A New Approach to Pakistan - Biden

[gateley]

(and boy do we need it!)

A New Approach to Pakistan

Today, I delivered a major foreign policy address to the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Manchester. The events of the last week serve as a reminder of what is at stake if we do not take immediate steps to change the way we interact with the world. On Tuesday, I wrote about my broad goals for a new policy towards Pakistan. Today, I want to explain my new approach to Pakistan in greater detail.

I've been saying for some time that Pakistan is the most complex country we deal with - and that a crisis was just waiting to happen. On Saturday night, it did.

President Musharraf staged a coup against his own government. He suspended the constitution, imposed de-facto martial law, postponed elections indefinitely, and arrested hundreds of lawyers, journalists, and human rights activists. He took these steps the day after Secretary Rice and the commander of all American forces in the region appealed to Musharraf not to take them.

America has a huge stake in the outcome of this crisis - and in the path Pakistan follows in the months and years to come. Pakistan has strong democratic traditions and a large, moderate majority. But that moderate majority must have a voice in the system and an outlet with elections. If not, moderates may find that they have no choice but to make common cause with extremists, just as the Shah's opponents did in Iran three decades ago.

But unlike Iran, Pakistan already has nuclear weapons.

It is hard to imagine a greater nightmare for America than the world's second-largest Muslim nation becoming a failed state in fundamentalist hands, with an arsenal of nuclear weapons and a population larger than those of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and North Korea combined.

To prevent that nightmare from becoming a reality, I believe we need to do three things:

Continued at HuffPo: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-biden/a-new-approach-to-pakista_b_71733.html

[youthere]

1. kicking

[justinrr1]

2. The Man is Brilliant

After reading that I dont know why anyone wouldnt conclude Biden is what we need for President.

[gateley]

3. Believe me, I share your feelings! :-)

And welcome to DU! :hi:

[justinrr1]

6. Kick for Joe

thanks for the welcome but ive been around here for a while, just dont post much. Pirhana and I seemed like we were the only ones pushing Biden a while back and it is great to see his support is growing around here.

Kick for Joe!

[feminazi]

10. He's rising up the charts in my mind.

I like this comment:

"A drastic increase in non-security aid, guaranteed for a long period, would help persuade Pakistan's people that America is an all-weather friend -- and Pakistan's leaders that America is a reliable ally. Pakistanis suspect our support is purely tactical. They point to the aid cut-off that followed the fall of the Soviet Union to our refusal to deliver or refund purchased jets in the 1990s and to our blossoming relationship with rival India. Many Pakistanis believe that the moment Osama bin Laden is gone, U.S. interest will go with him."

The current administration would do exactly that...leave. Of course, they won't FIND bin laden unless they actively LOOK for him, but that's another story.

[ladjf]

4. What did the U.S. Government expect? Pakistan was just a

change of mind away from this all along. Now, how much money and/or power could Musharraf
obtain by using the nukes as leverage. There is a lot of money around the world that would trade for nukes. This is a mess of gigantic proportions.

We supposedly attacked Iraq in order to "get" Saddam.

[gateley]

8. I'm not sure the government "expected" anything. They don't appear capable of

considering repercussions of their actions. I bet Pakistan was checked off the list, so to speak - dealt with. Absolutely alarming. your statement "a mess of gigantic proportions" is right on!

[youthere]

5. kicking

[Think82]

7. kick

[ginchinchili]

9. Biden isn't only the most qualified candidate to be president...

I'd argue that he's the most qualified American to be our president at this point in time.

BTW, gateley, I got my Biden bumper sticker yesterday and stuck it on my car this morning before leaving for work. I wear it proudly!.