U.S. plans Al Qaeda offensive

[greatauntoftriplets]

Sources say military is mapping operation to strike inside Pakistan

By Christine Spolar
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published January 28, 2004

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration, deeply concerned about recent assassination attempts against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and a resurgence of Taliban forces in neighboring Afghanistan, is preparing a U.S. military offensive that would reach inside Pakistan with the goal of destroying Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network, military sources said.

U.S. Central Command is assembling a team of military intelligence officers that would be posted in Pakistan ahead of the operation, according to sources familiar with details of the plan and internal military communications. The sources spoke on the condition they not be identified.

As now envisioned, the offensive would involve Special Operations forces, Army Rangers and Army ground troops, sources said. A Navy aircraft carrier would be deployed in the Arabian Sea.

Referred to in internal Pentagon messages as the "spring offensive," the operation would be driven by certain undisclosed events in Pakistan and across the region, sources said. A source familiar with details of the plan said this is "not like a contingency plan for North Korea, something that sits on a shelf. This planning is like planning for Iraq. They want this plan to be executable, now."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0401280334jan28,1,1790110.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[Media_Lies_Daily]

1. This may be a smokescreen for an attack on Syria or Iran...

...then again, let's get the Pakistani people pissed off, too.

[noonwitch]

9. One more place for our soldiers to get shot at and blown up

Are the Pakastanis with us on this? Or is their facist dictator just afraid of our facist dictator's military capability?
I can't believe that Bush would be stupid enough to trust Musharef. he militarily deposed the legally elected president of his country. What am I saying, of course he's that stupid.

[hang a left]

15. Hello

Bush and Musharef are on the same team.

[kurtyboy]

33. By God, there's a place where can really find WMDs

I hope we don't find them the hard way.

[Just Me]

18. Someone here predicted this outcome,...

,...the use of attempted assasinations as an excuse to move into Pakistan,...then, possibly, Iran,...

[Gin]

22. that will produce the "capture" of Osama....it's setting the stage..

Pakistan is one country we have no business going into. Only more
serious trouble will come of it.

[Ernesto]

24. You made the call, Gin. It's all about Osama.

What else can the chimp do to secure an election?.... Just how much blood & money will the pukes spend to win an election? Wait and see folks. The agonizingly obvious political crusade is starting to take shape.

[Just Me]

26. I fear that "political crusade" is leading us directly to Perle's,...

,...all out war, his "final conflict" which will have all "the children singing". The shape this cabal's crusade is taking is in the form of utter chaos and darkness. I am increasingly concerned that they will not waiver nor will they allow anyone to stop them short of a whole world that moves to restrain this nation. Not a pleasant thought. Frankly, I am having more and more unpleasant thoughts which is so unlike me.

[Robb]

56. Pakistan is the missing link

...in the line between Turkmenistan's gas and the West. Robbstrodamus strikes again. :eyes:

[GringoTex]

2. I'm glad we could finally make the time to go after some terrorists.

[leesa]

12. Oh yeah, brilliant! Let's bomb and murder tens of thousands

of MORE innocent people on the off chance that we might get ONE alleged "terrorist". Especially brilliant to do it to a nuclear-armed country this time. What's your plan? Bomb every country who has housed someone accused of "terrorism"? Do you also want to bomb the US since we arm and train most of them?

Do you know what makes a "terrorist"?

[Zhade]

31. Go sign up for the military, if you're so eager to see action.

The "war on terrorism" is a joke. It's never been about "the terrorists" - just another way to tighten control and consolidate power.

Just ask yourself this question: who benefits by keeping Americans afraid? And who does more of the fear-mongering - "terrorists" or our own government?

Here's a hint: real terrorists wouldn't stop after a huge success like 9/11. If anything, they'd keep hitting us, again and again. Yet, I hear our own government screaming "Orange Alert!" at shadows, while we have not seen a single follow-up attack in America. Not one.

Terrorists who don't terrorize? What a novel concept!

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. Thank you!

My nephew will be one of the boots on the ground in this operation. He got out of the regular Army in June and joined the National Guard. He expects to be deployed in about two months for a combat mission -- obviously the so-called spring offensive.

[Zhade]

48. My best hopes for your nephew. May he return safe and whole.

NT!

[Gringo Tex]

54. #1- I'll blame my poor wording that the irony of my post was lost on you.

