Pakistan Tells U.S. It Must Sharply Cut C.I.A. Activities

[Bosonic]

Source: NY Times

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has demanded that the United States steeply reduce the number of Central Intelligence Agency operatives and Special Operations forces working in Pakistan, and that it put on hold C.I.A. drone strikes aimed at militants in northwest Pakistan, a sign of the near collapse of cooperation between the two testy allies.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/world/asia/12pakistan.html?_r=1

[leveymg]

1. Oh, yes, our fourth war in the region doesn't seem to be going too much better than the others.

Or, does Yemen make it five wars? Hard to keep track of them all.

[cosmicone]

2. Why are we giving money to Pakistan again? n/t

[Kelvin Mace]

4. So they can give it to Blackwater

and various other mercenary and U.S. "defense" contractors.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Not going to happen

This administration now owns this war, and this is their favorite tool.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Pakistan temporarily halts intel cooperation with U.S.

Source: cnn

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan has temporarily stopped cooperating with American intelligence officials after the upset caused by the arrest and release of CIA contractor Raymond Davis, who fatally shot two Pakistanis earlier this year, a senior Pakistani security source told CNN.

While the two countries will continue to share vital intelligence about any imminent acts of terrorism, joint operations have been put on hold, the source said, and the ISI -- Pakistan's intelligence agency -- has asked the CIA to "give them visibility" over what the source says are an estimated 40 covert American intelligence operatives working in Pakistan.

The freeze brings U.S.-Pakistani intelligence cooperation to a new low. The two countries are already on rocky ground as Washington tries to persuade Islamabad of the need to allow it to autonomously hunt al Qaeda targets inside Pakistani territory. This has largely been conducted through unmanned aerial drone strikes -- another sore spot in relations, after such strikes have killed dozens of civilians.

Read more: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/12/pakistan.us.intelligence/index.html?eref=edition

[KansDem]

6. According to Bush, we get the intelligence wrong anyway..

...so why bother?

[bemildred]

7. US, Pakistan negotiate CIA, special forces numbers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration said Tuesday it is negotiating a possible reduction in U.S. intelligence operatives and special operations officers in Pakistan as the two countries try to mend relations badly strained by the arrest and detention of a CIA security contractor for killing two Pakistanis.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the 300-member contingent is helping train the Pakistani military. The U.S. wants to maintain the program and is having conversations with Pakistani authorities about requirements and force levels, he said.

"We want to keep that program alive," Toner told reporters. "We think it's important."

The two strategic allies have haggled for years over how many U.S. intelligence and special operations forces may be posted in Pakistan. U.S. officials often have griped that while Pakistan accepts programs, in principle, that would bring in Green Berets or Navy SEALs to work with equivalent Pakistani forces, the government then holds back on issuing the necessary visas to allow the American advisers into the country.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g0TeQrOo_X53m9ybGgqm2jZ7EkLQ?docId=d9fd1b4c45704b92a2935e2b2ba539c1

[EFerrari]

8. ISI took a look at Libya and decided they were next. n/t

[Vidar]

9. Good for Pakistan!