Obama Offers ‘Condolences’ in Deaths of Pakistani Troops

[The Northerner]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — President Obama phoned the president of Pakistan on Sunday to offer “condolences” for the deaths of two dozen soldiers who were killed in NATO airstrikes along the Afghan border, the White House said.

The conversation, eight days after the incident, overcame the reservations of some Defense Department officials and favored an approach suggested by diplomats who had urged a conciliatory gesture. But the president’s comments stopped short of a formal apology or a videotaped statement to ease the public anger in Pakistan.

“Earlier today, the president placed a phone call to Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to personally express his condolences on the tragic loss of 24 Pakistani soldiers this past week along the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the White House said in a statement.

“The president made clear that this regrettable incident was not a deliberate attack on Pakistan and reiterated the United States’ strong commitment to a full investigation,” the statement said. “The two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan bilateral relationship, which is critical to the security of both nations, and they agreed to stay in close touch.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/world/asia/obama-offers-condolences-in-deaths-of-pakistani-troops.html

[Rex]

1. "Whoops, my bad! You still have people, right?"

Good...we will promise to try and not kill them too.

Thanks,

America

[The Northerner]

3. +1,000 I could not agree more n/t

[MADem]

2. That is NOT an apology, for those who might be confused.

"I'm sorry your people shot at NATO and then got toasted for it," is what it sounds like he said. "Shit happens. We'll cross those T's and dot those I's, but you know damn well that whole mess was a gunfight at the OK Corral. Next time, tell your peeps not to shoot at the NATO guys."

...But the president’s comments stopped short of a formal apology or a videotaped statement to ease the public anger in Pakistan...both sides thought they had come under attack by the Taliban. But efforts to sort out precisely what happened — and in the process ease the latest crisis to strain the tenuous alliance between the United States and Pakistan — are being hindered by Pakistan’s refusal to cooperate with the American-led military investigation, the officials said.

Even the most basic facts are in dispute. The Americans say they were fired on first and cleared the airstrikes with the Pakistanis. The Pakistanis say that NATO gave the wrong coordinates for the proposed airstrikes and that their forces fired only after the attacks began.

Cui bono? That's the question we always have to ask. Who has the most to gain from a split with the USA? Those Pakistani military types, who had to give up a lot of influence and power when Pervez sauntered off into the sunset, perhaps? Funny how the Pakistani Army refused to cooperate to get to the truth--you'd think they'd be EAGER...unless, of course, anti-American sentiment in Pakistan is helpful to their engineering of one of those charming coups they like to whip out every once in a while.

[snagglepuss]

6. That's an interesting angle, however wouldn't NATO have logs to show communication

with the Pakistanis prior to the attack on the Pakistani troops? It's hard to believe that NATO doesn't have anything to prove their side of the story. That said I wouldn't put it past certain fractions within the Pakistani army to give the wrong coordinates to NATO.

[MADem]

8. I am betting they do have just that--more than logs, digital communications, recorded for posterity.

I'll bet there's some sort of text-based traffic with coordinates on it, too. Thing is, if the Pakistanis aren't willing to cooperate, they're unlikely to tip their hand.

I think the Pakistani Army has mendacity down to a science. Time will tell, though. I think this all will be unveiled eventually.

[Beacool]

4. Ooops, our bad..........

Sorry, we'll try to do better next time and not kill your people while trying to "drone out" those pesky terrorists that you're harboring.

:eyes:

[bowens43]

5. how fucking nice of him

To Obama this nothing but playing with toy soldiers. His war mongering makes me want to puke

[Odin2005]

7. a non-apology apology.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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

[bemildred]

10. I suppose Zardari offered "condolences" for the loss of Shamsi airbase too. nt

[GeorgeGist]

11. Absence of remorse is a cardinal sign ...

of sociopathic behavior.