Today In Foreign Policy 9/15

NATO has reiterated it's efforts to allow Georgia to become a member. It recently sent all of its representatives to Georgia as a form of support. Russia remember, is highly opposed, and may see it as a threat to it's security, especially considering the planned defense system, and the oil pipeline running through Georgia.

Article at BBC "Nato restates backing for Georgia"

It has become common knowledge that "terrorists" fighting in Afghanistan are hiding out just across the border in Pakistan. The US accuses Pakistan of not doing enough to track them down, and US troops are beginning to follow the "terrorists" across the border, with no permission from Pakistan. Recently Pakistani troops fired into the air as a warning to US troops to respect Pakistan's border.

Article at BBC "Pakistan soldiers 'confront US'"

So to sum it up, we are taking Georgia's side in the Georgia-Russia conflict, despite the fact that evidence is mounting that Georgia did indeed start the conflict (but Russia did over-react, "just like the US did after 9/11"). Not only that but we are seeking to piss off Russia more by bringing Georgia into NATO (though admittedly this was planned even before the conflict).

AND we are not respecting the territorial integrity of yet another Middle Eastern country.

Does Pakistan really need step it up though? If they can fire into the air at US troops, maybe they can try firing elsewhere, right? But that is what terrorist warfare is about. They are easily concealed because they don't wear uniforms or move in big groups. And if we define a terrorist simply as someone with a weapon, then I would keep an eye on your neighbor.

The US troops know who the enemy is because they are being shot at. The Pakistani troops are not. There has to be a collaboration among the US and Pakistani troops. A sharing of intelligence. Simply barging into Pakistan territory, or assuming that the Pakistani military knows exactly what is happening across the border in Afghanistan is poor judgment.