In Danny Pearl Book, Lévy Says Next 9/11 Brewing in Pakistan

The New York Observer ^ | 9/13/2003 | Ron Rosenbaum

[risk]

The "stench of apocalypse." The religious language is not insignificant: Earlier, he spoke somewhat incongruously of Daniel Pearl’s final moments of captivity as his "Golgotha," his "Calvary," virtually making him a Christ figure. Now, Mr. Lévy is painting a portrait of Danny Pearl as the Galahad who pierced the secret hiding place of terrorism’s Unholy Grail. All of Mr. Lévy’s speculations may be true, but that doesn’t mean they were Danny Pearl’s.

[risk]

Pak nuke ping; OK, it's just more speculation, but it's chilling nonetheless. As quantifiable as the hate there, we need to start heeding the warnings NOW.

[jaykay]

This has legs. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Pakistan has a military and secret police thoroughly penetrated by fundamentalists. Pakistan is probably the current host country of Osama Bin Laden, with the cooperation of at least some elements of the government. Pakistan has a president who does not have reliable control of his intelligence service, military forces, border territory or nuclear weapons and related materials. We are not taking the Pakistan nuclear program seriously and it is very likely going to cost us terribly. Look at the ease with which Iraq's wmds were snuck out through Syria before the war. How can we ever be sure that every nuclear weapon Pakistan has produced is accounted for, especially given the lack of control of the borders?

[Buckwheats]

If we were smart, we would take out North Korea's nuke facilities today, send the Saudi's packing and take over their oil fields today, invade Pakistan and take it over today. I don't wait to find out what the person who threatens me will do; I take him out first.

[risk]

I'm happy to hear that I'm not alone.

[Buckwheats]

There's a death-fight going on with insane people but, apparently, we're the only one's who don't know it.

[jaykay]

Unfortunatly, our m.o. is we wait until something terrible happens, then we take some watered down, half a$$ed action so we don't offend the 'international community' who demand that we show "restraint.'

[GatekeeperBookman]

These little conversatrions on FR & similiar places are very interesting but with out the real background. We must remain in the dark. The gov has tens of thousands working to stop the next event. If one reads of the work of the Brits in WWII, it would also include some clever fellows from across the pond.

No doubt, the idiots at State are in the way, the dupes in the press are clueless-but the work goes on.

[GatekeeperBookman]

There's a death-fight going on with insane people

You have THE point-the only point.

Can some one now put this on banners across Main Street?

[risk]

Words of hope, thanks.

[GatekeeperBookman]

BTW, the other big issue-WHO actually provokes, prods & propells these nice Islamo-Fascists?? I think they are not entirely self-motivated.

[GatekeeperBookman]

Interesting Home page you have...& links too.

"In re-reading American Opinion’s coverage of the Vietnam War, I am struck by the fact that it was identified, from the first. as another no-win war, doomed from the start. From the first, it was recognized that this was the wrong war, wrong place, wrong methods, and wrong purpose. It was not the work of some nameless "they," but of individuals we have been told all along were great Americans—yet they intended from the beginning that Vietnam would be an American defeat. There is no other outcome for a no-win war."

Hearing relatives ( all graduates of the school known as WWII, Korea & even the military academies ) form the very same thoughts, I was compelled to read & wonder.

When I read a regional academic's book ( J. Evvets Haley ) A Texan Looks at Lyndon, I knew the truth could not be denied.

I worry that the corruption of the past ( & some say it continues ) may corrupt our effort in this current struggle. I say we face a Counter Crusade-one that will not end until 'they' or us are dead. They include the Russians, the Chinese, & I know not all of the others...

JBS has sharpened their focus-but their single-monded assualt on Bush is a bad thing. He may be all we have.

[CaptSkip]

Chillingly believable bump.

[Jim Noble]

I have been advocating the end of (Indian) partition since 9/11/01.

It is perfectly obvious to me that Pakistan must not just be occupied, but dissolved.

