FATA: Exploding the Myths

Joshua Foust and I have co-written an op-ed that is published in today’s edition of the Christian Science Monitor. The subject is Western myths about the Pakistani tribal region. Here’s a taste:

Given the growing reach of FATA-affiliated militants, it is becoming clear that developments in the [Pakistani] tribal areas are central to NATO’s success in Afghanistan, as well as an important factor in the stability of nuclear-armed Pakistan and the security of both Europe and the United States.

Yet many Western policymakers and pundits misread current events, espousing views and prescribing policies that are based more on stereotypes than on a solid grasp of the region’s history and culture. Conventional wisdom suggests that the Pakistani Taliban pose a unique and insurmountable threat, that the Pashtuns are the problem, that the tribal areas are lawless and chaotic, and that the targeted assassinations are an effective deterrent against Islamic militancy. But none of these assertions are accurate.

Check out the full article if you’re into this kind of thing. Comments, critiques, and other feedback is most welcome.