Pakistan knew it could get away with Hiding Bin Laden

From Mark Steyn:

The belated dispatch of Osama testifies to what the United States does well – elite warriors, superbly trained, equipped to a level of technological sophistication no other nation can match. Everything else surrounding the event (including White House news management so club-footed that one starts to wonder darkly whether its incompetence is somehow intentional) embodies what the United States does badly. Pakistan, our "ally," hides and protects not only Osama but also Mullah Omar and Zawahiri, and does so secure in the knowledge that it will pay no price for its treachery – indeed, confident that its duplicitous military will continue to be funded by U.S. taxpayers.

Yeah, folks, despite the fact that we have found Pakistani intel operatives with Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan (see Tony Shaffer's book Operation Black Heart) and have known they have been stonewalling us, we still pay for much of their military. Here is some instructional points:

But the big picture is bigger than Hollywood convention. In the great sweeping narrative, the death of Osama bin Laden is barely a ripple, while the courtesies afforded to him by the Pakistani establishment tell us something profound about the superpower's weakness and inability to shift the storyline. Bin Laden famously said that when people see a strong horse and a weak horse they naturally prefer the strong horse. Putting a bullet through his eye is a good way of letting him know which role he's consigned to. But the strong horse/weak horse routine is a matter of perception as much as anything else. On Sept. 12, 2001, Gen. Musharraf was in a meeting "when my military secretary told me that the U.S. secretary of state, Gen. Colin Powell, was on the phone. I said I would call back later." The milquetoasts of the State Department were in no mood for Musharraf's I'm-washing-my-hair routine, and, when he'd been dragged to the phone, he was informed that the Bush administration would bomb Pakistan "back to the Stone Age" if they didn't get everything they wanted. Musharraf concluded that America meant it.

A decade later, we're back to Sept. 10. Were Washington to call Islamabad as it did a decade ago, the Pakistanis would thank them politely and say they'd think it over and get back in six weeks, give or take. They think they've got the superpower all figured out – that America is happy to spend bazillions of dollars on technologically advanced systems that can reach across the planet but it doesn't really have the stomach for changing the facts of the ground. That means that once in a while your big-time jihadist will be having a quiet night in watching "Dancing With The Stars" when all of a sudden Robocop descends from the heavens, kicks the door open, and it's time to get ready for your virgins. But other than that, in the bigger picture, day by day, all but unnoticed, things will go their way.

In the fall of 2001, discussing the collapse of the Taliban, Thomas Friedman, the in-house thinker at The New York Times, offered this bit of cartoon analysis:

"For all the talk about the vaunted Afghan fighters, this was a war between the Jetsons and the Flintstones – and the Jetsons won and the Flintstones know it."

But they didn't, did they? The Flintstones retreated to their caves, bided their time, and a decade later the Jetsons are desperate to negotiate their way out.

When it comes to instructive analogies, I prefer Khartoum to cartoons. If it took America a decade to avenge the dead of 9/11, it took Britain 13 years to avenge their defeat in Sudan in 1884. But, after Kitchener slaughtered the jihadists of the day at the Battle of Omdurman in 1897, he made a point of digging up their leader the Mahdi, chopping off his head and keeping it as a souvenir. The Sudanese got the message. The British had nary a peep out of the joint until they gave it independence six decades later – and, indeed, the locals fought for King and (distant imperial) country as brave British troops during World War Two. Even more amazingly, generations of English schoolchildren were taught about the Mahdi's skull winding up as Lord Kitchener's novelty paperweight as an inspiring tale of national greatness.

That last bit would have been instructive on the disposition of Osammy's remains. Would have made a nice lawn jockey. I'm just sayin. Oh, and then there is this gem from our "ally" Pakistan--

Pakistan Outs CIA Boss

Does this sound like an enemy or an ally?

Amid bitter, recriminatory exchanges between the United States and Pakistan over the Osama bin Laden extermination, planned bilateral visits of President Asif Ali Zardari to Washington DC and a return trip of President Barack Obama to Islamabad are both in jeopardy. Ties between the two sides are expected to slide further following Pakistan's "outing" of the CIA station chief in Islamabad on Saturday.

In a sign of how bad ties are between the two countries, Pakistani media on Saturday once again publicly named the CIA station chief in Islamabad, a breach of both protocol and trust, that is bound to enrage Washington.

