U.S. Aids Security of Musharraf

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50544-2004Jan2.html

After two recent assassination attempts that bear the markings of al Qaeda, the U.S. government is stepping up efforts aimed at protecting Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and urging him to crack down further on Islamic terrorism groups, U.S. officials said.

The United States had sent electronic jamming devices that helped foil the first attempt on Musharraf by interfering with the detonation of explosives, officials said. Since the attacks, U.S. officials have increased intelligence sharing and other efforts to help Musharraf's security forces, although the United States is not providing bodyguards, a step taken to safeguard Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. FBI officials in Pakistan are helping to investigate the attacks on Musharraf.

Musharraf's longevity and the stability and cooperation of Pakistan, the world's most politically fragile nuclear power, are critical to the U.S. campaign to capture or kill Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda operatives. U.S. military and intelligence officials believe bin Laden and other al Qaeda members are hiding along the Afghan-Pakistan border. Musharraf has positioned himself as an ally of the United States in its war on terrorists.

If Musharraf were to die in an attack, U.S. military and intelligence officials said they believe the Pakistani army would quickly move to appoint a successor -- with the most likely candidate being the army vice chief of staff, Gen. Muhammad Yousaf Khan, viewed by U.S. officials as pro-American and likely to continue Musharraf's prosecution of al Qaeda.

[cliss]

1. Musharraf is caught between a rock and a hard place.

Or: "how to be friends with both sides, and avoid getting killed by either".

Pervez Musharraf has to walk the delicate balance of trying to lead his muslim country, and at the same time be a "buddy" of the United States, which understandably wants him as a friend.

So much so, that we gave him some "early Christmas presents": we forgave a $4 billion loan and gave him some outrageously expensive jet fighters in October. And I'm sure there were many more "friendship gifts" of cash to grease many islamic palms.

In exchange, we want him to pursue terrorists in Pakistan and keep the country pro-western.

So Pervez has the impossible assignment of trying to appear loyal to his own people, and be a friend to the US, because it's such a lucrative friendship. But his people are not fooled, not for one second.

They're going to reward his treachery by trying to assassinate him, and they may very well succeed, despite around the clock security.

It's hard to play both sides, isn't it Pervez?

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Mush is just another CIA-installed native overseer

He does as he's told, and Mrs. Mush picked out a nice house for them in Arlington in the fall of 2001.

[daleo]

3. U.S. bodyguards

Wouldn't that be something if they did provide them. Either way, I would not want to be his life insurance provider. This whole situation seems like the real danger, and Iraq the sideshow (if not for the oil). I suspect that Bush et al would love to get the nukes out of the hands of the Pakistanis (or any Muslims), but that genie is out of the bottle.

If he is assassinated, the pro-American types may not be that willing or able to step up to the plate.

This is the second time I have heard about a jamming device being used, although the first time that I have heard it was provided by the U.S. government. It seems odd that this kind of information would be released to the public. Wouldn't this help potential assassins to not waste time with improvised explosive devices? Is there some elaborate double-cross or disinformation going on?

[0007]

4. Why did the U.S. outsource all those jobs to India?

One would think that all those jobs would have gone to Pakistan. Is it because the U.S. knows that it is just a matter of time before Musharraf and his country is toast?

Who indeed thinks Musharraf knows where bin Laden is? We all know what junior thinks, nada.

[pfitz59]

5. The Dictator Musharraf....

is clearly seen as a US puppet! I'm sure DYNACORP is inking an open-end, no-bid contract as we read!