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U.S. military assistance to Pakistan has been much debated since U.S. Navy SEALs killed Osama Bin Laden not far from the doorstep of the national military academy in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and only a short drive from downtown Islamabad. It’s inconceivable, many knowledgeable people believe, that the Pakistan government, or at the very least its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) organization, didn’t know Bin Laden was there. How can we continue to give Pakistan billions of dollars in military assistance each year if they are knowingly harboring our worst enemies? (More)
Filed under: National Security, Terrorism, Abbottabad, Afghanistan, al-Qaeda, Charles Krauthammer, classified, Democratic, Ed Ross, ewross, F-16s, FY11, FY12, game changer, Government, hearings, Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI, Islamabad, Islamist-Jihadism, israel, Jonathan Pollard, Kkabul, middle east, military assistance, Mullah Omar, Mumbai attacks, Muslim world, North Africa, obama administration, Osama Bin Laden, Pakistan, Pakistani, Pat Buchannan, People's Liberation Army, PLA, PLAAF, Rabat, republican, Robert Gates, Taliban, United States Navy SEALs, US Congress, US Navy SEALs
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Naval Postgraduate School Alumni
Maybe Abbotabad is like most suburbs in the USA: people do not know their neighbors. I am a retired military officer, live 2 miles from a military academy (of sorts) and OBL could have moved into a house 5 doors down from me and I never would have known.
Regarding the quotation in your last paragraph: “As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said, Osama Bin Laden’s death is a “game changer.” ” — how so? I thought that WAS the game. All we did was put points on the board. If he thinks the game has changed, maybe his head has not been in it.
Posted by Philip Candreva
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: US-Taiwan Defense Industry Conference
Perhaps the ISI was keeping the plant watered and secure before time was right to harvest… Afterall, the ISI was our matchmaker with Osama and folks in the 80s… Def layers of knowledge and info to explain this onion… Nice article.
Posted by Josh Davis
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: US Army
Billions and Trillions spent and how many years to find him and now we read he has been there for years. Think any heads will roll? Personally I doubt it.
Posted by Roger Schafer
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Defense ViPs
I am sorry, but I can’t find anything surprising anywhere in the information that came from Pakistan.
I would have hid Osama a few blocks from the White House. I think Osama would have hid there too if it hadn’t been a risk coming into the country. Not surprising either that a muslim state as fundamental as Pakistan had a few people who were loyal to the cause. I would say once again that the choice of bed partner was maybe a bit hasty.
Posted by Michael Eklöf
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Defense ViPs
The US has spent more than US$200 billion for a few thousand troops operation and maintenance fighting against the Taliban. What results has that achieved? until today? Have the Taliban been defeated? No they are stronger then before.
US until to-date has provided Pakistan with US$10 billion out of which US$7 billion is the bill of services rendered by our armed forces (leasing of bases, logistics etc) to the US personnel in Pakistan, so the US$7 billion is OUR money and not yours. The remainder of around US$3 billion has US$1.5 billion going towards defense procurement (out of which 70% is used to buy US equipment so that money goes back into US economy) and the US$1.5 billion for social service sector in Pakistan.
We consider this amount as pittance allowance! You want an explanation for that? Maybe the American Government should look inwards to perhaps seek the ‘explanation’ its looking for!
Posted by Shehzad Ahmed Mir
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Defense VIPs
The US has spent more than US$200 billion over the last 10 odd years for a few thousand US troops operation and maintenance fighting against the Taliban and remaining within heavily fortified compound of major urban centers in Afghanistan. What results has that achieved? until today? Have the Taliban been defeated? No they are stronger then before.
US until to-date has provided Pakistan with US$10 billion out of which US$7 billion is the bill of services rendered by our armed forces (leasing of bases, logistics etc) to the US personnel in Pakistan, so the US$7 billion is OUR money and not yours. The remainder of around US$3 billion has US$1.5 billion going towards defense procurement (out of which 70% is used to buy US equipment so that money goes back into US economy) and the US$1.5 billion for social service sector in Pakistan.
We consider this amount as pittance allowance! You want an explanation for that? Maybe the American Government should look inwards to perhaps seek the so-called ‘explanation’ its looking for!
