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The recent designation of Pakistan as US's major non-NATO ally is another example of US State department's shortsighted foreign policy. It is shocking that US policy makers have not learnt a single lesson even from such a grave tragedy as 9/11. In spite of losing 3000 lives on 9/11/2001, American foreign policy makers are busy pampering the very same people who were the masterminds of 9/11. The current State department has mortgaged its foreign policy to Pakistani military regime. The way Secretary Powell is conducting his foreign policy, there is no doubt left that all the policy decisions are right now subservient to the need of capturing Usama bin Laden. And that is very dangerous trap Secretary Powell has fallen into. It is a shame that the lone super power has time and again fell for Pakistani dictator Musharraf's double-games. The most recent example of such a game was the dog and pony show in the Pakistani tribal areas near Afghan borders. It is derisory to see how American policy makers as well media so easily fell for Musharraf's line that they are holding up a high-value target in South Waziristan. After that entire hullabaloo, all we found was a mile long tunnel.

It is high time America realizes its flawed foreign policy and makes amends. President Bush needs to remember his own words: "We will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation in every region now has a decision to make: Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime." And then live by those words.

There is ample proof that Pakistan, a failed state, fits the profile of such nations that have harbored terrorists and provided safe haven to them. The historical facts are before the world. And all these facts point to two nations: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. These two nations are the ones who have given birth to and supported Islamic terrorism. One (Saudi Arabia) is the sole financier and other (Pakistan) is the sole provider of logistical support. Pakistan is one country whose rulers for many years have been operating a Nuclear WalMart and US is setting a very dangerous precedent by rewarding a nuclear proliferator. United States needs to de-personalize this war against terror and not give too much importance to bin Laden. The fact that George Bush has made the capture of bin Laden as a critical factor for his re-election is very evident and Musharraf is exploiting that fact. The fact is that Al-Qaeda and other Islamic terrorist organizations are going to continue to create terror even if bin Laden was arrested or killed. His capture is not going to be anything more than a symbolic event. The terror will continue, with or without him. United States needs to focus on eradicating the Islamic terrorism by focusing on the root causes and people who provide the environment for such terror. And the first step in that exercise would require declaring Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as terrorist rogue nations and then taking the war on terror to their turfs. The real axis of evil is Saudi Arabia-Iran-Pakistan.

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