International Crisis Group (ICG) looks at Pakistan with a grossly misplaced focus, totally missing the fact that Pakistan projects sympathetic image as a victim of terror, even as it is, in fact, the creator of terrorism. Pakistan continues to shelter, nurture, support and protect innumerable terrorist outfits on its soil.

Nobody forced Pakistani government to facilitate relocation of Osama bin Laden from Sudan to Afghanistan in 1996. Benazir Bhutto’s democratic government of Pakistan chose to do so of its own will.

Nobody forced Pakistani Army and Intelligence to create what ex-CIA official Bruce Reidel called ‘this jihadist Frankenstein’ monster in 1990s. Pakistani Army and Intelligence chose to do so with the full financing provided by Pakistan’s democratic governments at the time.

Pakistan boldly holds the Western world to ransom. It garners generous financial aid and military supplies from the US and has successfully projected itself as recourse of last resort in its geographical theatre. It runs circles around international sanctions and bans by nurturing a large number of home-grown terrorist outfits forever changing nomenclature. In addition, it maintains seemingly endless supply of freelance non-state actors that allow it the fig-leaf of plausible deniability.

And in a masterful demonstration of how to manage chaos, Pakistan keeps its domestic situation in destabilized ferment and flux by stoking sectarian, that is, Sunni versus Shiite violence, and religious tensions between Islamic progressives and fundamentalists.

For the further bamboozling of the West, Pakistan uses its blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban and its hosting of the Al Qaeda as adroit bargaining chips.

Pakistan blackmails international community in coughing up ever increasing doses of foreign aid by maintaining innumerable terrorist outfits on its soil just as Pakistan blackmails international community by hinting at the possibility of its nuclear weapons falling in the hands of Taliban/Al Qaeda axis while it was Pakistani Army that created Taliban to begin with. Sandy Berger, Bill Clinton’s national security advisor told 9/11 Commission in March, 2004 that ’Pakistani Army was the midwife of Taliban’. UN report on Bhutto killing published in April, 2010 confirmed this fact when it stated that "The PAKISTANI MILITARY ORGANIZED AND SUPPORTED THE TALIBAN TO TAKE CONTROL OF AFGHANISTAN IN 1996“.

Declassified DIA Washington D.C., "IIR (intelligence Information Report) Pakistan Involvement in Afghanistan," dated November 7, 1996 states how "Pakistan's ISI is heavily involved in Afghanistan," and also details different roles various ISI officers play in Afghanistan. Stating that Pakistan uses sizable numbers of its Pashtun-based Frontier Corps in Taliban-run operations in Afghanistan, the document clarifies that, "these Frontier Corps elements are utilized in command and control; training; and when necessary combat“.

Declassified U.S. Department of State, Cable "Pakistan Support for Taliban" from Islamabad dated Sept. 26, 2000 states that "while Pakistani support for the Taliban has been long-standing, the magnitude of recent support is unprecedented." In response Washington orders the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad to immediately confront Pakistani officials on the issue and to advise Islamabad that the U.S. has "seen reports that Pakistan is providing the Taliban with materiel, fuel, funding, technical assistance and military advisors. [The Department] also understand[s] that large numbers of Pakistani nationals have recently moved into Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban, apparently with the tacit acquiescence of the Pakistani government." Additional reports indicate that direct Pakistani involvement in Taliban military operations has increased.

Pakistan created these terrorist outfits and so is in NO danger from these outfits. Sooner ICG discards such misconceptions, the better.

Unfortunately, your magazine has failed to mention the Kurdish Issue in Turkey, which has been on for over two decades...
In Turkey, over 15 million Kurds live. They are a non-Turkic ethnic group who were mentioned 401BC by the Greek worrior Xenophone, Italian merchant, Marco Polo and most of the orietalists who visited the Middle East in 16th century and after.
I hope that you eaither add this course of war to your magazine or it is going to be non-professionalism of you Foreign Policy.

Best regards

That's another possible powder keg missed on the list. The military government wouldn't like to see newly-realeased Aung San Suu Kyi contesting the legitimacy of the general election 2010. There could very likely be conflicts between her supporters and the government.

I thought North and South Korea would be at the top of your list.

is obviously one of the Only Ones:
http://whentennesseepigsfly.blogspot.com/

When even the BATFE agents are admitting that their management is corrupt and evil, JUST HOW BAD do you think things REALLY are, Bill?

Forgot the riots in the U.S. when hyperinflation knocks on the door.

The $400 million annual aid package from the United States to Mexico should be used to Catch, fine and Deport Illegal Immigrants that are in the USA.

It is time for the US Federal Government to Enforce Current US Immigration Laws.

