US Strikes in Pakistan - the US media propaganda offensive

[maverick1977]

I am afraid, i dont understand this, It was an attack done by a single person and why destroy a relationship based on an individuals lunacy...


NYC plot prompts U.S. to plan Pakistan strike - Washington Post- msnbc.com


By GREG MILLER

updated 4:32 a.m. ET, Sat., May 29, 2010
WASHINGTON - The U.S. military is reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced to the country's tribal areas, according to senior military officials.

Ties between the alleged Times Square bomber, Faisal Shahzad, and elements of the Pakistani Taliban have sharpened the Obama administration's need for retaliatory options, the officials said.

They stressed that a U.S. reprisal would be contemplated only under extreme circumstances, such as a catastrophic attack that leaves President Obama convinced that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes is insufficient.

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"Planning has been reinvigorated in the wake of Times Square," one of the officials said.

'Fusion centers'
At the same time, the administration is trying to deepen ties to Pakistan's intelligence officials in a bid to head off any attack by militant groups. The United States and Pakistan have recently established a joint military intelligence center on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar, and are in negotiations to set up another one near Quetta, the Pakistani city where the Afghan Taliban is based, according to the U.S. military officials. They and other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding U.S. military and intelligence activities in Pakistan.

The "fusion centers" are meant to bolster Pakistani military operations by providing direct access to U.S. intelligence, including real-time video surveillance from drones controlled by the U.S. Special Operations Command, the officials said. But in an acknowledgment of the continuing mistrust between the two governments, the officials added that both sides also see the centers as a way to keep a closer eye on one another, as well as to monitor military operations and intelligence activities in insurgent areas.

Obama said during his campaign for the presidency that he would be willing to order strikes in Pakistan, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a television interview after the Times Square attempt that "if, heaven forbid, an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences."

Obama dispatched his national security adviser, James L. Jones, and CIA Director Leon Panetta to Islamabad this month to deliver a similar message to Pakistani officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari and the military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani.

Jones and Panetta also presented evidence gathered by U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies that Shahzad received significant support from the Pakistani Taliban.

Retaliatory blows
The U.S. options for potential retaliatory action rely mainly on air and missile strikes, but could also employ small teams of U.S. Special Operations troops already positioned along the border with Afghanistan. One of the senior military officials said plans for military strikes in Pakistan have been revised significantly over the past several years, moving away from a "large, punitive response" to more measured plans meant to deliver retaliatory blows against specific militant groups.

The official added that there is a broad consensus in the U.S. military that airstrikes would at best erode the threat posed by al-Qaeda and its affiliates, and risk an irreparable rupture in the U.S. relationship with Pakistan.

"The general feeling is that we need to be circumspect in how we respond so we don't destroy the relationships we've built" with the Pakistani military, the second official said.

U.S. Special Operations teams in Afghanistan have pushed for years to have wider latitude to carry out raids across the border, arguing that CIA drone strikes do not yield prisoners or other opportunities to gather intelligence. But a 2008 U.S. helicopter raid against a target in Pakistan prompted protests from officials in Islamabad who oppose allowing U.S. soldiers to operate within their country.

CONTINUED : Spy agencies ramp up, increase drone strikes
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[Quaid-i-Azam]

The U.S. military is reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced to the country's tribal areas, according to senior military officials.

They stressed that a U.S. reprisal would be contemplated only under extreme circumstances, such as a catastrophic attack that leaves President Obama convinced that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes is insufficient.

^^^^ Main point of article

I am afraid, i dont understand this, It was an attack done by a single person and why destroy a relationship based on an individuals lunacy...

Of course you do not understand this because you obviously are not trying to comprehend the main point of the article.

 

[Lankan Ranger]

US plans punitive strikes in Pakistan

The Obama administration has let it be known that it is considering unilateral retaliatory strikes against Pakistan in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced back to that country.

Elaborating on secretary of state Hillary Clinton's warning of "severe consequences" for Pakistan in the aftermath of the failed Times Square bombing, US officials have revealed that its military is fine-tuning retaliatory action that rely mainly on air and missile strikes, but could also employ small teams of US Special Operations troops already positioned along the border with Afghanistan.

