Pakistan’s ISI: Can’t live without ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em.
What’s this? An informative, well-researched article in the NY Times about intelligence that doesn’t reveal sensitive information or undermine our war efforts?
Seriously, it’s an interesting look at the touchy relationship between our intel guys and the ISI. We don’t much choice but to work with them, but what’s interesting is that our guys are pushing back against them a little bit.
For example, Pakistan says we can’t fly Predator drones outside of certain designated “boxes”. Apparently we do it anyway. And Pakistan knows we do it anyway.
Even with little confrontations like that, however, there’s concern we’re too friendly with the ISI:
As American and allied casualty rates in Afghanistan have grown in the last two years, the I.S.I. has become a subject of fierce debate within the C.I.A. Many in the spy agency — particularly those stationed in Afghanistan — accuse their agency colleagues at the Islamabad station of actually being too cozy with their I.S.I. counterparts.
There have been bitter fights between the C.I.A. station chiefs in Kabul and Islamabad, particularly about the significance of the militant threat in the tribal areas. At times, the view from Kabul has been not only that the I.S.I. is actively aiding the militants, but that C.I.A. officers in Pakistan refuse to confront the I.S.I. over the issue.
What do we do about it? Not sure there is anything that can be done; and even if the situation is bad and our spies are too “cozy” with the ISI, the one group that could legitimately look into the situation–Congress, through its oversight power–is a group I don’t trust at all to make the situation any better.
There are a lot of ugly compromises to be made in the War on Terror. I’m afraid when the history is written our collaboration with the ISI might prove to be one of the ugliest.
Since it’s the NYT I don’t necessarily recommend you click over and read the whole thing, but it’s there if you want it.
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{Post by See-Dubya}
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If you want to find out more about fleas, you will have to lie down with dogs. It’s called life, and yes it is ugly.
Not clear what the problem is here.
Awwww, why did ya have to mention Congress…
A bad arrangement at best, but we are stuck working with the ISI despite their pro-Jihadist leanings. This is not the first time in history we have had to do business with less than savory characters and if we want our nation and way of life to survive we will have to continue in the present and probably in the future. I am surprised they did not leak any classified information to our enemies with this piece too.
Boomer, re: “I am surprised they did not leak any classified information to our enemies with this piece too.”
Just because you don’t know the code doesn’t mean the message was not sent…
The have assumed that the only reason we declared Pakistan a ‘friend’ was because of our cozy covert intel operation there. The ISI created the Taliban. So now when we decide to fight the Taliban, we decide it is a good idea to ‘ally’ with the ISI? It is ‘C-I-A’ isn’t it? Does the I stand for ‘intelligence’?
You don’t have to be so smart to realize that Pakistan is treating the FATA region with the Taliban the EXACT same way that they treat Kashmir with India.
They claim that it isn’t Pakistan directly fighting. . . but they support the ideology and the cause of autonomy that they are fighting for. The CIA in Pakistan must be getting paid off to continue this charade of ‘cooperation’.
Here’s how they treat Christians in Pakistan. . . a 19 year old Christian was tortured and beaten to death over a 2 day period for talking to a Muslim girl on a cell phone. The father and uncles did the killing, but the police (ISI) consider it a suicide.
These guys are animals. They aren’t friends, they are our enemies. The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we can have peace.
It’s simple enough. I am reminded of our relationship with the Soviet Union during WWII. Stalin had more people killed than Hitler.
It was the ISI that overthrew the Mujahideen we had supported in the Afgan/Soviet war and replaced them with the Taliban. Immediately after 9/11 and the Leftist started cackling about how Ronald Reagan built the Taliban and Al Qaeda. So several of the CIA and military people involved in the war explained how it really was.
I remember one of them explaining how the Taliban felt secure in refusing to turn over Osama bin Laden because they had reason to believe the ISI and Pakistan would support them. For a number of years the Northern Alliance was ready to assist us in killing Osama bin Laden but the Clinton team pulled back.
Pakistan might be the best we have now but I think I would look to India for an ally. A mohammedan is a mohammedan first. And I am not too terribly concerned with the mohammedans of Afganistan.
Christian Persecution Set to Increase in Afganistan
ISI is terrorist organisation. Who can forget A.Q Khan (the ISI “scientist” who sold nuclear intelligence to Iran)?
Now sure why Bush is courting Pakistan so much?
Very well said, ArizonaNeanderthal. Those Islamic thugs in Pakistan are criminals.
How do we deal with Pakistan? Keep it simple and direct. Warn the authorities that if they are incapable of sealing the border with Afghanistan, we will have to do the job for them and it won’t be a pleasant experience for them.
ArizonaNeanderthal said: “…Pakistan might be the best we have now but I think I would look to India for an ally. A mohammedan is a mohammedan first. …”
I second that. India is the world’s largest democracy, & conviently situated on China’s back porch. We have much more in common with India that Pakistan… yeah I know, I know, access to the tribal areas, if we want to access tribal areas I would start with Jersey City.
A tad harsh, perhaps correct, but harsh.
Harsh? Was it not you who said ” A mohammedan is a mohammedan first. “? I am just calling in the coordinates… drones over Hudson would be harsh.
juss sayin.
#8 nbarry- we should do that same thing here… ( the border thing )
Oh. Yes, there was that. Jersey City have a bunch of mohammedans?–I did a web search and see they most certainly do.
Drones over the Hudson would be harsh but prudent.
Dearborn
Minneapolis
Phoenix (or they could pay me to watch them- 3×9x40 (o:)
Beautiful downtown Oxnard
Lodi
San Francisco, with or without mohammedans
islamophobia rocks
This status quo will remain until a US city gets poisoned or nuked…then the gloves will come off…
On July 20th, 2008 at 8:28 pm, love2rumba said:
This status quo will remain until a US city gets poisoned or nuked…then the gloves will come off…
Well yes & no… the gloves came off after 9/11 (thank you Mr. Bush) but we are still boxing & they are still fighting. Sadly, and you are right, it may take a louder wake up call…
ArizonaNeanderthal, “Drones over the Hudson would be harsh but prudent.”
Ya think? I hate to sound like a lib, but maybe we should use our limited resources at home first.
Prudent?? 200,000 immediate deportations would be prudent… ooops, I said it!
“Drones over the Hudson would be harsh but prudent.”
Would make a fine Rock Opera – “200,000 immediate deportations would be prudent” could be the signature song.
They ARE going to hit us again, how and when none of us know. But the more of them here makes it easier for sleeper cells to hide. I would guess Messiah Hussein Obama’s Faith Based Initiative would include weapons training for local mosques, perhaps some chemical engineering too. Pilot training is so passé. The ISI could provide foreign exchange teachers.
Actually there is something we can do: 1 create a access in, no intel out ground unit in Afghanistan, using non-CIA personnel. 2 give Predator and Reaper flight authority to ground units that feed and eat the intel of the area intel unit 3 make sure no Muslims serve as intel translators or as secretaries
I hope that if that unfortunate event occurs that we have a President with spine and no equivocation on the matter…terrorists groups must be targeted and formal declaration of war be made on the countries responsible (for letting the terrorists use their soil or money) to keep those slimey libs in Congress in line for the long haul….
An eye for an eye…