Feb 28th, 2012
I have argued for some time that the already nuclear-armed nation of Pakistan is a far greater threat to our interests and international stability than Iran with a bomb could ever be. Here's more proof via RT:
"Senior officials in Pakistani military intelligence knew of Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts and arrangements for his safe house – that’s the implication of confidential Stratfor files disclosed by WikiLeaks. Pakistan has dismissed the allegations.
The leaked information from the rent-a-spy agency published on the WikiLeaks website on Monday shows that Osama bin Laden was in routine contact with several senior figures from Pakistan's military intelligence agency."
Unfortunately, the GOP seems to have little interest in this "ally." Discussions of foreign policy in that party's presidential "debates" devolved into little more than the candidates, with the exception of Ron Paul, promising to drag us to war in Iran. The few mentions of U.S.-Pakistan relations there have been were ill-informed at best.
Showing posts with label pakistan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pakistan. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
About The Latest Afghanistan Handwringing
Feb 1st, 2012
First of all, it's not news that members of Pakistan's ISI intelligence service are in bed with radical elements of the Taliban. Second of all, if we stayed in Afghanistan for another hundred years, they would begin destroying each other not long after we departed. This is what we are seeing in Iraq already. Eventually, we are going to have to think about doing more nation building at home. In fact, discussion of that kind have begun in earnest on both sides of the aisle. Now comes an "explosive report" detailing the imminent return to power of the Taliban aided and abetted by the ISI. Sigh.
Reuters has some coverage about this "report" which is essential reading for anyone before they start running around in panic-circles and yelling that the sky is falling:
"Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, confirmed the existence of the document, reported by Britain's Times newspaper and the BBC. But he said it was not a strategic study.
"The classified document in question is a compilation of Taliban detainee opinions," he said. "It's not an analysis, nor is it meant to be considered an analysis." EMPHASIS OURS
Get it? This prisoner braggadocio. This is not the kind of thing on which so much as a single change in policy particulars should be based. It will be interesting to see if the neo-conservative permawar crowd, which is always harping on the need to 'listen to military,' actually listens to the military on this one.
First of all, it's not news that members of Pakistan's ISI intelligence service are in bed with radical elements of the Taliban. Second of all, if we stayed in Afghanistan for another hundred years, they would begin destroying each other not long after we departed. This is what we are seeing in Iraq already. Eventually, we are going to have to think about doing more nation building at home. In fact, discussion of that kind have begun in earnest on both sides of the aisle. Now comes an "explosive report" detailing the imminent return to power of the Taliban aided and abetted by the ISI. Sigh.
Reuters has some coverage about this "report" which is essential reading for anyone before they start running around in panic-circles and yelling that the sky is falling:
"Lieutenant Colonel Jimmie Cummings, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, confirmed the existence of the document, reported by Britain's Times newspaper and the BBC. But he said it was not a strategic study.
"The classified document in question is a compilation of Taliban detainee opinions," he said. "It's not an analysis, nor is it meant to be considered an analysis." EMPHASIS OURS
Get it? This prisoner braggadocio. This is not the kind of thing on which so much as a single change in policy particulars should be based. It will be interesting to see if the neo-conservative permawar crowd, which is always harping on the need to 'listen to military,' actually listens to the military on this one.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Greenwald Snarks
Nov 27th, 2011
But, he's not exactly wrong:
"Those unreasonable, inscrutable Pakistanis are angry just because the U.S. entered their country by air and killed 30 of their soldiers today. As a result, they have demanded that the U.S. vacate its drone base on their soil. What an outrageous over-reaction: I’m sure the U.S. would be extremely understanding if a foreign nation came and killed 30 U.S. soldiers on American soil from the air."
But, he's not exactly wrong:
"Those unreasonable, inscrutable Pakistanis are angry just because the U.S. entered their country by air and killed 30 of their soldiers today. As a result, they have demanded that the U.S. vacate its drone base on their soil. What an outrageous over-reaction: I’m sure the U.S. would be extremely understanding if a foreign nation came and killed 30 U.S. soldiers on American soil from the air."
