Posted on 07/31/2005 9:46:39 PM PDT by ttsmi
Cohen believes that Gen. Musharraf has convinced many in Washington that he cannot act more quickly, but signs that this argument no longer has the same resonance have recently emerged in statements by CIA director Porter Goss, who, without naming countries, made US impatience evident. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was also reported to have conveyed a strong message on her last visit to Pakistan on the necessity for more progress on the democratic front, and there are indicators that M. Rice will not be as tolerant of Pakistan as her predecessor, Colin Powell. “Pakistan may be one of the few states that have achieved sustainable failure. But one cannot be comfortable with a nuclear-armed Pakistan driving at 80 miles an hour along the edge of disaster: If it wasn’t clear already, the latest terrorist attacks show that what happens in Lahore doesn’t stay in Lahore. The onus for fighting terrorism is not just on one country but on many. In Gen. Musharraf’s case, this means moving from the normative discussion of what ‘should’ be done to delivering on his promises,” he writes.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailytimes.com.pk ...
OH BOY, Rice Turning the Screws!!!!!!
Wonder if the British might lend us a few more of these guys.
I understand nearly 30,000 Nepalese apply each year to become Ghurkas. Only 200 or so make the cut. Surely, the British won't mind too much should we recruit a few hundred to range the Pakistani tribal areas.
Great soldiers, and very patriotic souls too. 
Gurkhas to tackle Sierra Leone troublespot Battle hardened Indian army gurkhas
By West Africa correspondent Mark Doyle in Freetown
The United Nations peacekeeping force in Sierra Leone is planning to deploy a combat-ready battalion of Indian Gurkha troops to the most sensitive area of its operations.
The Gurkhas are to be deployed in the diamond mining Eastern region, where the rebel military commander, Sam Bokarie - known as Mosquito - has his stronghold.
Top UN sources said the Gurkha troops were from battle-hardened units that have been fighting insurgents in Kashmir.
The peacekeepers cannot force anybody to disarm. If they try it they will regret it
RUF rebel leader Foday Sankoh
The Sierra Leone Government and rebels signed a peace agreement earlier this year. A 6,000-strong UN force is in the process of being deployed to monitor and support the agreement.
The sources said rebel commanders had been told about the plan and that they have somewhat reluctantly, accepted it.
Spirit of peace
The UN stresses that its forces are being deployed in a spirit of peace. It is however no coincidence that crack Gurkha troops are heading for the potentially explosive rebel-held east.
The UN's strategy is to send peacekeepers originating from outside the West African region to the most sensitive parts of the country.
This is because many of the mainly-Nigerian West African troops who make up the bulk of the UN force have been fighting the rebels for years as part of a regional intervention army.
Kenyan peacekeepers were the first to arrive
The West Africans are therefore open to rebel accusations that they are not neutral.
Thus, while the Indians will go to the rebel-held east - probably in the next few weeks - Kenyan UN soldiers are to be deployed to the northern town of Makeni, which is also rebel-controlled.
The next few weeks are the most dangerous for the UN.
UN commanders say it is almost inevitable that the rebels will test their resolve to keep the peace by mounting some sort of military action.
The UN commanders say that, while their men go in peace, it is to deal with such a test that the UN soldiers have guns.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/547193.stm
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