American Policies on War in Afghanistan and Pakistan

November 3, 2009

I wrote a comment in NY Times below an article on American policies in Afghanistan etc. I thought it is worth publishing it in a hub. Hope some discussion is generated and one finds answers to some of the puzzles.

First the comment

One arm of USA government wants to remove drug trades from Afghanistan. The other arm is financing those involved in drug trade.

One arm of American government is fighting Taliban and al Qaeda, other arm is creating budgets to pay Talibans.

One arm of American government knows very well that a lot of terrorism including 9/11 was generated out of financial and other supports from Pakistani ISI, Army, Saudi Arabia etc. Even American Af-PaK chief Mr. Holbrooke had articles describing this phenomena. Other arm sees no option in world except to finance and supply arms and ammunition to these very same people ISI, Pakistani army etc. who are still helping Talibans and other terrorists quite visibly. There are even reports that in bazaars near Peshawar already night vision glasses arms and instruments used by American army are on sale. Who except very same Taliban supporters who are fighting American troops will buy these?

One side of American government realizes that China is helping Pakistan and North Korea etc. with nuclear and missile technology to make mockery of whole American idea of restrictions on arms of mass destruction, the other arm is helping China to have further technological innovations done in West and helps China and Pakistan to hide their nuclear and missile proliferation by creating phony "Khan Proliferation Machinery".

One can go on and on. This is just a tip of iceberg. One will need a whole article to explore these very visible contradictory trends in USA government policies.

Is it a policy or corruption?

What exactly is American government doing in this directionless manner except making world more and more dangerous place to its own interests and interests of other peace loving countries who are more interested in improving business and economy and average life in this world?

Or is it just part of the style we will have to live with assuming that it is being caused by corruption in upper level circles of ruling class in USA etc. ?

Have you seen a proper analysis of this duality in American Press or media?

I have yet to see a proper analysis of this phenomena in USA in American media or press or think tanks, including NY times.

This was the comment in NY Times (except for headlines or minor changes). Let me add one or two more such questions.

One arm of American government knows very well that China is making mockery of current monetary system in world by keeping its foreign exchange rate artificially low and using it to destroy industry and business in USA and other countries. Other arm is helping China to keep doing the same.

One arm of USA government is quite aware that American money used for buying oil is being used by some Muslim countries to finance terrorist activities and terrorist teaching Madarsas. Other arm is helping to increase oil prices for them and discouraging evolution of alternative energy sources.

One arm of USA government is bribing top officials in Afghanistan including brother of President Karzai. Other arm is warning President Karzai not to be corrupt.