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Questions are being raised today on Capitol Hill as to what Pakistan knew about the compound where Osama bin Laden was hiding out, just 35 miles north of Islamabad.
"I think everybody in America is scratching their heads and saying, 'Wow, you know, just north, near a military training school, how could this be?' And obviously we're going to have to search that," John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Monday on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports."
Despite nearly $20 billion in civilian, government and military aid the United States has given to Pakistan since 9/11 -- not to mention the billions before 2001 -- Osama bin Laden was able to live in a one-million-dollar compound located only two miles from Pakistan's equivalent of West Point.
When pressed on the United States' lack of trust of the Pakistani government, Kerry admitted that there have been problems in the relationship.
"Over the course of the last year, we have run into some difficulties. The relationship has been tested. We had the Raymond Davis incident. We had some politicians in the country, in their country, in Pakistan, grossly exploiting this for their own benefit at the expense of the United States. I think that made a lot of people recoil."
Despite the tension, Kerry acknowledged the Pakistani government has "allowed us to do a lot," including the ability to conduct drone strikes and have people on the ground.
While the revelation Osama bin Laden lived in a sprawling compound in a populous area has caused many to question the trustworthiness of the Pakistani government, the Massachusetts senator said he "was encouraged by the statement that Pakistan made today. Maybe that is an indicator of an awareness that the scale has tipped a little bit in this thing. And that they have to make a different set of calculations."
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You can trust the Pakistanis about as much as you can trust Karzai.
Kirby;
I agree because its all about the biggest buck received. Their government was comfortable accepting a billion in military aid while hiding Bin Laden right next door to their military facility.
Go figure...they were receiving our money and others, plus Bin Ladens...nice and cozy isn't it. Stands to reason why I'm suspicious...they have collected quite a nest egg all of these years haven"t they.
/KIRBY and Anita have nice day !!!
PAKISTAN HAS SCARIFIES LIVES AND THEIR PEACE FOR WHOLE WORLD AFTER 9/11
PAKISTAN IS SINCERE WITH USA WAR ON TERROR.
Pakistan has fought long War on terror since 1980 world has lift Mujaheddin in Afghanistan was fighting Against USSR an unfinished business at that time whole world was appreciated Pakistan was playing role model million of Afghan entered Pak territory it was big impact affectations on Pak economy our jobs our society and drugs and ammunition Kalashnikov had been introduce to our society since then every one left from Afghanistan including India, but Pakistani nation are paying price for that still thousand and thousand people including soldiers has been killed.
Pakistani nation sacrificed their children's,women,young and oldest their home villages for the safety of the whole world no one have scene or saying about our scarifies Al-qaida was not Pakistani-es they are foreigners they been here since 1980s. because of geographically our boarder is next to India,afghan,Iran we been blamed for their Owen mess.
Afghanistan has opium drug political issues and Pakistan been blamed and over territory been used don't forget its long boarder no one have control on it just like Texas ,CA, Mexico boarder no control on it.
On India with Kashmir boarder because of Indian oppression people want to be separate from India has killed more then 200 thousand in Kashmir army has raped young girls and killed according to human rights ,but Pak been blamed .
Pakistan Arny and Intelligence or government of course getting help in billion from USA fought could not be win without proper tool and its need money.but don't compare money with human sacrifices.
Osama Bin laden hide out would be not a one place could be more and don't forget there is lot of Islamist movement out there and was probably supporting to that dead fish, Osama was sick mind man has put Muslim's world in trouble ,
Pakistan is civilize county and peoples and we all need peace. unfortunatelly corrupt system has ruined nation credibility. but war on terror Pakistani nation and government is sincere,
Good morning!!
Thanks for the insight into the issues that have surrounded Pakistan-- I understand how a corrupt government works because we've lived though it for eight years...
What I find amazing is the number of years that Bin Laden lived in plain sight of the same government that pledged to assist us in the so called "war on terror". I will even give them credit for having corrupt people within certain regions of the country accepting bribes to turn a blind eye...
