As the politically irrelevant squawk over whether President Bush deserves credit for the killing of Osama bin Laden, somewhat understated in the whole affair has been the steady hand that CIA chief Leon Panetta has brought to the nation's top intelligence agency. Time Magazine's Massimo Calabresi has a very worthy read on the CIA's efforts and it's remarkable turnaround with Panetta at the helm.
As the layers of the operation peel away for public review, we are learning more and more of America's very difficult relationship with Pakistan. Perhaps one of the best reviews is this exceptionally candid article from Pakistani academic Pervez Hoodbhoy, carried in Sunday's L.A. Times. Here's an excerpt:
Gen. Pervez Musharraf was army chief when Bin Laden's house in Abbottabad was being constructed. Back then, Pakistan's political pundits used to speculate about which Al Qaeda or Taliban leader would be miraculously "found" on the eve of some important U.S. military or political leader's visit to Pakistan. And one was usually produced. Important arrests included those of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the Kuwaiti-born senior Al Qaeda leader who was arrested in Rawalpindi, and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a Taliban leader arrested in Karachi. The American visitors generally left pleased.
It is quite possible that Bin Laden was being kept in reserve by the army, the ultimate trophy to be traded in at the right time for the right price, either in dollars or political concessions.
Alas for Pakistan's army, American Navy SEALs have now killed the golden goose, and a potential asset has turned into a serious liability. For officials to appear joyful would infuriate the Islamists, who pose a real threat to the state. On the other hand, to criticize the killing would suggest that Pakistan had knowingly hosted the king of terrorists.
Read the whole piece, here.
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