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Perry Watch - Foreign Policy Nonsense
Sept 23rd, 2011
There isn't really an issue in foreign policy that should currently concern us more than the potential insecurity of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Except, of course, the prospect that a President Perry would have to deal with the situation. Gov. Perry has been legitimately savaged for his response to a question on that topic during last night's debate.
Kevin Drum writes that the answer was little more than a "Palinesque bit of word salad." I think this is unfair to Palin. So obtuse was his response that it should end his candidacy. First of all, Perry is wrong on the facts of our strategic arms agreements with India. Second of all, what the hell good does a "relationship" with India do in the event that the Taliban actually gains control of one or more warheads? Lastly, trying to score points with his party's old school hawks by bringing up arms sales to Taiwan simply made no damn sense.
One of Romney's advisors is quoted by the Weekly Standard as having described the statements as "completely unintelligible." That didn't stop Perry's biggest backer, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, from piling on in his defense
"You gotta have a relationship to know what’s going on. I’ve worked with the Pakistanis, and particularly in Pakistan you need a relationship, because the country’s a pretty unstable place, and it’s run by the army. You gotta know the guy that’s the head of the place."
Mkay. Except the "relationship" Perry discussed was with India.
Team Perry, mired in stunning yokelism, has no business running an American state much less the Armed Forces.
There isn't really an issue in foreign policy that should currently concern us more than the potential insecurity of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal. Except, of course, the prospect that a President Perry would have to deal with the situation. Gov. Perry has been legitimately savaged for his response to a question on that topic during last night's debate.
Kevin Drum writes that the answer was little more than a "Palinesque bit of word salad." I think this is unfair to Palin. So obtuse was his response that it should end his candidacy. First of all, Perry is wrong on the facts of our strategic arms agreements with India. Second of all, what the hell good does a "relationship" with India do in the event that the Taliban actually gains control of one or more warheads? Lastly, trying to score points with his party's old school hawks by bringing up arms sales to Taiwan simply made no damn sense.
One of Romney's advisors is quoted by the Weekly Standard as having described the statements as "completely unintelligible." That didn't stop Perry's biggest backer, Kansas Governor Sam Brownback, from piling on in his defense
"You gotta have a relationship to know what’s going on. I’ve worked with the Pakistanis, and particularly in Pakistan you need a relationship, because the country’s a pretty unstable place, and it’s run by the army. You gotta know the guy that’s the head of the place."
Mkay. Except the "relationship" Perry discussed was with India.
Team Perry, mired in stunning yokelism, has no business running an American state much less the Armed Forces.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Quote Of The Day - Here and Now Edition
May 16th, 2011
"They take your money. They do not co-operate. They created the Taliban. They are number one in nuclear proliferation."
-- Afghanistan's former intelligence chief, Amrullah Saleh, discussing Pakistan's relationship with the U.S. and their harboring of Osama Bin Laden
"They take your money. They do not co-operate. They created the Taliban. They are number one in nuclear proliferation."
-- Afghanistan's former intelligence chief, Amrullah Saleh, discussing Pakistan's relationship with the U.S. and their harboring of Osama Bin Laden
Thursday, May 5, 2011
When DID We Know?
May 5th, 2011
Yesterday, Sam Seder dug up a very interesting 2008 appearance by Christiane Amanpour on Bill Maher's Real Time. In it, she clearly states that a source has told her Osama Bin Laden is living in "a nice comfortable villa in Pakistan." This raises so many troubling questions.
Yesterday, Sam Seder dug up a very interesting 2008 appearance by Christiane Amanpour on Bill Maher's Real Time. In it, she clearly states that a source has told her Osama Bin Laden is living in "a nice comfortable villa in Pakistan." This raises so many troubling questions.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
It Mattered To Us...
May 3rd, 2011
by F. Grey Parker
The news of Osama Bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. Forces operating deep inside Pakistan may well define us in a way matched only by a certain bad September day nearly 10 years ago.
by F. Grey Parker
The news of Osama Bin Laden's death at the hands of U.S. Forces operating deep inside Pakistan may well define us in a way matched only by a certain bad September day nearly 10 years ago.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sabres Rattle
May 2nd, 2011
The Taliban responds predictably to news of Osama Bin Laden's death. From Agence France-Presse via RawStory:
"PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) – Pakistan's main Taliban faction on Monday threatened to attack Pakistan and the United States after the US confirmed that Osama bin Laden had been killed near the Pakistani capital.
