sagaciouscorpion
MPA (400+ posts)
PAKISTAN
US security plans
Dawn Editorial
Monday, 03 Aug, 2009 | 07:32 AM PST |
Providing security to foreign missions and diplomats is the responsibility of every host government although one can understand if the American embassy and other foreign missions in Islamabad supplement local efforts with their own security arrangements.
However, the report in Saturdays edition of this paper about the State Departments plans for the US embassy go beyond legitimate security needs and contain elements which are not only astonishing but scary.
The Foreign Office has understandably raised its eyebrows. According to the report, the embassy has acquired 18 acres of land, intends to have 1,000 more personnel, including 350 Marines, plans to build 250 housing units and, to cap it all, wants to have hundreds of APCs.
The US embassy already has a staff of 750 people. The proposed surge will raise its strength to 1,750. Given the Obama administrations commitment to a long-term relationship with Pakistan, one can appreciate a slight increase in the number of American diplomatic personnel and the consequent expansion of building activity.
But going by what has become public knowledge the embassy is going to be more than the eyes and ears of the only superpower; for what Pakistan will have on its soil will be more than a mere embassy and its annexes. The American embassy will, in fact, be a full-fledged fortress bristling with armed Marines and APCs. This can hardly be justified on grounds of security, for they will take Americas diplomatic and military presence to a level that any host government in the world would have reason to feel concerned about.
The State Department should look at the plans from another point of view. Will this festung America endear itself to the people of Pakistan or will it add to the misgivings that already exist among large sections of Pakistanis who may not necessarily be the Talibans friends? A force of 350 soldiers belonging to the elite Marine corps with APCs at their disposal is a strength that goes clearly beyond the legitimate requirements of security and raises a question or two about its intentions.
Ignoring the conspiracy theorists one cannot but see this development in the light of periodic reports in the American media that the Pentagon has contingency plans for taking hold of Pakistans nuclear weapons. The surge and the construction plans are unacceptable. During the Shahs rule in Iran, Tehran was Americas base of operations in the region. Islamabad is not ready for such a role. Maybe Washington could think of having such a base of operations in Kabul or New Delhi, both its friends.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/daw ... lans-hs-01
US security plans
Dawn Editorial
Monday, 03 Aug, 2009 | 07:32 AM PST |
Providing security to foreign missions and diplomats is the responsibility of every host government although one can understand if the American embassy and other foreign missions in Islamabad supplement local efforts with their own security arrangements.
However, the report in Saturdays edition of this paper about the State Departments plans for the US embassy go beyond legitimate security needs and contain elements which are not only astonishing but scary.
The Foreign Office has understandably raised its eyebrows. According to the report, the embassy has acquired 18 acres of land, intends to have 1,000 more personnel, including 350 Marines, plans to build 250 housing units and, to cap it all, wants to have hundreds of APCs.
The US embassy already has a staff of 750 people. The proposed surge will raise its strength to 1,750. Given the Obama administrations commitment to a long-term relationship with Pakistan, one can appreciate a slight increase in the number of American diplomatic personnel and the consequent expansion of building activity.
But going by what has become public knowledge the embassy is going to be more than the eyes and ears of the only superpower; for what Pakistan will have on its soil will be more than a mere embassy and its annexes. The American embassy will, in fact, be a full-fledged fortress bristling with armed Marines and APCs. This can hardly be justified on grounds of security, for they will take Americas diplomatic and military presence to a level that any host government in the world would have reason to feel concerned about.
The State Department should look at the plans from another point of view. Will this festung America endear itself to the people of Pakistan or will it add to the misgivings that already exist among large sections of Pakistanis who may not necessarily be the Talibans friends? A force of 350 soldiers belonging to the elite Marine corps with APCs at their disposal is a strength that goes clearly beyond the legitimate requirements of security and raises a question or two about its intentions.
Ignoring the conspiracy theorists one cannot but see this development in the light of periodic reports in the American media that the Pentagon has contingency plans for taking hold of Pakistans nuclear weapons. The surge and the construction plans are unacceptable. During the Shahs rule in Iran, Tehran was Americas base of operations in the region. Islamabad is not ready for such a role. Maybe Washington could think of having such a base of operations in Kabul or New Delhi, both its friends.
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/daw ... lans-hs-01
