Pakistan takes nuke capability to new heights

And where is Secretary of State Rice??? Has she got ANYTHING to say about this???

She's still too busy hammering away at the Iranians and the Nth Koreans that haven't tested (and proved) their capability to transport a nuclear device a few thousand kilometers. Why? Because the Pakistani government is an ally of the Bush Administration and as such can get away with it!



Don't believe me? Recently Pakistan sourced nuclear material (suitable to produce weapons) from North Korea and sold it to Libya. Awful! Out comes President Bunnypants: "The North Korean terrorist-loving evil m*thaf*ckas are giving bombs to Libya to kill freedom-loving American babies in their cradles!!!!". Liar!

Sorry! They won't be sending those nukes over in the Shaheen missile.....

BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE BEST PLANES THAT THE USA CAN SUPPLY!!!!!!



source

Yes, that story about US renewing arms sales to the Pakistanis was on the news tonight. Now we know why Musharaf suddenly stopped supporting the Taliban after 9/11. Had nothing to do with 9/11, in fact. He had to get on Bush's good side, is all.

Of course we don't support military dictators any more. Nosir! Saddam Hussein was the last one we supported. Right.

I'll be back later with a positive spin on the decision. Much later, I'm afraid.

Apparently the US is open to selling the same technology to the Indians. I would have thought the most sensible deal was to take like the $35m for each plane from the Pakistanis and then take $25m from the Indians to scrap it in the States...........





Anyone read 'Catch 22' where Milo takes on a contract from the Luftwaffe to attack the airforce base on Pisano and another from the US Air Force to defend it?

Milo Minderbinder. My kind'a capitalist.

Nothing says "thanks" like warplanes.

After the White House approved the sale of 24 fighter-bombers to Pakistan last week, international response was greatly divided, running the gamut from "this was a bad idea" to "No, this was a really bad idea." Administration officials quickly defended the decision, explaining that the sale was a reward for Pakistan's help in the war against terror, help which to date has resulted in not finding Osama bin Laden, not ending regional support for al-Qaeda, and not seriously punishing its top scientist for selling nuclear secrets to rogue nations.

Indian government officials questioned why the U.S. would express its gratitude with nuclear-capable warplanes when a large basket of fruit would have sufficed. Other diplomats agreed, suggesting that a nation with a long history of supporting terrorism might better qualify for some coupons from Outback Steakhouse, or even a simple friendship ring. "Just find out Pervez Musharraf's birthstone," a helpful U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan suggested, "then throw in a couple chocolate biscotti from Godiva, and call it even."

Other U.N. officials pointed out that Hallmark has a new line of Coalition of the Willing thank-you notes that cover all occasions with a quiet thoughtfulness simply not found in fighter jets bristling with lethal firepower. Lockheed Martin, the F-16's manufacturer, strongly disagreed however, noting that each aircraft will be shipped with complimentary cockpit potpourri. (This month's scent: lilac.)

For its part, Pakistan will redouble its efforts in the war against terror, promising twice-monthly press releases chronicling another near-capture of bin Laden and at least one blurry videotape of what could be Mullah Mohammad Omar, the elusive former Taliban leader. More importantly, Pakistan will continue to impose the harsh conditions under which scientist A.Q. Khan is being punished for selling nuclear technology on the international black market. Khan is in his third year of a life sentence of house arrest, handed down by Pakistan's stern judicial system which sees dining in as more than enough punishment for helping North Korea and Iran with their nuclear weapons programs. That said, however, we can only hope the domestic staff serves his meals with an appropriate scowl of condemnation -- perhaps even a raised eyebrow of disapproval as they present the week's selection of Hollywood DVDs -- to express the full weight of international disapproval he has earned.

(Happy April Fool's Day.)