"Planning has been reinvigorated in the wake of Times Square," an unnamed US official was quoted as saying in the Washington Post, which first reported the story on Saturday, causing alarm in Pakistani circles.

US officials are saying ties between the alleged Times Square bomber, Faisal Shahzad, and elements of the Pakistani Taliban "have sharpened the Obama administration's need for retaliatory options".

Evidently, Washington is not buying the Pakistani argument it is selling to India that "non-state actors" are responsible for such terror attacks and there is little Islamabad can do about it. Yes you can, US insisting.
Officials are saying on background that the Obama administration has put Pakistan "on a clock" to launch a new intelligence and counterterrorist offensive against terrorist groups. Messages to this effect were delivered by National Security Adviser Jim Jones and CIA director Leon Panetta during a visit to Islamabad last month.

However, conscious of possible blowback from any hasty action, US officials stressed that an American reprisal would be contemplated only under extreme circumstances, "such as a catastrophic attack that leaves President Obama convinced that the ongoing campaign of CIA drone strikes is insufficient", the Post reported.

US officials explained that the administration is trying to deepen ties to Pakistan's intelligence officials in a bid to head off any attack by militant groups.

The US and Pakistan have recently established a joint military intelligence center on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Peshawar, and are in negotiations to set up another one near Quetta, they disclosed.

US plans punitive strikes in Pak - US - World - The Times of India

 

[Thomas]

I don't put much credence in this article. seems strange that the source is an Indian newspaper. Or other newspapers and blogs quoting an India newspaper.

seems fishy...........

 

[third eye]

America mulls unilateral raids into Pakistan: WP | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

Published: May 30, 2010

WASHINGTON – The US military is studying options for a ‘unilateral strike’ in Pakistan, whom it calls a key ally in the war on terror, in the event that a successful attack on American soil is traced to the country’s tribal areas, The Washington Post reported Saturday.
Experts here were not surprised by the move, despite recent statements by top administration officials that they would leave the military operations against the Taliban to the Pakistani military. One expert said he believes that the report has been planted by the administration in an attempt to pressure Pakistan into launching an offensive in North Waziristan Agency.

Citing unidentified senior military officials, the newspaper said planning for a retaliatory attack was spurred by ties between Faisal Shahzad, the suspect in the failed Times Square bombing, and elements of the Pakistani Taliban, the US newspaper said, quoting unidentified senior military officials.

“Planning has been reinvigorated in the wake of Times Square,” one of the officials was quoted as saying by The Post. The military would focus on air and missile raids but also could use small teams of US special operations troops currently along the border with Afghanistan, the report said. Air raids could damage the groups’ ability to launch new attacks but also might damage US-Pakistani relations.
The CIA already conducts unmanned drone raids in the country’s tribal regions.

Officials told the Washington Post that a US military response would be considered only if attacks persuaded President Barack Obama that the CIA campaign is ineffective.

A senior US official told the Associated Press news agency on Wednesday that Pakistan already has been told that it has only weeks to show real progress in a crackdown against the Taliban.
The US has put Pakistan “on a clock” to launch a new intelligence and counterterrorist offensive against the group, which the White House alleges was behind the Times Square bombing attempt, according to the official.

 

[Chappal Chor]

And the US is stupid enough to tell TImes of india first about there plans to attack Pakistan. Pakistan is not Afghanistan or Iraq that US can bomb down just like that. Though Pakistan air force is un comparable to US but at the same time these guys can really give tough time to US. US knows how to build machines but guys in South Asia know how to ooze out the juice of the every single drop of the machine. We people have limited resources and when it comes to using our machines we try to get max out of it. This is something which gives an advantage

But getting on the start US can never think of Pakistan when they are not done with Afghanistan.

 

[zraver]

The leak serves a couple of purposes,

1. its a warning to the Pakistani Taliban. Even if this forum doesn't get it, the Taliban know just how much pain the US can inflict on them if they launch a successful attack.

2. Warning to any ISI pr other GoP individuals with links to the TTP, hitting us in A-stan is one thing, going after our civilians puts your on the table as well.

