Pakistan's Nukes

Pakistan successfully test-fired a nuclear-capable cruise missile able to avoid radar detection. Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations reports the Hatf VII Babar missile has a range of 435 miles, 700 kilometers, and is equipped to carry various warheads. According to Stratfor, 'this is the third time the cruise missile has been tested; the first test was conducted in 2005 and the second in March 2006.'

Let me pose a question, what happens with Pakistan's nukes, missiles, and other technology, if Pakistan is allowed to slide closer to the terrorists? Here's the situation:

Intelligence agencies around the world have long suspected Pakistan as the source of extremism and terrorism. The culture of unregulated madrassas, the proximity to two conflict zones - Afghanistan and Kashmir - have made Pakistan ideally situated to house terrorist training camps that carry out operations in South Asia and around the world.[2]

Pakistan has between 10,000 and 40,000 religious schools or madrassas. A small number of these are supposed to provide military training which give inspiration to European extremists of South Asian descent.

... is weak due to the army and powerful religious leaders. Unlike other countries, it is a country with nuclear weapons and was recently found selling it to Iran, North Korea and Libya. The person responsible for selling was tried inside the country and was refused access to intelligence agencies of other countries.[3] Pakistan has used Islamist militants to fight its wars in Afghanistan and Kashmir.[4] (more)

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf is walking a tight rope as it is. How long can he continue to hold office, how long can he survive the many assassination attempts on his life? What would the country be like and who would take over, should Musharraf be killed? All things we Americans should be thinking about.

On Kashmir:

... the massive bloodshed continuing in Kashmir is not merely a result of cross-border terrorism as the Indian State would like us to believe, but that there is also a genuine freedom struggle going on against the repressive Indian State by the Kashmiris who are alienated equally with India, Pakistan and the militants ... (more)

Any struggle for freedom should be encouraged.

North Korea doesn't want to continue negotiations on their nuclear program until some of their funds are released back to them, but Chinese bank's refusal to accept the North Korean funds from the Macau bank accounts is holding up the transfer of funds. As I always say, it's about the money.

North Korea has criticized an imminent major annual military drill of US and South Korean forces as a 'dangerous provocation,' [snip] According to the US, the US-South Korean military drill is for defence purposes only. The US Command, which is stationed in South Korea had informed the North Korean People's Army about the drill in advance, as usual. (source)

In Iraq, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was left shaken but unhurt after a suspected rocket exploded, sending shock waves through a building where he was giving a news conference in Baghdad. Ban's trip was the first by the top U.N. official since his predecessor, Kofi Annan, visited in November 2005, so it's nice to know they want to see first hand what's going on.

Ever get the feeling the world's nations are walking on egg shells these days? Velvet Hammer posts, "An Explosion of Peace Heard ‘Round the World", Don't we wish.
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Comments

[sultan knish]

considering the whole network that siphoned nuclear technology from north korea to pakistan to libya, the only way to break the chain is to start at the top with north korea

most muslim countries lack real technological sophistication, which means they need western, russian or asian powers to get it to them

[velvethammer]

Frightening.

At times, I feel as if all we are doing, is sitting around

waiting to be blown to kingdom come....

[James Biga]

At some pont this festering is going to erupt. I actually hope it happens all at once so we can get it over with.