Pakistan arrests five CIA assets who were instrumental in getting OBL

Vengeance seems to be the word of the day among the ISI, which has now arrested or detained several people, including a Pakistan Army major, for espionage in Pakistan.

O'Reilly is currently railing about it. Here's a few articles -

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/15/eveningnews/main20071393.shtml

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/06/15/pakistans-secret-service-arrests-5-cia-informants-who-spied-on-bin-laden/

edited 15th Jun '11 5:21:52 PM by FFShinra

Can we consider Pakistan an official enemy and stomp them now? The Bin Laden raid proved they weren't our friends.

No, we won't start yet another war.

Not with the pansy known as Obama in the White House. However this cannot be allowed to stand. Pakistan was hiding and protecting Bin Laden. It was evident he had been there a while and was not hiding in a cave as we thought.

Seriously. They. Were. Hiding. Public. Enemy. Number. One. How can we possibly consider them our friends after that?

edited 15th Jun '11 5:33:07 PM by MajorTom

There are levels between "friend" and "invasion target", you know.

And there's no reason why the instant response to all transgressions against the US should be "shove a rocket up their bum"; what will that accomplish? "Fear us, we have rockets?" Destroying the government? So that, when you leave, the country descends into anarchy?

Amusingly I saw somebody complaining just the other day that Obama was a war-monger.

You may feel otherwise, but I consider a military action against Pakistan to be non-productive, and nothing more than a waste of money. Want to stop being friendly? Ok, fair enough, though that may not have the results you desire, it's at least reasonable. Want to start another war? Why? Haven't we burned enough money on two other occupations, not to mention actions in Libya and Yemen? I'd rather not decide to get into a messy affair with a country of almost 200 million people.

^^ Considering the sorry state of Pakistan, a deposed government, anarchy and a removal of their nuclear arsenal might be a step up. At least they wouldn't have to worry about over 1.5 billion people being suspicious of their every move as is happening with a lot of folks in India and the US.

edited 15th Jun '11 5:39:59 PM by MajorTom

"Pansy" nothing. If Obama declares war on Pakistan, it's not his neck he'll be risking, it's the necks of the innocent population on both sides.

Total dick move by Pakistan, though.

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@Major Tom. Go read up a little history and see what happened to countries who thought it was a good idea to open up too many invasion fronts at once. Particularly if doing so while economically vulnerable to foreign interests.

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While I find the action by Pakistan deplorable, objectively Pakistan has the right to arrest anyone involved on espionage on our own soil. We did it with the Mossad, we did it wit hthe SVR, both in the last couple of years. They told the CIA to leave and after CIA said they had "cooperated", I'm guessing the ISI found some assets they "left behind" and decided to clean house.

The Pakistan military is getting desperate. With all the pressure from the public (frankly the US pressure is rolls of their back like water on a duck), the Army (and thus ISI) must show something that they're doing "their job", lest the public get worse in its criticism. It's a terrible way of going about it, but I understand why they're doing it.

The Senate and People of Rome!!!! I iz smart.

edited 15th Jun '11 6:00:16 PM by FFShinra

I think Major Tom might be a Blood Knight of some sort. Apparently, if you do not invade everyone who has ever slighted you, you are automatically a pansy.

It is a bad idea to get involved in Pakistan. Why? Because we are also allies with India, and going to war with Pakistan isn't good when these two incredibly embittered nations have nuclear arsenals.

Still, dick move, Pakistan.

...how common do people refer to him as Usama Bin Laden? Do they change it to a U to make it sound less like Osama the US president?

That said, they're probably just holding those 5 as prisoners to satisfy any civilians angry about Osama's death, it's not like they executed them or anything. Or a middle finger for carrying out an operation with fire arms and soldiers without their permission.

The US arrested quite a lot of foreigners for doing things they don't like too. I'll be keeping an eye on the situation to see if anything funny happens.

---

This does not seem at all as serious as the time an american government employee killed two muggers, so it'll end quietly sooner or later.

edited 15th Jun '11 6:19:34 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."

Usama is pretty common on Fox, and a few other networks. It's not that uncommon, both are roughly acceptable transliterations.

edited 15th Jun '11 6:21:19 PM by blueharp

I've seen Osama used waaay more often though. Usama just makes me think of bunnies even if it's nothing like it.

As for the first article......US and Pakistan has always been on a collision course...they've been colliding slowly and hasn't stopped. All incidents like these cause is mild annoyance.

Everyone acts like they didn't expect something like this to happen when this should have been expected from day 1. That's international politics when it comes to two countries who don't trust each other working so closely.

edited 15th Jun '11 6:35:19 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."

... I love how he goes ahead and calls him a pansy. That's easy to say when you're not one of the several thousand soldiers who would be put in danger by another invasion. Stop prentending that war is like a game of chess - we do not have reserves, our armed forces is made of fathers and husbands and starting a war every other way is a great way to get them killed.

^ The ISI has gotten Americans killed already by putting themselves against us and aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan. Protecting Bin Laden was just the icing on the cake.

America starting another war would get even more americans AND pakistanis killed...they aren't very good at keeping themselves in line when it comes to avoiding civilian deaths.

I wonder how much money will it take to have them released? Or if there are any special someones they want in return for the 5 prisoner's release?

edited 15th Jun '11 6:46:51 PM by Signed

"Every opinion that isn't mine is subjected to Your Mileage May Vary."

I'd be considering pulling out of there and taking our funding elsewhere, but that in itself might be destabalizing, in a roundabout way. Is there an easier way to deal with this?

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

You mean other than returning the favor?

(eyeroll) just great, another no win situation for Obama.

Diplomacy? "PUSSY!"

War? "WAR MONGER!"

That said, Pakistan sucks, hopefully we can get our assets out and just never deal with them ever again.

edited 15th Jun '11 7:11:28 PM by Thorn14

Usama, in my opinion is the better transliteration, but the o transliteration for Arabic names in general is so common it doesn't really matter. It's not really a sound present in English anyway.

Anyway, invading is an incredibly bad idea in my opinion, even without the other wars. Or ivading more than we have already. Start defunding them.

^^^^ Pakistan basically can't get anymore destabilized. On the Failed States Index, very few countries are worse than Pakistan. (Basically those who have no government at all like Somalia or are seriously troubled. The only real exceptions to that list below Pakistan are Iraq and Afghanistan owing to recent regime changes by force in the last 10 years.)

edited 15th Jun '11 7:15:09 PM by MajorTom

@Tom: And if I remember right, we throw several dozen million dollars down their toilet every year in "aid" money. And harboring our most wanted criminal is how they pay us back.

Note to washington; don't invade, don't ignore. Just stop writing the fucking check, okay?

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

That's the first thing we do. Further action is after that. (No just cutting off the money isn't enough.)