Tensions between the US and Pakistan have been on the rise for months. They seem to have reached a new level today, however, as Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani has threatened a “full force” military response to future US raids into Pakistani territory.
“Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate with full force. No one should underestimate the resolve and capacity of our nation and armed forces to defend our sacred homeland,” warned Gilani. The comments came just a week after a unilateral US raid killed Osama bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad.
The comments aren’t coming from nowhere, of course. Last week White House spokesman Jay Carney reported that President Obama “reserves the right” to launch future ground attacks inside Pakistan in the future whenever he feels they are important. Though Pakistan has not filed an official complaint about the bin Laden raid, it is clear they don’t want to see such raids become the new normal in their nation, particularly with 150,000 NATO troops just across the border in Afghanistan.
US officials have accused Pakistan of being complicit in protecting bin Laden, though they admitted yesterday they have no evidence to support this claim. Gilani denied that the government had any role in bin Laden’s presence in Pakistan, calling the claim “absurd.”
If Pakistan follows through on this threat the US may find itself entangled in the war Bin Laden had hoped to spark with the 911 attack.
My bad, Tom. My reading comprehension is failing today. That or "sarcasm detection". I like your point.
A report in todays guardian suggests the US and Pakistan had an agreement after 9/11 that the US could enter Pakistan if they knew where OBL was hiding, they reportedly even agreed that Pakistan could act all outraged about it afterward.
Gilani on US drone strikes-
"I don't care if they do it, as long as they get the right people. We'll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it."
From wikileaks.
The "agreement" is backed by cold, hard US dollars. And that's all that matters to the Pakistani government at the end of the day. The rest is just a show for their people and the rest of the world to see.
There´s no evidence linking Bin Laden to 9/11. But nano-thermite was found by Niels Harrit, Uni of Copenhagen, and 8 more scientists. Science is science – or what ? The planes can go by remote control. Probably, there wasn´t any terrorists on board. And by the way, the real terrorists are in the CIA and the Pentagon.
WH: ".. reserves the right".. What right? How can you "reserve" a "right" you don't have? This is exactly the same "right" that a psychopathic serial murderer has to continue slaughtering innocents. Well, someone is going to say "might makes right". No it does not. If you are going down the path of the the savage, admit it. Drop the pretense of law. The tortured sophistry of the legalists in DC, working as they are for thugs who serve oligarchs.. mocks right. There are no rights when law has been dragged from it's bed in the middle of the night.. beaten bloody.. raped.. humiliated.. and left in a bloody heap in a garbage strewn alley.
I was going to make the same point, but you beat me in both speed and quality!
Could be wrong, but my clear impression is that after 60 years of living off the U.S. Empire, only time the two dictatorships argue is once a year when Congress debates the amount of aid to Pakistan.
Could someone please tell me how the rumor got started that the U.S. Empire is a democracy? For a game of politics where only those most wealthy get to play, the end result always being elections that decide only the lesser of two evils, surely this is not democracy
Actually, Pakistan could cut the snake's head with one clean strike by telling the US to stick it's billions in "aid" up their asses and getting the hell out of their country. But I rather suspect that the sweet smell of green American dollars – like honey to a bee – is too much for the good Pakistani politicians to resist.
Actually, Pakistan could cut the snake's head with one clean strike by telling the US to stick it's billions in "aid" up their asses and getting the hell out of their country. But I rather suspect that the sweet smell of green American dollars – like honey to a bee – is too much of a temptation for the good Pakistani politicians to resist.
How do you say "don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining" in Urdu?"
Does full force military response include nuking the invaders?
I comment almost every day but all I have to say is the US goes after terrorist and they are the biggest drig dealing baby killing terrorists in the entire history of the world.Also proffesional liers.
This Pakistani PM is playing to the crowd, pretending to be anti-American.
But there are others waiting in the wings who are not just pretending.
And if and when they come to power, they will have nukes at their command.
Then the US will have to stop and think what "full force" might mean – and the world will too.
jw
For the purpose of convincing everyone that the bin Laden raid was not a complete farce (which it was) the Pakistanis and the US have apparently agreed to put on a "good guy", "bad guy" shouting match like the ones you see on professional wresting.
Pakistan is obviously not on par with the U.S. regarding military capability… but if they were and the tables were turned (Pakistan flew into the U.S. to "get their man") and Obama found out after the mission was complete, does anyone think that the U.S. would not retaliate? Of course they would… I am with Pakistan on this one.