Today, the Pakistani Army made a military attack in the border region near Afghanistan. The Waziristan region is not under Paklstani military control and is the stronghold of tribal leaders that support terrorists, like Al-Qaeda. The Pakistani army has found multiple engagements in this region with limited effect.

This new offensive shows that Musharraf wants to send a message that he is making a difference at tracking down Bhutto's assassins. He is on his way to Europe from a multi-day trip, including the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. This helps him with his interactions with other world leaders as well as sends a message to Pakistanis that he is taking action.

Hopefully, this will lead to a broader initiative for Pakistan to secure the border and limit the activities of tribal warlords that are supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan. If it makes life difficult for Al-Qaeda...so much the better.


http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1705491,00.html

Tags: Terrorism, Geopoltics

It is a sad day for South Asia geopolitics as Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in Pakistan. Ms. Bhutto was shot at close range by a gunman in the neck and the chest with the neck shot being the fatal blow. Afterwards, the gunman blew himself up causing more damage. The fact that the suicide bomber was so effective at taking out his target makes me wonder about the security around Ms. Bhutto. Read More...

In the only nuclear Muslim state Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf has ended the state of emergency. While met with some approval, clearly the politics in the country and civil liberties of the press and the opposition are still curtailed. Is Pakistan on the path to civil war? What would that mean to the world? Read More...

As expected, Ahmadinejad has declared victory in the latest news that Iran may not have a nuclear weapons program. By standing up to the West, he saved Iran. However, just as it was no longer advantageous for Iran to continue the threat of developing a nuclear weapon, it may no longer advantageous for Iran to portray that it is a wild card that led by a fanatic. Read More...

According to a report released today by the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), Iran has not been pursuing its nuclear weapons program since the fall of 2003. This reversal of assessment on the risk for Iran on nuclear weapons opens the window for Iran and US to negotiate a peaceful settlement on Iraq. Read More...

Regarding Chavez's referendum to provide sweeping changes to the Venezuelan constitution to increase presidential powers and bring about socialistic changes, the Venezuelans say No! The voters defeated the measure by 51% to 49% delivering a stunning defeat to Chavez's agenda in an apparently fair election. Read More...

The initial exit polls are in and it appears that Hugo Chavez will have succeeded in driving his referendum through to allow him to potentially rule Venezuela for life and to turn the major oil exporter into a socialist state. With the removal of term limits on the presidency, Chavez can run for president indefinitely and serve as long as he wins the elections. Read More...

This week starts the Middle East peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis. While the Bush Administration feels optimism, that progress could me made, the dynamics of the region preclude a major breakthrough agreement. Read More...

A recent post in the NY Times blog Dot Earth talked about the unpopularity of Japanese whaling amongst various countries and Japan's insistence on whaling for scientific purposes. While whale meat is not often eaten in Japan --- for disclosure purposes I ate it once when I lived in Japan, I believe that Japan's insistence on its right to whaling has more to do with geopolitics than culture or food. Read More...

Tags: Japan