Report: Pakistan Army Crumbling

The notion of these Taliban cavemen ever taking over in Pakistan and getting their hands on nukes should be causing alarm worldwide. Though we have much more pressing issues in this country, such as Britney Spears losing custody of her children, and the Democrats trying to destroy media personalities while concentrating on surrender in Iraq.

When they write our epitaph, never let it be said we didn't have our priorities in order.

Throwing in the Towel in Pakistan

As a widening political crisis distracts President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's army appears to be folding in the face of a mushrooming Taliban insurgency sweeping down from the Afghan border, diplomats and Western military officials say.

"I am very concerned that they are sort of throwing in the towel because it's something the people don't support and since Musharraf is also on the ropes," a Western military official told ABC News.

A series of deadly attacks that have killed hundreds of Pakistani troops this year and the abduction of more than 200 soldiers in the volatile Waziristan district have convinced longtime observers that the military lacks clear direction from the top.

Foreign governments, including the U.S., Britain and other European nations that have suffered terrorist attacks on their soil, are particularly concerned President Musharraf has lost focus, amid a widening political crisis and his struggle to remain in power, diplomats say.

This week, the U.S. government pledged $750 million in USAID development funds to the tribal areas over the next five years. In addition, U.S. and U.K. troops will retrain the Frontier Corps, an ethnically Pashtun paramilitary force, in counterinsurgency tactics, Western military officials say.

Pakistan has stationed some 80,000 troops from the predominantly Punjabi army in the tribal areas, a Pashtun region.

"The Pakistan Army has always been the wrong force to use there," say military officials. "They don't speak the language. They are not trained to do counterinsurgency."

In the wake of stinging recent defeats for the Pakistan Army in the tribal areas, some Western officials fear the Pakistan Army will simply withdraw its Punjabi troops before the new Pashtun force can be properly trained.

"I am worried they will use this as an excuse to dump out fast and that will leave a vacuum," said a Western military officer.

How about going in with a strong counter-insurgency and wiping these thugs out, and letting us help?

Negotiating with and keeping your hands of the Taliban sure hasn't helped.