3. Pressure the GoP to step up its battle to gain control of the country it claims to rule.

 

[ramu]

I don't put much credence in this article. seems strange that the source is an Indian newspaper. Or other newspapers and blogs quoting an India newspaper.

seems fishy...........

Dawn : A Pakistan source for you
DAWN.COM | World | US studies Pakistan unilateral strike options: report



US studies Pakistan unilateral strike options: report

Saturday, 29 May, 2010

WASHINGTON: US military leaders are reviewing options for a unilateral strike in Pakistan if there is a successful attack on American soil tied to the country's tribal areas, The Washington Post reported in its Saturday edition.

The newspaper said senior US military officials stressed a possible strike would only be considered under extreme circumstances such as a catastrophic attack that convinced President Barack Obama that the campaign using CIA drone strikes is not working.

The officials said airstrikes would be the most effective option in reducing the threat posed by al-Qaeda and other groups, but the United States must be careful not to damage its military relationship with Pakistan to a point where it cannot be repaired.

CIA-operated drones have targeted Taliban figures in Pakistan's tribal areas and the group has vowed to avenge missile strikes that have killed some of its leaders.

The failed Times Square bombing on May 1 has revived international fears about Pakistan, a US ally in the campaign against militancy. It also has forced the Obama administration to review how it would respond to a successful attack on US soil.

US authorities say Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani-American, had admitted to the Times Square bomb attempt and was cooperating with investigators since his arrest on May 3.

American and Pakistani authorities are likely scrambling for clues on whether those detained have ties to militants in Pakistan, who are bent on toppling the state and are violently opposed to the US presence.

 

[Quaid-i-Azam]

why do you have to bold and underline the entire article? do you think we cannot understand if you do not...

 

[third eye]

why do you have to bold and underline the entire article? do you think we cannot understand if you do not...

Very often the obvious is not visible.

 

[ramu]

why do you have to bold and underline the entire article? do you think we cannot understand if you do not...

Chill yaar... Each person has a style of posting and we can't get annoyed for that.

 

[Thomas]

Unless Pakistan had stopped all cooperation. Then the U.S. might feel compelled to act after a catastrophic attack. But the facts are the drone strikes are effective and feared by the Taliban. And carried out with the cooperation and support of the Pakistani Government.

 

[QADRI]

Usa created taliban to fight against russia, and when the game is over then us want to finish all players. I don't understand how us says such thing so comfortably, they think that we are sleeping but they actually don't know us, if they attack on us then they will have to face some bitter realities if and only if our goverment stops acting like a US slave. I want to say that US must not forget many battlefields in which they were forced to call Pak Army to help them and to evacuate them. Attacking directly will not be same as drone attacks which are permitted by Mush and current government. In case of direct attack Pak Army will teach them a good leason. Barking like a dog is really simply task of usa, their army could not even do anything against afghan taliban, and now they are planning to attack on Pakistan lolz. So silly.

 

[Patriot]

Unless Pakistan had stopped all cooperation. Then the U.S. might feel compelled to act after a catastrophic attack. But the facts are the drone strikes are effective and feared by the Taliban. And carried out with the cooperation and support of the Pakistani Government.

and Pakistan Government won't do that.It's more of a pressure tactic.Obama really wants Pakistan Army to go into Nwaziristan before next mid term elections because as far as i can see he has nothing to show except few agreements (Start) etc..There have been no real achievement in his tenure..I doubt he will survive mid term elections of Republicans put some strong candidate for Presidency.

 

[boxer_B]

Usa created taliban to fight against russia, and when the game is over then us want to finish all players. I don't understand how us says such thing so comfortably, they think that we are sleeping but they actually don't know us, if they attack on us then they will have to face some bitter realities if and only if our goverment stops acting like a US slave. I want to say that US must not forget many battlefields in which they were forced to call Pak Army to help them and to evacuate them. Attacking directly will not be same as drone attacks which are permitted by Mush and current government. In case of direct attack Pak Army will teach them a good leason. Barking like a dog is really simply task of usa, their army could not even do anything against afghan taliban, and now they are planning to attack on Pakistan lolz. So silly.

LOL, this sounds funny. Please provide links.