US dismisses reports Pakistan is training ground for terrorists

[Bhaisahab]

This is all there is for now, at Pakistani newspaper Dawn:

WASHINGTON, Aug 05: The United States insisted that Pakistan was cooperating in the war against terror despite reports it was training militants and sending them to attack neighboring Afghanistan. "There's no question that Pakistan has changed its policy and is determined to rout out the elements of training or support or any other sort of safe haven that terrorists might be getting in Pakistan," US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters. He spoke after the New York Times published a report that Pakistan was allowing militant groups to train and organize insurgents to fight in Afghanistan.(AFP) (Posted @ 09:30 PST)

http://www.dawn.com/2004/08/05/welcome.htm

the headline should have read, BUSH ADMINISTRATION dismisses reports.... gotta protect assets you see...

[Nambe]

1. Yikes, I just posted the AFP article via Yahoo.

I felt the day the neo-cons embraced the Pakistan millitary leader, their intention was to perpetuate the terror war to their profit and ultimate domination.
Now Our War Is With Karma
Swallow thy arrogant words, oh Pentagon!
Beware the brave Backlash
Of shock and awe
The fear laden memories of the dreaded Shah
Once shielded by thy merciless sword.

Before lie the multitudes..Vengeful allies of the Dead.
At thine heal, the patient bearers of Truth and Justice
Seek thy head.

[varun]

2. Pakistan propped up the Taleban...

...and abandoned its suport for the Taleban (that harbored OBL) under pressure from US after 911.

For 140 million people to make such a reversal is unheard of (and impossible). Large segments of Pakistani population still support OBL, and that is where the next terrorist attack on US will originate.

[frylock]

6. that is where the next terrorist attack on US will originate

that's where the FIRST attack originated; not Afghanistan, not Iraq.

[teryang]

3. We need our terrorist harboring ally to keep it going

That's how the powers the be can keep playing their political tricks, budgetary looting, and patriotic bashing in the endless so-called "war on terror."

[Jacobin]

4. Oh my. These delusions are amusing

[tlcandie]

5. they never really gave it up .. all smoke and mirrors...

Games for idiotic and egotistical rulers!

[Minstrel Boy]

7. Pakistan can produce "top al Qaeda operatives" at will. It's easy,

since they're assets of Pakistan's own intelligence service.

Pakistan produces the goods, again
by Syed Saleem Shahzad
Asia Times, August 4

...

The next 'target'?
Dr Aafia Siddiqui, in her mid-30s, has a PhD in neurological sciences from the US. She is believed to have Pakistani and US nationality. She is wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as an "al-Qaeda operative and facilitator" and in connection with "possible terrorist threats" in the US. September 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (caught in Pakistan) is believed to have told authorities about Aafia.

She disappeared, with her three children, a few months ago in Pakistan. Asia Times Online sources claim that she is in the custody of the ISI. All calls by her family and humanitarian groups for her to be produced in court have been ignored.

Acquaintances of Aafia say she was an ISI contact and played an active role as a "relief worker" in Chechnya and Bosnia - a role the government now does not want to reveal. She has also been connected with different Arab non-governmental organizations in the US, through which she also helped to supply aid and funds to Chechens.

However Aafia's case turns out, doubtless a number of al-Qaeda operators are already in detention in Pakistan to be produced when and as necessary.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FH04Df03.html

Hey Rocky, watch me pull a terrorist out of my hat!

[LeftHander]

8. Arms sales to Pakista....

Republicans have long desired to sell more weapons to Pakistan. Pakistan is a militaristic state controlled by a dictator. Just the kind of government eager to buy lots of American made weapons. Clinton shutdown arms sales to Pakistan because of their desire to pursue a nuclear weapon and that the country represented a possible source of terrorist training. Despite that Pakistan detonated a nuke in mAY of 1998 ushering in a new era of nuclear proliferation in a volitle area of the world. Timeline of Pakistan nuke. Illegal technology sales continued throughout history. Not just from China. But triggers from Texas.

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/pakistan/nuke/chron.htm

But as "Enduring Freedom" began Pakistan has been slowly cozying up to the Bush administration while still not completly reining in terrorist elements within Pakistan.

Operation "Enduring (arms sales) Freedom"....see the laundry list below. Surely this stabilizes the middle-east....or does if fatten the wallets of the Defense industry?


http://www.dsca.osd.mil/PressReleases/36-b/36b_index.htm

Pakistan

Air Traffic Control Radars $110 Million
40 Bell 407 Helicopters - $97 - Million
AN/TPS-77 Air Surveillance Radars - $100 Million
Aerosatt L-88 Radar Sytems - $155 Miliion
C130 Hercules Cargo Aircraft - $75 Million

[skypilot]

9. The Pakistanis LOVE us.

Why else would they be trying to bump off Musharaf, our main ally over there, every chance they get?

On edit: And tell the widow of Daniel Pearl that Pakistan is not a training ground for terrorist. I'm sure she'll be convinced.