Making the World a Safer Place, Part II

“President Bush agreed on Friday to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan in a major policy shift rewarding a key ally in the war on terrorism and angering its nuclear neighbor, India.

A senior Bush administration official said the F-16 sale to Pakistan, which was blocked for 15 years, “will not change the overall balance of power” between Pakistan and India. The official said the jets “are vital to Pakistan’s security as President (Pervez) Musharraf takes numerous risks prosecuting the war on terror.”

Absolutely right. F-16 fighter jets are precisely the weapons necessary to prosecute the war on terror. And heck, a few F-16s tossed to a nuclear power in one of the most volatile regions on the planet is a small price to pay for loyalty, isn’t it…sorta like tipping the Maitre D.

Of course, it was a COMPLETELY different matter LAST week, when Condoleeza Rice berated the EC for suggesting that the emarbargo on the sale of arms to China be lifted. After all, as Rice said:

” I hope it will remind the Europeans that there are still tensions in the region. This is not a time to end the embargo.”

She said that in New Delhi. Irony truly is dead, Orwell cackles in his grave, and a very happy Easter to you all.