Just one day after Faisal Shahzad’s first appearance in a US court, a big development is coming out of Pakistan, where the failed Times Square attack originated. A major in the Pakistani army has been arrested by investigators for ties to the failed terror plot in New York. From the LA Times:
The major’s involvement with suspect Faisal Shahzad, who was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport as he attempted to fly to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, remains unclear. Law enforcement sources said the major had met Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Pakistani descent, in Islamabad, the capital, and was in cellphone contact with him.
The major’s arrest marks the first time someone in Pakistan’s military establishment has been directly linked to the case. The sources would not say when the alleged meeting and phone calls between Shahzad and the major took place, or what was discussed. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation.
Coincidentally, the new twist in the case comes the same day the Obama Administration sent their top two security officials to Islamabad. CIA Director Leon Panetta and US national security advisor Jim Jones met with President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the failed plot in New York and the Pakistani military’s fight against the Taliban and al Qaeda.
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9 Comments
No surprise the Pak army/ISI are riddled with radicals/islamists and are no friends of the West!
Usa/West must support India in any future conflict!
All roads lead to Islamabad!
Nothing surprising about it.
Everything surprising about it.
——
From the LA Times article:
” U.S. officials said White House national security advisor James L. Jones and CIA Director Leon E. Panetta were in Pakistan to emphasize an Obama administration message of unity with local allies who oppose terrorism.”
Now i really think that is so sweet and thoughtful of the Obama administration. Poor Pakistan has been getting so much attention from the world after Times Sq, its just so unfair. The news report didn’t say but i hope they’re carrying another check for their “local allies who oppose terrorism”, whoever they are.
All roads lead to Islamabad!
Thank you, Paul, i said that on Day 2–today is Day 19 and it is literally turning out that way.
Reading your comment, posted in parallel with mine, its not surprising that we are unsurprised.
With regard to your comment re india, i reckon you are being foresightful. Ultimately rightness and sanity will have to prevail if their is to be a semblance of peace, East or West.
The Times Square attack was cleared by Zawahiri, perhaps with perhaps without Bin Laden’s OK; I think Z enjoys a great deal of latitude since Bin Laden is hunkered down somewhere and Z is the mobile one. AQ does not want Z and OBL in the same place at the same time. The Pakistani officer involved was probably way down the chain of command and clueless as to the whereabouts of anyone important. We are financially exhausting ourselves at and in a security program that is bound to fail big time sooner or later. Our troops are physically exhausting themselves in the 100 + degree heat of Afghanistan trying to suppress Taliban whilst avoiding collateral civilian damage at all cost. And all this because we tolerate and tolerate and tolerate some more Z and OBL going unmolested under Pakistani protection. We are such jerks to allow ourselves to be lead around by the nose like this. Bush did a terrible job; Obama is doing better, but not enough. Hopefully in 2012 we will elect a President with the guts to win this WOT while at the same time telling our detractors both domestic and international to take a hike.
The Times Square attack was cleared by Zawahiri, perhaps with perhaps without Bin Laden’s OK; I think Z enjoys a great deal of latitude since Bin Laden is hunkered down somewhere and Z is the mobile one. AQ does not want Z and OBL in the same place at the same time. The Pakistani officer involved was probably way down the chain of command and clueless as to the whereabouts of anyone important. We are financially exhausting ourselves at and in a security program that is bound to fail big time sooner or later. Our troops are physically exhausting themselves in the 100 + degree heat of Afghanistan trying to suppress Taliban whilst avoiding collateral civilian damage at all cost. And all this because we tolerate and tolerate and tolerate some more Z and OBL going unmolested under Pakistani protection. We are such jerks to allow ourselves to be lead around by the nose like this. Bush did a terrible job; Obama is doing better, but not enough. Hopefully in 2012 we will elect a President with the guts to win this WOT while at the same time telling our detractors both domestic and international to take a hike.
What?
Someone in the Pakistani Army is supporting terrorism? Probably just a lone wolf.
I would love to find out if the Panetta/Jones visit is merely coincidental or instead somehow related to this news. I found it curious that the administration would find it necessary to send its senior members halfway around the world if the investigation was proceeding smoothly.
If the Faisal investigation is being traced back to members of the Pakistani military, the administration would definitely need its big boys to go down there to twist some arms. This is getting interesting. Whether or not it leads to a even a limited purge of the radical elements from the Pakistani military remains to be seen.
Folks,
Its been known all the time that Pak Army is the root cause of terrorism. The disgusting part is American tax payer is funding the Pak Army
Thanks,
Yash.