Mind Boggling Buner.

This whole Buner thing is absolutely mind boggling. (Few days baack, Buner in Taliban hands, yesterday Pakistan threatens to send forces, today Taliban makes 'tense' exit??)

If I didn't know better I'd think it was a set-up...wait, I do know better, and it does smell like a set up.

For months the Pakistan military and ISI have been accused of fake attacks on the Taliban, telling the US they carried out some massive raid and really they didn't do squat except drink tea with their fake raid victims. Dexter Filkins reported on this a while back; it's considered pretty much common knowledge.

Something is just off here: The Taliban forces, who usually could give a crap less about the Pakistani military threat and who were able to take over Swat easily (via military force and a deal with the government) then easily took over post of Buner, are suddenly magically repelled by the threat of a few Pakistani paramilitary brigades.

I mean, maybe this is a good thing, Pakistani military finally threatened to actually unleash the wrath, but I don't know, why wouldn't the Taliban fight it out? Who knows what is going on in their inner wheelings and dealings, but it's certainly not the US.

I need to read a bit more and will be back with a follow up.