#2-I've already served my country. Five years in Central America.

[Minstrel Boy]

3. Now there's a headline to chill the blood of a MIHOPer.

What's it going to be this time, Mr Vice President? A dirty bomb for San Francisco?

[Barrett808]

36. Yes, October Surprise: dirty bomb in SF

Capturing OBL in October may not turn his approval ratings around. This way they get to suspend the constitution and declare martial law.

[Mistress Quickly]

4. Good, we've been giving them a pass

There are/were just as many of Al-Qaeda in Pak. as Afgan.

Toobad we weren't doing this a YEAR AGO!!!!

[leesa]

13. Estimates are that there are between 200 to 2000 "Al-Qaeda" in the

world(2000 before we started this terrorist nonsense). What on earth are you talking about, bombing countries to search for a needle in a haystack? A needle we have not proven to be responsible for 9-11 at all!
Haven't the immoral failures of the last three years taught you anything?

[Karenina]

35. Not to worry

There are 5,000,000 on lists to be used for airport "security." So the U.S. can bomb all their countries and when they try to fly out to carry out evil plans against 'Murikans the hamburger helpers with wands and scanners will check their shoes and catch them all!!!! Feel better now?

[Just Me]

44. So, since 87 of the last 91 terrorists acts have been home-grown,...

,...should we start making bomb shelters?

Hey, Dorothy,...that ain't no tornado!!!

Hmph!!!

[matcom]

5. and they will get OBL

oh around Oct 30 or so

[Vitruvius]

6. Yup -- the BFEE will pull ObL out of the freezer...

n/t

[0007]

7. Look for the capture of bin Laden in this one

Another way to look at this is that India and Pakistan are bitter enemies. The U.S. ships jobs to India, and support & money to Pakistan, HMmmm.
One would have to believe that this would be fueling the heat score between the two counties, 'eh?
Both counties have to be suspicious of the U.S. intentions.

[Whoa_Nelly]

8. One point to consider...

The more embroiled the US is in war , the more this administration sees itself as having a stranglehold over change of pResidency for this coming election. BFEE and PNAC abroad and at home, working to dominate the globe and create economic destabilization.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Economic destabilization

that's what it's all about. There are some really sick MFer's who are delighted that the world is devolving into chaos. Everything is going just according to their plan.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

58. This can stop the freefall of military disgust by going back to the 9/11

motivations that many in the services cite as their reason for being out there "defending our freedom." The military and public can go back to the motivator they all understood, bin Laden.

So the cabal accomplishes several things:
1) Get the public's mind back on the flagpole.
2) Distract from the Iraq/Vietnam quagmire.
3) Rotate out troops from Iraq to Afghanistan.
4) Justify the need for yet more troops-draft a comin'.
5) Get the news media to be all 9/11 to set-up the general election.

...and much more.

Fortunately, Michael Moore will have another best-seller on the shelves detailing the Bush's link to the bin Ladens and Saudis.

[tlcandie]

11. SPRING OFFENSIVE ... definitely chilling..!!!!!

Pulled from the article...

<snip>
the "spring offensive," the operation would be driven by certain undisclosed events in Pakistan and across the region...
<snip>

[MetaTrope]

14. Pakistanis and Indians optimistic over future

Many people in India and Pakistan are now optimistic that the ice has finally melted between India and Pakistan following Monday's landmark talks between the two countries' leaders - a meeting followed by a commitment to hold peace talks.

Analysts say the decision by President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to start talks next month is a step forward towards resolving long-standing differences.

"I think this time both the leaders mean business," Delhi-based analyst Prem Shankar Jha told BBC News Online.

"There is an awareness that time is slipping by and the changed world situation makes the cost of bickering between the subcontinental neighbours very high."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3372913.stm


This is dangerous talk for Bush's arms dealers...time for a little destabilization, right?

[Alpharetta]

16. glad we've got the element of surprise on this one

:shrug:

[truthspeaker]

17. Isn't this two years late?

[GRClarkesq]

19. Musharraf must be on board

in order for US troops to operate inside Pakistan. He must think he can handle the domestic problems this will cause him. Interesting, since he cant drive around town without someone trying to blow him up.

[commissar]

25. "Musharraf must be on board"

"since he cant drive around town without someone trying to blow him up."

