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July 07, 2004
A little ridiculous partisanship
The New Republic Online has published their much anticipated piece on the Bush administration's demand to Pakistan that they produce high-value targets (HVTs) before the election and preferably during the last week of July, during the Democratic convention.
A third source, an official who works under ISI's director, Lieutenant General Ehsan ul-Haq, informed tnr that the Pakistanis "have been told at every level that apprehension or killing of HVTs before [the] election is [an] absolute must." What's more, this source claims that Bush administration officials have told their Pakistani counterparts they have a date in mind for announcing this achievement: "The last ten days of July deadline has been given repeatedly by visitors to Islamabad and during [ul-Haq's] meetings in Washington." Says McCormack: "I'm aware of no such comment." But according to this ISI official, a White House aide told ul-Haq last spring that "it would be best if the arrest or killing of [any] HVT were announced on twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight July"--the first three days of the Democratic National Convention in Boston.
Pakistan feels the need to deliver because they've always perceived Democratic administrations as pro-India. Republican administrations, on the other hand, tend to turn a blind eye towards nuclear proliferation as long as it serves their purposes.
Powell pointedly refused to criticize Musharraf for pardoning nuclear physicist A.Q. Khan--who, the previous month, had admitted exporting nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea, and Libya--declaring Khan's transgressions an "internal" Pakistani issue. In addition, the administration is pushing a five-year, $3 billion aid package for Pakistan through Congress over Democratic concerns about the country's proliferation of nuclear technology and lack of democratic reform.
And my favorite quote from the article:
One Pakistani general recently in Washington confided in a journalist, "If we don't find these guys by the election, they are going to stick this whole nuclear mess up our asshole."
Interesting that our government has waited until now to put pressure on Pakistan. I guess that whole Iraq thing kind of got in the way.
Posted by Half-Cocked at July 7, 2004 10:25 PM
Comments
Now who's the goofy, paranoid, conspiracy-theorist? Huh? Huh? Huh? That's deserving of the "Lifetime Menace" award fro Privacy International.
Vote Nader!
Posted by: Kevin at July 8, 2004 11:40 AM
Kevin, I've always been a goofy, paranoid conspiracy-theorists. My theories are just based on empirical evidence as well as the voices in my head.
And I'm tempted to delete your election advocacy from this comment, but I'll let it remain as evidence of your extreme nincompoopery.
Posted by: Steve at July 8, 2004 12:05 PM
A better conspiracy theory is that 'they' have actually captured Bin Laden and are waiting until right before the election to announce the capture to the world, thereby boosting W's chance of election. [I can't remember where I read that. Possibly online or in line at the grocery store.]
I don't really believe that but the voices in my head are considering it thoughtfully. LOL
Posted by: DG at July 8, 2004 12:22 PM
Dude,
Basing your conspiracy theories on empirical evidence is whack.
Truly goofy, paranoid conspiracy theories, based only on the voices in your head, are wicked underground.
As far as my "nincompoopery" goes: 1) Nader isn't even on the ballot yet in Minnesota. 2) Kerry will win Minnesota despite any vote I cast. 3) I donated money last night to help a friend and DFL delegate get to the Democratic Convention where he will cast his vote for Edwards.
Posted by: Kevin at July 8, 2004 04:44 PM
Kevin: But it's empirical evidence I get while licking toads.
Nader might not be on the ballot in MN, yet, but I'm sure the MN GOP is working hard to get there, just like they tried in AZ and OR. Also, Kerry's lead in MN is around 7%+/-. In a state that's been trending Republican for the last 10 years, that's not a safe lead, with a bunch of Nader-voting kooks thrown into the mix.
DG: I've often had those same thoughts. I think that theory is wide-spread enough that there might be a lot of people calling bullshit or shenanigans or whatever should it actually happen.
Posted by: Steve at July 8, 2004 04:54 PM
Well, licking toads changes everything. That's beyond wicked underground, it's ... interspectacular.
Posted by: Kevin at July 9, 2004 12:40 PM