Re: Is violence the answer?
First off, I recognize your MO. I don't see you forwarding any original thoughts and just critiquing others. I would like to hear your thoughts on how to solve this mess? Particularly in light of your signature that implies that the Mullahs and the Army is the root cause of the troubles. No really, I will gladly step back and hear your plan of stopping extremism and restoring democracy.
Glad you recognize my MO since I wear it on my shoulder proudly. Glad you are open minded, can't say the same for many in the mullah camp.
[quote]
Secondly, please tell me that you have been in FATA without a beard and held captive days on end/harassed/punished. I am keeping my background and level of exposure confidential for various reasons, but really I will respect you greatly if you can tell me that you have entered FATA or a place like Waziristan and faced this hostility.
[/quote]
Never been inside FATA, been near to the border of the tribal areas many years ago. I don’t claim to be an expert on the flora and fauna of the tribal areas. But even then one can have a good picture of what is happening in the area. The traditional tribal maliks are losing power to the hot headed Taliban and their terrorist ways. If the tribal maliks were to be replaced by a proper political setup, abolishment of FCR, integration into Pakistan, I would have been all for it, but in this case we something far far worse.
[quote]
Thirdly, the peace deal was not a failure. It prevented further bloodshed and defused tensions. This Red Mosque matter, but more importantly the US pressure, has led to exacerbating the tensions. While we had no choice in the Lal Masjid incident, this stepped up pressure in FATA means more soldiers in body bags and more suicide bombings not just in Islamabad but also in your hometown of Karachi, guaranteed. I could care less about their attacks in Afghanistan and its illegitimate occupied government. While the only reason the Pakistan and its armed forces were attacked was due to their involvement in this conflict at the behest of the US.
[/quote]
Hundreds of non extremist (pro-government/Pakistan if you will) tribal leaders were beheaded when this so-called peace accord was in effect. Attacks on security forces never completely stopped during this time. The Taliban not only gained more control in the tribal areas, but also extended their draconian laws and vandalism in the name of Islam over to the settled areas in the vicinity. This has been an utter failure for the people of the area. Illegal FM channels have propped up every where singing praises of suicide bombings and ordering people to stop sending girls to school (see Mullah Fazlullah in Swat as one recent example). We all can guess which path this is headed when we as civilized Pakistanis cede ground to these mullahs. There demands will not stop at Swat or Tank.
[quote]
Yea let America do it's job the brilliant way it does. If Pakistan is attacked and President Musharraf doesn't do anything it will be the end of his government one way or the other. Also every single city of importance WILL be in flames, if you know what I mean..
[/quote]
You’re right and that’s why we need to sort this out ourselves instead of giving ample opportunity for America to bomb the entire place. America has learned some lessons from Afghanistan and Iraq, that it cannot occupy foreign lands and is better off using massive air superiority to get to its targets. If we allow the area to be used for attacks into Afghanistan, America will bomb it. They already have before.
[quote]
Religion and religious parties have a strong role in ending this civil strife in Pakistan. By bringing them to the table, will allow us all to break out of this situation without further bloodshed. Name ONE Islamic movement that has been dismantled violently in a Muslim Majority country? You will find no examples. If you want to try out the brilliant Hamas vs. Fatah route of Palestine or the Muslim Brotherhood clampdown in Egypt go right ahead. Unlike many people here, I am calling for minimizing Pakistani bloodshed.
[/quote]
Ok, I won’t even mention what Assad did in Syria….oops I just did. But anyways, you are only delaying much greater bloodshed through these fake peace deals.