It took seven years, but we have finally stopped pretending Pakistan is hunting Al Qaeda

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

Secretary Clinton made some news today by saying that Pakistan has been a haven for AQ types since 2002 and suggesting the Pakistani government has known their where-abouts without ever doing a thing about it.

...during an interview with six top Pakistani editors, Clinton questioned the country's willingness to take on terrorists or help the U.S. track down to kill or capture al Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri.

"Al-Qaeda has had safe haven in Pakistan since 2002," Clinton said, referring the year U.S. forces invaded Afghanistan to topple the Taliban regime and attempt to capture bin Laden in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. "I find it hard to believe that nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to," she said. "Maybe that's the case, maybe they're not gettable. I don't know.'' She added, however, "As far as we know, they are in Pakistan."

One of those things everyone knows but nobody says.

On the other hand, if the Bush administration had ever admitted that Pakistan was an AQ haven they would--under there own claimed policies--have had no choice but to declare war on Pakistan. And that would not have been "a cake-walk"

Kind of funny that we invaded Iraq while knowing that another country was harboring Osama. Ongoing lesson for small and medium-sized nations: If you don't have nukes, get some. Otherwise someone might invade you.

_________________________

From LBN: Clinton Questions Pakistan's Willingness to Go After Bin Laden

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4124807&mesg_id=4124807

[Captain Hilts]

1. Yes. We've been paying them BILLIONS not to look for Al-Q and OBL. nt

[Clio the Leo]

2. Called them out today, didn't she? NT

[Oregone]

3. About time

Dicey situation, eh?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. We are essentially putting a $multi-billion price on OBL's head

It seems like the between-the-lines conversation is going in the direction of "cap OBL and we can keep giving you military aid"

There's a funny clip on TV of Hillary saying, "You don't have to take the money if you don't want it."

[Oregone]

5. They will milk it as long as they can until they are point blank told to piss or get off the pot

But the US has a lot of interest there, being that its a nuclear nation on the edge of chaos. I think this is a bluff and Hillary will be called. I got a feeling the US would rather tolerate Pakistan's shit with a some influence than have no control whatsoever of this situation.

[Chulanowa]

6. And then they will just throw up their hands.

They'll say screw it and go back to Islamibad to roll around in the billions we gave 'em, giggling like schoolgirls with a kitten the whole time.

What the shit do they care about osama? What the shit do they care of the Pakistan regime falls - each of these officials is probably planning for exactly that day. It's not like in first or even second-world nations where a failed government is a problem. In the 'Stans, it's not an if, but a when.

So these guys are saying screw America, Screw Osama, where's my money, I'm moving to italy.

[Vinnie From Indy]

7. GW Bush has made the world much less safe

You are correct that the message sent by 9/11 to the world's nations is get a nuclear bomb or face invasion.