The Peril of Being a Christian in Pakistan

This news report is almost too painful to read. One can only describe the events as barbaric beyond description, but that is the nature of evil. Arshed Masih did not deny God and was martyred. Pray for his wife and children.

Yesterday, I heard a sermon by David Platt (Brook Hills Church, Alabama). He pointed out, in the course of discussing God and pain that it is our fellow believers who are undergoing the most severe and difficult trials that are the least worried about the problem of God and suffering. He said that, while in Sudan, the Christians who have seen many people raped and murdered would repeat again and again with big smiles on their faces, but God is greater. But God is greater!

Kidnapped in Afghanistan: One Reporter's Story

An interesting (long) story about a NYT reporter held hostage in AfghaniPakistan for 7 months. He seems a little naive, but 7 months in captivity cured that.

Taliban Loses...for Now

Pakistan has almost beaten the Taliban in the Swat Valley. Now the question is, "can they keep them from returning?" My answer: No. The Taliban are committed and patient, the Pakistani government is corrupt and weak. As soon as the army focuses its attention elsewhere, they will be back. Kind of like Iraq.

The (Coming) Demise of Pakistan

Pakistan looks like a disaster in the making, according to some analysts on the level of Iran when the Shah was deposed. I'm sure Jimmy Carter II...oops, I mean, President Obama, once he releases his tight grip on his best pal, Hugo Chavez, will fix this.

The Kyber Pass and History

Anyone who knows the least bit about history (and one suspects that President Bush must have slept through his history classes at Yale), knows that for anyone occupying Afghanistan, the Khyber Pass is the key. Pakistani militants understand this, and are attempting to make resupply through the pass difficult, if not impossible. From the article:

NATO and U.S. officials have said that losses along the supply route are not affecting their operations in Afghanistan. Still, NATO is seeking to open alternative routes through Central Asia.

I don't believe that for a minute. These attacks are affecting resupply, NATO and the US obviously can't admit it for strategic reasons.

Why Do They Hate Us?

Interesting perspective from a Pakistani who has been immersed in both Pakistani and American culture (as balanced a treatment as you will find). He is absolutely correct when he says that Americans are woefully ignorant of how American foreign policy shapes (and often destroys) other countries. This was forcefully illustrated when Ron Paul, an extraordinarly smart candidate for President, opined that part of the reason we were struggling with Islamic fundamentalists was because of blowback from American foreign policy in the region. Rudolph Giuliani (who should study some history) ridiculed his answer, but of course Ron Paul was correct. Read the article to understand.