Posted on 05/27/2011 5:31:25 AM PDT by canuck_conservative
ISLAMABAD — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that Pakistan needed to take decisive steps against Islamist militancy and that relations between the two allies, tense since the killing of Osama bin Laden, had reached a turning point.
Ms. Clinton, the most senior U.S. official to visit Pakistan since U.S. Navy SEALS killed the al Qaeda leader this month, appeared to be trying to smooth over strains, repeating that there was no evidence that any senior Pakistani officials had known of bin Laden’s whereabouts.
But she also said she had asked Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as well as Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani to do more to fight militants.
“This was an especially important visit because we have reached a turning point,” a sombre Clinton told reporters, after meeting the Pakistani officials with chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. “We look to Pakistan, to the government of Pakistan to take decisive steps in the days ahead”....
Clinton was unapologetic over the raid, which was the latest in a series of incidents, from U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan to the arrest of a CIA contractor for killing two Pakistanis, that have strained ties. Instead, she noted that Pakistan has a high concentration of militant leaders.
“For the past decade, many of the world’s most vicious terrorists, including al Qaeda’s most important leaders, have been living in Pakistan,” she said.
.... And while acknowledging Pakistan’s interests in a stable and secure Afghanistan, she noted that Pakistan needs to be more helpful.
“Many of the leaders of the Taliban continue to live in Pakistan,” she said .....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.nationalpost.com ...
"We look to Pakistan, to the government of Pakistan to take decisive steps in the days ahead."
Dims: tough on bad PR, tough on the causes of bad PR.
I am sure (hope I am not fried for this statement) the Muslims HATE working with a female in that capacity.
There is certainly a time for a female secretary of state, this ISN'T it.
Will Clinton demand Pakistan give up ITS capitol?
I think not.
Pakistan has already had a female prime minister - so what you say doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Interesting in light of the threat China made this week saying basically an attack on Pakistan is an attack on China.
Pakistan is not our ONLY Muslim adversary. AND you know what they did to THEIR female leader.
Interesting indeed. Hope it doesn’t hit the fan while everyone is focused on BBQs.
Reading her speech, I’m thinking Hillary is saying Mullah Omar is about to be captured ....?
yep, the billions are adding up.
Another verse of "What a friend we have in pakistan" ..../s
Well the other development this week is that the little NK midget was called to China for I think it was urgent meetings. I wonder if they told him they needed him to get busy with his artillery or something.
Condi was the Secretary of State as well. No problems there.
That has more to do with Obama wanting to neutralize Clinton politically than anything else. "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." Vito Corleone
Obama is going to need a new war to distract the voters next year.
Personally... I think it would be humanly impossible to overestimate the depth and vigor of their chauvinism.
Never going to happen.
Pakistan produces nothing at all of any real value and the government lives largely on our dime.
It is DaneGeld. Simple as that
The Taliban are a De Facto force in Pakistan, raiding and killing with near impunity and the madrases churn out radical young Islamics by the thousands.
As a (non) functioning country, Pakistan cannot even provide an education to its own children to counter this.
It’s military is deeply involved in terror and exports acts of terror with alarming regularity.
We will do nothing except pay pay pay, and they know this as well.
Bingo. This is just a continuation of Obama’s policy by other means.
I see your point, but cabinet positions should be given to the best available person for the job.
Sadly, Obama filled it with Hillary
If a person is the best candidate for the position of Secretary of State, I don't care if they are male, female, black, white, asian, etc... they should have the job. We shouldn't adhere to other country's beliefs and ideals. We should do what is best for us.
This is all assuming we have a President who has America's best interests at heart. We do not have that now. Therefore we have Hillary.
You are right… but Muslim chauvinism is MONOLITHIC and IMMOVEABLE!
We would/could make better headway without sending a female to work with them….at present.
Their chauvinism is SO rabid and entrenched that, if we are serious about working with them, must recognize THIS as a basic and (to date) insurmountable feature of their negotiating position.
We would NOT be giving in to them by sending a male (for now), but we must drive a wedge somewhere so that we may return later, to address their gender apartheid. Gender apartheid is in fact, THE deal breaker with them and the key to any actual and ongoing progress for Muslim nations.
We have to inch forward and choose our battles with them.
We WILL fail if we challenge fundamental and centuries old practices, up front.
Got a source for that? Thanks
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