U.S. special operations forces have regularly and “surreptitiously” slipped into Pakistan in recent years, raiding suspected terrorist hideouts on Pakistani soil. The team that killed Osama bin Laden — those guys alone had conducted “10 to 12″ of those missions before they hit that infamous compound in Abbottabad.
In a remarkable story for this week’s New Yorker, Nicholas Schmidle puts together the most detailed picture so far of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. But the most combustible component of the explosive article might be the disclosure that U.S. commandos sneak into Pakistan on the regular.
Over the last week, current and one-time top officials have debated the wisdom of the U.S. launching unilateral strikes in places like Pakistan. Former Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told a gathering of security professionals in Aspen that the attacks weren’t worth the local antipathy they generated. Retired Gen. Doug Lute, who oversees Afghanistan and Pakistan strategy at the White House, admitted that there was a major “humiliation factor.” But he told the conference that now was the time to “double down” on the raids, with al-Qaida in disarray. “We need to go for the knockout punch.”
Most people in the audience assumed Lute was talking about additional drone attacks. Perhaps Navy SEALs would deliver the hit, instead.
In many minds, that decisive blow landed last May, when Navy SEALs took out the world’s most wanted terrorist. Schmidle’s piece confirms much of what we already knew about the bin Laden raid: yes, they used a stealthy spy drone and a radar-evading Black Hawk and a particularly ferocious dog; yes, bin Laden was unarmed; yes, the SEALs found his porn.
But Schmidle reveals tons of new details, too. One SEAL bear-hugged bin Laden’s wives, to keep them from detonating suicide vests (an unnecessary precaution, it turns out). The commandos considered tunneling into the compound — until overhead imagery showed that the water table would prevent any digging. At least three of the SEALs were part of the operation that rescued Maersk Alabama](http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/03/the-maersk-alabama-is-like-crack-for-pirates/) captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates.
Since the bin Laden raid, the government of Pakistan claimed it was kicking dozens of U.S. military trainers out of the country. Islamabad made noises about shutting down a base from which U.S. drones took off. Generally, relations between the two countries have gone into the toilet.
But the drone attacks haven’t let up. Will the special operations raids continue, as well? Or was the bin Laden operation the final mission?
Re: It’s Not Just Bin Laden; U.S. Commandos Raid Pakistan All the Time
be-sharm log jinheN har attack ke paise milte haiN, har jaan kii qeemat adaa hotii hai vo jeete jii kabhii qubool nahiiN kareNge...unko jab tak maut nazar nahiiN aayegii tab tak qubool nahiiN kareNge...
Re: It’s Not Just Bin Laden; U.S. Commandos Raid Pakistan All the Time
Pak Military officers are too busy trying to get the best plot in Defence to be professional soldiers.
Pakistan is virtually defenceless against any decent power, even aginst trained tribals, ie.PNS Mehran
Let assume that only military is responsible for allowing US commando raids, please point us to facts showing what our great civilian government has done to stop this? Truth is both civilian government and military are sold out for few $$$ in their pockets, they both cry foul and issue few "strong protesting" statements every time they are humiliated by an incident but immediately afterwards call the Washington hotline and tell them that it was for public consumption.
Re: It’s Not Just Bin Laden; U.S. Commandos Raid Pakistan All the Time
Let assume that only military is responsible for allowing US commando raids, please point us to facts showing what our great civilian government has done to stop this? Truth is both civilian government and military are sold out for few $$$ in their pockets, they both cry foul and issue few "strong protesting" statements every time they are humiliated by an incident but immediately afterwards call the Washington hotline and tell them that it was for public consumption.
For your kind information, the real power to rule Pakistan still vests with our GREAT ARMY. The elected civilian government is limited or no role in Defense, Foreign Affairs and Finance. We are still a dummy democracy. So army, that runs our country de facto, should be held accountable. We blame our leaders have foreign links but the facts is: almost all the rank and file of our armed forces send their children to US, UK or midland European nations (Unlike in S.Arabia or other gulf countries) and they invest their money there too. Their first loyalty is with Western counties not Pakistan.
Re: It’s Not Just Bin Laden; U.S. Commandos Raid Pakistan All the Time
For your kind information, the real power to rule Pakistan still vests with our GREAT ARMY. The elected civilian government is limited or no role in Defense, Foreign Affairs and Finance. We are still a dummy democracy. So army, that runs our country de facto, should be held accountable. We blame our leaders have foreign links but the facts is: almost all the rank and file of our armed forces send their children to US, UK or midland European nations (Unlike in S.Arabia or other gulf countries) and they invest their money there too. Their first loyalty is with Western counties not Pakistan.
Please do tell me what our parliament did right after OBL saga? It was mum. Pasha offered to resign, parliament/government had full chance of pushing army back but what did they do? Our army sends their kids abroad so do our politicians, our politicians go one step forward and actually buy huge properties outside, build factories in other countries. Our politicians are ready to crush each other to reach Washington to have a chance in next government, they leave no chance of licking foreign boots. How are they different from the army?
We are a client state and they have every right to use us the way they want.