Going Tribal

Friends,
And now to Pakistan, where President Musharaf hangs by his fingernails and the Taliban refresh themselves, after a hard fight in Afghanastan. And these are our allies. It seems that bi-yearly the Pakistani government shows up in too small numbers, in the tribal region, shoots some locals and retreats back to safety. This is the wild, wild West of Pakistan and where that worst of the worst, terrorist chauffear's employer lives.
So now, with Iraq slowing and Afghanastan growing, what are we to make of Pakistan?

Peace and Love,
Rev O

Taliban Force Pakistani Troops From Tribal Area New York Times

"PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Taliban fighters forced Pakistani soldiers to retreat from a militant stronghold near the border with Afghanistan over the weekend, after a three-day battle sent civilians fleeing from government airstrikes."

"There was some speculation among Pakistanis that the sudden offensive in Bajaur was aimed at satisfying the Bush administration, which has increasingly criticized Pakistan for not doing enough to stop Taliban fighters from crossing the border into Afghanistan to attack American soldiers."

"Mr. Shah criticized the army for not using enough men. “This was an ambitious undertaking,” he said. “Why did they have such feeble strength of 200 in the convoy? For the Frontier Corps, 200 is nothing.”"

“The Frontier Corps was taking on the Tehrik-i-Taliban just south of its stronghold in Mamund,” he said. “What was the Frontier Corps doing on that route? The Taliban have controlled it completely for one year.”

Taliban Force Pakistani Troops From Tribal Area New York Times