Protect Legal US Residents, NOW.

I cannot believe how most Americans have ignored the arms build up, production of arms, and type of arms that China is doing, this article shows how deep America's head is in the sand.

Just in the last week China has come forward and announced they were building a new bridge to North Korea to aid in transportation and shipment of goods. They also said they were going to fund the expansion of the industrial complex in the North Korean Capital, and they bought exclusive rights to North Korea's main shipping port. I don't have to tell you that all of these are a violation of the UN sanctions, after all an expert should know that. But the rabbit hole goes much deeper than that;

Two days ago China showed the world their own personal fourth Generation Fighter Jet, they own more Flankers than the Russians who make them so why do they need to build their own.

They have deployed their new Carrier Sinking Missle (Designed for US Carriers of course) all over China's coast and the weapon was designed specifically for American ships. It's a work in progress but if you want to see the testing of it just pull up you tube and look up clips from this summer of UFO's over China, it's painfully obvious to the trained eye what it is.

Obama is now deploying the third US Aircraft Carrier Fleet to the Asian Theatre, now the USS Ronald Reagan is joining the other two. Interestingly enough all three carrier groups are in different locations seperating our allies and China; Guam-China, Japan-China, South Korea- China. Think for yourself.

We know that Iran received medium range Nuclear Capable missle from N. Korea through China and we know Iran Nuclear Scientist are working with the Nuclear Scientist of N.Korea, a new team just arrived and the Iranians pay North Korea Great money to be a part of their program. China also receives a great deal of money and oil for allowing the two countries to exchange arms and scientist through their borders.

I can write for hours on the dangers I see exploding and all the editor did was list small pockets of civil war in undeveloped countries and throw in a few pictures of conflict.

America is going to wake up one morning and find itself at war with China and wonder how it happened, it's unfolding right now, right infront of our eyes.

China has the capability to not only take out all of our military bases in the Asian Arena in one stroke but also wipe out most of our navy at the same time. And do you think for a second once they have set up control in that region they are going to allow us back in? Do you honestly believe that Obama will use Nuclear Weapons against China if we are attacked abroad. He is currently converting our Nuclear Stockpile into Hypersonic Kenetic Weapons which are designed to take out a small target. Plus, he has to back up his Nobel BS Prize.

I am not familiar with the writer but I do believe they are completely clueless to what America is facing and why we are bent over a barrel with our arms tied behind our backs. The writer might be as clueless as our current Foriegn Affairs Dept?

If you would like to argue with any of these points I beg you to go to South Korean, Russian, and Indian news sites and pay close attention to the articles. The foriegn Policy with China is being sheilded from American eyes and I am not sure why.

In my opinion I believe that we remained pacifist and business partners with China for so long that we ignored their weapons buildup to protect our prosperity. Now that they feel we owe them for saving us by buying out our debt they feel they need to be the influence in that arena, and because we are corrupt and incapable we should have no business in that arena.

I would love to be wrong, only history will tell, at this point it's a matter of opinion. The writer wrote of small conflicts like most others writting the same types of articles for the last 50yrs. But the way I see it we are headed quickly for the largest war this planet has ever seen and we are doing it at the speed of modern technology.

Have a good new year, lets start the new one by opening our eyes to the bigger picture?

Benjamin

Is it not true that the very USA, is out and all over the world, with its horrendous war machine and instead of creating peace all over it, the USA is creating the most unsolvable problems on a daily basis? And yes, while the Founding Fathers are weeping in their graves, seeing their America once again, a monster of an evil Militaristic Empire. George Washington said this: Overgrown military establishments are under any form of government inauspicious to liberty and are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican liberty". He also said these words: "No pecuniary consideration is more urgent than the regular redemption and discharge of the public debt; on none can dealy be more injurious, or an economy of time more valuable". Thomas Jefferson said these words: "The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, in the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale". He also said these words: "Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling allaiances with none". Of a more recent venture: General Douglas MacArthur said these words: "I am concerned for the security of our great nation; not so much because of any threat from without, but because of the insidious forces working from within". General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower said this: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed". I the above mentioned redblooded Americans were to rise what would they say? Let the readers of my comment reply with an answer as to what this Americans would say were they ro rise! I rest my case for now!

it is time to look at the world as whole and not just a pie chart you deliver in a speech or diplomatic presentation. the world is changing at a very rapid pace. people want for everything and dont want to wait in line for nothing. it is time to get out of the way and let the cards fall where they may. isolationism is the best principle for any sovereign nation at this point. problem is, china and russia are the only sovereign nations left. they collusively put the usa where it is right now, along with internal subversives that have done all they can to destroy the usa. pray for your children america, i know i am.

