Petraeus Warns of Declining Public Support in Pakistan for U.S.

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Petraeus Warns of Declining Public Support in Pakistan for U.S.​

By Tony Capaccio

May 29 (Bloomberg) -- Public support for the U.S. is declining in Pakistan because of military strikes there that the U.S. conducts from Afghanistan, according to the top American commander in the Middle East.

“Most polling data reflects” an increase in anti-U.S. sentiment, General David Petraeus said, without identifying the source of the polling.

Pakistanis are angered by “cross-border operations and reported drone strikes” that they believe “cause unacceptable civilian casualties,” Petraeus wrote in court papers supporting President Barack Obama’s decision not to release photographs showing the abuse of prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Releasing images “depicting, or that could be construed as depicting, U.S. forces abusing detainees who would likely be depicted as ‘fellow Muslims’ would undermine” the Pakistani government’s efforts to bolster support for the U.S., which is helping Pakistan fight al-Qaeda and Taliban forces in its ungoverned northwest provinces along the Afghan border, he said.

The U.S. Justice Department yesterday asked the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York to reverse its order that the photos be released. Petraeus’s statement was part of the department’s filing.

“Anti-U.S. sentiment has already been increasing in Pakistan” and releasing the photos would only accelerate this trend, Petraeus said.

The percentage of Pakistanis who felt the U.S. presence posed a threat to Pakistan increased in October 2008 to 54 percent from 45 percent in June 2008, Petraeus said.

“It may be higher today and will certainly increase if new detainee abuse photos are released,” he said. “While other polling data show minor improvements in U.S.-Pakistan relations, 63 percent of Pakistanis still oppose cooperating with U.S. counter-terror operations.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Tony Capaccio in Washington at acapaccio@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: May 29, 2009 12:59 EDT

Petraeus Warns of Declining Public Support in Pakistan for U.S. - Bloomberg.com

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I would actually agree with Petraeus's remarks here - the photographs should not be released in the immediate future, though they should definitely eventually be released.

Pakistan has managed to achieve a national consensus on combating the extremists after a long time, but that consensus is still on shaky grounds. Putting out these photographs holds the very real risk of distracting from that effort against extremism, and perhaps even make the extremists look sympathetic and offer a justification of sorts for their actions, and possibly shake that consensus.

A delay of a year or so before releasing the images cannot possibly hurt the cause of transparency and the discourse on the use of torture.

 

[Patriot]

Pakistan Army should release pictures and videos of Martyed soldiers instead of these bastards as they will use it for PR.I think Army should buy time on all channels and show different videos of soldiers who have been martyed.Express News have been very good and showing a lot of videos!

 

[Mac2]

I can not undertand why pakistani people are so distressed seeing the images of terrorists being tortured. There are hitting pakistan severely and still people call them their muslim brothers.

 

[Mujahid91]

Zardari is a puppet of U.S there's been a dramatic change in the situation first Pakistani Muslims were oppose at US coming sitting next to us and act like they are our masters people like Zardari consider US thier master/GOD i've been to Karachi lately and i've seen modernization Karachi is being more like secular Islam has been forgotten this era Mujahideens in Afganistan have big support but no financial system to keep fighting Kuffars/Americans in Afganistan everyone is missing a big picture here there was no sucide bombings nor havoc in Malakand division thanks to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

 

[Patriot]

Zardari is a puppet of U.S there's been a dramatic change in the situation first Pakistani Muslims were oppose at US coming sitting next to us and act like they are our masters people like Zardari consider US thier master/GOD i've been to Karachi lately and i've seen modernization Karachi is being more like secular Islam has been forgotten this era Mujahideens in Afganistan have big support but no financial system to keep fighting Kuffars/Americans in Afganistan everyone is missing a big picture here there was no sucide bombings nor havoc in Malakand division thanks to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

If you don't like the living lifestyle of people of Karachi then simply go to other city where people are more religious.

 

[Mujahid91]

If you don't like the living lifestyle of people of Karachi then simply go to other city where people are more religious.

I love Karachi lifestyle but the areas like defence and Clifton your moms are wearing skirts and cheating on your father with a 16year old is that what Islam teachings are stop being so moderate revert back to Hinduism its just pathetic Allah said he will unleash hell on nations like ours we look forward to West rather than follow Islam Qurans Sunnah that is the reality of "our" Pakistan.We need a rude awaking.

