Obama Watch Page
I've started a page with a list of posts for each of the first 100 days of the Obama administration, just listing worthwhile things he does, with reference links back to the relevant whitehouse.gov pages. As much a quick reference for my own use as anything. 
Not to be a party pooper, but I'd add the missile strikes in pakistan to that list (which, unless we're talking illegal operations by the agencies involved, would require his agreement) – and I'd stay wary of what appears to be an increase, and repeat, of the rhetorics used by the early bush years in relation to al qaeda, terrorists, etc.
(basically it seems to go along the lines of "oh, we won't do it like under bush, but gosh darnit we still need to hunt those terrorists with military force across and throughout the world ignoring sovereignty, because they hate our freedom!")
Be it in hidden agreement with pakistan, or not, the new administration has already breached the borders of another sovereign nation.
26th January 2009 at 8:52 am | permalink |@Zef: Well, quite frankly I'm torn about that one. On the one hand, yes, it is a violation of a country's sovereign borders. But on the other hand, Pakistan hasn't shown any ability/inclination to deal with the violent militant camps they well know are there on their side of the Afghanistan border… and who are directly participating in military action against us in Afghanistan.
From what I've read, the proportion of militants vs. civilians killed is also quite high, which is a good thing for any aerial strike campaign.
Mind you, I wouldn't support invading Pakistan and taking over the government, but I'm not so sure I'm ready to condemn controlled strikes along the border against known 'terrorist'/militant/whateveryouwanttocallthem targets.
As I've said elsewhere, Obama made no bones during the campaign as to his intent to refocus our military efforts toward Afghanistan and militants hiding over the border in northern Pakistan.
26th January 2009 at 12:53 pm | permalink |I realize that, but at the same time I don't see how it's any foreign nation's business to be meddling around with it. These aren't "super organized people", they're a bunch of thugs, to be handled by the pakistani government… and if they cannot, and it's a crisis – they should go through the proper channels. (even so, with all the assassinations, previous meddlings etc. going on in pakistan, and the whole 'fear' of the pakistani people of 'which nation does the "west" support more? Us or india? it just becomes a gigantic farse.)
Regardless of all that… the missile program was initiated by bush, back in 2006 (i believe?), which is why it's so surreal.
It was barely without any evidence, nor any care, and it's been continuing (ala iraq… iraq was continually bombed ever since the first gulf war); since those years, and then at obama's inaguration, it was authorized (specifically authorized), to continue… that's what makes it so awkward to me.
It wasn't even a "new" obama "strike plan", it was an old plan of mr. "nuke'em then talk later", allowed to keep going exactly as it was.
Back then, people like kuchini were up in arms about how the fuck bush could allow yet another attack on a sovereign nation. It's the exact same plan.
26th January 2009 at 2:49 pm | permalink |@Zef: Of course it's hard to say who's speculation is correct, but there is some thought that Pakistan's gov't might actually be providing intelligence for the strikes 'under the table' because it would be politically bad for them to be seen as supporting them by their citizens. And of course there's a question as to whether the 'militants' being hit is enough benefit compared to whether or not the strikes are actually radicalizing more new recruits…
…all things I can't really answer, given that I don't have access to any secret information. Of course the fact that Obama kept Bush's Secretary of Defense doesn't suggest a radical change in tactics is underway, does it? heh
But really, Afghanistan wasn't going horribly until we diverted massive resources and attention to Iraq, so maybe a sudden radical change in tactics isn't so much what is necessary as is an increase in effort?
Oh, and the reason it becomes a foreign nation's business is when the people in question are acting against said foreign nation in a military conflict in the neighboring country. Really, it can't be a good idea to just let everyone know that all they have to do to attack you without fear of retaliation is to hustle back to their little camp across the border, can it?
27th January 2009 at 4:24 pm | permalink |