Stuck in Mideast quagmire

The May 3 article “Attention turns to Pakistan’s role” states that U.S. government officials believe that Pakistan’s military and intelligence services were fully aware of bin Laden’s million-dollar house located within a military city only a few miles from the Pakistan capital. U.S. officials believe that the Pakistan military was shielding and protecting bin Laden for years.

U.S. officials also believe that Pakistan intelligence forces have been aiding the Taliban forces fighting U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. The U.S. has given billions of dollars of aid to Pakistan only to be betrayed by this country in ensuring our ultimate defeat in Afghanistan.

After 10 years in Afghanistan, the Russian Red army left a puppet army and government only to see that government collapse within a year. Is this the same fate that awaits us when we pull our troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq?

With the recent freedom riots in the Mideast, the U.S. speaks of bringing democracy and freedom to these countries. For decades, our government supported brutal dictatorships that oppressed these people. The U.S. cared nothing about these oppressed people.

The politics of the Mideast, and we are buried up to our neck in it.

Mark Johnson

Nine Mile Falls