Killing the Golden Goose: Pakistan and the Assassination of Bin Laden by TARIQ ALI

[Better Believe It]

Pakistan and the Assassination of Bin Laden
Killing the Golden Goose
By TARIQ ALI

Blinded by the thirst for vengeance, the United States targets and kills another enemy. Its citizens celebrate. And functionaries of the George W Bush period tell us that what it proves is torture at Guantánamo worked, after all. Europe applauds. Vassals elsewhere (including Pakistan's president) congratulate the US on mission accomplished.

This is slightly bizarre, given that Bin Laden had apparently been in a safe house near the Pakistan military academy for six years. Nobody believes this could have happened without the knowledge of senior intelligence officials. A meeting with one such person in 2006, which I recounted in my last book on Pakistan, confirmed that Bin Laden was in the country and being kept safe. The person concerned told me the Americans only wanted Bin Laden dead, but that it was in Pakistan's interest to keep him alive. In his words: "Why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?" – a reference to the billions in aid and weaponry being supplied to the army. At the time I wasn't sure whether my informant was fantasising to amuse or misinform me; he was obviously telling the truth.

Pakistan is in the grip of a fierce debate, its politico-military establishment damned whatever the case. If they admit they were in the know, they stand condemned within their own ranks. There is a great deal of dissension among junior officers and soldiers unhappy about border missions in which they are forced to target their own people. If it turns out that the US didn't even bother to inform the Pakistanis that helicopters were on the way to clip Bin Laden, they stand exposed as leaders who permit the country's sovereignty to be violated at will.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban leaders will be relieved that they can no longer be tarred with the Bin Laden brush, but his killing does not change the situation there one bit. The insurgents might not be in a position to take Kabul, (they never could even during the Russian occupation) but elsewhere they control a great deal. The US cannot win this war. The sooner it gets out, the better. Until it does, it will remain dependent on Pakistan, the ally Americans love to hate.

Read the full article at:

http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq05062011.html

[The Magistrate]

1. Hard To See what Mr. Ali is On About so, Sir

[Better Believe It]

3. Huh????????

[The Magistrate]

4. He Seems Bent Of Shape About Something, Sir, But It Is Hard to See What In the Article

[EFerrari]

5. I thought this was pretty mild for him.

He can be very colorful.

[The Magistrate]

7. Perhaps, Ma'am

But it is simply a pedestrian laying out of the hole in corner business Pakistan has always been, with the obligatory introductory remark suggesting there was something wrong with killing Bin Laden.

[Better Believe It]

9. If you read the article you might understand it even it you disagree with it.

And if you have read it I'd like to know what you disagree with and why.

I'm listening.

You're not just engaged in quick "drive-by" attacks, right?

[Better Believe It]

8. If you read the article you'll see Tariq Ali opposes U.S. war operations in Pakistan/Afghanistan

And doesn't think President Obama can win the war in Afghanistan.

You missed that?

Oh .... Mr. Ali is from Pakistan is familiar with that nation and its politics.

[The Magistrate]

10. Read It, Sir, And His Opposition Is Noted, But Still ... So What?

The point of the article, to the degree it might have one, seems to be that killing Bin Laden upsets some apple-carts, most of which ought to be upset. He seems to think there was something wrong with killing the man, but does not really offer any reason why it was wrong, beyond the aforementioned spilling of apples here and there.

[liberal N proud]

2. Not to fear, we will keep pumping billions into foreign aid to Pakistan

[dionysus]

6. delete

[ProSense]

11. This is hilarious and perfect

Blinded by the thirst for vengeance, the United States targets and kills another enemy. Its citizens celebrate. And functionaries of the George W Bush period tell us that what it proves is torture at Guantánamo worked, after all. Europe applauds. Vassals elsewhere (including Pakistan's president) congratulate the US on mission accomplished.

Another person upset by people's reaction, but why?

This is slightly bizarre, given that Bin Laden had apparently been in a safe house near the Pakistan military academy for six years. Nobody believes this could have happened without the knowledge of senior intelligence officials. A meeting with one such person in 2006, which I recounted in my last book on Pakistan, confirmed that Bin Laden was in the country and being kept safe. The person concerned told me the Americans only wanted Bin Laden dead, but that it was in Pakistan's interest to keep him alive. In his words: "Why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?" – a reference to the billions in aid and weaponry being supplied to the army. At the time I wasn't sure whether my informant was fantasising to amuse or misinform me; he was obviously telling the truth.

He say's "it's bizarre" as if he knew all along where bin Laden was, then repeats a bunch of stuff that even government officials suspect. Oh, the book thing.

In reality, Bin Laden's death changes nothing, except perhaps to ensure that, economy permitting, Barack Obama is re-elected. The occupation of Iraq, the Af-Pak war and Nato's Libyan adventure look set to continue. Israel-Palestine is stalemated, though the despotisms in the Arab world that Obama has denounced are under pressure – except the worst of them all, Saudi Arabia.

Ah, the why? This is the really upsetting part apparently.

:rofl: