Pakistan called lax in bin Laden hunt. Ex-leader of Sept. 11 commission ...

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | August 3, 2005 | Stewart M. Powell

[Qaz_W]

Washington -- A former leader of the independent Sept. 11 inquiry and two veteran diplomats Tuesday accused Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf of doing too little to capture fugitive terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, reportedly hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Bin Laden, who has a $25 million bounty on his head, has been the target of a worldwide manhunt by U.S. forces since the al Qaeda terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, killed nearly 3,000 people. The officials expressed their concerns at the latest hearing convened by members of the Sept. 11 commission to press for implementation of the panel's year-old recommendations. Lee Hamilton, a former Democratic congressman from Indiana who served as vice chairman of the bipartisan 10-member commission, said Pakistan "has not been all that helpful, really, in helping us hunt for Osama bin Laden." Former Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, whose diplomatic career included serving as deputy chief of the U.S. Embassy in Pakistan, said Musharraf faced the "most difficulty" forcing Pakistan's military intelligence agency to end its covert support for anti-American factions across the border in Afghanistan. "That has not worked as well as it should have," Jones told the hearing. "It's something that's going to take some time and needs a tremendous amount of work." Former Ambassador Dennis Ross, who served as Middle East peace envoy for former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, said bin Laden continued to enjoy substantial support among many of Pakistan's 150 million Muslims, a political reality that makes Musharraf cautious in any effort to capture the terrorist mastermind. "It isn't to say that it would be easy to get (bin Laden) -- assuming he's there -- but we see a kind of episodic effort to do so," said Ross. ........

[Qaz_W]

This is a polite way of describing what General Musharraf is doing, or in this case not doing.

[oolatec]

This wouldn't be a very difficult thing for Mushy to do. Just send some guys to the bungalo where Binny is relaxing, bag him, and hand him over to us on the Afghan border, then we can just say we got him, and Mushy could save face.

Then we will have no more use for Pakistan, and then... ;)

[gandalftb]

Musharraf has a big problem, Pakistan is on the verge of civil war. The so-called threat from India is an organizing and galvanizing tool to keep internal order. Bin Laden is in Balochistan, but Balochistan is an "A" Agency within Pakistan with its own paramilitary sovereignty. Rumsfeld's comments about sovereignty obstacles preventing the capture of bin Laden actually referred to this double layer of sovereignty in Pakistan, and not to the national sovereignty of Iran or the rest of Pakistan.

Musharraf has pledged to turn the "A" Agencies into "B" Agencies and operate freely. Well that is so much loose talk, he knows the Baloch are a fierce enemy in a very harsh land and his military lacks the ability and determination to fight the Baloch, much less dig out bin Laden who is paying big money for the rat hole he's in.

Meanwhile Musharraf can't even militarily face the madrassas cranking out hundreds of terrorists each month. Pakistan is the center of world terrorism and that won't change until Musharraf's dead and we garrison Pakistan. There will be another 9/11, probably an attack on our homeland again, in my opinion, a public ferry. Too many nut-case, freak Muslims and they are all going to Pakistan.

[ASA Vet]

Elvis Bin Laden Ping

[jolie560]

Many will be amazed to learn of OBLs "vaporization" over a year ago up in the Mountains of ToraBora. The AlQeada-Taliban were not about to announce the vaporization of their leader. Thus he exists only in the memory and in the deeds of his fellow thought-travelers.

The revered OBL is dead, finis, a martyr. His Islam shall rule the World is still very much alive.

[FreeReign]

This is a polite way of describing what General Musharraf is doing, or in this case not doing.

You're so sure? Here's what the administration is saying;

SF Chronicle | Excerpt: Musharraf remains "a good partner in the global war on terrorism," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan said last Friday after President Bush's latest telephone conversation with the Pakistani leader, a former career military officer who came to power in a coup. "He recognizes the enemy and the nature of the enemy that we are up against" and has taken steps to "go after those who espouse this extremist ideology that preaches hate (and) violence against innocent civilians."

[Qaz_W]

The “double layer sovereignity” you mention is a fact, with a major caveat of which more later.

It does not apply to Balochistan. Balochistan is not an Agency but instead a Province.

The Agencies are what is collectively called Federally Administered Tribal Agencies (FATA) and include Khyber, Mohmand, Bajaur, Kurram, Bannu, Khar , North Waziristan etc.

On “double layer sovereignity” the use of the term “Federally Administered” would suggest they are not as sovereign as made out (wink).

[Qaz_W]

So either a Congressman and 2 Ambassadors or the Administration is right.

Flip a coin.

[ttsmi]

"Then we will have no more use for Pakistan"

That's Musharaf's main problem - that the US will walk out on him and on Pakistan once the cat is in the bag.

[gandalftb]

I should correct my comments. The "A" and "B" districts, not agencies, of the province of Balochistan constitute the double sovereignty problem. The "B" areas constitute 95% of Balochistan where the Pakistan police and military aren't deployed except for occaisional raids.

Musharraf has pledged to convert the "B" areas to "A" areas and that is a hollow threat. The "B" areas are a continuation of the British colonial rule through the tribal chiefs that still continues. Those tribal fiefdoms are where bin Laden and his ilk are hiding out.

With 900+ miles of coastline and hundreds of dead-end gorges and desert, Balochistan is a logical place for bin Laden and al Qaeda to operate with virtual impunity. The FATA provinces other than Balochistan have significantly more Pakistani military presence.

The Baloch have bitter memories of their rebel leaders that were hanged after surrendering in the General Amnesty of the 1950s. There will be no peace there, no deals cut with Islamabad and bin Laden knows it. Khalid Sheik Mohammed, bin Laden's #3 was Baloch and hooked up the network and safe havens.

[gandalftb]

I should correct my comments. The "A" and "B" districts, not agencies, of the province of Balochistan constitute the double sovereignty problem. The "B" areas constitute 95% of Balochistan where the Pakistan police and military aren't deployed except for occaisional raids.

Musharraf has pledged to convert the "B" areas to "A" areas and that is a hollow threat. The "B" areas are a continuation of the British colonial rule through the tribal chiefs that still continues. Those tribal fiefdoms are where bin Laden and his ilk are hiding out.

With 900+ miles of coastline and hundreds of dead-end gorges and desert, Balochistan is a logical place for bin Laden and al Qaeda to operate with virtual impunity. The FATA provinces other than Balochistan have significantly more Pakistani military presence.

The Baloch have bitter memories of their rebel leaders that were hanged after surrendering in the General Amnesty of the 1950s. There will be no peace there, no deals cut with Islamabad and bin Laden knows it. Khalid Sheik Mohammed, bin Laden's #3 was Baloch and hooked up the network and safe havens.

[SevenMinusOne]

Many will be amazed to learn of OBLs "vaporization" over a year ago up in the Mountains of ToraBora. The AlQeada-Taliban were not about to announce the vaporization of their leader. Thus he exists only in the memory and in the deeds of his fellow thought-travelers.

UBL is not dead - He is very much alive and being hunted - (as is Zarqawi, Mullah Omar and Zawahiri) - UBL has not only put out quite a few audio's but put out a full 55 minute video last October just before the US Election (discussing it in detail - UBL didn't have a clue who John Kerry was in 2001).