Osama being treated by Pak Army

The Times of India ^ | SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2004 12:56:40 PM | CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA

[Cronos]

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's intelligence officials knew in advance about the 9/11 attacks, a well-known American analyst has said, based on a ''stunning document'' that he claims was given by a Pakistani source to the 9/11 Commission on the eve of the publication of its report.

The document, from a high-level, but anonymous Pakistani source, also claims that Osama bin Laden has been receiving periodic dialysis in a military hospital in Peshawar, says Arnaud de Borchgrave, editor-at-large of the news agency UPI.

''The imprints of every major act of international Islamist terrorism invariably passes through Pakistan, right from 9/11 - where virtually all the participants had trained, resided or met in, coordinated with, or received funding from or through Pakistan,'' Borchgrave cites the confidential document as saying.

But one does not have to go to Borchgrave's unnamed sources to find Pakistan’s involvement in terrorist activity leading to 9/11. The 9/11 commission report itself nails Pakistan in chapter after chapter, revealing that the Pakistani intelligence was in cahoots with the Taliban and al Qaeda, far more than Iran and Iraq ever were.

Among the inquiry commission's observations, quoted verbatim here

* ''Pak[istan's] intel[ligence service] is in bed with bin Laden and would warn him that the United States was getting ready for a bombing campaign'' – quoting Richard Clarke

* ''Islamabad was behaving like a rogue state in two areas – backing Taliban/bin Laden terror and provoking war with India'' - quoting NSC Bruce Riedel

* Pakistani intelligence officers reportedly introduced bin Laden to Taliban leaders in Kandahar -Commission's own observation.

* Pakistan's military intelligence service, known as the ISID (Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate), was the Taliban's primary patron - Commission's observation

* Pakistan helped nurture the Taliban. The Pakistani army and intelligence services, especially below the top ranks, have long been ambivalent about confronting Islamist extremists. Many in the government have sympathized with or provided support to the extremists - Commission's observation.

[Vinomori]

bump

[hoosiermama]

Why am I not surpirsed?

[leadpenny]

Come to think of it, I haven't seen ole Arnaud as a 'talking head' for quite some time. As I remember, he is well connected to the various intell agencies - or, at least, it always seemed that way to me.

[Shermy]

"says Arnaud de Borchgrave"

[Reagan Man]

The enemies of freedom and liberty are all around us.

[Plutarch]

I don't see a lot of love between India and Pakistan here.

[Dog Gone]

The document, from a high-level, but anonymous Pakistani source, also claims that Osama bin Laden has been receiving periodic dialysis in a military hospital in Peshawar, says Arnaud de Borchgrave, editor-at-large of the news agency UPI.

That seems pretty darn unlikely to me. Al-Qaida has attempted to assassinate Musharraf at least three times in the past 12 months, the army has conducted several major military operations to oust terrorists, and the military has every reason to want bin Laden's head on a platter.

It's true this is a complete turnaround from pre-9/11 days, but Dubya and Pervez had a little "come to Jesus" talk.

[Aaron_A]

Last time I checked, Arnaud de Borchgrave wasn't Indian.

[ASA Vet]

Best ElvisBinLaden thread is several months!

[Cronos]

That seems pretty darn unlikely to me. Al-Qaida has attempted to assassinate Musharraf at least three times in the past 12 months, the army has conducted several major military operations to oust terrorists, and the military has every reason to want bin Laden's head on a platter.

Mushie hardly rules the place -- his officials would like to be in power too. Also Mush was dealing with AlQ until and well after 9/11, and most of his henchmen like the Nuke "scientist" (in reality just he guy who translated the manual from Chinese to Paki) are still alQ sympthisers.

Mushie is a military dictator over anIslamic land that hasWMD -- nukes, chemical and bio weapons.

Some reports say that more than 80% of the Pakis support alQ against the US

[Republican Red]

also claims that Osama bin Laden has been receiving periodic dialysis in a military hospital in Peshawar

I have alot of problems with that line. If true, would not the good guys just meet him there at the ole' military hospital. And if by some stretch of the imagination that this is somehow new info just coming to light for the good guys, didn't this article just blow it big-time by revealing to bin Laden that we know where he is DAILY.

I don't think so - anyway you look at it

[Cronos]

If true, would not the good guys just meet him there at the ole' military hospital

The good guys would be American soldiers -- and our troops are not allowed in Paki land. The Pakis could have rolled up and arrested him, but they're in cahoots with alQ so wouldnt' do that.

[Angelus Errare]

Al-Qaeda does have a lot of support within the ISI, but I don't think that this is going to be a great deal of surprise to anyone. As far as Pakistan being more in cahoots with al-Qaeda than Iraq or Iran, color me skeptical. The Pakistanis, whatever their faults, have busted hundreds of al-Qaeda operatives, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, Tawfiq Attash Khallad, et al.

Now bin Laden did probably receive medical treatment in Peshawar (including plastic surgery) after Tora Bora, but that was done at the home of Fazlur Rehman, who is a prominent Pakistani politician, who wasn't part of the government until the pro-Taliban MMA won the elections in the Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan in October 2003.

[Cronos]

Aye, well, if we did get a phantom elvis all we'd have would be an obese singer, but if we got OBL........

[Cronos]

The Pakistanis, whatever their faults, have busted hundreds of al-Qaeda operatives, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, Tawfiq Attash Khallad, et al.

The Pakis just seem to be playing us -- statign that they were about to catch some head alQ honcho -- this coincidently happens jus' when we have to give them some more BILLION$$$ in tax payer dollars. Then they catch some minnow and the cycle continues. They're playing us for a sucker

[Plutarch]

Last time I checked, Arnaud de Borchgrave wasn't Indian.

Yeah, but I’ll bet that CHIDANAND RAJGHATTA writing for the Times of India is, and he doesn't appear particularly surprised at Pakistan's perfidy.

[Fedora]

Interesting. What's your take on du Borchgrave?

[Cronos]

until the pro-Taliban MMA won the elections in the Northwest Frontier Province and Baluchistan in October 2003.

Yessireee bob, that's the land of our "ally" with theIslamic bombb. The ally who sells nukes to North korea and tried to give them to Iran, Irq, libya and Saudi A but realised that those nations don't speak Chinese so wouldn't be able to decipher the manuals.....

[Cronos]

true, but the statements were made by Arnaud.....