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Dirty secrets!
Anjum Niaz
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Dont say I didnt warn you about the smooth operator! Months ago, I said that when he takes the reins of the CIA on September 7, General (retd) David Petraeus will turn his guns on Pakistan. Well, thats what has happened. Welcome to the world of virtual war! When commanding the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, he told a Senate panel that militants in Pakistan could literally take down their state if left unchallenged. As CIA chief, Petraeus, who enjoys a good reputation with the US press and the Congress has begun the first phase of attack against his Pakistani counterpart intelligence agency. His knock-down-and-drag-out treatment against the ISI has left our generals seeking help from foreign friends.
Worry not! Assure the Chinese and the Saudis, we will protect you.
It loves me, it loves me not is the kind of teenage flirtation that has gone on for decades between Pakistan and America. It has all the juicy ingredients of a schmaltzy chatter that schoolgirls confide to each other, promising love and loyalty. Never squealing each others secrets no matter how dirty. With King David, as Petraeus is called by his fawning fans, the rules of the game have changed. The CIA has opened its book of secrets and let loose its dogs of war on the ISI even if it causes havoc.
The CIAs convenient carrier is The New York Times read by millions across the world. The pattern of the leaks vary at times tales against Pakistan come thick and fast, followed by a lull, ending in a whimper until a fresh cycle starts all over, much like a Sonata Allegro, where there is an exposition with a theme, followed by recapitulation of the same old story. The news hungry media outlets promptly pick up the threads from the newspaper of record and spread the Pakistan-bashing on their airwaves and newsprint with abandon. The worst offender is Fox News and its biggest gasbag Bill OReilly. The older the geyser gets, the more venomous he becomes. Pakistan is our enemy; it attacked our interests in Kabul; we should wage a war against it; is his refrain.
Not one to sit back and take a beating, the ISI retaliates with its own chosen columnists who waste no time in going for the CIA jugular. The downside? The anti-CIA stuff that gets printed in our national newspapers back in Pakistan rarely finds its way to America. Hence the ordinary American continues to be fed on a staple diet of hate and bias dished out by the likes of The New York Times and Fox News.
On CIAs hit list today are the Army Chief General Kayani and the ISI Chief General Pasha. Slowly but surely, the American intelligence is closing its net around the troublesome two by framing serious charges against the army and the ISI that the two head. This is a most dangerous game because no one knows its end.
Where does our democratic government figure in this brinkmanship? Read Shaheen Sehbais Sunday column The army moves in quietly and you will have the answer. The US will never tolerate a safe haven for those who would destroy us, said Obama in his address in the same breath while mentioning Pakistan. He conveyed this warning to Zardari in a phone call before he addressed his nation. What do you think Zardari must have said? I agree with you Mr President. I will convey your message to my army chief, is my second guess.
For the moment, lets eyeball Petraeus, especially when 67 CIA operatives have or will land in Pakistan shortly. What are these guys going to be doing? General Pasha says he knows what their job description is and hes quite comfortable with them coming over. If that is so, pray tell us the name of the game being played by the two intelligence czars?
The writer is a freelance journalist. Email: anjumniaz@ rocketmail.com
Anjum Niaz
Saturday, October 01, 2011
Dont say I didnt warn you about the smooth operator! Months ago, I said that when he takes the reins of the CIA on September 7, General (retd) David Petraeus will turn his guns on Pakistan. Well, thats what has happened. Welcome to the world of virtual war! When commanding the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, he told a Senate panel that militants in Pakistan could literally take down their state if left unchallenged. As CIA chief, Petraeus, who enjoys a good reputation with the US press and the Congress has begun the first phase of attack against his Pakistani counterpart intelligence agency. His knock-down-and-drag-out treatment against the ISI has left our generals seeking help from foreign friends.
Worry not! Assure the Chinese and the Saudis, we will protect you.
It loves me, it loves me not is the kind of teenage flirtation that has gone on for decades between Pakistan and America. It has all the juicy ingredients of a schmaltzy chatter that schoolgirls confide to each other, promising love and loyalty. Never squealing each others secrets no matter how dirty. With King David, as Petraeus is called by his fawning fans, the rules of the game have changed. The CIA has opened its book of secrets and let loose its dogs of war on the ISI even if it causes havoc.
The CIAs convenient carrier is The New York Times read by millions across the world. The pattern of the leaks vary at times tales against Pakistan come thick and fast, followed by a lull, ending in a whimper until a fresh cycle starts all over, much like a Sonata Allegro, where there is an exposition with a theme, followed by recapitulation of the same old story. The news hungry media outlets promptly pick up the threads from the newspaper of record and spread the Pakistan-bashing on their airwaves and newsprint with abandon. The worst offender is Fox News and its biggest gasbag Bill OReilly. The older the geyser gets, the more venomous he becomes. Pakistan is our enemy; it attacked our interests in Kabul; we should wage a war against it; is his refrain.
Not one to sit back and take a beating, the ISI retaliates with its own chosen columnists who waste no time in going for the CIA jugular. The downside? The anti-CIA stuff that gets printed in our national newspapers back in Pakistan rarely finds its way to America. Hence the ordinary American continues to be fed on a staple diet of hate and bias dished out by the likes of The New York Times and Fox News.
On CIAs hit list today are the Army Chief General Kayani and the ISI Chief General Pasha. Slowly but surely, the American intelligence is closing its net around the troublesome two by framing serious charges against the army and the ISI that the two head. This is a most dangerous game because no one knows its end.
Where does our democratic government figure in this brinkmanship? Read Shaheen Sehbais Sunday column The army moves in quietly and you will have the answer. The US will never tolerate a safe haven for those who would destroy us, said Obama in his address in the same breath while mentioning Pakistan. He conveyed this warning to Zardari in a phone call before he addressed his nation. What do you think Zardari must have said? I agree with you Mr President. I will convey your message to my army chief, is my second guess.
For the moment, lets eyeball Petraeus, especially when 67 CIA operatives have or will land in Pakistan shortly. What are these guys going to be doing? General Pasha says he knows what their job description is and hes quite comfortable with them coming over. If that is so, pray tell us the name of the game being played by the two intelligence czars?
The writer is a freelance journalist. Email: anjumniaz@ rocketmail.com
