Now We Will See the True Benefit of the Obama Policy on Pakistan

Over the last three years, it has seemed as if the relationship between the USA and Pakistan has deteriorated to a dangerously low level. Today, we have now seen a new low. About 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed along the Afghan/Pakistani border due apparently to an airstrike by NATO forces operating from Afghanistan. NATO says it is investigating, but it looks like a major screw up by the NATO forces. NATO forces, of course, is another way of saying American forces in Afghanistan. In retaliation for the attack on the Pakistani outpost, Pakistan has shut its border to Afghanistan to supplies for the troops operating there. Pakistan has also ordered America to vacate an air base in Pakistant from which it is believed that American drone attacks were originating. To put this in context, half of all supplies for the forces in Afghanistan come through Pakistan and the airbase in Pakistan is one of only two from which the drones can operate. The Pakistani moves are a major problem for the US effort in Afghanistan.

In the old days under George Bush, American relations with Pakistan were not great but they were not bad either. Since Obama took office, however, things just seem to get worse and worse. It seems that Obama just talks about things that need to be done with regard to Pakistan, but never actually does anything. Obama nevertheless tells us that things are going just great with the Pakistanis. We will soon see whether or not Obama can turn things around here. Clearly, it is not Obama's fault if there is an accidental strike on a Pakistani outpost almost on the border; such things, though horrible, do happen. Obama, however, will have direct responsibility for how well things can be repaired after the damage from that airstrike has been inflicted.