A Pakistani TV channel and a newspaper considered mouthpieces of the country's military said the ISI chief Ahmed Shuja Pasha had met CIA station chief Mark Carlton to protest US incursion into Abbottabad to kill al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden. CIA station chiefs remain anonymous and unnamed in public although the host government is told.

Earlier, the Obama administration had asked Pakistan to disclose names of its top intelligence operatives to determine whether they had contact with Osama or his agents.

The latest breach indicates that a section of the Pakistani military-intelligence establishment is determined to run the CIA out of the country fearing that the ISI's links with terror groups and its sheltering of terrorist leaders will be exposed.

Sadly, this does not start with Obama. Bureaucrats at both State and Defense were apprised of Pakistan working with the Taliban and al Queda as early in the two war fronts as 2003. Tony Shaffer talks about capturing an ISI (Pakistan Intelligence Service) Operative in an al queda/taliban raid. (see Operation Black Heart, his excellent book on the subject.) Once again, bureaucrats are more concerned with protecting their assets than in assessing and naming threats, and we are stuck in bed with this clown.

WMD Blast

Programming Note: The unofficial voice of the GOP in Ohio is NOT going to Minnie-so-cold for the GOP Convention, but fellow SOB Alliance member Justin Higgins from Right on the Right has been credentialed. Congrats!!!

AP News Alert:

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan says it has evidence proving Pakistani agency was behind Indian Embassy bombing.

This is not good news. The last thing that region needs is an escalation of conflict involving India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The story of an Iranian CIA agent in the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Some people are just never going to change their minds no matter who does the talking...

Speaker Jon Husted comes off rather well in this piece on McCain's economic message. Yeah, this is a change from the usual reaction I get from the Speaker...

MORE LATER...OPEN THREAD IN COMMENTS...

Voinovich Realizes that Real Terrorism Still Exists

Examiner.com did a piece on a few Ohioans with views on Pakistan and the death of Bhutto. The Crying Man, our Senator RINOvich was mentioned:

Ohio U.S. Sen. George Voinovich has issued a statement condemning those who attacked Bhutto while calling her a voice of moderation and progress. The Republican was set to travel to the region this week, but the trip has been called off.

Perhaps if our members of the most deliberative body in the world were actually concerned more with real terrorism than, say, invasive species, our country would have a better response to these types of events.

Just putting it out there...

Oh, yeah, that's right...YOU DO NOT INTIMIDATE GEORGE VOINOVICH...

Response to Bhutto Assassination

First I am back after a long vacation. Took care of some personal issues but I am back stronger than ever.

I am taken aback by the absolutely clueless responses to the Bhutto assassination. World leaders obviously have come out and condemned the killing, but what else could they do. Some countries including Poland have come out and committed more troops to Afghanistan as a response.

News agencies have really been helpful. CNN is reporting there is controversy on how she died. Who cares if it was the bullet or the car crash from the bullet or whatever. This was a cowardly act by the animals we have been fighting against for years. Hours after she died they reported Bush needs to be held responsible for the aid it gives to Pakistan. Of course. Surprised they didn't blame him for putting a bullet in her.

Candidates. Woo hoo. Huckabee called for a crackdown on Pakastani immigrants. Huh???
Barak OmygodBama blamed that we had troops in Iraq instead of Afghanistan and Pakistan (last time I checked we probably couldn't have troops on the ground in Pakistan. He would cut off aid to them but make sure that the nuclear weapons would not fall into wrong hands.
Hillary went to college with her and was her best friend. The Pakastani government has no credibility.
Richardson wants Musharraf to step down
Edwards was getting a haircut and was unavailable for comment
Dennis the Menace Kucinich blamed Halliburton
Ron Paul calls for cutting off aid.
Bill Clinton wants his jacket back



Now I am not a huge fan of Pakistan. It has been corrupt for years for many reasons including drugs. But this country slept for a while allowing them to develop nuclear weapons. We turned a blind eye with their conflicts with India. We used them for information during this war on terror in exchange for much needed aid due mostly to an irresponsible corrupt government using money for wrong purposes. But to blame the US for this situation shows the off the cuff naive nature that people running for office tend to spew. This region has had many different situations over the last hundred years that needs a response from this country. What scares me is the responses our supposed candidates have started to throw out there. God or Allah or Buddha or George Burns help us

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Killed in Suicide Bombing

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was killed in suicide bombing today. It was first reported that she was uninjured and then later reported that she was undergoing surgery. Unfortunately, the second most infuential woman in the world didn't survive. FOX News has a really good bio here.

