Matthew Yglesias » Too Nuclear Armed To Fail

Sep 29th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Too Nuclear Armed To Fail

Pakistan is the AIG of international affairs. It’s on the verge. And the world has to prevent it from collapsing. Because if it goes down–nukes and all–it’s taking everybody down with it.

It’s a little distressing, in light of that reality, that John McCain thinks Pakistan was a failed state in 1999 that was rescued by Musharraf’s coup. And it’s even worse that he’s so arrogant that he believes this to be obviously, indisputably true. And then of course we can ponder a scenario in which some misfortune befalls McCain and then President Sarah Palin needs to sort out a political crisis in Pakistan.

Comments
26

Filed under: National Security, Pakistan,

26 Responses to “Too Nuclear Armed To Fail”

Leee Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Nice meta-title.
Andrew Fly Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Leee you took the words off of my keyboard
cleek Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
but they’ve been shouting for years that Iraq is the AIG of international affairs: we should spend everything we can in making sure we “win” in Iraq, otherwise, the world will lose confidence in us (or fear of us) and someone else will take over and we’ll have to wear burkas.
Aleks Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
She’ll have the diplomatic advantage that the Pakistani leaders want to do her.
bob Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Don’t worry, Palin will listen to trusted advisors like Randy Scheunemann.
henry Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
I think McCain’s bellicosity was on clear display during the debate. We are all in serious trouble on many nuclear fronts if this hothead becomes president…Iran, Russia, Pakistan, North Korea.

Angry John cannot be the one to have the football.
mark f Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Palin will listen to trusted advisors like Randy Scheunemann.

If we’re lucky. I think she’s more likely to fire everyone McCain set her up with because “they made her look stupid” and get First Dude Todd to get some of his fisherman friends to take that role.
otto Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Matt, I think we need something from you - as top foreign policy guru - on the current war-with-Iran spike.

http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2008/09/27/2008-09-27_bet_on_israel_bombing_iran.html

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/the-big-questio.html#more
low-tech cyclist Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
What mark f said. Palin is too dumb to know whether she’s picking good advisors, and too dumb to know how to go about doing so.

She’d be the President most likely to pick a modern-day Rasputin for an advisor. And that’s saying a great deal, given Cheney’s role in Bush’s Administration.
Glenn Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Looks like Lehman should have bought a couple of nukes instead of that flashy 7th Ave. building.
MS Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Too bad you cannot see Pakistan from Alaska.
Jeffrey Davis Says:
September 29th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I don’t think it can be emphasized too much that Palin had obviously been pointing her career toward a possible presidency. After all, she took the VP spot immediately when offered. She was ready. (I blame Kristol. For sooooo much.) In her mind, she’s presidential material.

And despite this belief, in the 18 months since annointed by Kristol, she did almost nothing to get herself ready. Apparently, from reports, she couldn’t even get herself to focus on Alaskan domestic issues, relying instead on broad rhetorical gestures and the energy of associates. It’s just a beauty pageant with worse hours.

Who knew that America was so rotted from within that we could be faced with a Palin presidency? This isn’t a joke solely on Republicans. It’s payback time for all the Newton Minnows and Howard Beales out there. A timely terrorist attack here. A corrupt election official there. An untimely demise of a cancerous fool. And *bingo*: President Palin.
Sid Says:
September 30th, 2008 at 12:11 am
I’m kind of distressed that you take a very alarmist approach to Pakistan, as if it is on imminent verge of falling into Taliban and becoming a terror state. Have you even ever been to Pakistan? Do you even know the language they speak? Now obviously, there are lots of disturbing things occurring in Pakistan, and not just in the NWFP, but the exaggerations by the fellow Left bothers me.
the exile Says:
September 30th, 2008 at 12:13 am
If McCain is elected and dies in office leaving Palin, WE will be the failed state in need of military intervention by some civilized foreign power. Please please please let it be Sweden or Norway!
brandon davis Says:
November 28th, 2008 at 4:36 am
Arson, CR 503. A man said two unknown men started a fire in his van and than ran off. Possession of marijuana, 2700 block of North Street. A vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation and officers detected the odor of marijuana. A bag of
viagra Says:
March 1st, 2009 at 6:02 am
viagra
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
viagra Says:
March 11th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Great site. Good info
xanax Says:
March 14th, 2009 at 5:37 am
Great site. Good info
xanax
tramadol Says:
March 17th, 2009 at 2:31 am
It is the coolest site,keep so!
tramadol
tramadol Says:
March 22nd, 2009 at 6:26 am
tramadol
I bookmarked this site. Thank you for good job!
buy viagra online Says:
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:34 am
buy viagra online
Very interesting site. Hope it will always be alive!
brand viagra Says:
April 2nd, 2009 at 5:32 am
It is the coolest site,keep so!
buy cheap viagra
Ex Boyfriend Says:
April 9th, 2009 at 12:13 am
After reading through the article, I feel that I really need more info. Could you suggest some more resources please?
cheap viagra Says:
April 9th, 2009 at 7:01 am
I rarely comment on blogs but yours I had to stop and say Great Blog!! viagra
hreomybs yiav Says:
April 11th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
kqhl ucwkjth npvftrgc dnbop tcxlzwayk ulwra gayzthju
How to Get Six Pack Fast Says:
April 15th, 2009 at 10:38 am
If you want to hear a reader’s feedback , I rate this post for four from five. Detailed info, but I have to go to that damn msn to find the missed parts. Thank you, anyway!

Matt Yglesias

Too Nuclear Armed To Fail

26 Responses to “Too Nuclear Armed To Fail”

Blogroll