Will Pakistan revolt?

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

So, it seems Pakistan's potent opposition parties are unhappy with the conditions on American aid. Now they're talking about negotiating with the US over it. While I don't think it's likely, a defeat in Pakistan's parliament could spell overall defeat both for Obama's war efforts in Afghanistan, and peoples' willingness to put up with Afghanistan any longer. Is there a way to keep Pakistan happy and sovereign without adversely impacting our actual goals? I think we can all agree that money we spend there has to have a specific purpose if we're going to spend it all. Can we trust the government to fight the Taliban? Can we expect that, without US conditions on aid, they'll do so in a way that compliments our own efforts across the border?

Comments

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

So leaving Pakistan to fend for itself will make it better?

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

It's already collapsed once and may end up doing so again....

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

Which would be insanely problematic, considering the weapons they have. I'd say that we have an essential interest in stability there (and so does everybody, really). The question becomes whether our intervention fosters or harms stability. I'd say that it can destabilize, but less than it promotes stability.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

To a degree, yes, but if it gets too expensive and we have to withdraw, all we've done is make it far, far worse....