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| India-Pakistan |
| US, Pakistan struck bin Laden search deal |
| 2011-05-10 |
| US forces were given permission to conduct unilateral raid inside Pakistan if they knew where bin Laden was hiding, writes Declan Walsh in Islamabad. The US and Pakistan struck a secret deal almost a decade ago permitting a US operation against Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil similar to last weekÂ’s raid that killed the al-Qaeda leader, the Guardian has learned. The deal was struck between Pakistan's military leader, General Pervez Musharraf, and President George Bush after bin Laden escaped US forces in the mountains of Tora Bora in late 2001, according to serving and retired Pakistani and US officials. Under its terms, Pakistan would allow US forces to conduct a unilateral raid inside its borders in search of bin Laden, his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri; and the al-Qaeda No.3. Afterwards, both sides agreed, Pakistan would vociferously protest against the incursion. "There was an agreement between Bush and Musharraf that if we knew where Osama was, we were going to come and get him," a former senior US official with knowledge of counter-terrorism operations said. "The Pakistanis would put up a hue and cry, but they wouldnÂ’t stop us." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #4 US forces were given permission to conduct unilateral raid inside Pakistan if they knew where bin Laden was hiding, writes Declan Walsh in Islamabad. Petreaus visisted the PAK Army Chief of Staff and former ISI Chief one week before the INFIL. I think most of us can take it from there. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2011-05-10 09:42 |
| #3 There have been many versions of the story so far by the 0's administration. Maybe one day there will be "transparency". But then will anyone believe it when they see/hear it? I don't see how the narrative back home got so screwed up for a mission that operationally went so well. "0" could have ridden this horse for quite awhile if he had been a tad bit smarter. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2011-05-10 09:14 |
| #2 The radio this morning said the same things as Joe - SEALS were ready to fight their way out. I figger that's true, wherever they go, but maybe no one told zero about the deal W made? Or did he just not believe it? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2011-05-10 06:58 |
| #1 YEAR 2001: NOT A SPACE ODYSSEY ... versus * PAKISTANI DEFENCE FORUM > US RAID ON OSAMA A [gross/grotesque] "VIOLATION" OF PAKISTAN'S SOVEREIGNTY: PRO-NORTH KOREA PAPER. Japan-based CHOSUN SINBO. * SAME > US BRACES FOR FIGHTS [armed combat?] WID PAKISTANIS ON BIN LADEN RAID. *FREEREPUBLIC > OBAMA OKAYED SEALS TO "FIGHT THEIR WAY OUT OF PAKISTAN" IFF CONFRONTED BY PAK ARMY. * BHARAT RAKSHAK: EXPERTS:BIN LADEN DEATH MAY END PAKISTAN'S ABILITY TO CONTROL MILITANTS [+ their Jihad agz anyone including Islamabad]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2011-05-10 03:12 |