Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s three day visit to Pakistan was supposed to be a “charm offensive,” where America’s top diplomat could shore up Pakistani support for pro-US policies (which chiefly translates into massive wars across the nation).
But in the end it ended up underscoring just how widespread distrust of the US government is across the nation, and that criticism of America’s policies are not the exclusive domain of insurgents in dusty tribal areas.
Clinton got an earful from Pakistanis. Students and journalists condemned the US for the large number of civilian casualties in its drone strikes. The secretary shrugged, “there’s a war going on.”
The Pakistanis seem uncomfortable with fighting such a large number of wars on America’s behalf, and particularly when the US seems to follow each new war with a demand for more. Secretary Clinton lamented that “we’re not getting through” to the Pakistanis, but the growing outcry since her visit suggests maybe she did get through, and they just don’t like what they’re hearing.
I wrote an article about the future of Pakistan yesterday:
http://www.watchinghistory.com/2009/10/future-of-…
Their President Zardari only has the support of 11 percent of the people. And only 11 percent of Pakistanis consider the Taliban a threat, but 59 percent consider the US the biggest threat to their country. A government will so little support, acting completely against the interests of its people, is not one that can last forever.
Alas, Pakistan! She was the front line for the western intelligence agencies during the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. Pakistan has been marching to the tune of the west since 1979 — and smartly, too – especially after 9/11. We replaced Musharraf with Zardari – and his poll numbers plummet predictably. Pakistanis are sick of the US presence in the region — and some are dying as the result of collateral damage done by drones that are guided by pilots located half a world away. What would Americans do if people in Montana and Idaho were being killed by Pakistani drones targeting Islamophobic militias? I am surprised that 11% support a government that permits lethal military aggression by a superpower.
Pak has been serving as asswipes of their American, European and now Chinese masters since partition. The people and the ruling paki thugs had got too spoiled receiving "no string attached financial aid" from America. Madam Hillary had to straighten them out. America does not want ass wiped with any ordinary tissue, it has to be Charmin brand and double ply.
HRC's visit was a failure, but the American people will hear how successful it was through our mainstream media.
That picture you've got of clinton speaks a thousand words. You can just imagine her there in Pakistan, angry students grilling her on drone strikes, with that look on her face as she says in effect "i don't give a s#%%". Great pick for chief diplomat Obama, great pick.