Yet with each provocation from the Pakistani side, it becomes harder for the Indian government to do nothing especially now that the "Bush doctrine" is available as ready-made justification for full-blooded reprisal against acts of terror.At least the world recognises the danger.
A border incident developed between the two states in June 1932, and Salamanca deliberately provoked a full-scale Bolivian reprisal, which led to open war between the two countries.
"We don't want to go out, it is not safe, bombings and killings all the time," said Mohammed, a local businessman, who declined to give his full name fearing reprisals.
He refused to give his full name fearing reprisals for his pro-Ukrainian position.
The fear is that a new American war could founder, leaving the Kurds exposed to the full might of Iraqi reprisals as American troops withdrew; or that Mr. Hussein might make a pre-emptive strike into the Kurdish-controlled areas to deny the Americans use of the Kurdish area as a base.
Hudaifah, like many others interviewed for this article, would not give his full name for fear of reprisal.
"We always got it through," he said, withholding his full name for fear of reprisals.
Ms. Gen declined to give her full name for fear of reprisals by local officials.
"He's a good man," said the activist, Rami, who declined to provide his full name because he feared reprisals.
That, if proven, could provoke a full-scale American war of reprisal with consequences that would be truly worldwide.