Shehzad Ahmed Mir
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Naval Postgraduate School Alumni
I suspect the US Government has a lot of explaining to do; according to Hamid Gul, ex Pakistani Intelligence Chief; 1) the CIA has been in fact running Pakistani Intel for at least the past 6 years 2) The supposed compound of Osama is a “stone’s throw” from an intelligence center ISI / CIA 3) CIA operative lived next door to the Osama compound for years 4) Osama bin Laden has been dead since December 2001 of causes related to his terminal medical condition (marfan syndrome) – this has been reported by multiple sources.
The story of the raid has significantly changed over time revealing large inconsistencies.
Pakistan was blackmailing the US in order to stop the drone attacks (probably much more here) – Pakistan would reveal that 9/11 was a false flag event + provide the evidence to back up that claim (Dr. Steve R. Pieczenik)
I am not suggesting that Pakistan is totally reliable. I am suggesting that there is much more than is being publicly revealed. A fact, admitted by our own government, is that Al-Qaeda is a CIA created, financed, and controlled black operation (Andrew Gavin Marshall “The Imperial Anatomy of Al-Qaeda” and multiple other documented sources) .
They are our ally in Libya, and our enemy in Afghanistan , Pakistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. If this is indeed the reality, and the facts would seem to support this supposition, then we are funding those kill our own troops, and ultimately begs the question; If Al-Qaeda did indeed carry out 9/11, then who financed, had prior knowledge, and gained from the 9/11 events?
I often state that I am not interested in truth, which is subjective, but the facts upon which I will determine reality. I am very much displeased with the facts and find them hard to accept, however, without counter facts presenting what would be a more balanced view, I am left wondering what the heck is going on?
While it is true that different sources will release information to suit their agenda, too many facts, supported by multiple sources, leave many crucial questions unanswered. The very foundation of our country is at stake (my opinion).
In the world of Psych Ops, labeling, and deflection have proven in the past to be very useful – I know from personal experience – military related. This tactic is being used today to marginalize those asking valid questions. In a free and open society, skepticism is healthy for the country and also, as a side benefit, quickly exposes both questionable practices and unrealistic lines of thought. (A paraphrase of Thomas Jefferson).
Perhaps the best line of questioning would be I / we want all the facts. At this point claiming “national security” is not acceptable and as often quoted – the cry of the oppressor.
Posted by Michael DaBose
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: Defense ViPs
I am sorry, but I can’t find anything surprising anywhere in the information that came from Pakistan.
I would have hid Osama a few blocks from the White House. I think Osama would have hid there too if it hadn’t been a risk coming into the country. Not surprising either that a muslim state as fundamental as Pakistan had a few people who were loyal to the cause. I would say once again that the choice of bed partner was maybe a bit hasty.
Posted by Michael Eklöf
Reposted from LinkedIn Group: U.S. Veteran
I’m glad you wrote and shared this informative article with all of us Mr. Ross. I was not specifically aware of the earlier and on-going concerns relating to the “close relationship” between the militaries of both China and Pakistan. I had also not strongly considered the likelihood of greater Chinese influence (in relation to Pakistan’s affairs) should all US aid suddenly stop.
Posted by John Martone
LinkedIn Group: Defense ViPs
1. USA is hostage to its own geo-strategic interests in middle -east & south east asia. support to Pak is a double edged weapon. they have manipulated US Establishment by projecting a false front. it is a failed state. ISI is a state with in a state. military rules the roost there. The interest of democracy & military can never concile.
2. Further more , the onward march of the muslim world towards 6th century continues wreaking havoc on a civilized world. Russia is no longer a communist monster. there is a paradigm shift in the strategic equations . It is high time US Admn understands it, lest there will be hell to pay.
3. it is imperative that US takes india in its loop & find a solution to ever increasing threat from non-state actors (LET,Al quiada etc) who receive underhand funding even from countries likr Soudi -Arabia,to fight a jihad against infidels which incidentally includes all christian believers across the globe.
4. USA must address the genuine concerns of india.
kaplia
Posted by Raman Kapila