It's hard to know just how involved the Paki government was with hiding UBL. It's obvious there were some people intent on keeping him hidden, but that can't be applied to the entire government. Their Army and security forces, along with political leaders and their families, have suffered a great deal against the extremists, and it's important not to forget that, as well. Now, I'm not saying I completely trust their government, but the US can't turn it's back on them because of the nuke/India issues. Like Red said, India is and always has been their main concern. Not all the population is crazed muslims. The problem with Pakistan is the same problem that plagues the muslim world: apathy. Most of the muslim nutcases live in the western enclaves near the Afghanistan border (which is one of the reasons Afghanistan has been hard-going, but that's another topic). Just as Pakistan is vitally important to the US efforts in Afghanistan logistically, it's also a stopping off point for other extremists getting into Afgh. You'll hear all kinds of things in the media from the US and Pakistan. Both will talk tough and demand answers, blah, blah, blah. You won't hear the diplomatic talks. We have a Pakistani officer in our section and I've gotten to work with him a few times during planning sessions and other things. He's a very capable officer with a great sense of humor. He and his family have made it a point to see as much of US as they can and enjoy the time they have here knowing they don't have to worry about car bombs, suicide bombers and assassinations. I haven't seen him since 1 May. He's still here, his kids are still in school, but he's very embarrassed by how all this played out.
They scare the Pakistanis, too. Don't forget that radicalized islamists do not control the country, they do not control the military, and do not represent the population. You underestimate how seriously nuclear weapons security is taken and the controls that are in place. Trigger mechanisms are not stored with warheads and the people in charge of warheads have no control of the codes needed to detonate them. A stray radical is not going to be able to buy one. If so, they might have gotten one from the Russians a decade ago. The Pakistanis fear radicals getting one and using it on them! The PAkistani Army is perhaps the only organization in the country that is in control of its leaders. Military academies are like universities, amigo, not like military bases. They don't patrol the neighborhoods. It is unlikely bin Laden had any military support. I doubt that he trusted them. More likely his support came from the Pakistani Taliban, perhaps with a blind eye from Pakistani intelligence. Paranoia. First, Pakistan doesn't need revenge for anything, they were not OBL fans. Second, nuclear weapons have signatures. We will know where a detonated weapon came from. Third, they are not going to risk nuclear retaliation from the US who will surely retaliate. Fourth, they are dependent on the US for military and foreign aid. Nobody is going to step up and replace that. Prophet. Look, you should stop imagining that every muslim is a radicalized Al Qaeda terrorist. It simply isn't true. Osama bin Laden is not seen as a "Prophet" by anyone, not even Al Qaeda. He was a Sheikh which literally means "elder". The Pakistanis are not demonstrating because we killed bin Laden, they do so because they are fiercely nationalistic. They object to us violating their borders, they object to their own army's failure to do the same. They object to US domination of the region. But they do no advocate war or terror upon the US. Not even the Taliban advocate that, it is only al Qaeda that has made itself an enemy of the US. The Taliban only fight to regain Afghanistan. Once we leave they will offer no further problems.
FWIW.... Ex-Afghan spy chief: I knew where bin Laden was WASHINGTON – Afghanistan's former intelligence chief says he knew Osama bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan four years ago, but Pakistan's leaders rejected his claims. In an interview broadcast Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes," Amrullah Saleh says Afghan intelligence thought bin Laden was in the Pakistani city of Mansehra — about 12 miles away from Abbottabad, where the terrorist leader was eventually found and killed by U.S. Navy SEALs. Saleh has become a prominent critic of Afghan President Hamid Karzai's efforts to start peace talks with the Taliban. He says Pakistan should be recognized by the United States as "a hostile country." He told CBS: "They take your money. They do not co-operate. They created the Taliban. They are number one in nuclear proliferation." Ex-Afghan spy chief: I knew where bin Laden was - Yahoo! News
It's just a matter of time before Pakistan screws up and pisses off India again. Just like the last big terror attack a year or two ago. Pakistan will cross a line eventually and India will wipe them all off the face of the planet.
The problem is that India really isn't our friend either. Pakistan is in bed with the Chinese and India is in bed with the Russians. India wants to control the Indian ocean region and the US Navy will always be a threat to them. I don't think Pakistan cares if they lose the aid, China will just pick it. They will make a poor choice in trading the United States of America for China in the ally department. But I see it coming. I suspect that aid will be curtailed next year and when we have the troops in Afghanistan down to about 20,000, we can cut loose the Pakistani supply lines and resupply them from the 'stans . . . then we can cut them out. Already no one can use the words Pakistan and ally together. Perhaps not even friend.
They have never been able to yet. Pakistan has 100 nuclear weapons and India can't lose 100 cities just to take the Punjab.
Today I hear that US/Nato helicopters flying into Pakistan were fired upon.....sounds like the Pakistanis are not happy being the US lapdog.
They are also returning the helicopter tail today. As usual, they play both sides against the middle.
