By Kenneth J. Theisen
The Obama administration continues to escalate its undeclared war in Pakistan, while contemplating further escalation in Afghanistan. On April 1st, the U.S. launched two missiles that struck in the Orakzai region of Pakistan. Local officials stated that at least 10 people have been killed in the missile strike. Another dozen were wounded. Since last August more than 3 dozen U.S. missile strikes have killed at least 300 people in Pakistan according to reports from Pakistan. 
As a candidate, and now as president, Obama has made clear that he will continue to violate international law by attacking people in Pakistan. Even though his administration no longer uses the word, “war on terror,” it has no problem continuing a war of terror. Pakistan government officials have publicly protested the repeated attacks as violations of Pakistan sovereignty, while quietly going along with them.
Recently Obama announced that he will send 4,000 more troops to Afghanistan to train the puppet forces of the Afghan government. He also called for more money to be given to Pakistan to train troops there for America’s war of terror. Obama officials told the Senate Armed Services Committee it is critical to U.S. efforts to train and equip the Pakistanis. Obama intends to send as much as $3 billion over the next five years to train and equip Pakistan’s military. The $3 billion for Pakistan would be on top of the $7.5 billion in civilian aid contained in legislation sponsored by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman, Democrat John Kerry and the committee’s top Republican Richard Lugar. Obama supports that legislation.
On April 1st General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command, and Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy answered questions from Senators about the possible deployment of 10,000 more troops to Afghanistan. Petraeus admitted that he had forwarded the proposed 10,000 troop increase to the Department of War. If approved, this would involve stationing nearly 80,000 American troops in Afghanistan by 2010. This is more than double the current 38,000 U.S. troops now there. Flournoy told the Senators that Obama is well aware of the additional troop request, but that he does not have to decide on the request until this fall because the additional troops won’t be needed until 2010.
At the meeting with the Senators, Petraeus also emphasized the need to support the Pakistani government and to encourage them to be more involved with the U.S war of terror. He claimed, “The will is growing, but the will is also helped enormously by a sense that we are going to be with them. If they don’t sense that, they will cut another deal." In short they need to be bribed with billions in “aid.”
Senator Carl Levin has no problems with such bribery as long as it delivers actual support. He told reporters, "I have no reluctance in purchasing stability if it’s effective. But I don’t think it’s effective unless the recipient of the support sees where the threat is to them. I think otherwise it can backfire." He criticized the Pakistan government of trying to buy peace "with people I don’t think you can buy peace with." Levin wants to buy war. Levin was also critical of NATO nations. He said their performance in supporting the war of terror has been "nothing short of pitiful."
The Obama administration is currently on a diplomatic offensive to increase the support for U.S. imperialism by getting additional aid and troops from its allies. In Pakistan it needs to purchase that support. In Europe Obama is presently engaged with pressuring NATO allies. He is attending a NATO conference this week.
Obama has been unrelenting in the escalation of the war in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Unless a mass movement opposes this, thousands of Afghans and Pakistanis will die in America’s war of terror. The anti-war movement has been largely silent about these continuing war crimes. Will you be silent too or will you join with WCW and oppose these crimes of your government?