However...I'm still having a hard time accepting the fact that he was there and I'm also having a hard time accepting the fact that OUR government during those years following the attack allowed Bin Laden the freedom he had. I have my suspicions about the last administrations involvement as well...
Karzi (sp) in my opinion is nothing more than a pimp (Bush's buddy), he's corrupt and President Obama doesn't entertain him as Bush did. And now I wonder why Bush did because Bin Laden wasn't in Afghanistan long enough that justified Bush courting him.
Why did President Obama have too conduct a "secret drop and snatch" mission without involving the Pakistani government? Perhaps because he hasn't had their full support for the military aid we've given...
Now the former President of Pakistan is attempting to raise alarm that President Obama just my continue to conduct such raids at will...go figure...
One of the many countries we support with our taxpayer dollars. Why not end this, and let them stand on their own. Do we really receive support from them, or are they just gratefull for our dollars?
Of the roughly 190 nations of the world, we send funds to approximately 145 or so. Imagine how we could help our own, plus help to reduce our deficit by funding no more than a few of our friends when needed?
The problem is that they are not grateful for our dollars. They just take them and use them against us. The main reason we tread somewhat lightly with them is they have nukes.
defund pakistan and watch iran swoop in. it's an unfortunate problem we are faced with. had they not been able to acquire nukes they would have gone the way of afghanistan years ago. this is the problem we face with iran. can't imagine what would happen when they get nukes. s
Have obama bomb them!
safecracker==I think you meant to say, Have Bush bomb them, as Bush is well known for this type of action.
Nope Seattle Sue,
Obama is the new military man now........he's feeling his oats, so he's in charge.
he also has a history of dropping the bomb, re Libya.
The US trusted the Pakistani's so much that they didn't tell the government or military that we we going to invade their airspace, go inland 40 miles and attack his mansion which was located 800 yards from the Pakistani military academy. Yeah...we trust them.
It's great to have a simplistic view of the world, everything seems so, well simple...Who else thinks becoming an isolationist power is a good Idea? Even Pat Buchanan has backed away from an absolutist viewpoint on that subject. Civilized countries are part of the world community and foreign aid is an adjunct to National defense. Maybe reading about the origins of the 2nd World War would help to clarify part of the rationale for why countries participate.
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Second-World-War/dp/0684829479
We actually don't devote that much of our GDP to foreign aid compared to many other western countries, and we get a pretty good return on what we spend.
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_com_to_for_aid-economy-commitment-to-foreign-aid
An informed, considered opinion would take some of the history, realpolitik, and complexity of the modern world into account when looking at the the topic.
Well dangerfield,
We don't need to become isolationist, just keep the majority of our money home. Let the other countries fund their own nations.
And do you believe the US needs to be the world's policemen, driving up our costs while helping to increase our deficit? I thought this responsibility was a United Nations responsibility.
Wow! You read that book and reviewed the other link real fast! Yeah, I know you didn't bother, it"s just that many of the answers to the questions you pose are hidden in books, and many of the why's and what for's can be researched in minutes on the internet.
And based on;
"We don't need to become isolationist, just keep the majority of our money home. Let the other countries fund their own nations."
It doesn't seem that you understand what "isolationist" means...so here you go;
Isolationism is a foreign policy adopted by a nation in which the country refuses to enter into any alliances, foreign trade or economic commitments, or international agreements in hopes of focusing all of its resources into advancement within its own borders while remaining at peace with foreign countries by avoiding all entanglements of foreign agreements. In other words, it asserts both of the following:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isolationism
This wasn't about my beliefs, but about whether foreign aid is a worthwhile endeavor, and that is the issue I have addressed
.
If you ever do decide to read it, Let me know what you think about A.J. P. Taylor's masterpiece, I think it's one of the best history books ever written.
Boring but important for a libbie to address.
And no, I probably wouldn't read it, nor anything from the wikileaks site.
