Get Out of Delhi, Baby,
Get Out of Delhi, Baby, Go
"Diplomatic sources" say that the looming India-PAK conflict could very well lead to a nuclear exchange. Well, duh.
Diplomatic sources insisted that such a doomsday scenario was "very real". Neither the Indian nor Pakistani government had grasped the seriousness of the situation and the leaders of both countries would find it very difficult for domestic political reasons to back down, the sources said...
Diplomatic sources said last night that, unlike the sides in the cold war, India and Pakistan did not appreciate the dangers of a conflict escalating into a nuclear exchange and their leaders had no experience of personal "hotline" communications.
The situation is certainly serious. If there is a full-scale war, I believe it's more likely than not to go nuclear. But what is this rubbish about the two sides "failing to grasp" or "appreciate" the dangers? (Quick! Send Chris Patten or George Monbiot to explain it to them, and introduce them to the wonders of "personal hotline communications!") The problem isn't that they fail to grasp the dangers of a nuclear exchange: it's that they may be crazy or stupid enough to engage in one anyway. And they may, indeed, be crazy or stupid enough. Even if Musharraf isn't (which is more debatable than some people think), there is a ready supply of armed and dangerous maniacs in his camp whose express goal it is to spark just such a conflict.
Posted by Dr. Frank at June 1, 2002 12:21 PM
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