This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/5013

Pak's Toothless Threat In Row Over 4 Billion U.S. Aid Package

July 15, 2011

July 12, 2011 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - Things have moved with remarkable speed in the United States' erstwhile ally, Pakistan, post the demise of Osama bin-Laden who was killed by Seal Team 6 in a May 2 raid on his compound in Abbottabad.

Since then the country's ISI has displayed little curiosity in attempting to determining why bin-Laden was living in plain view near the center of what amounts to its "West Point," instead busily arresting those it believes to have been complicit in the plan to kill the al-Qaeda king-pin including a medical doctor [Shakil Afridi] who allegedly collaborated with U.S. intelligence operatives in an attempt to secure some of bin-Laden's DNA.

Pakistan's ISI remains infuriated and embarrassed that it was cut out of the information loop on the bin-Laden hit. However in the past, providing the tainted intelligence service with such high level information has historically resulted in key terror leaders being tipped off and thus escaping capture or death.

Though over the last 24 hrs. Islamabad has threatened to pull its troops off the Afghan/Pakistan border if its $4 billion foreign aid package is reduced or eliminated, it is believed that such an action would have little real effect given the Pak army's ineffectual and cowardly performance since the inception of the war on terror, including numerous truces with the Islamist fighters.

Despite claims being made - by State Dept. types - that Pakistan is an essential ally, the United States has already proven on numerous occasions that it can carry out national security operations unopposed and sans permission, so the country's acquiescence in such matters is of little real effect.

What passes for political leadership in the country must be aware that its touted "hole card," its nuke stockpile, could be neutralized as was Binny, if push comes to shove and the current war of diplomatic words gets out of control. With this a given, there is really no level of threat that it can employ to force Washington into continued funding. Of note during the last 24 hrs Predator attacks in Pakistan's Waziristan province have killed 20 "militants." [see, Long War Journal, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/07/predators_kill_8_in.php and http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2011/07/us_predators_kill_12.php]

Not to fear though, the thought of any aid program administered by the Dept. of State ever going away is about as likely as Pakistan becoming a true ally. The funds will flow, with a few chiding words thrown in for effect. These charades will continue until Foggy Bottom is purged of its fifth column [including the first Clinton administration's holdovers] which is largely responsible for the department's poor judgment and rogue behavior [the latter especially during Republican administrations].

© 2011 PipeLineNews.org LLC.

http://www.pipelinenews.org/index.cfm?page=pak7122011101%2Ehtm

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/5013