Acting CIA head in Pakistan Raymond Davis was finally released from Pakistani custody today and flown to London after a Lahore High Court pardoned him on the basis of a massive US bribe paid to the families of the two people he murdered.
Davis was facing two counts of murder over the killings of two people on the streets of Lahore. he maintained that these killings were “self-defense” but the Lahore police said he shot the men in the back, and leapt from his car to “finish off” one of the wounded men.
The killings sparked considerable anger amongst Pakistanis, who were already mad at regular US air strikes in the nation and believed Davis, then presented as a “consular employee” was being treated by the US as above the law. His release has also sparked some protests.
At the same time, Federal Information Minister Dr. Firdous Awan insisted that Davis’ release was fully in accordance with Sharia law, and that the payment of Diyat (blood money) to the legal heirs of the two slain for a pardon was perfectly legal.
The amount has also been a matter of some speculation, with the US declining to officially comment and the Associated Press reporting it in excess of $2.3 million. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insisted the US government did not pay the money, but declined to say where it might have come from.
With Davis now freed, the CIA insists that relations with Pakistan are “healthy” and that his release was a sign of a “healthy partnership.” Those ties are likely to be put to further test Friday, however, when the latest protests are expected to swell.
Okay, sure- US bribe to get homeboy out of there, no problem. I'd still like to know where the money came from, and out of who's budget, and why it wasn't put up to a popular referendum. If it's been paid out of US taxpayer funds, we've been robbed again. If a private citizen (or citizens) put up the money, why aren't they being named? Aren't they proud of 'rescuing an American from Certain Doom'?
Well in this case US Taxpayer should get ready to be cuffing up more as more and more Rambo Davises getting caught in PAKISTAN.
For now it is a wake up call for both the nations,for US is to see where their tax are going.and for Pakistanis to see how their Rulers are selling their dignity on daily basis.
Davis was on the fast track to the gallows, as he deserved, but the "Company" made sure the great game keeps getting played while U.S. citizens pay.
I thought brown people and rag heads were worth around 5k for the typical "killin" the empire rains down? I guess these people needed shutting up big time.
Can everyone track the activities and location of Davis and post the latest information on all blogs, facebook, twitter, anonops, etc.
Heard on the radio news … a woman said to be "the wife" of Raymond Davis … told reporters her husband "is not a killer".
Biggest Scandal in US History?
Barack Obama is destabilizing Pakistan, which could lead to an Islamist takeover. Clearly, our servile media, supine congress and comatose courts don't care and won't act, but the Raymond Davis fiasco provides a window through which justice might enter.
It has been reported in the Indian and Pakistani media that Davis's cellphones contained numbers of 27 high-level Taliban operatives, and that he was conspiring with them to carry out attacks inside Pakistan to provide a pretext for US action against Pakistan's nuclear program.
If true, this would explain Obama's and Clinton's frantic efforts to get Davis released and would almost certainly implicate them in numerous felonies related to terrorism and conspiracy.
Would anything come of it? I am quite sure it would, based on politics rather than principle. If Biden were also implicated, a Republican house would gleefully impeach both of them, and a Democratic senate would have no choice but to remove them after the world learned of their dark deeds. This would be the biggest scandal in US history. Boehner would certainly push the issue, because he would become president. The conspirators could be charged with numerous felonies, including capital offenses.
This isn't farfetched, and the information to date at least warrants a special counsel investigation. After all, we've tortured people–sometimes to death–and gone to war on less evidence.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-22/world/pakistan…
http://tribune.com.pk/story/122238/raymond-davis-…
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/raymond-davis-h…
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011…
http://weeklyintercept.blogspot.com/2011/03/raymo…
http://www.pakistankakhudahafiz.com/2011/02/08/%E…
You are right as this ppp led govt. has allowed the CIA agents to kill any body they like like. This is not in the interest of human beings to decieve each other ISI konws the whole game but politicians do it and there is no chance for ppp to win the elections.
America has got no lessons from the history by destabilising pakistan they will loose every thing in the region and the next govt. will be nationalists and americans will have no more access, even they have risked 140000 troups in Afghanistan.
We will inshallah kick out america once for all as they have played dirty games in pakistan since 1960.
ghouri, Berlin
Paying the blood money exonerated him from his liability to the next of kin, but he is a spy, working against the interests of Pakistan. He is still liable for this crime. On what basis was this overturned?
Probably by paying 'blood money' to the ISI.
I think americans have made biggest blunder but they have no other choice if the pandora box will open then CIA will be in trouble.
In Pakistan hatred against america will rise as they were quick to punish in lies with no legal justcice as the norms of justice were ignored by super power in the case of DR.Afia siddiqui kidnaped from karachi by CIA agents, kept illegally in Belgram as it came out then transferred to New York and sentanced to 80 years for alleged attemt to murder and Raymond killer were freed by Pakistan under pressure.
Allah don,t like wrong doers and I wish sonammie like in america.
Sharia law is a ruthless slavering monster that defiles white women and eats babies with ketchup and salt…unless we can use it to get away with murder. Then it's all good.
I have to correct you, liveload- we do NOT use shari'a laws to justify eating babies with ketchup and salt; obviously, that would be a gross over-saturation of condiments.
Really- I truly hope you don't honestly believe this sort of thing and are just being sarcastic. Shari'a may be a tough thing to deal with when you're found guilty of a crime that calls for harsh punishments, but in all honesty that's only a very small part of the law- and if it's applied properly and thoughtfully, the court is supposed to give tremendous benefit of the doubt to the accused and give them huge opportunities to make things right prior to sentencing.
BUT, in this case, I believe we've hit a snag- as noted previously by another poster here the charge of murder may have been vacated by the payment of blood money to the families of those killed, but that does not exonerate Davis from any of the other charges. Both the US and Pakistan are at fault here, regardless of what legal system Davis was being tried under.
Ah but he was never charged as a spy – since the USG persuaded the Pakistani government NOT to charge him as such – you know, a partner (very important partner I might add (yeah, right)) in the WOT.
They are criminals worse than anyone the biggest gang in the world but I belive they are close to problems they could not even have forseen.People will fight to the death after all you kill there famillys with drones.I've recently read an article were they call you a nation of cowards not the troops the government.The troops are being lied to when they get back and learn witch many already have there will be serious problems.
Watched US abc tv yesterday and they still called Davis a 'contractor'! What the….No wonder the average US citizen knows nothing about anything with 'clever' reporting like that.