Rudy Guiliani:

“The assassination of Benazir Bhutto is a tragic event for Pakistan and for democracy in Pakistan. Her murderers must be brought to justice and Pakistan must continue the path back to democracy and the rule of law. Her death is a reminder that terrorism anywhere -- whether in New York, London, Tel-Aviv or Rawalpindi -- is an enemy of freedom. We must redouble our efforts to win the Terrorists’ War on Us.”

The White House has released a statement condemning the attack, but has said very little else on the subject thus far...

UPDATE: We finally have some words from President Bush:

"The United States strongly condemns this cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan's democracy," he said. "Those who committed this crime must be brought to justice."
...
"We stand with the people of Pakistan in their struggle against the forces of terror and extremism. We urge them to honor Benazir Bhutto's memory by continuing with the democratic process for which she so bravely gave her life," he said.

UPDATE 2: AP News Alert:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announces three days of mourning for Benazir Bhutto.

UPDATE 3: Mitt Romney:

"We are still learning the details of today's tragic events in Pakistan, but this is a stark reminder that America must not only stay on high alert, but remain actively engaged across the globe. Pakistan has long been a key part in the war against extremism and radical jihadists. For those who think Iraq is the sole front in the War on Terror, one must look no further than what has happened today. America must show its commitment to stand with all moderate forces across the Islamic world and together face the defining challenge of our generation – the struggle against violent, radical jihadists.

"At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers go to the family of Benazir Bhutto, and to all the people of Pakistan who are fighting against extremist forces that would commit such heinous acts as the whole world has witnessed today."

UPDATE 3: Secretary of State Rice:

"On behalf of the United States, I want to express our deepest sympathy on the tragic death of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. We extend our sincere condolences to the Bhutto family and to the family -- families of others who were killed and wounded in this attack. We condemn in the strongest possible terms this cowardly and murderous attack.

Ms. Bhutto's passing is a great loss for Pakistan. I knew her as a woman of great courage and had been impressed by her dedication and commitment to democracy and the future of Pakistan itself.

As President Bush said earlier today, the perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice.

The deadly results of this attack will no doubt test the will and patience of the people of Pakistan. We urge the Pakistani people, political leaders and civil society to maintain calm and to work together to build a more moderate, peaceful and democratic future."

UPDATE 4: An AP News Alert from earlier in the day:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif says his party is boycotting the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections.

Conference Call with Congressman Boehner

Mark and I just got off the phone with Congressman Boehner, Gribbit, Justin, and Bizzy.

The Congressman opened up the call with some comments on the Mother of All Tax Hikes, the Democrat's inaction on veteran and troop funding, Murtha Inc. and earmark reform.

Justin has a pretty good rundown on the opening comments and the first question, which was his, on the few Republicans on the pork list. Check out his post for details.

Gribbit did us the favor of asking about the status of the Internet Radio Equality Act, which the congressman said that he is going to have to research. That is not a good sign as I thought he was "up" on this issue already. I accept blame for that one, as I haven't been as diligent as I should in my advocacy for the bill.

Bizzy asked about the lack of a statement on the 55 consecutive months of economic expansion, a topic which he has written about here.

Justin then asked about Pakistan and the actions of one President Musharaff.

I am shocked by the actions he's taken. I am hopeful he will restore the Constitution and put Pakistan back into Democratic rule as soon as possible."

I then shifted the conversation to SCHIP... Justin's post is here.

The most important thing I can relate from the discussion is that if the Democrats continue to fail to enact real reform to their proposal, there is going to have to be an extension of the funding at current levels for the program. The congressman was very confident that this would happen should the issue not be resolved before the November 16th deadline.

Congressman Boehner was quite confident that if the Democrats bring an override vote, that the Republicans would still remain firm on the issue. There has been talk that Harry Reid has asked Nancy Pelosi to NOT bring it up again.

Boehner handled the Sen. Grassley solo act question with appropriate humor and candor. Republicans and Democrats continue to negotiate on the issue. Contrary to what you may have heard from the liberal blogosphere and from the 527 media, Republicans love children and are fighting hard on their behalf. It is shameful that liberals and Democrats continue to use the issue in such a shameful manner. Perhaps this might explain the Democratic Congress' dismal approval numbers.

We are likely to cover this call, with some audio, on the TIB All-Stars show on Saturday night at 7PM...be sure to tune in for more!

