GITMO. Maybe he should have applied for admission as agent of U.N.I.T. or the Torchwood Institute first.

Two blasts to the past

The parties continue to squabble as Pakistan burns. The Taliban claimed responsibility for two suicide attacks on the Pakistan Ordnance Factories at Wah Cantonment. The attacks apparently were in retaliation for air strikes against a militant stronghold in Bajaur, and are an attempt to cow the government into stopping attacks against them. This represents the first attempt to hit Pakistan's capacity to fight the militants as the region attacked is the heart of Pakistan's military-industrial complex. Between 25,000 and 30,000 people are employed in the area. The attack comes in the power vacuum left by the resignation of President Pervez Musharraf. Militants are taking advantage of the Pakistani government's division over the reinstatement of judges ousted by Musharraf. The region attacked is near the city of Taxila, home of ancient Buddhist ruins. If the coalition government if it doesn't pull it together quickly, it may join Taxila.

Sun sets on Musharraf

America's man Musharraf is stepping down as of Monday. Four provincial legislatures apparently passed no confidence votes against him prior to stepping down and an army general may have helped smooth the path. Replacing him is the next hurdle to be overcome by the parliament, and that could fracture it current unity. While the U.S. remained concerned about potential instability, the Afghans were relieved to learn that he is leaving. Parliament provided Musharraf with a ceremonial honor guard to show him the door. Musharraf will get to stay in Pakistan for the immediate future, but parliament has 30 days to find a replacement. Good luck with that.

Split decision

The end was never really in doubt. Just the details. And it's in the details where things get interesting. Salim Ahmed Hamdan, Osama bin Laden's driver, and the first to face the U.S. military's tribunal was found guilty of five of eight counts of providing material support for terrorism. But the same jury of six military officers found him not guilty on the two conspiracy charges. The results of the trial will keep the debate churning over the tribunal's fairness. The case was conducted under the Military Commissions Act of 2006, and, interestingly enough, neither side declared a mistrial despite unclear instructions from the judge to the jury. An appeals process exists, and the defense plans to appeal on the grounds that providing material support may not even constitute a war crime. While the end of this process remains in doubt, what does not is that this marks only it's beginning.

Jury's out

The defense in the case of Salim Hamdan, 28-ish, of Yemen, rested and his case went to jury on Monday. His lawyers claimed that "changing lug nuts and oil filters" didn't constitute war crimes and alluding that Hamden, in the secret evidence stash, had actually offered to help the U.S. in Afghanistan. And Hamdan got paid a measley $200 a month for his services. If he's found innocent, he stays in GITMO. If he's guilty, he stays in GITMO. Either way, it'll remain bad for Osama bin Laden's former driver.

How do you solve a problem like Pakistan

'Some American officials have begun to suggest that Pakistan is no longer a fully
reliable American partner' - The New York Times

Pakistan has issues. Not only is the loyalty of its Intelligence Service in question, it seems to be fighting a war on two fronts, both of them against India. There is now direct evidence linking the Pakistanis to the bombing of an Indian embassy in Afghanistan. This comes in the wake of a shelling of Indian positions in Kashmir across the Line of Control. It's clear that Pakistan can't get past its rivalry with India, and that it can't seem to adjust to a changing world where India is moving into closer alignment with what historically had been Pakistan's benefactor. Unless Pakistan deals with its issues, it'll be relegated the the dustbin of history.