'Blackwater' men nabbed, released (Pakistan)

[sabra]

Source: The Nation PK

LAHORE – Security agencies arrested four suspected members of notorious Blackwater agency while they were trying to force their entry into the Cantonment Area here on Tuesday evening, sources informed.

However, they were released two hours later on the intervention of the US Consulate.

According to well-placed sources, the officials of security agencies intercepted three vehicles with tinted glasses near Sherpao Bridge, as security was on high alert, a day after twin bomb blasts hit Moon Market, Lahore’s leading shopping mall, leaving more than 54 people dead and 150 others wounded.

The arrested suspects believed to be Cobra operatives failed to produce authentic identification and their purpose for entering into the most sensitive area during cross-questioning with the security agency officials. The sources revealed that the suspects were apparently foreigners and they had no proper travel documents. However, the suspects refused to go with the security agencies for further interrogation and started arguing with security agency personnel, creating a terrible traffic mess at the leading artery of the City. Hundreds of motorists remained trapped in the traffic mess for about two hours.

The news of arrest of members of notorious and private spy agency, Blackwater, spread in the City like jungle fire as people stared calling one another to share the development.

Read more: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/09-Dec-2009/Blackwater-men-nabbed-released

[Solly Mack]

1. but...but..didn't I read just a week or so ago that Blackwater wasn't operating in Pakistan?

So...they were just visiting, right? Taking a tour even.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Maybe they were just hiking N/T

[avaistheone1]

9. Kumbaya!

[Solly Mack]

15. Having a picnic lunch

[pauldp]

2. KICK! So the Homicidal Cowboys ARE in Pakistan.

WTF are they doing there?

[cory777]

4. We got to start a war, right?

http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2009/11/04/11157.shtml

[951-Riverside]

5. Cobra as in GI Joe Cobra?

:wtf:

I can't find anything about ...Cobra.

[pauldp]

6. COBRA the health insurance company maybe?

:sarcasm:

[shadowknows69]

7. Curiouser and curiouser.

[stranger81]

8. Cambodia, anyone? [n/t]

[clear eye]

10. Yeah. That brings back crummy memories.

Prince Sihanouk trying desperately to keep his country neutral. The war overflowing into it. Our escalations and arm-twisting forcing him to take unpopular measures. The eventual ascension of the Khmer Rouge. (Just one in a long series of blow-back consequences for our shortsighted and inhumane actions around the world.)

I read it all as it was happening in the only consistently reliable sources: the newsletter of the American Friends Service Committee, and the amazing one-person I.F. Stone's Weekly.

[Blue_Tires]

11. i love the fact that instead of trying to stay low-key

they start up their "DO YOU KNOW WHO WE ARE?!?!" bitchfest with the police and cause a traffic jam in broad daylight...way to stay subtle, assclowns...

ugh...how much of our stimulus money is going to these merc jerkoffs so they can play with their toys on another half-assed 'no questions asked' CIA trip?

[pauldp]

12. Deserves another

:kick:

[ShortnFiery]

13. You mean that they were not "just tourists" going on an extended hike?

:silly:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. Hikers treated like mercs(Iran) and mercs treated like hikers.

What a strange world it has become.

[Blue_Tires]

16. UPDATE: oh come the hell on now; this is TOO much:

Official: No. Va. men held in Pakistan sought al-Qaida training

WASHINGTON

Five young American Muslims arrested in Pakistan met with representatives of an al-Qaida linked group and asked for training but were turned down because they lacked references from trusted militants, a Pakistani law enforcement official said Thursday.

Regional police chief Javed Islam said the men wanted to join militants in Pakistan's tribal area before crossing into Afghanistan and said they met with a banned military organization, Jaish-e-Mohammed in Hyderabad, and with representatives of a related group, Jamat-ud-Dawa, in Lahore.

Another law enforcement official, Usman Anwar, the local police chief in the eastern city of Sargodha, told The Associated Press that the five are "directly connected" to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

"They are proudly saying they are here for jihad" or holy war, Anwar said.

A key break in the case came not from federal agents or spies, but parents worried their sons may have made a terrible decision.

The families, based in the northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., area, were particularly concerned after watching what is described as a disturbing farewell video from the young men, showing scenes of war and casualties and saying Muslims must be defended.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/12/official-no-va-men-held-pakistan-sought-alqaida-training


unless, of course we are talking about TWO different sets of five men

[clear eye]

17. The Blackwater group was FOUR guys.

Yes, they are two completely different groups of Americans.

[Blue_Tires]

19. thanks; my mistake....

[jtylerpittman]

18. This reminds me of somthing that happend when I was in Iraq

I was on a convoy and we got ran off the road by a company like blackwater.

[marasinghe]

20. "... released two hours later ..."? there's no justice in this world.

guess the pakistani security forces were a bit leery of following the fallujah meme. gotta say the iraqis showed more guts, in dealing with these filthy hired murderers.

[RedCloud]

21. I guess they will keep their heads for now.