Obama’s New World Strategy & Pakistan’s Role
By Anila Ali
Irvine, CA
Senator Obama’s new strategy is: what we need to do to bring order back to the post 9/11 world? In his address in Washington DC, he chalked out a plan to reverse the failed Iraq policy and to bring the troops home. He termed the Iraq War as a distraction “which diminishes our security, our standing in the world.” Instead, he vowed to shift America’s focus from Iraq to fighting Al-Qaeda.
This speech comes before Senator Obama’s ambitious trip to the Middle East and Europe. The trip comes after McCain goaded him into seeing the facts on the ground. McCain has now accused him of prejudging his trip by announcing what he thinks before he sees the facts on the ground. Senator Obama may come back and change certain ideas and then the McCain camp will accuse him of flip-flopping. Either way, Senator Obama will have to redefine his policies when needed.
One thing is certain: both candidates and President Bush agree that Afghanistan has become the central point in the war on terror and that Pakistan is a “nuclear armed nation at the nexus of terror and radical Islam.
Senator Obama openly criticized the War in Iraq and the failed policies of the present government and how it hasn’t made America safer. He stated the five goals that are essential to making America safer:
Ending the war responsibly
Finishing the fight against Al-Qaeda and Taliban
Securing all nuclear weapons from terrorists and rogue states
Achieving energy security
Rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century
He claimed that the fact that Al Qaeda has grown is a consequence of our current strategy. As President, Senator Obama will demand more of the Pakistani government. He will not allow the tribal areas of Pakistan to become a terrorist sanctuary. He will require Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO to form a stronger partnership to root out border insurgency and terrorist activity. For this to become a reality, a change in Pakistan policy is needed. Before a blank check is written more must be expected of the Pakistani government.
“It’s time to strengthen stability by standing up for the aspirations of the Pakistani people.” Senator Obama will be cosponsoring a bill with Joe Biden and Richard Lugar to triple non-military aid to the Pakistani people and to sustain it for ten years. At the same time, his government will ensure that the military assistance provided is used to fight Al Qaeda and Taliban. He acknowledges the fact that military alliances built with Pakistan have been on convenience basis and have faced grave opposition. He maintained that only a strong democracy in Pakistan would help the US in securing all nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states.
Senator Obama’s Pakistan policy reflects a deep understanding of the dynamics of the region. He acknowledges that the notion that a small group of fundamentalists represent all of Islam is one that has to change. His belief that transformation from radical thinking will come about only when the people of Pakistan are empowered with a strong democracy, education, and hope for a better future. Senator Obama has my vote!
