Posted on 04/22/2009 1:08:56 PM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins
WASHINGTON: A stunned Obama administration said on Wednesday that Pakistan posed a "mortal threat" to the United States and world even as a rampant Taliban moved to within 60 miles of Islamabad by taking control of Buner district just outside the capital region.
The rapid advance of heavily armed and un-uniformed Taliban towards Pakistan's capital region, home to the country's army (headquartered in nearby Rawalpindi) and much of its nuclear assets (in nearby Kahuta), is sending shock waves across Washington. Administration officials, lawmakers, and South Asia experts are tripping over each other to express grave concern and offer prescriptions to tackle the deteriorating situation.
At a Congressional hearing on US foreign policy priorities, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reflected some of the urgency and panic when she implicitly blamed the Pakistani government, the army, and the civil society for ceding space and territory to the advancing Taliban without a fight.
"Pakistan poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world," Clinton said. "And I want to take this occasion ... state unequivocally that not only do the Pakistani government officials, but the Pakistani people and the Pakistani diaspora ... need to speak out forcefully against a policy that is ceding more and more territory to the insurgents ..." Not enough voices are being heard against the Taliban's progress, she added.
President Obama meanwhile invited — summoned would be more like it — President Zardari of Pakistan and President Karzai of Afghansitan to Washington to discuss the speedy developments that seems to have stunned Washington. The three-way talks are likely to take place May 7-8. Meanwhile, Washington's top general Admiral Mullen, rushed to Islamabad in what is turning out to be a monthly sortie to get a handle on the situation.
At the Congressional hearing, Clinton told worried lawmakers that Taliban's advance poses "an existential threat" to Pakistan and urged Pakistanis worldwide to oppose a government policy that is yielding to them.
"(We) cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by the continuing advances now within hours of Islamabad that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state," Clinton said.
"I don't hear that kind of outrage or concern coming from enough people that would reverberate back within the highest echelons of the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan," she added.
Lawmakers expressed immense concern over the deteriorating situation amid a stream of stories in the US media from Pakistan even as Iraq has faded into the background.
The House International Relations Committee chairman Howard Berman, a Democrat from California, said that he and several other Congressional colleagues who had just returned from a trip to India and Pakistan were happy at the dramatically improved ties with India, but deeply concerned about the security situation in Pakistan.
"We cannot allow al-Qaida or any other terrorist group that threatens our national security to operate with impunity in the tribal regions (of Pakistan)," Berman said, adding, "Nor can we permit the Pakistani state - and its nuclear arsenal - to be taken over by the Taliban or any other radical groups, or otherwise be destabilised in a manner that could lead to renewed conflict with India."
Clinton assured lawmakers that the US is advancing its relationship with India as part of a wide-ranging diplomatic agenda to meet today’s "daunting challenges" topped by the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Where do they keep the Family Atomics?
I can’t wait for W to start making the rounds when all hell breaks loose. His poll numbers will go from the 37% range to 87% range in no time..err..oh..wait...nothing he can do about it.
BALL IS ALL YOURS O-MESSIAH!
Ah! Kahuta. Gotta get a map!
Welcome to the big time Barry...
Obama Administration weakness is coming home to roost. We’ll have a Taliban-controlled Pakistan by mid-summer.
Look for an invasion of Pakistan by India since they cannot tolerate such an entity next door.
I am confused...is this the 3 pm phone call or the 3 am phone call...as panicky Hillary and panicky Obama realize the real world.
Just send them an i-pod..what is the panic?? They are our friends.
Pah key stahn ain't co-operatin' ?
What a shocker.
And Obama invites the Pakistani President to Washington to “talk.”
The Pakistani government needs to move against the Taliban now, before they take the capital! What are they waiting for?
Obama lied, people died...!
They'll be in Taleban hands by fall. Mark my words.
L
Me thinks we will be seeing a much grayer headed Obama real soon! I of course will be bald because I have yanked all my hair out goin ..ARE YOU LIBERAL PEOPLE INSANE?????
And a Taliban-controlled US by year-end. After Obie surrenders, under threat of nuclear attack by Neanderthals on camels.
Nah, a bunch of movie CD’s they can’t watch will cure the problem. What’s TOTUS have to say about this?
This is what happens when we allow the mainstream media to choose the POTUS.
“Stunned” and “Panicky”
great words to describe the US under the inept leadership elected by the welfare class and its patrons
Gee, send Joe Biden over there or something, ot find those moderate tolly bon that chowderhead Soetero yattered about forming partnerships with
Imagine a tolly bon with a captured or hostage Paki nuc, the islamists finally going to be able to settle that pesky Kashmir problem.
Right. Anyone call Barry yet? I think he’s out planting a tree
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama said on Wednesday the United States must be willing to strike al Qaeda targets inside Pakistan, adopting a tough tone after a chief rival accused him of naivete in foreign policy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.