America was also paying $100 million a month principally for 80,000 Pakistani troops to guard their side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to prevent Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters from crossing into Afghanistan to launch attacks. But American troops often reported that not only would the terrorists walk across the border within sight of Pakistani army outposts, but Pakistani soldiers would sometimes support the enemy with gunfire and rockets when American forces attacked.
Even the one area where the Pakistanis did well, the capturing and handing over of more than four hundred al-Qaeda operatives to American intelligence, was a costly venture for the United States. In each case, the Pakistanis received payment for the captured terrorists as part of a bounty program, which likely accounts for the program’s success. For one al-Qaeda terrorist, and not even a prominent one, the United States paid $500,000.
Ironically, while Muslim extremists are threatening the Pakistani state from the tribal areas within Pakistan’s borders, the Pakistani military, through one of its businesses, is busy recruiting mercenaries to go to Bahrain on behalf of Saudi Arabia. It is also reported the Pakistani army is ready to send two divisions to Saudi Arabia to help the Saudi military against Iran in the Middle East’s looming Sunni-Shiite showdown. And one can be sure Pakistan’s Military Inc. is not doing this for free.
The Obama administration has announced it will investigate whether anyone in Pakistan had anything to do with protecting bin Laden, but don’t expect too much to change. The money supply may slow, or even be cut for a while, but the United States still needs Pakistan because of the terrorist organizations still located on its soil and its strategic location. Few will honestly inquire what kind of “ally” Pakistan really is and what responsibility it bears for the victims of terrorist plots that bin Laden has undoubtedly been assisting during the past ten years.
Even the one area where the Pakistanis did well, the capturing and handing over of more than four hundred al-Qaeda operatives to American intelligence, was a costly venture for the United States. In each case, the Pakistanis received payment for the captured terrorists as part of a bounty program, which likely accounts for the program’s success. For one al-Qaeda terrorist, and not even a prominent one, the United States paid $500,000.
Ironically, while Muslim extremists are threatening the Pakistani state from the tribal areas within Pakistan’s borders, the Pakistani military, through one of its businesses, is busy recruiting mercenaries to go to Bahrain on behalf of Saudi Arabia. It is also reported the Pakistani army is ready to send two divisions to Saudi Arabia to help the Saudi military against Iran in the Middle East’s looming Sunni-Shiite showdown. And one can be sure Pakistan’s Military Inc. is not doing this for free.
The Obama administration has announced it will investigate whether anyone in Pakistan had anything to do with protecting bin Laden, but don’t expect too much to change. The money supply may slow, or even be cut for a while, but the United States still needs Pakistan because of the terrorist organizations still located on its soil and its strategic location. Few will honestly inquire what kind of “ally” Pakistan really is and what responsibility it bears for the victims of terrorist plots that bin Laden has undoubtedly been assisting during the past ten years.
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