War happens when military/political power mis-align with economic power. It is independent of race or religion. There is a real risk to the economic power of the West. Asian economic power is rising much faster than their military power; or conversely, Western military power is becoming much stronger than its economic power.

Should the trend continue, there is a real risk of major global war. Unfortunately for those of us not in the political power circles, that appears to be govt's only historical solution these imbalances.

We as the human race, have had the answers to peace for over 2000 years, but the source of the knowledge has been marginalized by too many. The answer to the end of wars is the same for ending the suffering of those who hunger for food simply to exist.

The many who are ungrateful, hateful and otherwise foolish by denying God are the root cause of this planet's miseries. I say collectively, the word of God has been ignored because of our relative comfort, laziness and/or state of denial.

Do not dare yourself confusion on the word, because it is there, and it is easily understood, when your mind is free to accept on faith the word, until the whole word is read. Imagine the word as a whole sentence, which you must complete to get the sentence's message. But the word is a long sentence, and it is called the Bible. Do not be afraid of those words, but accept them for what they are: God's guidance.

The answer my friends is one simple word: Liberty. Do not deny this for you and your family, but for world peace, do not deny this to your neighbors. It is our collective cause to remove all tyrants, dictators, communists and fascists from the entire planet. Until all men are free from the boot and gun point of such tyrants, there will be war and famine. Let it be known to the world that no such governments on Earth are legal nor supportable.

We have cast our lot with the devil too long, by benefiting from cheap labor of nations that enslave their populace for inhumane hours and for little recompense. Let no free men enjoy the benefits of another's slavery, lest you seed more war for your grandchildren.

Giving money to feed the poor is the easy way out, for tomorrow, the need is still there. It's not for lack of food, but for lack of will to free them from thieving overlords. Let no free men ignore the plight of his fellow man's impoverishment, only to witness his family die of hunger.

Let my people go! Free my people! Let no man enslave another, and peace on Earth will be near. Let no man apply his corruption blatantly and inhumanely. These directives are the word of God. If you don't believe in God, then surely the words alone will make sense to all who deny.

Happy New Year to all, and may all experience liberty as a divine right.

You forgot the USA. With municipalities and states going bankrupt the potential for civil unrest increases. Stay steadfast and loyal to the constitution, law abiding Americans!

This quote is from the section about Mexico:

"The press is under increasing pressure to self-censor. One paper in Ciudad Juárez went as far as asking, in an open letter to the cartels, what it was that they were allowed to publish. "

There is a link to the open letter that you mention. I read it, thought it was quite interesting indeed, yet found no sign of the reason why it was referenced here, namely journalists asking permission to the cartels as to what they could publish. This is, uhm, what's the word I'm looking for here, surprising? Please tell me what's going on.

People like him belong in a cell... with heavy padding.

A woman I work with lost a sister because of the drug cartels in Mexico.

Mexico could turn around it's economy, if they had the balls. If they stripped away all laws against drug use and funded a massive build up of agricultural/industrial production of the most popularly consumed illegal pharmaceuticals.

It would make their economy the strongest in the world!

Tourism from the United States would drain our population. Immigration would soar! They'd have to build a fence on THEIR side to keep the s'medium Baby Gap popped collar t-shirt wearing douche-bags from exploding over THEIR border.

The biggest benefit of all is that the cartels would lose their revenue stream. Of course they will never go away, but they would no longer be so blatantly obvious, with turf wars spilling into the streets and across the US's border, as they do today.

I'm surprised China and North Korea were left out, and how the focus on Pakistan is on the humanitarian issues and not the military conflicts that are directly affecting our soldiers, right now.

I'm not surprised that 6 of the 16 were on the African continent. Africa will eventually dissolve into all out civil war, with 1st world nations cleaning up the mess and dividing the natural resources amongst themselves.

I'm knocked flat by how most of the comments on this article attack the United States.

One thread I followed is sure that the United States will break out in civil war; a few think it will happen within 6 months.

Where do these people live? When I go out into the world I see nothing that indicates armed conflicts breaking out. There are no skirmishes, or protesters rioting . . . it's their fantasy that they'll get to live out the conflicts they're playing on X-Box live.

To that I say, take a walk. Get to know your neighbors. Find a woman to romance. Put down your game controller and get a life.

SMIRCOPUS: "One thread I followed is sure that the United States will break out in civil war; a few think it will happen within 6 months. Where do these people live? When I go out into the world I see nothing that indicates armed conflicts breaking out. There are no skirmishes, or protesters rioting . . . it's their fantasy that they'll get to live out the conflicts they're playing on X-Box live."

LOL... I hear you. There certainly is no shortage of simpletons online.

They live in La La Land.