On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
Diane Ellis ·
May 6, 2011 at 9:41pm
Needless to say that it's on exceptionally rare occasion that I find myself nodding in agreement with Sen. Schumer, but concerning our top foreign policy challenge going forward, I think he's right.
"I would guess that our No. 1 foreign-policy problem over the next 10 years will be Pakistan," Schumer told the CBS Early Show. "It's nuclear. It's poor. It's ethnically divided and it's never had good leadership."
Off to consult Dr. Victor Davis Hanson for his prognosis.
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Comments:
Aug '10
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
Pakistan is obviously India's #1 foreign policy problem and Afghanistan's #1 foreign policy problem for the next 10 years, but whether it will be America's #1 foreign policy problem is in part a function of how much we choose to allow it to be our problem. I think it is entirely possible to assume a fairly comfortable containment posture by cutting off the spigot of bribes and aircraft supplies, pulling our troops out of Af-Pak (with only the occasional air strike from carriers or bases elsewhere in central Asia), and refusing to accept Pakistani passports.
Edited on May 6, 2011 at 10:07pmSep '10
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
Mexico would be #2.
Aug '10
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
Exactly. You're talking about a country with which we have strong cultural, economic, and in many cases familial ties --- not to mention a long and porous border. Unlike Pakistan this is not a country whose problems we can avoid.
Feb '11
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
anon_academic
Exactly. You're talking about a country with which we have strong cultural, economic, and in many cases familial ties --- not to mention a long and porous border. Unlike Pakistan this is not a country whose problems we can avoid. · May 6 at 1:37pm
Could not agree more. Pakistan is a problem for us only because it is a self-inflicted problem.
Mar '11
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
I'd put it at #1, cause it is so close.
I'd also be a little concerned about Iran, Syria, Yemen, Egypt - hard to rank em. It's like there is some Global ideology, movement, religion, or something.
Schumer is taking the usual Politician's short-term, narrow, view. It's maybe why Rick Santorum is no longer in the Senate - he takes the wider view.
Edited on May 6, 2011 at 10:56pmDec '10
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
The primary reason Afghanistan was not a success after we toppled the Taliban in the fall-winter of 2001-2002 is Pakistan.
If not for Pakistan no one would give a crap about Afghanistan.
The only reason we, and NATO, are still in Afghanistan is Pakistan. Our efforts in Afghanistan are all about Pakistan.
Karzai knows this. It is why he is comfortable with repeatedly giving Obama the finger ever since Obama publicly threw him under the bus in the fall of 2009.
Edited on May 7, 2011 at 2:44amOct '10
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
1) Pakistan
2) Iran (until the mullahs are overthrown)
3) The Cartels
Feb '11
Re: On Which I Agree With Chuck Schumer
John Marzan: 1) Pakistan
2) Iran (until the mullahs are overthrown)
3) The Cartels · May 6 at 7:30pm
I would've put Iran at #1. Though I definitely agree that that's only until the right revolution comes along. With the right people in charge, Iran could be a great ally.