After months of dithering on exactly what it would take to reopen the border from Pakistan to occupied Afghanistan for US supply trucks, a highly secretive meeting between Gen. John Allen and Pakistan’s Army Chief of Staff Gen. Parvez Kayani has netted a clear response from Pakistan, according to those familiar with the talks.
“No apology, no supplies” was the official response from the Pakistani military, and since the civilian government told the military to handle the question of US supplies themselves, this seem to be a very final position.
It refers of course to the November 26 US attack on Pakistani military bases, which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. President Obama expressed “regret” for the deaths at the time, but officials have repeatedly refused to actually apologize for the attack, with Sec. Leon Panetta insisting last weekend that the US would never apologize for the killings.
The initial Pakistani position was for both an apology and an end to US drone strikes, when this was spurned the idea of an increase in fees was raised, which Panetta condemned as “price gouging.”
In the end, it seems the red line for Pakistan is an apology, and considering the loss of the Pakistan route is costing the US $100 million a month, one would think they would consider this the cheaper alternative. Ultimately, the Obama Administration’s determination not to apologize, even when they are clearly in the wrong, is going to be sharply tested here.
"but officials have repeatedly refused to actually apologize for the attack, with Sec. Leon Panetta insisting last weekend that the US would never apologize for the killings"
I love Uncle Leon Pinata…. He is the personification of everything wrong with politicos, lawyers….. and American hubris…….. All in one unfortunate persona…. Go Leo,,……..Go… You friggin moron…!!!
best note MV. what will it take. I cant believe half of all usa-ns are on food stamps, half of all returning vets are physically disable d (the other half join SWAT teams and correction jobs) and millions more are losing their homes but no one steps up to the plate and takes a real swing at the wingnuts. Instead of dealing with climate and radiation hell, we are dealing with the base instincts of crappy iv-leaguers. Like panetta obamba and spineless Holder.
I dare any lawyer to seek the Bar expulsion of obomba billiary & bidoon
If you apologize you are admitting that you have done wrong. When has the USA done that lately, especially in an election year?
A wise man once said "NEVER SAY NEVER"
Pity Leon Panetta and Obama were not as wise.
Never APOLOGIZE……….God Speed Leo and Obomba..rrrrrrrrrrrr,we are loving it as Pakistani.
For all those Americans who claims and feel so arrogant about that Pakistan has been flooded with BILLIONS of $$$$$$$$ each year,here is a news,AUDIT it and let us Pakistani know to which Pakistan and to who Pakistanis actually got that bucks..besides it was only provided to those who has been bowing and serving the Master for last 65 years.
We Pakistan as nation owe nothing to USA.and those who do, will learn very soon their end to their acts.
I wish our Army had protested as harshly when we lost first civilian to the so called fraudulent W.O.T.
drk, many wonder what technical obtsacles prevent paks from shooting down drones
China should use situacion and Pakistan should kick US out completaly. Russia should guarantee this partnership "holding and protecting" India to any other "false flag" made in US/Israel to create tensions between Pakistan and Iran….US diplomacy at "barel of the gun" is long overdue all over the World….peter czech
It's not about an apology, it's about trying to stiff a pal. And putting troops in places where they can get hurt. And not being flexible enough to realize that when both sides make a mistake together, bad stuff happens to one of them, and not the 'good guys'.
So let's all go along to get along. Let the big rigs go and the cash will start to flow, you greedy buggers!
Panetta's statement seems to have been made as much to show the Administration's macho toughness in its faux "war on terror", as to trample on the sovereignty of, and humiliate Pakistan. But the Administration, in following an unapologetic policy of targeted assassinations and drone warfare is not only lacking a moral compass, but also a political awareness of the long term consequences both here and abroad of its policy. How blind can the President and his cabinet be to the killing of innocents as a matter of course and the targeting of persons- often unidentified- who are deemed terrorists without any declaration of war and any act of war that is recognized as such under international law? When the most powerful nation on earth violates the law of nations with impunity, and the people of the world are left to look to Russia and China to uphold international law, no one will have reason to trust the United States, or be encouraged to do business with it. Is this the mess our leaders want to leave to the next generation?
Watch how soon American politicians and military leaders will grovel. They ought to be good at it after having done it for Israel for so long!
They grovel to Israel because the Zionists can make them lose the election. Here it is just a matter of a few hundred million of our tax dollars. Why risk an election for that?
They won't do that unless the Pakistani military starts shooting own our drones. If they do that then we really know they are standing up to the US. They are just trying to appease the Pakistani public right now.
Pakistan needs to become a full member of the SCO, and sever all relations wih the United States. The message is clear that the SCO will counter NATO, and its terrorist agenda. Pakistan will be a better place once it is free from the shackles of US hegemony.
I find it hard to believe the US will allow a puny little Pakistan to push its weight around this way and stand up to the powerful US. US will find a way to punish Pakistan and open up the supply line. I don't know how this will be accomplished but US cannot allow this situation to stand. Prepare for more bloodshed against Pakistan. Like an out-of-control parent losing their temper over an obstinate child, the US will respond angrily and violently. It won't be pretty. Unfortunate.