Amos, an acquaintance of mine who is Pakistani told me that the reason extremist groups like Al Qaeda a able to operate with some degree of impunity in Pakistan is because it helps Musharraf solidify his hold on power for them to do that, and for this reason, he assists them in doing what they are doing. He said that the reason Musharraf is able to do that is because he and the Pakistani army (the generals) are being propped up by the US and other Western goverments.

My acquaintance said that Musharraf punishes the moderate, pro-Western people in Pakistan, because they are pushing for democracy, and Musharraf can't allow democracy to happen there or he will lose his hold on power.

My acquaintance said that if the West would stop propping up the army, and Musharraf, the people of Pakistan would take care of the extremists.

If Obama wasn't a tool of empire, he would know these things, and his rhetoric would reflect this.