The Falcons of Pakistan
The big news in the national security arena this weekend is the approval by the Bush Administration to sell F-16 warplanes to Pakistan. India isn't happy about the situation, but the Bush Administration has also pledged to help make India a major world power in the twenty-first century.
It has been suggested that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan could be a diplomatic move aimed at securing the use of Pakistani air space, facilities, et cetera, in a possible campaign against Iran over their nuclear program.
I think this is basically an excellent outcome. The Pakistanis have shouldered a lot of the burden of fighting the War on Terror, particularly in Baluchistan and Waziristan where Usama bin Laden is believed to be in hiding. They're also border-to-border neighbors with Iran. The new Iraqi government would likely allow us to use their facilities and air space, but even if they did, there's a strategic and operational advantage to being able to come at your opponent from two sides. Also, there's a value in having support of more than just the Arabs; the ethnic diversity of Pakistanis from Arabs means that it's not just the same old Arab versus Persian conflict. It continues to put the mullahs in a tougher and tougher position, in spite of the molly coddling they're getting from the European diplomats.
I also think that this strategic support for India is a good policy. India has a population that will likely exceed that of China within the next couple of decades, maybe sooner. They're also on the cutting edge of emerging technology, with more and more information systems having one thing or another to do with Indian labor or manufacturing as time goes on. India is a quiet up-and-comer on the international scene, and promoting their economy and military (vice that of the Chinese) is an excellent long-term American investment, in both political and economic capital.
Having Pakistan's assistance in case of a campaign against Iran is important, but maintaining the fragile balance of power in the Indian sub-continent is crucial. This arrangement should be an excellent provision for that.
It has been suggested that the sale of F-16s to Pakistan could be a diplomatic move aimed at securing the use of Pakistani air space, facilities, et cetera, in a possible campaign against Iran over their nuclear program.
I think this is basically an excellent outcome. The Pakistanis have shouldered a lot of the burden of fighting the War on Terror, particularly in Baluchistan and Waziristan where Usama bin Laden is believed to be in hiding. They're also border-to-border neighbors with Iran. The new Iraqi government would likely allow us to use their facilities and air space, but even if they did, there's a strategic and operational advantage to being able to come at your opponent from two sides. Also, there's a value in having support of more than just the Arabs; the ethnic diversity of Pakistanis from Arabs means that it's not just the same old Arab versus Persian conflict. It continues to put the mullahs in a tougher and tougher position, in spite of the molly coddling they're getting from the European diplomats.
I also think that this strategic support for India is a good policy. India has a population that will likely exceed that of China within the next couple of decades, maybe sooner. They're also on the cutting edge of emerging technology, with more and more information systems having one thing or another to do with Indian labor or manufacturing as time goes on. India is a quiet up-and-comer on the international scene, and promoting their economy and military (vice that of the Chinese) is an excellent long-term American investment, in both political and economic capital.
Having Pakistan's assistance in case of a campaign against Iran is important, but maintaining the fragile balance of power in the Indian sub-continent is crucial. This arrangement should be an excellent provision for that.
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