Musharraf Still in Power....For Now

Uneasy US ally in the War on Terror General Pervez Musharraf wins reelection in Pakistan...but it appears there is a Constitutional Crisis:

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Under fire for months, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf received the validation he was looking for Saturday when lawmakers overwhelmingly elected him to a new five-year term. But his political fortunes will remain in doubt for at least several more weeks as the Supreme Court considers whether he was eligible to run in the first place.

The vote in the national and provincial assemblies played out with little fanfare and no suspense. Only Musharraf's ruling coalition participated, with the opposition boycotting the vote to protest his decision to seek election by lame-duck assemblies while still serving as army chief.

In unofficial results, Musharraf received 98 percent of the nearly 700 ballots cast. But more than 40 percent of those who were eligible to vote refused to take part, dismissing the election as a farce.

"This is a sandblast-proof election, the only kind Musharraf could afford," said political analyst Ayaz Amir. "He must be thanking his stars that October 6th has come and the country has not shut down. The only fly in his ointment now is the Supreme Court."

The court ruled Friday that the election results cannot be finalized until judges decide whether the general should be disqualified because of his army job. As a result, uncertainty will linger into late October, or even November.

Still, Musharraf and his supporters on Saturday were able to claim victory — at least for now. Musharraf shrugged off concerns about the credibility of the election.

And it appears there is some political manuevering in the works...and a familiar name resurfaces...Benazir Bhutto:

While Musharraf had been considered vulnerable after a botched attempt in March to fire the nation's chief justice, he managed to hold off a burgeoning anti-military, pro-democ- racy movement by dividing a poorly organized opposition. He took a hard line against several parties, arresting their leaders and breaking up their rallies. At the same time, he negotiated behind the scenes with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, who heads the largest opposition party.


A deal with Bhutto
In the end, none of the opposition parties participated in Saturday's election. But Bhutto's party split with the other groups by choosing not to quit the assemblies entirely, and instead to simply walk out before the vote. That decision was the product of a deal with Musharraf that will allow Bhutto to return from exile on Oct. 18 without facing corruption charges.

With the opposition missing, those who were left at the National Assembly building in Islamabad on Saturday voted quietly. One by one, they walked to the front of the cavernous assembly hall to mark their ballots behind a curtain and then drop them in a plastic bin. The officials cheered and shouted pro-Musharraf slogans when the results were announced.

Outside, planned protests by the opposition parties failed to materialize, and Islamabad was largely calm.

However, in other regions, things are much more contentious:

The scene in Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, was considerably more contentious. Hundreds of lawyers protested outside the assembly building, clashing with police who used baton charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters set fire to a police vehicle after it ran over a lawyer's legs, and several others were injured.

"Musharraf can silence the voices of politicians, but he can't silence the voice of lawyers who have taken up this movement against military rule and the army's intervention in the country's politics," said Ghulam Ali, a lawyer.

This has serious implications for the US and the world in the global war on terror. Pakistan has been an ally, if a hesitant one. But, there is a segment of the populace that has allegiance to the islamofascists, and Ms. Bhutto has not been exactly a pro-US voice during her time at the helm. While she gave lip service, she frequently was not the best thing for US interests there.

Let's hope this can be solved peacefully. But,let us remember how Pakistan was created...Just putting it out there....

Pakistan

Check out this serious of AP News Alerts:

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Witnesses say police and supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif clash on road leading to Islamabad airport.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) AP reporter says commandos surround former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on board plane at Islamabad airport, and he refuses to hand over passport to immigration officials.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) AP reporter witnesses police forcibly detaining former premier Nawaz Sharif and taking him from Islamabad airport in a vehicle.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) Two officials say former premier Nawaz Sharif has been deported from Pakistan. No formal confirmation from the government.

JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lands in Jiddah hours after he was deported from his country, a diplomat says.

President Musharraf ousted Prime Minister Sharif in a coup back in 1999. He ordered Pakistan's nuclear tests in response to India's in 1988. The wikipedia entry on Nawaz is something of a mixed bag...

War on Terror Update

6:51AM

AP News Alerts:

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) A provincial police chief says more than 60 suspected Taliban insurgents killed in airstrikes in Kandahar.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Witnesses say that at least five Fatah men were killed during a Hamas assault on a key border crossing.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Police say Peshawar hotel bombing that killed at least 24 was a suicide attack.

11:15AM UPDATE - AP News Alert:

ROME (AP) Authorities say armed attackers have taken over a bus traveling in northern Italy.