U.S. Military Gave Troops OK to Enter Pakistan (w/o Consent) in '04, and They May Still Have It

[kpete]

U.S. OK'd troop terror hunts in Pakistan

AP IMPACT: U.S. Military Gave Troops OK to Enter Pakistan in '04, and They May Still Have It

SCOTT LINDLAW
AP News

Aug 23, 2007 17:14 EDT

Newly uncovered "rules of engagement" show the U.S. military gave elite units broad authority more than three years ago to pursue suspected terrorists into Pakistan, with no mention of telling the Pakistanis in advance.

The documents obtained by The Associated Press offer a detailed glimpse at what Army Rangers and other terrorist-hunting units were authorized to do earlier in the war on terror. And interviews with military officials suggest some of those same guidelines have remained in place, such as the right to "hot pursuit" across the border.

Pakistan, a key U.S. partner in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, has long viewed such incursions as a threat to its sovereignty. Islamabad protested loudly this month when Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama pledged to grant U.S. forces the authority to unilaterally penetrate Pakistan in the hunt for terrorist leaders.

Washington repeated assurances it would consult before any such incursions.

more at:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/08/us_okd_troop_terror_hunts_in_p.php

[Kagemusha]

1. I mentioned to a friend about this article...

Rules of engagement don't actually imply that there was an agreement with Pakistan on this. (Note that a Pakistani military spokesman denies there was any agreement and says they never "let" US troops in. That's just kinda besides the point, yes?)