What Happens When You’re Not Looking?

I suspect we’ve been preoccupied lately, with the Presidential Campaign Season, Hurricanes, Sarah Barracuda, Financial Disaster…you get the picture.  But there is a disturbance in the Middle East, and we might be making a new enemy. I’ve heard a news byte on the radio here and there, and read the occasional article elsewhere, and until recently, I didn’t realize that we have some possible development in Pakistan. Since July, the US has been moving forward with Afghan/Pakistan border raids–despite Pakistan’s protests–in a region considered a likely hiding place for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

I remember hearing a while back that we had chased some militants into the border area of Pakistan nearest to Afghanistan.  There wasn’t a lot of media hype (exactly which media outlet makes the decision about “what is news” anyway?), so it passed out of my memory. Now it seems like the intermittent “border crossings” are becoming more frequent.  Americans had been keeping up with the War on Terror, but news about Iraq, Afghanistan and the surrounding nations have been pushed into the background somewhat, while we weren’t looking.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister had some choice words about the US strategy (tactic…whatever), The U.N. workers and British diplomats in Pakistan have sent their children out of the country–because each strike has had some accompanying civilian casualties and Al Quaeda is retaliating. Last month, the Marriott hotel in Islamabad endured a suicide bomber attack that used a truck filled with explosives, killing 60 people and injuring more than 260 others.

President Asif Ali Zardari has described the bombing as an assassination attempt he and other top national leaders narrowly escaped.

Part of the problem is that Pakistan hasn’t cut ties to militant groups; the other half is that the Bush Administration is running these raids without Pakistan’s consent or approval. While the U.S. military operations have been successfully targeting key extremists, the civilian deaths alongside have not exactly helped win the “hearts and minds” of a country long allied with us in the War on Terror. Lisa Curtis, of the Heritage Foundation, said that not only is this fueling extremist behavior, it is also undermining the Pakistani government’s denunciation of militant acts. The US may need to continue to rely on unilateral military action in the Tribal Areas to protect its troops fighting across the border in Afghanistan in order to prevent a future, potentially catastrophic international terrorist attack.

US officials in Afghanistan or Washington rarely acknowledge the attacks, but Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said:

It hurts us even more when the transgressor is our friend and ally, the US.

Qureshi has also warned that US military operations in Pakistani territory undermine efforts to fight terrorism and serve to “fan” extremism. American officials complain that Pakistan is unwilling or unable to act against the militants.

I just think we need to proceed with caution.

Woe.

Our entire economy is in danger.

Those were the words of President Bush in an address last night. I couldn’t help but feel oddly reminiscent…he went on to say:

We’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive actions…I’m a strong believer in free enterprise, so my natural instinct is to oppose government intervention…these are not normal circumstances. The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence…Without immediate action by Congress, America can slip into a major panic.

I know I’ve heard this rhetoric before. Change a few of the 5 W’s–who, what, where, when, why–and this is another call to war. Not saying that he doesn’t have every right to be concerned about the state of our economy, since I and many other Americans are too. But we have also been urged in this manner before…rushed, appealed to, given the “something bad is gonna happen” speech. Right now everyone needs to be considering whether the newest economic bailout is the wisest option, the only option.  If economists have their doubts–usually, well-versed in their field–then why shouldn’t the rest of America?

President Bush addresses the nation on the financial crisis. (Getty Images)

I do have to say this about President Bush:  Although I’ve despised him almost from the moment he stepped into office, I have been feeling a little bad for him lately.  The stress and disappointment has to be really hurting him on some level.  Just look at the recent pictures from the past few weeks, and you can almost see on his face, that he doesn’t want it to end this way.  I’m sure everyone’s ambition is to leave something good for the future, a legacy, that we can be satisfied with.  From Presidents to mayors to teachers to butchers, I’m sure no one has this sick desire to leave things in ruin, and I think perhaps that Bush is beginning to realize he will be remembered less than favorably in history. Right now, I really want to give him a hug.

No, we don’t need another “fuzzy” war.  We haven’t yet achieved victory the first one.  Or the second one.  Ha…I can hear it now…”We’ll wage this ‘War on Economy’,” which will quickly receive one of those catchy acronyms–W.O.E.

Let’s just hope that we’re not woefully misguided.