 

[Mujahid91]

OK..so what should we do?Kill all the people of Defense and Clifton?

nope i am just setting up an example how we are following western world dont forgot we were slaves of them British India remmber its pretty much same today we are still slaves nothing has changed and people supporting war on terror thier is even more hillarious

 

[ajpirzada]

I can not undertand why pakistani people are so distressed seeing the images of terrorists being tortured. There are hitting pakistan severely and still people call them their muslim brothers.

problem is not just taliban killin us. its u guys who kill us as well. that is y we kind of dislike both.
just see how many civillian pakistanis have u killed in drone attacks. around 600 i guess? where as only 14 to 20 militant figures got killed. lookin at the ratio. now those pictures will probably have more innocent blood in them than militant blood. so its better u keep them under ur pillow

 

[Mac2]

See man. The persons who allow their houses to be used by terrorists are not normal civilians. So the people who are dead in drone attacks are not normal innocent civilians suggested by you

 

[Always Neutral]

I love Karachi lifestyle but the areas like defence and Clifton your moms are wearing skirts and cheating on your father with a 16year old is that what Islam teachings are stop being so moderate revert back to Hinduism its just pathetic Allah said he will unleash hell on nations like ours we look forward to West rather than follow Islam Qurans Sunnah that is the reality of "our" Pakistan.We need a rude awaking.

You certainly need to get out from behind the keyboard and get some fresh air. What have you got against skirts ? You mean to say that woman who were burqas donot have affairs ?

Stop being a doomsayer just because the world does not think your view point is valid. Allah has better jobs to do than unleash his hell on a good looking girl wearing a skirt in Lahore.

Regards

 

[asq]

See man. The persons who allow their houses to be used by terrorists are not normal civilians. So the people who are dead in drone attacks are not normal innocent civilians suggested by you

Mac2, dude you are assuming too many things, may be you are watching too many Holy wood movies depicting Muslims as terrorists.

Dude, it looks that you are not one of the main stream Americans, i found most Americans to be very intelligent as they can deduct from a situation the reason for it.

now about your deductions that their are people harboring these talibans is far from truth, dude in many cases Taliban entered and took them hostages and in order to safeguard their families in the proximity they could not do anything to these criminals. And than came the Drone attacks, innocent are killed.

But I am glad that it is over as Pakistan Army has not only uprooted these criminals, but in doing so they dished out a good punishment.

The proof is in the pudding as you must heave read about people returning to their homes and thanking pak Army for a fantastic job the did.

Pakistan has and Pakistan will continue to be at the forefront of this fight, but folks like you could at least deduct the situation properly for proper action and not alienate people in Pakistan.

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

so let us all, meaning Pakistani and American be part of the solution.

 

[ajpirzada]

See man. The persons who allow their houses to be used by terrorists are not normal civilians. So the people who are dead in drone attacks are not normal innocent civilians suggested by you

and wats the assurance that houses targeted were keepin militants in them? wat about the weadings, funnerals and other gatherings which have been targeted.
our objectives may be similar but our ways are totally different. u want to target militants no matter how many civilians you kill while we want to target militants with support of civilains. but it only takes ur one drone strike to loose that support. that is the reason y there is a big mistrust bw the two countries.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I can not undertand why pakistani people are so distressed seeing the images of terrorists being tortured. There are hitting pakistan severely and still people call them their muslim brothers.

Because many people think they are innocent and were framed by the US - the problem is the lack of credibility the US has in the Muslim world, because of its past policies.

 

[asq]

You certainly need to get out from behind the keyboard and get some fresh air. What have you got against skirts ? You mean say woman who were burqas donot have affairs ?

Stop being a doomsayer just because the world does not think your view point is valid. Allah has better jobs to do than unleash his hell on a good looking girl wearing a skirt in Lahore.

Regards

Please do not take Allah's name in vain, secondly it is not acceptable in Islam for women to show their legs, though they can wear long skirt as long as it covers up to ankles.

And extra marital activities in Islam are not accepted as it can cause birth of a child out of wedlock and that child will have no father, no family support and no inheritance. So an illegitimate child is not acceptable in islam.

Now do not go telling me that it is not modern, I say their is nothing of being modern in having sex outside the mariage and or sex before marriage.

Now I am not saying you that you should follow this, you have to follow what your beliefs are, because I believe that a Muslim never imposes anything on others, but does explain the rights and wrongs in Islam, if they inquire, and same goes for our own.

Finally only Allah will judge us all on the day of Judgment and we cannot go to a Mullah and accept our sins, and in turn he cleanses us of all our sins. Not in Islam but it may be acceptable in other Religions. that is why we continue to relay the true massage of Islam

We the Muslims have no problem with women wearing skirts in other parts of the world and in other faiths, you would know from the large numbers of Muslims living in Europe, second largest religion in Europe is Islam.

 

[Always Neutral]

Please do not take Allah's name in vain, secondly it is not acceptable in Islam for women to show their legs, though they can wear long skirt as long as it covers up to ankles.

We the Muslims have no problem with women wearing skirts in other parts of the world and in other faiths, you would know from the large numbers of Muslims living in Europe, second largest religion in Europe is Islam.

That is not because any other reason but due to poor family planning and mass illegal migration from Africa and Asia where most of the worlds poor muslims reside.

If Pakistan was the ideal world of Allah why do so many muslims risk their lives to come to Europe ?

Regards