"If he has been martyred, we will avenge his death and launch attacks against American and Pakistani governments and their security forces," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
"These people are in fact the enemies of Islam," he added.
The Taliban spokesman said the militia had not itself managed to confirm bin Laden's death, which was announced by US President Barack Obama.
"If he has become a martyr, it is a great victory for us because martyrdom is the aim of all of us."
Let us all be clear. Bin Laden died cowering behind one of his sons and a woman he used as a human shield. This was no act of self sacrifice. This had no bravery. This is an important distinction.
The Taliban responds predictably to news of Osama Bin Laden's death. From Agence France-Presse via RawStory:
"PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AFP) – Pakistan's main Taliban faction on Monday threatened to attack Pakistan and the United States after the US confirmed that Osama bin Laden had been killed near the Pakistani capital.
"If he has been martyred, we will avenge his death and launch attacks against American and Pakistani governments and their security forces," spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location.
"These people are in fact the enemies of Islam," he added.
The Taliban spokesman said the militia had not itself managed to confirm bin Laden's death, which was announced by US President Barack Obama.
"If he has become a martyr, it is a great victory for us because martyrdom is the aim of all of us."
Let us all be clear. Bin Laden died cowering behind one of his sons and a woman he used as a human shield. This was no act of self sacrifice. This had no bravery. This is an important distinction.
Far From A Cave
May 2nd, 2011
by F. Grey Parker
For some time there have been reports and rumors that Osama Bin Laden was not living in the rugged frontier that divides Afghanistan and Pakistan. Just how luxuriant his compound and hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan actually was now becomes clear.
by F. Grey Parker
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| Photo Source Global Grind |
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Salman Taseer - R.I.P.
Jan 5th, 2011
Salman Taseer, the Governor of Pakistan's Junjab province, was shot dead yesterday by one of his own bodyguards. He recently had made a domestic and international stir by calling for reform of that country's repressive and destructive blasphemy laws.
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| Gov. Salman Taseer 1946-2011 |
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Did The ISI Out A CIA Operative?
Dec 19th, 2010
The growing tensions between Pakistan's ISI intelligence service and our own CIA appear to have reached a new and dangerous level. Our top undercover man in the region has been revealed and forced to flee. The seriousness of the release and it's implications heading into our 10th year of war in Afghanistan are far reaching. The personal motive in the outing is a testament to how deeply our campaign of violence has infuriated their elites.
From the NYTimes:
"An official of the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s top spy organization, angrily denied Saturday that it was responsible for revealing the name of the Central Intelligence Agency’s top clandestine officer in Pakistan."
“We absolutely deny this accusation, which is totally unsubstantiated and based on nothing but conjecture,” a senior ISI official said in a background briefing at the headquarters of the spy organization in Islamabad."
From The AP:
"The CIA yanked its top spy out of Pakistan after his cover was blown and his life threatened, and 54 suspected militants were killed in a U.S. drone missile attack Friday in stark new signs of the troubled relationship between mistrustful allies locked in a war on terror groups. The CIA’s decision to remove its Islamabad station chief comes at a pivotal moment. The Obama administration is pressing Pakistan to rid its lawless northwest frontier of militants, even as public outcry in the country has intensified against the U.S. spy agency’s unacknowledged drone war."
From Alex Rodriguez of The L.A. Times:
"The CIA agent's name was first made public by Pakistani lawyer Shahzad Akbar and his client, Karim Khan, at a Nov. 29 news conference to announce their intent to sue the United States over the deaths of Khan's son and brother, and another man in an American drone missile strike Dec. 31, 2009, in the tribal region of North Waziristan.
Subsequently, the agent's name was widely disseminated in Pakistani newspapers and television newscasts. Akbar said he obtained the agent's name from two Pakistani journalists, whose identities he would not disclose. He did not know how the journalists learned of the agent's identity. However, the ISI maintains strong bonds with certain Pakistani journalists and commentators, and often uses them to influence coverage or spin their version of events."
And the permawar goes on...
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