Then again, if he permit this U.S. operation, what worse will his opponents do? ... Try REALLY HARD to blow him up?

:)

[varun]

50. Musharraf has real estate...

...in Virginia...his wife was shopping for a house here on their last trip.

You know where he'll be in the next few months :p

[peterh]

20. I sense an ethnic cleansing….

Masked as an offensive against OBL. This region is autonomous in every sense of the word. Neither country has any control there….it could get very ugly in there….and no one will ever know the extent of the atrocities….

[DuctapeFatwa]

43. Serb paramilitary troops who last saw action in the ethnic cleansing of

Serb paramilitary troops who last saw action in the ethnic cleansing of Kosovo in 1999 are being trained for anti-terrorist duties in Afghanistan beside some of the US forces who helped expel them from the Yugoslav province. The 1000-strong force comprises some former members of the "red berets", a feared military police unit which helped lead the campaign to drive the Albanian majority out of Kosovo and wipe out Kosovo Liberation Army resistance fighters.

http://www.nni-news.com/current/world/news-10.htm

[Fovea]

52. Oh great!

Will they call the base South Srebrenica?
I bet they are *real* popular with the locals.

[yellowcanine]

21. Just in time for the Presidential Campaign

Funny how that works.

[Gin]

23. Being discussed on CNN right now...stand by America...the next offensive

is right around the corner.

[progressivebydesign]

27. Even if Bush stages the OBL capture...

.. I don't think it's a free pass back into the WHite House. Terror is not the top one or two concerns in America. The economy, and health care costs. OBL would be a nice trinket for Bush... but not the sure fire winner for him.

I think we do need to say it loud and clear, over and over, that we think OBL will be "captured or killed" in time for the election, to dilute the suprise value for Bush's campaign value. Just as I have been with Bush trying to hand over the keys to Iraq in time for a July 4th photo op.

[commissar]

28. Osama Capture

Yeah, an "OctOBL surprise."

[Merrick]

29. uhh...

al que-who? Oh wait, yeah, I remember those guys now. Did they sneak out of Iraq and into pakistan and afghanistan during the war? Darn those slippery scoundrels!
http://www.NewsMutiny.com

[CaptainClark23]

30. Pakistan is....

One heartbeat away from islamic fundamentalist rule. And they've got nukes.

Given the murmurs about pakistan sharing technology with "rogue nations", and the weekly assasination attempts, I would guess that we've lost confidence in Musharef being able to hold it together if seriously challenged.

So boots on the ground to protect our interests.

Besdies, need to get a tight muzzle on those ISI boys..wouldn't want somebody following in Pearl's footsteps and getting the skinny on how the ISI was a funding cut-out for al queda. They are the connection MIHOP needed.

[Adapter44]

41. And what better way to bring about funadementalist rule!

than to attack another ME nation!

Seriously people - despite what you might hear from the racists at free republic, arabs/muslims/others in the ME are not naturally stupid. Any fool can see 1. Afghanistan is down 2. Iraq is down 3. Pakistan is down 4. Us?

If the US conquers another ME nation do you REALLY believe people in the other ME nations are going to sit on their asses waiting to be next in line? (think pre-WW2 europe here) If anything there will be a rush to get WMD by the other ME nations so fast it will put the cold war to shame.

NOT ONLY THAT - people in those nations (read radical fundamentalists) will be screaming that the current gov is not doing enough to protect them from immediate invasion and we will potentially see coups by those people.

[Just Me]

45. Are you saying the U.S. is "setting up" pre-WW3,...

,...(or, according to Woosley and AEI it would be WW4),...and, if so, are the freon neocons getting exactly what they want, the way they want it, when they want it (i.e. another world war for their perceived political benefit)?

If so,...I could probably go along with that evaluation :D

[indie_voter]

32. How will this work?

Musharraf was not elected. Will the Pakistani military stand by and allow this to happen? I wouldn't bet on it.

What is India's scripted role in this?

Pakistan has nuclear weapons, this isn't a game neocons.

Had Afganistan been the real focus, none of this would be necessary.

This is a very very frightening turn of events.

LOOOK, QUICK!! Martha Stewart!!!

[Gin]

37. even Musharraf admits his hold is a weak one...I would hate to tbe the

soldiers going into Pakistan. That would be worse then Iraq...densly populated in the cities..and rugged mountainous terrain we are not accustomed to fighting in.

