Oh, no! Pakistan has nukes! And apparently the American media is emphasizing the military concern over the stability of the nuclear arsenal following President Musharraf's imposition of military rule according statements made in a Pentagon press conference on Wednesday.
In a traditional ramp-up for "preemptive strikes" American military and government begin the churning of the propaganda machine with talks of nuclear armament. Recall the UN imspections in Iraq (recent reports reveal that these the US military was preparing for them in the Clinton-era) and the present converstation about Iran. But don't let this rhetoric about Pakistan fool you. The US will not be invading Pakistan any time soon.
According to a Reuters report released today, the military is not only aware of the nuclear weapons, but it is monitoring their positions with a high level of priority.
"Any time there is a nation that has nuclear weapons that has experienced a situation such as Pakistan is at present, that is a primary concern," Lt. Gen. Carter Ham told reporters. "However, we'll watch that quite closely and I think that's probably all I can say about that at this point."
Pakistan houses its nuclear devices on the opposite end of the country from its launch devices, so any preparations for a nuclear strike would not go unnoticed by American military intelligence agencies. Additionally, Pakistan is an important ally for the military efforts in the Middle East.
Pakistan receives about $80 million a month from the United States for counter-terrorism efforts, which include manning posts along the Afghan border meant to help stem the flow of Taliban and al Qaeda fighters.
With that aid review ongoing, Ham said the military needs to ensure both the flow of supplies through Pakistan to U.S. troops and Pakistan's continued cooperation along the border.
"From an operational standpoint, those are the two most significant concerns," he said when asked about the U.S. review of aid.
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