Pakistan & Afghanistan.

'XPLODEY DOPES AND JUST DOPES

Much of today's commentary regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan is centering on the 'xplodey dope that blew up himself and others outside of Bagram Airbase and the left's pitiful reaction to the bombing. Yes, the left is disappointed the 'xplodey dope did not kill VP Cheney.

However, while sad, it is not interesting due to its utter predictability. What is interesting though is the sequence of events here. The VP and intelligence officials visit Pakistan, reports I have read indicate they came loaded with intelligence on what is going on in Waziristan and it is not the production of baby milk. The Taliban and their supporters contrary to the agreement they came to with Pakistan is staging out of Waziristan to attack Afghanistan.

THE CIA IS NOT THE ONLY LEAKY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Now, President Musharraf is in a very tight spot. His intelligence service the ISI was one of the main agencies responsible for setting the Taliban up (and this article also talks about the role in general of Pakistan in the affair as well as its current status). I think it likely the ISI contains many Taliban supporters and enemies of Musharraf and certainly those people are not going to take kindly to a spanking over Waziristan.

I speculate Musharraf's intelligence officials were briefed on the rest of the VP's trip and word made its way to the Taliban who sent out the 'xplodey dope. I do not take this event in itself to be a causus belli (keep cool) but I hope in their meeting it was made perfectly clear if Pakistan does not control its own territory then they should not howl when others decide to control it. Kinda like adverse possession.

IF YOU WANT IT, TAKE CARE OF IT

Though Pakistan claims Waziristan as its own territory Waziristan is essentially its own nation, but Pakistani forces by agreement do not have authority there. So, if I own a second house but do not oust the squatters who have taken up residence there what right do I have to the house? Of course, adverse possession is different but not all that much.

SOMETIMES A 'XPLODEY DOPE IS JUST A – 'XPLODEY DOPE

Of course, it could also be possible the 'xplodey dope was just sent on a routine mission and when the Taliban heard who was in the Bagram Airbase at the time they try to convince us they were after him.