If America is going to babysit Pakistan for the world, should we not get paid for it?

[Vinnie From Indy]

Obama and other supporters of our occupation of Afghanistan repeatedly tell us that one of the most dangerous threats that we must counter is the acquisition of a nuclear weapon from the Pakistani arsenal by radical extremists. We are told that our operations in Afghanistan are critical because many of the radical Taliban and Al-Queda elements have relocated to Pakistan safe-havens from which they launch operations against our troops in Afghanistan.

In short, it appears that America is shouldering the vast majority of the costs to soothe and counter the world's fear of an Islamic bomb falling into the hands of radicals. At the very least, it would have been nice if Obama played a little hardball with the rest of the world and insisted that we get paid to babysit Pakistan or threaten to depart forthwith and leave the children alone in the house.

[tekisui]

1. It ain't easy being an Empire.

[WCGreen]

2. A very valid point.

[Ozymanithrax]

3. It is in America's interest that Pakistan keep their Nuclear weapons under strict control...

In the very remote chance that some an unfriendly right wing Islamic government came to power and turned weapons over to jihadists, we would be the most likely target. This is not going to change in the foreseeable future.

This is not shouldering the worlds burden. It is looking after our interests.

Regional stability is in our interest.

I am sure that it would be convenient if the U.S. did not need to look after our interests so far from our shores. We could abolish the Navy, turn their job over to the coast guard, remove all soldiers from stations in foreign shores, reduct the military until we can put it in a bathtub and drown it, then put up a sign that says "We don't give a shit about anyone else. Foreigners, stay out." But the U.S. left that level of isolation at the beginning of WWII. Our interest do not stop at our borders.

[MercutioATC]

4. I don't think we should settle for less than $9/hour.

...and if the rest of the world comes home late, we should stop babysitting for them altogether.