Recent content by saiko

Is AQ Khan worth $1.9 billion USD? That's the only question you really need to ask yourself.

So what was the justification for India annexing the state?

Israel would probably do it, if not for the US holding them back. Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz so easily and no amount of US air or naval power could prevent it. The ensuing economic morass is exactly why Bush told Israel no back when the global economy was looking pretty good and...

Of course we could turn that around completely and ask why the US created the F-22 if the JSF is in fact qualatively superior to everything already in service. And we might ask why the US created the F-16 which was, from the get go, not intended to be superior to aircraft the US already had...

Considering you are going to buy 2-4 Su-30s for a single JSF and the JSF is not going to go into a many vs 1 engagement and live it's just not a great fighter to use as the backbone of your air force. That's why the US has the F-22. Even the US has no illusions about its stealthiness. The US...

And not likely to happen again. Carrier vs carrier battles were a WW2 phenomenon. Today, bombers with mid-air refueling can circumnavigate the globe. The best way to kill a carrier is not with another carrier. The British, up against a small Argentine air force would not take that risk...

Clearly Pakistan hopes that the people of Kashmir choose to ascend to Pakistan so that's Pakistan's interest in the affair. But you're basing all of your opposition to the referendum on the actions of Pakistan which is missing the point completely. I can not be more clear about that. Pointing...

It doesn't seem likely this is US military policy. My guess is over-zealous chaplains? Stupid either way. They should know better.

This post pretty much sums up the entire problem. What Pakistan wants or needs is irrelevent. This is about self-determination for the Kashmiri people. India has blocked an internationally monitored referendum forever - it makes a mockery of Indian attempts to boast about its democratic process.

I think it would be worse for Pakistan to pretend the US is doing this against their will - it makes the government look extraordinarily weak. Better to be seen as doing a bit of US dirty work than completely helpless. And in reality, the goal (regardless of if it's working or not) of...

Joint control presumably gives Pakistan influence on when and where such strikes occur. Anyone who believes the US should just give drones to Pakistan to use obviously feels such strikes are necessary whereas the Pakistan position is that the what and where are a problem. Joint control...

Joint control is a pretty good compromise from the Pakistan point of view, I think, since the US is not going to stop these attacks. At least you have influence on them now. It's not an ideal situation, but it's time to put egos aside. Pakistan is in a not so great situation economically or...

in a future dominated by low intensity conflict, the aircraft carrier becomes a useful tool. but if two majors ever go at it, the aircraft carriers are not going to be involved. ASMs are too cheap and can be fired in such great numbers that risking a carrier would be foolish. no matter...

Many schools impose strict dress codes. I can't speak to the terrorist threats but there's no issue with a school imposing a dress code. If the government were to impose such a dress code on women across Pakistan, that would be something worthy of a discussion (and a silly decision, in my...

Doesn't some of the US military aid follow the same model as aid to other nations (eg Egypt and Israel) where you have to purchase US products? If so, the F-16's could see more procurements in the coming years to come.