[7.62 x 51mm]

I had to re-read this twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Paying terrorists to repay terrorists? What IS going on with these lowlifes?

[Saberwielder]

Actually, this is the way things work in that part of the world. There's a saying there - "You cannot buy a Pashtun, but you can definitely rent him."

This follows a pattern with Musharraf. When he is faced with multiple fronts of attack, he often appeases one or the other adversary temporarily to keep everyone off balance. Today, Musharraf faces 5 fronts - US pressure on Al Qaeda and the Taliban, US pressure to help with Iran, the A.Q.Khan scandal, the Balochistan insurgency and the deteriorating peace talks with India.

Musharraf is about to send Pakistani troops into Balochistan to crush the rebellion there, so he needs to make peace in Waziristan. Ergo, the peace buyout offer.

It must be recalled that in April 2004, Musharraf tried another buyout deal like this with Nek Mohammed. But we raised hell and the deal went south. Nek then ate a hellfire missile on his way to hell. Nek belonged to the Wazir tribe.

These guys belong to he Mahsud tribe. But I have no doubt that these tribals will soon be back fighting the US, with the Pakistani money.

This is the way it is in those parts.