International Problems – What is Obama Doing?

Posted on February 16, 2009
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February 16, 2009, International Problems – What is Obama Doing? As Obama’s first month is about to pass, and as the focus has been primarily on domestic matters, there are a number of international issues that I have yet hear the President address with any resolve. We hear about “listening tours” and discussions with our advesaries. Obama, who is apparently the President of the U.S.A. needs to act like it. Here is a small sample of what I would like to hear about from him in the coming days (and not through the MSM Obama can do no wrong filter):

1) On February 16, 2009, Pakistan capitulated in a deal with the Taliban to allow the Taliban to impose Islamic (Shariah) law in the former tourist resort of Swat, in the Swat Valley and surrounding areas, if the Taliban will end their brutal insurgency. This arrangement was tried in 2008 and only afforded the Taliban insurgency time to regroup before the deal collapsed.

From a Time report on February 19, 2009, ‘Over the last 18 months, militants have battled security forces, beheaded political opponents and burned scores of girls’ schools in the Swat Valley, which lies near Pakistan’s tribal regions – longtime Taliban and al-Qaeda strongholds bordering Afghanistan.’

This arrangement by Pakistan seems to have the Obama Administration’s finger prints on it, as President Obama said recently that more Pakistani security forces are needed on the border with Afghanistan to stop Taliban and al-Qaeda forces from attacking American forces in Afghanistan from Pakistani territory. Richard Holbrooke, Obama’s special U.S. envoy to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, expressed concern over the deal, yet if he insisted on greater support from Pakistani forces on the Afghanistan border, the Pakistanis may have made this deal to free up more of their security forces. President Obama’s desire for more Pakistani security forces in the border region preceeded his order for an additional 17,000 troops to go to Afghanistan.

References:

Right Side News; “A Bargain with Terror”
February 19, 2009, By Kathy Shaidle of FrontPageMagazine.com

ABC News – Austrailia; “Pakistan cuts ‘dangerous’ deal with Taliban”
February 17, 2009

Time; “Pakistan: Cleric Discusses Peace with Taliban”
Feb. 19, 2009, By AP / Sherin Zada

Time; “Pakistan: A Mounting Problem for Obama”
Jan. 26, 2009, By Aryn Baker and Omar Waraich in Islamabad

Reuters; “U.S. envoy calls Pakistan’s Zardari over Swat deal”
February 19, 2009

Yahoo News; “Cleric holds peace talks with Pakistan Taliban”
February 19, 2009, By AP / Sherin Zada

2) North Korea, again sounding off with accusations that the U.S. is about to attack North Korea with a nuclear strike, has warned it is prepared for “all-out confrontation” with South Korea and is planning on testing a long range missile, reportedly with range enough to reach Alaska. All this as the Secretary of State was about to visit Seoul. Here they go again.

References:

Reuters; “North Korea warns of war as Clinton heads for Seoul”
February 19, 2009, By Jon Herskovitz

Wall Street Journal; “U.S. Sees Power Rifts in North Korea”
February 20, 2009, By Jay Solomon

Newsweek; “North Korea steps up war rhetoric against South Korea…”
Feb 19, 2009, Associated Press

Sky News; “Clinton weighs in on nuclear N. Korea”
February 20, 2009

3) Following a February 3, 2009 announcement of its desire to close Manas air base, the Kyrgyzstan Parliament has passed, and the the Kyrgyz President has signed, a bill to cancel the lease agreement with the U.S. for the base. The Kyrgyz government will now send an eviction notice to the U.S. As this is a main air base used for logistical support of Afghanistan operations, time will tell of the impact of the closure, just as President Obama has ordered 17,000 additionsl troops to Afghanistan.

This action by Kyrgyzstan follows a Russian offer of $2.15 billion in aid and loans to the financial straped country. Once the Kyrgyzstan intentions to close the base were made, Russia offered use of it’s territory for U.S. logistic operations for Afghanistan for non-military use only.

The U.S. is still attempting to convince Kyrgyz government officials to reconsider their decision.

References:

Fox News; “Kyrgyz President Signs U.S. Base Closure Bill”
February 20, 2009, Associated Press

International Herald Tribune*: “Russia offers territory for U.S.-Afghan shipments”
February 6, 2009, By Ellen Barry
* Global Edition of the New York Times

CNN: “Clinton: Kyrgyzstan base closure decision ‘regrettable’”
February 6, 2009, By Jill Dougherty and Elise Labott