planet earth looks blue

The situation in the Swat region of Pakistan is only getting worse as many expected.  There was a period of relative calm with a peace deal signed in February, but both sides, the Taliban militants, and the Pakistan forces, accuse the other side of staging attacks.  Right now the residents of the area are fleeing their homes, heading to government set-up camps.  They were previously told to leave, then to return, and now to leave again.  Half a million are expected to flee, with many living in the camps already.  There has been a period of confusion as the government has wanted to call an end to fighting, although this was never the case.  It seems that violence never really ended.  According to BBC news , a major offensive is imminent.The Taliban spokesman, Muslim Khan, accused President Zardari of going to America to look for more money.  The militants, are in a way indirectly fighting America, at least American interests.  Trilateral talks between Obama, Zardari, and Afghan President Karzai, are planned for Washington, Wednesday.  During the unprecedented meeting Obama is expected to put pressure on Zardari to step up Pakistan’s offensive against the Taliban, who has already taken control of the Swat Valley, where the people allowed Sharia Law to be imposed.  The Taliban has said that they will not stop until this strict conservative religious order is implemented in all of Pakistan.So where does that leave the people?  As usual, in the crossfire until things are figured out.  Pakistan has been fighting the militants since 2007, but never to a major degree.  The US has also been attacking the area with aerial bombing through drone attacks, which continued without abatement as American leadership changed hands.  During that entire period, the Taliban basically took hold.  Girls have not been going to school - they in fact only have been able to attend in the refugee camps - women are separated, music & art is oppressed - the usual black and white Taliban law.  Why now?  Has the US been expecting Pakistan to take care of the militants in their own country?  Was it politically wrong to have an official war in Pakistan while Iraq was still considered highly active.  Now we are told that violence has lessened there, the US forces are leaving in a year and a half - is the public ready to accept another war?  It seems there is way more of an actual threat with Pakistan, because of their nuclear arsenal - if Zardari falls, will the Taliban have access to nuclear weapons - would they actually use them?The US right now seems to be putting out the carrot (billions in aid) to Zardari, and asks in return that Pakistan puts its best war foot forward, and blows up as many militants as possible, so at least if America has to officially move into the region (America fight in a country without oil?) it will be quick and painless, like Iraq was supposed to be.The question should really be raised - is all this violence helping anything?  After five years of war, the result is that our former ally, Saddam Hussein, is dead, and the region is a mess.  The exact forces we claimed when it was convenient, to be there to destroy, are ten times more valid, and powerful, with their hands of control reaching far beyond Afghanistan.  Isn’t it true that they have gained credibility as a foil to foreign invaders?  Violence will always breed violence.  Peace will always breed peace.  Give the people schools, clean water, access to a normal life, and they will never join a militant faction.  Bomb their homeland, take the life of their brother, as a side effect of war, and they will always fight against you.