Nunn: Pakistan Is Our Most Dangerous Conflict

Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival last week, former Sen. Sam Nunn warned that while the world is focusing on Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan was the "most dangerous and most difficult" security situation facing the United States. During the same panel, former Secretary of State Colin Powell said that the next President -- whether McCain or Obama -- would have to continue drawing down forces because "the U.S. cannot sustain this level of deployment indefinitely."

Nunn and Powell also touched on other topics, including the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which both men helped craft. While Nunn said he was proud of the gays and lesbians who have served, he declined to endorse a repeal of the policy. Powell agreed.

Watch the full exchange between the two men below:

Comments

[ROBOT8]

YES AND WE EVEN GAVE PAKISTAN NUKES............WHITE HOUSE WISDOM OR INTENDED GENOCIDE????? A LITTLE NUKE POPULATION CONTROL???

[DaOne]

They are so dangerous that we gave them $10 billion over the last seven years. Where do I sign up to become a threat?

[paixa3]

Just stay right here. I believe FISA failed today, so they will be coming to get you soon.

[iamvalid]

Well Hell, why don't we just start a war with every country in the world. Haliburton's home office can be the new White House. Get ready to start feeding your children into the new meat grinders. Oh yeah and don't forget to put one of those yellow ribbons on your SUV. You know support the troops, while an out of control government leads them to slaughter.

[Eric8869]

Colin Powell used the same arguments against gays in the military that people used against gays in the military. (unit cohesion, showering together etc). He is no hero to me.

Sam Nunn went out of his way to betray Bill Clinton on the Don't Ask Don't Tell decision. He went about submarines asking sailors if they wanted to "bunk with gays". In front on the media.

He wasn't proud of the gay and lesbian service members back then. He is a bigot pure and simple.

If Obama chooses him as a running mate I will campaign against Obama.......period.

[Marlyn]

Colin Powell and Sam Nunn? NOPE, don't want none.

[Eric8869]

I meant Colin Power used the same arguments against gays in the military that people had used against black integration in the military. (unit cohesion, showring together)

[paixa3]

Nunn is just another crazy neocon. They all belong in the nuthouse.

[JJK]

This "crazy neocon" is clearly auditioning here to be Obama's Veep. I'm not necessarily in favor of this move, but he brings to the table not only foreign policy expertise and a long, productive Washington career, but he also no doubt puts Georgia's 15 electoral votes in play, more than Colorado and New Mexico combined.

[Marlyn]

Obama choosing Sam Nunn would be like JFK choosing LBJ, and we know what happened to JFK.

[Independent007]

What is wrong with you people! They both talked about opening up the military and revisiting the policy and everyone here is SULKING and talking about the past???????????
Come on now!!!!

[yappnmutt]

its becoming clearer by the day that the only way there will be peace on earth is if the usa blows up the rest of it .

[wadenelson1]

Peace or No Peace in the REST of the world is not the USA's problem to solve.

[ErnestineBass]

If WE (the USA) left the rest of the world in peace, WE wouldn't have to solve the problems WE create with our meddling.

[dojinho]

No! Your comment is extremely dangerous and narrowminded. The USA should only stop sponsoring terror for profit. So many democracies were overturned by the US government in the interest of corporate america, so many repressive dictatorships supported, militarily, financially and diplomatically, always with the same goal of promoting business interest of the elite. Now you claim the solution to peace is to bomb the world? Have you no shame?

[rollingdivision]

A centuries long history of political instability, a centuries long history of religious intolerance, huge ungovernable provinces, religious nuts and nukes, what a country! Yes sirree Pakistan is a very big problem.

[Graywolf48]

Mr. Nunn, I will not ask you what you think about anything if you agree not to tell us anything. You should be very familiar with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell idea. Your time is past. You are not an elder statesman, just an obnoxious old poll trying to position himself for the VP slot. I'd just as soon you'd return to the hole you slithered out from.

[Sundialsvc4]

"WAR is Hell." Do I make myself clear?