The problem is that we have had two years to assemble and train armed forces capable of this, and we have not done so.

Bush and Rummy have perfected dispersing rival armies and overturning their governments with light or ultralight forces, and few casualties.

But this feat of military legerdemain does not allow for a heavy occupation and reformation of these enemy societies.

It is a serious, perhaps fatal, misjudgement that the leaders are the problem. They are not.

The leaders are barely staying alive themselves, allowing the war lust and hatred of their societies such expression as we will tolerate, while repressing its more serious forms which will provoke our reaction.

The USMC and Army SOF can chase the government of Pakistan out, break up its armed forces, and capture its nukes in a month.

Such an expeditionary force, however, has no chance of controlling the society which wouild result. Conditions in Pakistan would be worse, not better, afterwards.

I am very concerned that this is the future of both Afghanistan and Iraq.

And I am not one who believes we can walk away. If we do, the Islamist cultures are coming to kill our women and children. There is no doubt of it.

And there is no alternative to Bush. All his opposition is on the left-none speaks for what must be done.

[risk]

JBS has sharpened their focus-but their single-monded assualt on Bush is a bad thing. He may be all we have.

You're the first to notice. I'm not in the JBS, but I think Susan Huck makes some excellent observations (if not propagandist in some respects).

I put the poem (cited from Apocalypse Now) there as a reminder that Viet Nam was also a war in defense of modernism and western notions of free conscience, commerce, and intellect.

The American Revolution may yet take hold in the hearts of the Chinese and Russian people. It could spring forth in Iraq one day, too. But I fear that all of these peoples have been beaten down into submission by fear and a cult-like worship of of hatred itself for too long.

There is a certain hellbent passion for freedom that Americans have. We really do see it as living free or dying. I know it from having combat veterans in my family, although I didn't understand that until after 9/11.

Someone quoted Lincoln the other day on FR, so I might as well repeat his words now:

"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide. The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume I, "Address Before the Young Men's Lyceum, of Springfield, Illinois (January 27, 1838), p. 109. --A collection of Abraham Lincoln Quotes

[risk]

And there is no alternative to Bush. All his opposition is on the left-none speaks for what must be done.

Let's hope he doesn't falter.

[tictoc]

The Journalist and the Terrorist (Daniel Pearl and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh)

[DandG13]

From a book entitled "Sleeping with the Devil - How Washington Sold our Sould for Saudi Crude," by Robert Baer -- a very good book. "Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of the story. In 1998, when I was living in France, I got a call from a young Wall Street Journal reporter named Danny Pearl. We met in Geneva. With a wiry frame and intense eyes, he was one of the most thorough, dogged, and honest reporters I'd ever come across. You knew right away he would never give up on a story. I told him about KSM and Qatar. He listened, took notes, and promised to follow up on it one day. We saw each other from time to time in Washington. He would bring up the Khalid Sheikh Muhammad story, but neither of us had anything new to add. Two days after September 11, I received this e-mail from Pearl: 'Hi, how are things? Did your book come out? I hope you weren't near the Pentagon Tuesday. Like half the paper, I'm being roped into reporting on bin Laden's network...some of the suspects supposedly had UAE passports, and I remember you talking once about how Fujairah was a hot spot for fundies.' Pearl called me the next day, I reminded him about our talks on KSM and Qatar, "Worth thinking about," he replied. I have no way of knowing whether Pearl went to Karachi and asked about Khalid Sheikh Muhammad. The Wall Street Journal says no, that he was working on the shoe-bomer case. But I can't help but be struck by the fact that one of the witnesses in the Pearl murder trial fingered Khalid Sheikh Muhammad as his murderer."

We've been kept in the dark for way too long about the evil that was let to grow across the globe.

[viaveritasvita]

Thank you for your encouraging words of hope! I do try to keep this in perspective, but I have my doubts and fears about what anyone can really do in the face of this enemy (from within as well as without). I pray for our people who are working behind the scenes, so to speak.