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| India-Pakistan | |
| The trust deficit | |
| 2008-02-16 | |
AMERICAN Intelligence Chief Michael McConnell’s accusation that Al-Qaeda suspects are trained in “safe-haven” Pakistan to be sent to attack the United States comes as yet more of the usual fingerpointing at Pakistan’s failure to go all-out against the terrorist networks operating in the region bordering Afghanistan. Mr McConnell spoke to CNN amid intense debate in the House of Representatives over a controversial wiretapping law which authorises the intelligence agencies to monitor, without warrants, telephone calls and emails between American citizens and suspected terrorists overseas. Last year when the Congress renewed the eavesdropping legislation the Democrats, who dominated the House, drew scathing criticism from the mainstream media for caving in to yet another “unnecessary and dangerous expansion of …Bush’s powers”. It was pointed out that many of them were being fearful that if they did not endorse the legislation they would be labeled ‘soft on terror’. Mr McConnell’s observation that the law could help track down the terror suspects attempting to infiltrate the United States notwithstanding, it is disturbing to find the Bush Administration continuing to doubt Pakistan’s commitment to fight extremism effectively. It keeps blaming Islamabad for simply looking the other way when Al-Qaeda uses its territory to recruit and train terrorists. The spy chief could claim credit for his marketing skills when he said that the United States had been “quite successful” in preventing the terrorists’ entry “because of some of the tools and techniques” currently in use. But this doesn’t establish that the terror suspects who attempt to enter the US are trained in Pakistan. Mr McConnell’s evidence put up a strong defence for the wiretapping programme to save America from the terror threat within days of Defence Secretary Robert Gates’ warning that Al-Qaeda forces in the tribal region posed a direct threat to the Government of Pakistan. And he suggested it’s time for a Pakistani anti-insurgency sweep on its side of border. The Bush Administration seems to be pressurizing Pakistan into launching fresh offensives against extremists at a time when the authorities are thinking of tackling the situation through a peace deal with local tribesmen who have promised to bring the rising tide of militancy to an end. Islamabad should firmly reject the US call for continuing military operations in the region. The Americans must be told in no uncertain terms that the country, already facing serious consequences, cannot afford to carry on with the relentless repression. | |
| Posted by:john frum |
| #1 to go all-out against the terrorist networks operating in the region go at all- |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2008-02-16 13:45 |