Should we consider Pakistan a real ally?

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   Cassie Smithposted 13 years ago

   Should we consider Pakistan a real ally?
   
   They just convicted Dr. Shakil Afridi, the man who helped the US to find and therefore kill Osama bin Laden, of treason and sentenced him to 30 years in jail.

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2. 67

   maxoxam41posted 13 years ago

   Why would America consider any country as an ally or an enemy? What would be an ally? A country that accepts American conditions? Does it mean to accept the presence of an American military base? Does that mean a privileged and advantageous unilateral relationship? In what way the country would be an ally? To be an ally would be to be treated equally! What does America can bring to the plate of Pakistan? Iran? Nothing. Which manufactured product can America bring them that they can't buy from China, Russia...? Which natural resources can't they get from another country but America?
   Let us be realistic. America is not the big player that it used to be. The only dread Pakistan may risk is a civilian/military provocation financed by the U.S. and its sheep i.e. England and so forth...

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      Georgie Loweryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      This would have been my answer, if I were more eloquent.

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   Attikosposted 13 years ago

   Nation-states don't have ethics, they have interests. Pakistan has cooperated with  NATO, to a limited extent, in Afghanistan while it has been in its interests to do so. Now the western powers are preparing to run away saving as much face as possible, Pakistan's interest in continuing to assist them is becoming progressively smaller.
   
   The US and the western Europeans have shown time and again that's exactly how they deal with their allies. Why would anyone expect the Pakistanis to do it differently?

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   1. 60

      Cassie Smithposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Attikos, yours is a very realistic answer.  However, the US does support Pakistan to a tune of like a billion dollars to help fight terrorism. I guess we should consider it a bribe.  We're definitely not getting our money's worth.

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   Josakposted 13 years ago

   Firstly the Afridi case is irrelevant, just because you did something good does not mean you are excused for all crimes you may commit, the man broke tons of laws, and was convicted of consorting with and aiding a terrorist group, namely Lashkar-e-Islam.
   
   No Pakistan is not really an Ally it's just wiling to work with the US which is good enough when dealing with the Middle East where Anti-American sentiment is so strong. It's a marriage of convenience, the US needs Pakistan for the war and to have a base of operations especially now that Egypt is compromised.Pakistan can use the money involved in that, not to mention it benefits the US that Pakistan will attack the Islamic militias in Pakistan rather than letting them cross the border where the allied military has to deal with them. Neither side is really a friend but they are both getting something equally important.

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   ahorsebackposted 13 years ago

   No ..... Pakistan is not an ally ! Their culture  ,  as many cultures in the mideast have such legendary  lack of similarities to western cultures. Corruption , tribal leadership , secular violence and  religion based politics  rule the day . Although they have tried to become " democraticly  oriented" they are failing.

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