Why A Terrorist Strike On Europe Risks Geopolitical Meltdown -- Time Magazine
Bad as they are, right now, relations between the U.S. and Pakistan could get a whole lot worse if a feared Mumbai-style terrorist plot materializes in Europe.
One reason for the fraying of ties is the dramatic escalation in the Obama Administration's drone war in Pakistan's tribal areas. September saw more missiles fired from drone aircraft than any month on record, purportedly aimed at disrupting possible terrorist attacks planned for European cities — fear of which has also prompted travel alerts by the U.S. and allied governments. And the campaign has not relented. Pakistani officials claim that eight suspected militants of German citizenship were killed in a drone strike on a Waziristan mosque on Monday.
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My Comment: There is not much that I can disagree with in this article.
A Mumbai style of attack on European cities will result in an overwhelming sense of outrage in Europe, anti-Islamic sentiments going through the roof, and governments being forced to implement policies that will severely limit and curtail the flow of people who originate from Pakistan and other places that are deemed to be a "high security risk".
The dynamics of the Afghan war will also change, and calls for retaliation and/or a huge investment to combat Al Qaeda/Taliban and other supported groups will come into play. As for Pakistan .... they will be an ostracized state, and calls for a closer relationship with India will be the result.
Now .... instead of Europe .... it is US cities that end up experiencing a series of Mumbai attacks .... President Obama will be under severe pressure to do more than just drone strikes and permitting secret ops against these groups. There will be calls to expand the Afghan war in Pakistan and beyond. Will he be able to hold back this outrage .... I doubt it.