War on Islamic militants is a stunt, say Pakistan tribal leaders

[UpInArms]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/03/22/wpak122.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/03/22/ixnewstop.html

A new offensive against Islamic militants living in the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan was dismissed by tribal leaders yesterday as a stunt aimed at "appeasing America".

Amid growing anger at mounting civilian casualties, tribal elders in Wana, the scene of the fighting, called a jirga - tribal council - to demand a ceasefire from Pakistan government troops. At least 13 civilians have now died in fierce fighting which erupted around the outpost town in South Waziristan last Tuesday. Unconfirmed reports said a further eight died yesterday.

Last week official Pakistan sources, apparently backed up by the president, General Pervaiz Musharraf, said they believed the al-Qa'eda second- in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, might be trapped in the hills above Wana. However, officials backtracked from this position yesterday, saying it was more likely that fighters were protecting "criminals" or that the "high value al-Qa'eda target" was, in fact, an Uzbek militant leader.

...more...

with the Telegraph as a source, we can only wonder as to the veracity...

[roguevalley]

1. rather makes sense. sigh. that leader of pakistan is one sharp dude. I

wouldn't put it past him giving Bush a show. Gets the
heat off him and his country for selling nukes and the
like.

[yardwork]

2. W just forgave millions of dollars of Pakistani debt.

Of course, we're the ones who will actually pay for this.

[tlcandie]

3. Also provides continual viewing by American audiences or at least

the DAY OF the proposed incident much like the OJ Simposon ordeal. Anything to distract from all the ugly news coming out about this cabal! No price is too large or too small to keep them in the money!

[varun]

4. It served both * and Musharraf well...

...it gave * a reason to forgive Pakistan's complicity in nuke proliferation (for domestic US audience), and Musharraf the money to buy more arms nd ammunition..

However, both are underestimating the intelligence of their constituents. Musharraf is sure to face rebelllion from the NWFP, and there is a chance that Pashtuns may want a separate homeland from Pakistan.

*, on the other hand, cannot keep this charade up for long. People are starting to question his actions in Iraq and Afghanistan...the one thing that seems to be *'s strength (national security), may turn into his biggest weakness.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Well, I have been wondering where and why Al Quieda has

artillery? Seems odd for a "terrorist" organization, no?

Not exactly stealth, you need trucks, a supply line and emplacements for artillery. All the things you can easilly find with photos and sateillites.

I wonder what the real story there is?

Break-away division from Pakistani control? Rebel general off on his own?

[varun]

6. LOL

[maggrwaggr]

7. Pakistan's playing Bushco for the suckers they are

and Bushco is desperate, so they're falling for it.

[markses]

8. Any child observing the situation would know Musharaff is gaming Bush

Only the extremely stupid right wing imbeciles in this country gave any credence to any of this. It was so obviously a con from the git-go, as it were, that watching the US media reaction was actually quite embarrassing. This is the caliber of our profesionals? This is the caliber of the current administration, taken like a hayseed mark by a petty dictator in Pakistan? I'm not even sure how the freepers can stomach the sight of it - since even they must have known that this was pure shell game from the outset.

[Lugnut]

9. Ya' think?

:eyes: Call me skeptical but I didn't buy a word of it from the get-go. My signal was that CNN devoted an entire news day to this farce. Why would I think it was something serious?