Pakistan ping
“In a move that puts her in direct confrontation with the nation’s most powerful institutions, Ms Bhutto, who returned home from exile last week, said Pakistan’s security agencies had to become “professional” outfits free from political agendas.”
dreaming of the same thing happening here in the U.S.......
This goes against the old adage recommending that a leader keep your enemies close so that you know where they are and what they're up to. If she's not careful, she'll create an organized, domestic, and militarized opposition. Rather than announce her intent, she'd have been better off quietly de-balling as many as possible before making her intentions known.
As much as the goal is laudable, it is scary that I'm seeing this before she even takes a position of power. Pakistan is a nuclear powder-keg.
Retired Brigadier Ejaz Shah (he is head of the Intelligence Bureau, which is a part of the Interior Ministry) (like our FBI)
Ijaz-ul-Haq, he is the Religious Affairs Minister and is son Zia-ul-Huq, who hanged Bhutto’s father.
And an unknown official of the National Accountability Bureau who has been investigating Bhutto and her husband Zardari for corruption.
The Sunday Telegraph is keeping the names secret in a cheap attempt to bolster the effect of their news story of "un-named conspirators" (were they on the grassy knoll, too?)
It is known that there was only one main bomber as only one striker sleeve was found, the vest had about 40 pounds of C4 and ball bearings. AQ has a number of these vests ready to go, are very afraid and hate Bhutto and probably got a lower level Taliban commander to do the dirty work, my guess: Commander Haji Omar of Waziristan.
Here is the cynical aspect: Bhutto could have taken a helicopter instead of an entourage surrounded by 100,000 supporters that traveled only 12 km. in 10 hours, speeches along the way, etc.
She immediately talked of conspiracies against her. She was well aware of AQ/Taliban desires to kill her. What did she think was going to happen? Duh, a bomber showed up and now she can garner political sympathy and gin up a them vs. us scenario to get more votes, "I'm an outsider", "restoring democracy", on and on. The people she named are not that well organized with roaming hit squads, come on.
Lastly, the ISI is now headed by a trusted Musharraf loyalist, Nadeem Taj who is going to root out the Taliban supporters. The real ISI connections to the Taliban are through retired ISI officers who still have a lot of ISI intel access and influence. Musharraf wants them out worse than Bhutto, she will have little to do with it, but plenty to say about it.
Understand that Bhutto is a clever and capable politician, a Pakistani patriot and a friend to America. We cannot kill bin Laden without her, but will have to hold our noses from time to time for her political gamesmanship.
At first glance, I thought the powerful enemy was Ann Curry of NBC(Nothing But Crap)News.
Is Anne Curry the spokesperson for the ISI?
Purging is equivalent to burying.
The ISI is by all accounts compromised at a very high level, which has protected it up to this point. Systematic reform may be impossible, but it is entirely possible to lop off a few top-ranking heads pour encourager les autres. In fact, in this particular case I'd say it's just about mandatory.