Pakistan Bans Anti-al-Qaida Operations

[DoYouEverWonder]

AP Wire


January 29, 2004, 2:40 PM EST

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan will not allow American troops to use its soil for a planned "spring offensive" against Taliban or al-Qaida fugitives, officials said Thursday.

Brig. Javed Iqbal Cheema, the chief of the National Crisis Management Cell coordinating with U.S. officials in the war against terrorism, said Pakistani policies do not allow American troops to operate inside the country.




Well that didn't take long. Rove better start getting another product ready for spring roll out.

[Beetwasher]

1. Oh My!

Well there goes that idea...

[underpants]

7. Ouch indeed

Actually this sucks as we could have rounded up many more alQaeda and even gotten the big prize. Forgive me I will put my politics aside and hope that that happens.

[jpak]

2. If you're not with us - you're agin us

We begin bombing in 5 minutes...

[lovedems]

3. Considering that Pakistan has nukes, that is the best damn news I have

heard all day. The thought of going into Pakistan scared the crap out of me!

I think David Kay has at least been successful in stopping any near future pre-emptive attacks based on intelligence. Are we safe for awhile?

[Webster Green]

4. The plot thickens....

Sounded like a good re-selection strategy. Whats next KKKarl?

[pinto]

5. Musharraf ("key ally" and WMD purveyor) was supposed to roll over...

in exchange for our protection.

(aside)

Notice how the US military has assumed a somewhat independent role in our foriegn policy? Loss of true civilian control in foriegn affairs is a rocky boat for our democracy....

[underpants]

9. Something about those assassination attempts stunk to me

not that fact that someone was trying to be killed but when they happened the first thing I thought was, "What could this do for the US in leverage to get what we want out of Pakistan". YEs protection indeed.

[KAZ]

6. Me thinks this is just for local consumption.

They've learned from the master(*). Say one thing while doing another.

[CaptainClark23]

8. Plausible deniability

Despite the tone of yesterday's announcement's re: "spring offensive", there's no way an overt military action in Pakistan would catch anyone. This will be a dark op, all the way. US forces HAVE been operating in Pakistan already, rest assured.

Yesterday's release was all about showing the hunt for Osama is still on. Today's news is Pakistan covering ass. Operations will continue, and will not be announced.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. At least it shuts down

Faux and CNN from letting it dominate the news through the spring.

[pinto]

11. your take makes sense, esp since Spec Ops has been working the border

for two years....

I'm not used to so many mid level military members being used for political spin purposes.....or maybe I've not heard it so much 'till this instant internet age....

[CaptainClark23]

12. Indeed

Also of interest is where exactly the border lies between Afghanistan and Pakistan. From what I understand, the boundary itself is a shifting target. Afghanistan had already made complaints about Pakistan moving their border stations onto Afghan soil. And THAT's just where there are roads by which one can measure location.

I find it hard to believe that these guys in the remote forward posts of Afghanistan are going to sit back and let hostile fighters make continuous attacks against their positions by border jumping, and NOT stage any form of pursuit operation.

As if this was the fecking Dukes of Hazard, and the sheriff always had to slam on his brakes in frustration whenever the boys would cross the county line.