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Sounds good to me.
Tell it to Obama Indy Lib. He has done that in Libya with the French and the British, hasn't he?
He never returns my calls. One little restraining order, jees.
One of many, I'm sure.
I say Pakistan has betrayed us and it should be leveled...in one fell swoop !
There are only two possibilities regarding Pakistan and bin Laden. Either the Pakistani ISI was complicit in sheltering bin Laden, or, the Pakistani ISI was completely incompetent in not knowing he was there. Either case is a strong argument for reassessing our intelligence relationship with Pakistan.
Pakistan has received 20 billion from us over a ten year period only to harbor America's most wanted mass murderer...not to mention the number of troops we've lost--those lives can't be replaced.
Pakistan has harbored terrorist for quite some time...our involvement with them should be addressed. Imagine...20 billion in military aid from us translates to a great deal of money taken out our economy and has contributed greatly to our deficit...
Yes...I have questions as a taxpayer and I EXPECT answers...BTW...the same Republican Congress in the majority held seats now were responsible for the free-for-all funds.
Anita ,
I will say read news even US says Pakistan admin are not invoved Pakistan is ally of US and admin and congress know the imporatance of Pakistan since 1980 than 9/11 but unfortunatelly Pakistan has many enemies they stabing Pakistan in their back and taking advantage on both side ,USA spen one billion a day to run govrnment 20 billion is not big deal may be for others, War on terror is very deficulte gam the way Pakistan is dealing no one else could deal that because I am from their and I knew how much Pakistan is suffering for foreigner war no Pakistani was involved in 9/11 they was outsider and planed was made in Afghnistan not in Pakistan also they was product and produced in 1980 by world and NATO, every one left after USSR because of million refuge in Pakistan it's was hard to deal with it because Pakistan is not like China or US.
every where else killing or blood shade happened people talk about Human rights but when some things happen no one talk about human rights and innocent people , but just called collatreral damage since drone attack in Pakistan 34000 got killed they have nothing to do with war on terror must realize that was human being,
every one was saying war is not solution but there is many way like CIA secret mission to search and killed those terrorist just like the whole world have seen , war and bombing are creating more radicalism , we need to win heart and mind of people in region through dilogue , aggression was by Russia do'nt work 1980,aggression by USA /veitnam failed, by India on Kashmir 200 thousand kashmiry died by indian ,
As for Bin Laden its was joint search and hunt for him Pak Authority is not involved because they loved $$$ dollars if is up to them his bounty was more imporatant then Bin laden I knew my leaders Bin laden was worthless and common enemy of Saudi,Pak,US and West so let me make clear even US admins aware ,
Bin Laden was save because of terrorist organization was dangrous most people sacred to risk there families lives except army no one could control them , Pak Army and soldiers have sweep terrorist in SWAT Velly in tribal area thousan of Pak soldier and people got killed and million of displaced last years on war of terror ,
Pakistan and nation are paying price poket of terrorist entering from afghanistan 90% of people are peaceful citizen in Pakistan .
No doubt they are and I'm not demonizing the innocents in Pakistan; I'm demonizing the government that represent the the people of Pakistan. They stand billions strong and we are not to police the world. The so called war on terror started in the last administration that demonized Muslims...
OBL was from Saudi Arabia...the Bush family had strong ties to the oil family...I'm aware of that. Its time for them to stand up and protest. As for the drone attacks, the government in Pakistan allowed us to conduct those attacks; do you honestly think that they were done to target innocents? I don't believe you do. Yet I see further than what I'm told...
I strongly disagree with continued aid for military support in a government that I believe "someone" higher up knew that he was there within 30 miles from the military base. No we need to readdress our ties with Pakistan and the fact that they are continuing to allow terrorist to seek refuge there. They need to clean up their own house and prove to us that they are willing to clean up this mess instead of saber rating to us.
Its a shame that President Obama had to conduct such a mission because he ccouldn't trust the government...think about it.