Conflict with Pakistan among top potential threats for US in 2012: Report

Report by Council on Foreign Relation's Center for Preventive Action lists a US-Pakistan conflict as most plausible.


Afp December 09, 2011

WASHINGTON: A conflict with Pakistan, the euro crisis, and a political instability in Saudi Arabia and have emerged as top potential threats facing the United States in 2012, an influential think-tank said Friday.

The Council on Foreign Relation's Center for Preventive Action anonymously surveyed US officials and experts to compile an annual list of the most plausible conflicts for the United States in the new year.

The 2012 list elevated several contingencies to the top tier of risks: a US conflict with Pakistan prompted by an attack or counter-terrorism operation; an intensified euro crisis, which could plunge the United States back into recession; and a Saudi instability, which would threaten global oil supplies.

Threats that remained at the top of the list from last year included a potential incident between the United States and China, internal instability in Pakistan, intensified nuclear crises with Iran or North Korea, and a spillover of drug-related violence from Mexico.

Micah Zenko, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations who focuses on conflict resolution, said that the survey was designed to fill a gap as the US government has a poor record forecasting future instability and conflict.

"It is a perennial problem to get policymakers to focus on future challenges when dealing with the tyranny of the inbox," Zenko said, referring to the overwhelming flow of messages.

"But in an age of austerity it has never been more important to forecast, prevent or mitigate plausible contingencies that could result in an expensive and long-lasting US military involvement," he said.

The survey elevated the risk of conflict with Pakistan amid high tensions in 2011 following the US operation that killed Osama bin Laden. But the think-tank removed the potential for military escalation between Pakistan and arch-rival India from the top tier of risks.

The survey also added Bahrain as a "tier-two" risk to the United States, citing fears that growing instability in the Sunni-ruled kingdom could spur fresh military action by Saudi Arabia or Iran.

Other risks that were downgraded or removed from last year included:

- Intensified military conflict between Sudan and South Sudan.

- Renewed military conflict between Russia and Georgia.

- Violent instability in Thailand.

- Violent instability in Myanmar.

- A succession crisis in Zimbabwe.

COMMENTS (40)

TM | 12 years ago | Reply

@j. von hettlingen: I wouldn't necessary agree with you on nuclear escalation being the biggest threat. The negative outcomes of a nuclear engagement are disproportionate to gains by either of the states listed above. As far as Iran is concerned, even if they are in the process of acquiring a nuclear weapon (which I and the ex director of the international director of the international nuclear watchdog don't believe they are) then it would be solely for the purposes of acting as regional security stabilizer with respect to Israel. The outcomes for N. Korea, who do posses nuclear armaments, have not changed after the death of their leader and the establishment would be well aware of the repercussions of an unprovoked nuclear advance on their part

Aqeel Kamgar | 12 years ago | Reply

@antanu: Indeed :) .U.S.,already an ultra power is not unwise if she wants to rule the globe...All what can be done is to try to change her intentions and make them realize that they can make the planet as welfare world instead of fireball and bring back the slavery era-life must go onwards

VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