India or Pakistan?

[RandomGuy]

WTF do we need Pakistan for now? They need US. They're under more danger from the Taliban than we are. Pakistan can go itself, for all I care.

I do not entirely disagree.

If the Pakistani people want to really be all that anti-American, we might as well give them a good reason to be.

[RandomGuy]

Exactly. Pakistan has an army, nukes and an economy that couldn't export a ham sandwich.

"ham"

Try "lamb".

[TeyshaBlue]

"ham"

Try "lamb".

[RandomGuy]

Economically we need India. Militarily, we need Pakistan.

But, Pakistan has been such a basketcase for so long (like since it began) that there is little hope for it getting better any time soon..

The question that you pose is one that, IMHO, froze the Bush administration in its desire to simultaneously curry favor with the Musharref government in Pakistan and fight islamic fundamentalism. The military in Pakistan has always had close ties to Muslim extremists, and the nominal government has never really been free of the overarching influence of the military.

Remember that Pakistan was formed out of the breakup of India, and the breakup of India was in part due to the cultural and religious tensions between Islam and Hinduism.

Exactly.

At some point though, our military need for Pakistan will be lessened after we withdraw from Afghanistan, as it appears we are preparing to do. I will believe that when I see it.

Pakistan has increasingly become more and more militantly islamist due to the aforementioned religious schools that provide most of the education in that country.

The best way for us to fight terrorism these days is to build and fund secular schools for Pakistan, IMO. I fear if we don't do that right now, Pakistan will be lost to extremism and ignorance. This will most definitely NOT make us safer.

[MannyIsGod]

I do not entirely disagree.

If the Pakistani people want to really be all that anti-American, we might as well give them a good reason to be.

We just need to get the out of that part of the world ASAP. Mission of destroying Al Queda as an operational network was accomplished in 2001 and now we've finally got Osama Bin head so the sooner we get out - and I mean really get out not these bull withdrawls Obama loves to do - the better. I see no strategic value in ing around in a bunch of mountain villages with people that are more likely to lob a grenade down our pants than pat us on the back.

[MannyIsGod]

Damn now I want lamb. Gyros for lunch!

[JoeChalupa]

India

[clambake]

Damn now I want lamb. Gyros for lunch!

you just had a burrito. go jog it off.

[JoeChalupa]

OBL was on the lamb.

[clambake]

OBL was on the lamb.

[Whisky Dog]

I prefer Squishies and "Thank you come again"

[EVAY]

Exactly.

At some point though, our military need for Pakistan will be lessened after we withdraw from Afghanistan, as it appears we are preparing to do. I will believe that when I see it.

Pakistan has increasingly become more and more militantly islamist due to the aforementioned religious schools that provide most of the education in that country.

The best way for us to fight terrorism these days is to build and fund secular schools for Pakistan, IMO. I fear if we don't do that right now, Pakistan will be lost to extremism and ignorance. This will most definitely NOT make us safer.

That's probably a good idea. (the secular schools) If Pakistan is completely lost to militant Islam, it won't be a grenade they are tossing down our backs, it will be a nuke.

The nuclear threat in the hands of extremists in Pakistan is precisely why the U.S. remains in constant negotiations with those folks. And they know why we are there...that's one of the reasons they don't bother being trustworthy with us...they know that we won't abandon them entirely because it is not in our nation's self-interest to abandon them to the Taliban or other religious extremists.

[RandomGuy]

doesn't india have the 2nd biggest GDP after america? or 3rd or something alike..indians are smart people

Depending on how exactly you measure economies:

The European Union has the #1 spot, followed by the US, followed by China, then Japan, then India.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publicat.../2001rank.html

Pakistan comes in at #28.