Ghost of a flea: We will insist that action be taken, uh, one way or another

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March 28, 2009

We will insist that action be taken, uh, one way or another

Rumours of US ground forces in "Pakistan" to the contrary, President Obama's new Afghan strategy is said to shift emphasis to training the Afghan military. Key points:

* Disrupt, dismantle, and defeat Al Qaeda terrorists and their safe havens in Pakistan
* Triple US aid to Pakistan to $7.5bn over 5 years
* Help Afghan govt rely on itself while better and more honestly ensuring its people’s security
* Build up and train the Afghan security forces
* Boost civilian govt in Pakistan and strengthen economic opportunities for Pakistanis
* Urge UN to take a lead role in generating world assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan
* Overhaul the way US foreign aid is managed, funded and allocated
* Set up a new contact group on Afghanistan, including Iran
* Ensure that aid to Afghanistan is accompanied by steps to ensure greater govt accountability
* Send US engineers, agricultural and other experts to Afghanistan to help counterparts
* Encourage Afghan govt in its efforts to convince moderate Taliban to lay down their weapons
* Strengthen efforts to build Pakistani security forces capable of defeating terrorists

This looks remarkably sensible to me with the following caveats: i - how does this strategy deviate from the Bush administration's or, indeed, from what a McCain administration might have done, ii - what is that $7.5b going to be spent on in "Pakistan", and iii - vague pronouncements about foreign policy "overhaul" somehow contrive to say nothing and leave me fearful of some farcical linkage between the jihadis and support of Israel.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at March 28, 2009 06:24 AM

Comments

Well, I hope nobody in our foreign policy establishment watches 60 Minutes

Posted by: dorkafork at March 28, 2009 04:59 PM