Brian,

Thanks for putting this out there. Yeah, there's some division in the left about this issue. But you know, unlike for the right, a little healthy debate's a good thing.

The rightists have been cheering on their "united" front against sane budget policy in California and nationally, even though their ideas are both insanely bad policy AND highly unpopular.

With a healthy debate over Afghanistan, the administration will be forced to create defined goals and come up with a set endgame, which is a good thing for everyone. It's nice to have adults in charge for a change, and reasoned adults in the party in power, willing to engage reasonably on matters of public policy.

Yes, Brian, as we "engage" and debate the political, er, public policy, implications of our future role in Afghanistan, Rome rapidly burns around us. I wonder too if a lot of real debate will actually be occur on this issue.

As we speak, our new Commander-In-Chief is quietly shifting troops from Iraq to Afghanistan to beef up our military presence there and prevent the Taliban's reemergence. I actually agree with this policy, but many on the left will view it as a continuation of Bush-Cheney hawkism.

The other major issue this administration is facing is the "safe haven" for the Taliban and Al-Qaida that has been allowed as a matter of by the Pakistani government in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. Mark my word, this area will become the new breeding ground for the next terrorist attack on our soil.

Joe Biden hit the nail on the head when he said Obama would be tested within his first six months in office. The question for me is how will he respond?

Pakistan can fight terrorism with the best of them. Things have changed in Pakistan and the change isn't good for terrorists. Pakistan will not prove to be a safe haven for terrorists very soon.

Are you concerned that the civilian government could be overthrown by religious extremists?

Who them or us?

What other options do we have?

Brian, your point on the civilian government of Pakistan being subject to overthrow by radical Islamo-Fascists is a very real possibility. We saw it in Iran in 1979 and there is enough discontent and anger right now among the populace, fueled by the fervor of the religious extremists, that I could see it happening quite easily.

Pakistan has also set itself up to a large extent by allowing the murderous, abusive, women-hating, revolutionary-minded Taliban to function under Sharia law, free of any restrictions whatsoever, in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. Al-Qaida is already teaming up with them there and this is clearly becoming a breeding ground for the next international terrorist crisis.

Brian,
Your point on the civilian government of the United States being subject to overthrow by radical religious extremists is a very real possibility. We saw Billy Graham in 1973 in the Nixon Whitehouse. We saw Ted Haggart in the Bush Administration. There is certainly enough discontent and anger right now among the populace, fueled by the fervor of the religious extremists.

C'mon, Nobody. Nobody is listening to your dumb comments.

We have religious extremists in this country; actively political, running for mayors of towns near you; who condoned torture of other human beings by their Republican religious leader. That's our problem...

In Pakistan right now they have a cease fire. Why not let Pakistan try to peacefully disarm the terrorists over time? Like us. Creating violence in Pakistan won't create fewer terrorists. It will create more terrorists.

The United States cannot fight terrorism by itself forever. There cannot be peace truly anywhere in the world until each nation can control "their" terrorists.

It is imperative that a nation like Pakistan with nuclear weapons has the ability to stand up for themselves.

I don't disagree with you, Nobody, on the need for Pakistan to stand up for itself. But, quite frankly, they haven't done a very good job up to this point.

They have created this olly olly oxen free zone in the Swat Valley where 3 previously warring factions of the Taliban have now united as one. They are now plotting together to (guess what?) attack Pakistan.

Instead of proposing to spend $900 million of U.S. tax dollars to rebuild Gaza, so that Hamas can begin launching rockets at Israel again, Secretary of State Clinton needs to start practicing some serious diplomatic negotiations with the Pakistani government to get them on the right side of this issue.

Otherwise, we will all the suffer the consequences.