I see a bunch of Very Old Men who are trying to ignite "World War Episode III: The Return of the Nukes." And paying no concern either to the Constitution of the United States or the American People.

"WAR is Hell."

"Generals don't start wars. Senators do."

[dojinho]

I find it a little hard to believe that Mr. Powell is interviewed as an expert about international affairs and the strategy in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan, given his poor record not so long ago! I still remember vividly the famous "Powell moment" at the UN when the great general made a case for the invasion of Iraq on a pack of lies. Does he still have some credibility or does everyone have amnesia? Now he admits there were mistakes along the way, including the invasion itself but it's a little late, after millions of casualties and even more displaced on the brink of famine. All the people involved in making a case for this attack on human dignity are collectively responsible for the disaster and human tragedy. Mr. Powell is one of those responsible men. After that, he should not be allowed to hold a microphone to say what his predictions are about the weather!

[shyamg22]

We have to engage India much more effectively to exert diplomatic pressure on pakistan. When it comes to terror and pakistan, India's and the US interests are one and the same. I still think the US and possibly india still have some issues with each other stemming from India's friendly relationship with the soviets after her independence.

[bikerdude]

The U.S, needs to stay the hell out of that area. India and Pakistan have been at odds for decades. Israel in that region with U.S. backing is another unnecessary threat. We are not prepared to use diplomatic means to help. The only thing we do is add military might to the side we may back today.

[JJK]

I disagree. The US can't afford NOT to be engaged in the Subcontinent's issues. These are two large countries with nuclear weapons, which are currently "just" aimed at one another.
We have to care (a) whether that arsenal is ever used and (b) whether parts of that aresenal can find their way into the hands of people who would blow them up in the harbors of Miami, New York or San Francisco, or in one of our cities. Pakistan has already done unknown damage to our interests through the rumored transfer of technology and plans to North Korea and, allegedly, to non-Governmental terrorist organizations.

[JJK]

"...friendly relationship with the Soviets"?. Are you kidding? Indian foreign policy for years tilted so far towards the USSR, especially under Indira Ghandi, that we cozied up to Pakistan to assure balance in the region. India became a key player in the Soviet Union's standoff with what we then called "Communist China."

I always thought that India was foolish not to play the US off against the USSR at that time, as India was in a key strategic position in the days of the Cold War, posiitioned as it was on China's doorstep. Instead, India leaned virtually 100% towards the Soviet bloc and was a reliable supporter of its economic and geo-political objectives. The result was a skittishness towards India that endures to this day in US policy, which gives little deference to the world's largest democracy.

[watchingthings]

President bush sure dosn't pick friends vey well. Mushy has cost the American taxpayes tens of Billions and has proven that he is loyal to the Taliban and alquida. Even with him sidelined....things will not be better soon. I don't know how he picked Mushy......but it sure wasn't Putins soul he was looking into...probably was looking in the wrong end.

[Mort]

Sam is second to Nunn!

[darthdarcy]

There's a lot here to view but the first video is right on as far as Sam Nunn is concerned Pakistan is our biggest problem and the Pakistan ISI is using billions of dollars America, actually Bush gave it, to fund the Taliban and al-Qaeda and let's not forget the ISI Chief Ahmed sent Mohamed Atta $100,000.00 to help finance 9/11, and then was meeting with this Administration on 9/10 and then again on 9/12...

Pakistan also helped thousands of Taliban and al-Qaeda escape the Tora Bora region from cities nearby flew them out and allowed a 1,500 car caravan to drive right into Pakistan from nearby Tora Bora...as well as Bush allowing bin-Laden and Zawahiri and Mullah Omar to escape Bush even gave them a truce and refused to send the 6-800 Troops the CIA and Special Forces begged for to cut off bin-Laden's escape...Bush wouldn't send 6-800 Troops to get bin-Lade but then sends 170,000 to Iraq...

We've really got no idea who's side Bush is really on in this thing none at all....except his own of course..