[DuctapeFatwa]

38. I think he meant the hold he would have without the CIA ;)

Pakistan has been under "low-profile" US occupation for some time.

ISI and CIA have a long history of cooperation and joint ventures, not infrequently in association with America's Israel-based assets.

Discover. Explore.

[varun]

51. Pakistan has threatened to lob its nukes

...towards India if USA or Israel ever attacks it.

And I believe that this will happen if USA attacks Pakistan.

[Darranar]

39. This is a ridiculously foolish move...

Mussharaf's political situation is delicate enough - this could destroy it, giving the Islamists more power.

[Oreegone]

40. Oh !! GREAT

Now they are gearing up and will be hauling Osama from wherever they are hiding him or keeping track of him so they can do the old rabbit in the hat trick prior to the election.

[sweetheart]

42. pakistan has always been the problem

Given your headline, it appears that the US is ordering its Al Queda terrorists to attack Pakistan... but i see that it is only ordering them to attack in the spring.

If they can get rid of mushrraf, and get control of the army and the nukes, the Democrats will be fucked, as the republicans will then have a bunch of nukes they can use to force further buildups, wars and military conflicts the world over.

Likely the RNC will order the pakistani nuclear arms sold on credit to taliban insurgents, to islamic jihad and hizbullah, and finally to saudi arabian insurgents. Then the republicans will be very happy because the war on terror can go hot, and they will be able to win the 2004 election.

One phone call stops the CIA protection of musharraf and its all over... i see what they're up to... brilliant geopolitics, ugly though, and rather traitorous if i don't say so myself.

[T Bone]

46. to be "driven by certain undisclosed events ?" huh wtf

the article says: >>the "spring offensive," the operation would be driven by certain undisclosed events in Pakistan and across the region, sources said. A source familiar with details of the plan said this is "not like a contingency plan for North Korea, something that sits on a shelf. This planning is like planning for Iraq. They want this plan to be executable, now."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0401280334jan28,1,1...

Undisclosed events? what is up with that? The "sources" know there are to be precipitating events? It appears they are telegraphing MIHOP-like events here. This is beyond the pale.

All they need is their 'events' to swing this operation out.
PNAC indeed.

[sweetheart]

49. reverse engineering militarists

What scenario would best serve the PNAC hawks.

1. Musharraf assassinated
2. Pakistan becomes islamic theocracy
3. Nukes supplied to chechnya, islamic jihad, hamas, saudi arabia and iran.

Then they can declare a world war, test nuclear weapons, deploy nuclear weapons, invade the entire middle east with immpunity and defeat any democratic challenger as weak on security.

Methinks the CIA and military is working towards this objective today. They love al queda, as they can do things the CIA can't do.

Then in an alliance with India, israel and russia, the hawks can nuke the entire middle east and win the 9th crusade against the infidel and free the holy oil reserves.

[spanone]

47. After all it is an election year.

[dusty64]

53. This ought to be interesting.

:kick:

[0007]

55. Especially when all hell is about to break loose in Iraq

Any why would the U.S. be telling the world of it's plan for this spring.

[Name removed]

57. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Norquist Nemesis]

59. They've got OBL...connect the dots on the timeline

I'm convinced special ops caught OBL in Iran recently. Here's part of the reason:
"5. On 22 January 2004, the Northeast Intelligence Network was in contact with two intelligence sources and one military source who separately and independently verified that that a "major Special Ops grab and go mission" took place about 48 hours prior in the southern region of Iran, a place we would not normally like to admit we have been. A HVT (High Value Target) of al Qaeda was scooped by special forces and removed from Iran. The sources would not identify the "target," but refused to deny that it was bin Laden. We were advised that other al Qaeda captures have been and would continue to take place, many from new information obtained from recently captured al Qaeda sources."
source to cut and paste: http://homelandsecurityus.com/OBLCustody.htm#TRAIL

Just after this, activity has really been picked up and now, they "announce" they're getting ready for an offensive?

Also, some Pakistan "officials" first gave "unconfirmed" reports of his capture, then the US says "no" and Pakistan backed off. Now, Pakistan is getting a huge aid package that includes a write off of half their debt to us.

Smells fishy to me!