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It all depends on what Intel they have on Iraq. If it's there we will take Saddam out and if it's not then we will do it with black ops, i.e., operations we don't see. Remember Bush's speech on 20 Sept 2001 where he said there will be some things we never hear about and we will deal with some people we don't want to deal with!

The Pakistani people for the most part like the US and they were very good friends 10 years ago. The problem they have is the same as Iran with the radicals and this is the voice you hear and see but I don't think it's the normal opinion over there? I know some Pakistani people myself and they love the US and their kids are 100% Americanized but they are a pain to go to dinner with because of the pork issue. It's not just eating pork but nothing cooked in pork fat or oil. Ordering a darn salad with croutons can be a 10 minute ordeal :)

Personally i do not think it would be wise to eliminate Saddam from power, even if i think he is one of the vilest people out there. For one there would be a power vacuum that would most probably be filled by zealots, causing greater pain for the states. Think what happened when the US interfered in Iran in the 70's, and that led to the Shad of Iran being exiled, and the Ayatollah Khomeini taking over. I think the best thing to do with the Iraq situation is to not interfere unless we know exactly what we are doing. Or we might have problems internationally like in 1993 when we told the Kurds to rise up and overthrow Saddam, and then due to 'certain' policies decided to pull back, and up to a hundred thousand Kurds were slaughtered when Saddam retaliated. Past experiences have shown that interference in the setup of nations is a skill best left to cool minds and clevers ones at that, or better yet not dabbled with at all.

Now to Pakistan. There have been several forays into Pakistan by the US and British media, and the people of Pakistan do not have a very favorable view of the states. The perception of the US is actually quite low over there, and maybe the Pakistanis you met are good people who just want ot live a good life, but many are not.

And they are fanatical. For example an interview with one Pakistani general was shocking to the west when he said that he would be willing o see the whole of his own country Pakistan destroyed by Indian retaliation if it meant destroying a couple of Indian cities in the process. Think about that.

And as for them being our allies. Hmmm, how come theya re ranked by the British Foregn Secretary as the global cesspool of terrorism then? I thought we were against terror and those who harbor it. And although i can understand why the US is lenient with the Saudis (due to the oil), i do not see why we should play bed fellows with the Pakistanis, when according to even the most conservative projections, it will be a major threat in the future when Musharaff is usurped from power (the major way of power transferrance in Pakistan is through a coup).

What then?

And saying that 'most of the Pakistanis like the US' and that there 'kids are 100% Americanized' is tantamount to either limited exposure to the Pakistanis (maybe you just met some good folk, as i have since i have 2 very good Pakistani friends) or maybe myopia. Polls taken after 9-11 showed that the public sentiment was that the US 'deserved' what it got.

Now, that is not appropos for someone who 'likes the US.' Unless you want to assert a claim that they were misunderstood and misquoted.

And if you really believe they like Americans then go over to Pakistan, find a house in a place not frequented by Internationals, and then hang an American flag outside your house. I seriously doubt you will last a fortnight. And i emphasize it has to be parts of Katachi or Islamabad that are not designated as international places, meaning you are not surrounded by the relative safety of others like you.

Dot hat and see what happens to you. Unless of course i am wrong, and they 'love' americans. Something tells me you would be safer in Afghanistan!