(03-08-2010 11:16 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 09:08 AM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 08:43 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  It seems we have been extremely effective here lately in this arena.

You really do have a short term memory problem, don't you? Our guys have been catching terrorists since we jumped into Afghanistan and rolled into Baghdad. Why do you now sensationalize it? Ahh, NM, it's because Obama is in office. Couple of years ago you spent your time complaining about how the same type of people were being treated at Guantanamo Bay.

Rebel, we have stepped up the pace in Afghan/Paki area. That is why our CIA base was attacked.

You are right about the press and the minions that follow them, GW was kicking *** GLOBALLY on terrorists and that is why we have not had a direct attack since 9/11. Don't forget Obama & Dems have re authorized the Patriot Act that they CAMPAIGNED against. They "feel" it will help their efforts.

I think someone or a group inside the Pakistani Government/Intelligence/Military is getting rich, because each person we have taken out with a Drone or arrested has had at least a $1 million reward on their head.

(03-08-2010 12:25 PM)WMD Owl Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 11:16 AM)NIU05 Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 09:08 AM)Rebel Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 08:43 AM)Machiavelli Wrote:  It seems we have been extremely effective here lately in this arena.

You really do have a short term memory problem, don't you? Our guys have been catching terrorists since we jumped into Afghanistan and rolled into Baghdad. Why do you now sensationalize it? Ahh, NM, it's because Obama is in office. Couple of years ago you spent your time complaining about how the same type of people were being treated at Guantanamo Bay.

Rebel, we have stepped up the pace in Afghan/Paki area. That is why our CIA base was attacked.

You are right about the press and the minions that follow them, GW was kicking *** GLOBALLY on terrorists and that is why we have not had a direct attack since 9/11. Don't forget Obama & Dems have re authorized the Patriot Act that they CAMPAIGNED against. They "feel" it will help their efforts.

I think someone or a group inside the Pakistani Government/Intelligence/Military is getting rich, because each person we have taken out with a Drone or arrested has had at least a $1 million reward on their head.

It could be that....or it could be that those in power in Pakistan have come to the realization that the Taliban/Al-Qaida groups operating in Pakistan are out to topple the current govt. in Pakistan. These radicals suddenly become much more a worry when they are out to topple the Pakistani government.

They announce "they got him" & "they don't" is someone buying time to decide what to do with him? is he being "questioned"? did he drown under Obama / Holder watch?

I don't know why this took so long to be confirmed. Latest is that it is not the Kalifornia traitor, but another traitor. This is the stuff of conspiracy theories.

(03-08-2010 12:40 PM)Crebman Wrote:  It could be that....or it could be that those in power in Pakistan have come to the realization that the Taliban/Al-Qaida groups operating in Pakistan are out to topple the current govt. in Pakistan. These radicals suddenly become much more a worry when they are out to topple the Pakistani government.

I don't think there's a lot of intersection between the ones that the US wants and the ones that Pakistan wants. I think there is some reason other than internal politics that this is happening more inside of Pakistan. WMD Owl's suggestion is as good as any, but I think this is more of a foreign policy play by Pakistan - perhaps to leverage influence in Afghanistan to fill the US void and to try to squeeze Indian influence out of Afghanistan.

(03-08-2010 01:53 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 12:40 PM)Crebman Wrote:  It could be that....or it could be that those in power in Pakistan have come to the realization that the Taliban/Al-Qaida groups operating in Pakistan are out to topple the current govt. in Pakistan. These radicals suddenly become much more a worry when they are out to topple the Pakistani government.

I don't think there's a lot of intersection between the ones that the US wants and the ones that Pakistan wants. I think there is some reason other than internal politics that this is happening more inside of Pakistan. WMD Owl's suggestion is as good as any, but I think this is more of a foreign policy play by Pakistan - perhaps to leverage influence in Afghanistan to fill the US void and to try to squeeze Indian influence out of Afghanistan.

Is this pure conjecture? What do you know that the rest of us don't know, or is this just throw everything against the wall to see what sticks?

(03-08-2010 03:04 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 01:53 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(03-08-2010 12:40 PM)Crebman Wrote:  It could be that....or it could be that those in power in Pakistan have come to the realization that the Taliban/Al-Qaida groups operating in Pakistan are out to topple the current govt. in Pakistan. These radicals suddenly become much more a worry when they are out to topple the Pakistani government.

I don't think there's a lot of intersection between the ones that the US wants and the ones that Pakistan wants. I think there is some reason other than internal politics that this is happening more inside of Pakistan. WMD Owl's suggestion is as good as any, but I think this is more of a foreign policy play by Pakistan - perhaps to leverage influence in Afghanistan to fill the US void and to try to squeeze Indian influence out of Afghanistan.

Is this pure conjecture? What do you know that the rest of us don't know, or is this just throw everything against the wall to see what sticks?

It's conjecture, but all of this is not happening because of how low our President is willing to bow. This is clearly the result of other countries actions and not that the new administration has given a great locker room speech to inspire the FBI and CIA.

I have posted some articles recently that do give insight into the change in US policies and what the implications may be. Why do you think we're seeing an increase in bad guys killed in Pakistan (at least a perceived increase)?

Does Obama ask for the guy or leave him where he is? If he asks for him does he go to Gitmo or a jail on the mainland? Is he read his rights?

More insight into why Pakistan seems to be arresting more Taliban. The executive summary is that they seem to want to stop Afghanistan from negotiating with the Taliban, and one way to do that is to put the negotiating party in Pakistani jails.

Has Pakistan scuttled Afghan peace talks? - By Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/201...he_taliban Wrote:Has Pakistan scuttled Afghan peace talks? - By Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

Hillary Clinton hails "a new day" in U.S. relations with Pakistan. And the former CIA station chief in Islamabad says it is time to talk turkey with the Taliban.

Not gonna happen, responds Thomas Ruttig, who was the UN's man in Afghanistan during the last years of Taliban rule, In the new issue of West Point's CTC Sentinel, he argues that the recent arrests of Taliban leaders in Pakistan actually were a way of shutting down talks:

For Afghanistan, however, the arrests have at least temporarily closed the window of opportunity for direct talks with the Afghan Taliban leadership. As a result, the fighting in Afghanistan will continue and President Karzai's peace jirga announced for mid-spring may run aground before it even begins.

Those Taliban still on the prowl, he notes, are younger and more radical than the old guys recently rounded up. I heard the Ex Man say something similar to a bunch of congressmen last night.

I am very impressed with the Sentinel, which does a solid job of exploring the nooks and crannies of terrorism every month. It is much more interesting than most government-sponsored publications. If I ever get my wish to shut down West Point as an undergraduate institution and replace it with a Sandhurst-like post-graduate structure, I hope they keep publishing the Sentinel.

Combating Terrorism Center