Hotspot: Pakistan

Musharraf arrives in Saudi Arabia and meets with King Abdullah - they agree on a series of joint measures to deal with Islamic extremists. It looks like the meeting with Nawaz Sharif did not come to pass - because Sharif didn't want it to.

We learned yesterday that the date for elections has been tenatively set for January 8. Today we learn that Benazir is contemplating a boycott of the elections. (And that worked out so well for the Sunnis in Iraq). Not only that, all the opposition parties boycotted the Election Council meeting held today to finallize a code of conduct for the general elections...AND she is claiming that the polls are already being rigged - as she speaks!!! (I'm telling you, people. This woman really IS the Pelosi of Pakistan.)

We have also learned that the problem in dealing with the Islamist miscreants (Pakistan code speak for murdering, Muslim scum) has largely resulted from the inadequacy of the Frontier Guard. Now we learn that there's a SECRET PLAN for US special forces to increase training and $ in the region. Git 'r done, guys.

It's starting to look like it's soon going to be GAME ON in Swat and Shangla as 3 Swat villages’ residents are asked to leave

MINGORA: Three villages in Swat have started migrations following announcements by the army asking them to evacuate. Military asked people of Akhund, Dagai and Kabal Khas to evacuate, raising fears that the army was launching operation there. In Shangla, residents said troops fired mortars on the Manrai Sar area, where rebel cleric Maulana Fazlullah’s loyalists have taken up positions. Meanwhile, around 18 people, including 12 militants, were killed by shelling. The military also announced that at least 40 militants were injured when forces targeted two militant compounds in Kot Nawakally, reported AFP. Sources said forces have arrested four persons for spying for militants.

Dialogue-schmialogue. The Alipuri region has been taken over and foreign fighters (Uzbekis)are rumored to be in the region and the governor wants to use force only as a last option. Meanwhile in Bajaur, government officials are being abducted. I wonder if they dialogued with the miscreants before being taken. Meanwhile the troops are being bolstered with pep talks and told:

The VCOAS praised efforts by tribes to evict foreign elements from their area. He said support of the local people was critical for success in military operations to purge the area of miscreants and terrorists. He appealed to the people of Swat to extend their help in restoring normalcy. He ordered the local commanders to help provide medical facilities and look after victims of miscreants’ atrocities.

Hah-hah. And it looks like the Pakistani version of Congress has the same kind of approval rating as the US one. "Rubberstamping the tissue paper".

Not only that - it appears that the RED STATE/BLUE STATE divide is alive in Pakistan. Majority Support Emergency Rule.

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf has said Pakistan’s majority population was rural and supported the emergency rule, adding that some urban non-government organisations were rallying against the emergency rule.

And in Imran Khan news. He's still on his hunger strike and his sister is VERY WORRIED about him. (Give me a break, it's only been, what - two days?) And reports from the prison indicate he enjoyed supper the previous evening.