Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta brushed aside concerns on Wednesday that drone strikes against leaders of Al Qaeda in Pakistan violate that country’s sovereignty.
”œWe have made clear to the Pakistanis that the United States of America is going to defend ourselves against those who attack us,” Mr. Panetta said. ”œThis is not just about protecting the United States. It’s also about protecting Pakistan. And we have made it very clear that we are going to continue to defend ourselves.”
Mr. Panetta’s remarks, delivered Wednesday during a question-and-answer session after a speech here at the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, show yet again how strained the relationship between Islamabad and Washington has become.
He chuckled along with his audience about Pakistan’s lack of warning before the United States killed Osama bin Laden in a raid last year near a huge Pakistani Army base. ”œThey didn’t know about our operation,” Mr. Panetta said to laughter. ”œThat was the whole idea.”
Joking with a group of high-level Indians about a raid that has been keenly embarrassing to Pakistani military leaders is not likely to be received warmly in Islamabad. But Mr. Panetta made clear that the United States and India both have troubled relationships with Pakistan.
”œJust as India views the relationship with Pakistan as complicated, so do we,” Mr. Panetta said. ”œAnd it is.”
Wow, stunningly arrogant. He also seems to want stop anyway headway gained in India and Pakistan repairing their relationship.
getting along! They might align against us!
It’s nice that the concept of Sovereignty is so respected by the US Government. Otherwise who knows who might get the idea that it’d be OK to violate the territorial integrity of the US.
They might hijack planes and use them as weapons…oh wait…
Notice the clever framing – slaughtering a group of human beings a half a world away, who may or may not be terrorists, without trial or evidence is “defending ourselves”. Just like the re-branding they did after WWII to call what used to be called the War Department – the Department of Defense. It sounds so much better. I have always advocated calling it the Department of Human Slaughter. It is much more descriptive of what they really do and would make it much harder for politicians to stand in front of crowds and appeal for “more tax dollars for human slaughter”!
Leon Panetta: U.S. “reaching the limits of our patience” with Pakistan terror safe havens
CBS News, By John Bentley, June 7
Kabul – In some of the strongest language yet from a U.S. official, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday that the U.S. was “reaching the limits of our patience” with Pakistan allowing militant groups to enjoy safe haven inside parts of the country.
Panetta would not rule out stepping up drone attacks inside Pakistan if those safe havens are not eliminated, or sending in ground troops – an option which would infuriate Pakistan’s leaders and public.
“It is extremely important that Pakistan take action to prevent this kind of safe haven from taking place, and from allowing terrorists to use their country as a safety net in order to conduct their attacks on our forces,” said Panetta, who made a brief, unannounced visit to Kabul on Thursday.
“We have made very clear that it is difficult to achieve a secure Afghanistan as long as there is a safe haven for terrorists in Pakistan from which they can conduct attacks on our forces,” Panetta said.
So much for the DefSec being out of his depth.
Panetta in Delhi, says India ‘linchpin’ for American strategy in Asia
The link is from The Times of India, the comments are enlightening.
Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart. ~ Phil Jackson
What’s stunningly arrogant is the Pakistanis bitching about how the US won’t continue to obligingly roll over and pony up cash and other support so they can continue to work against their interest.
I’m rather put in mind of Armitage’s definition of arrogance – if it means not being the dirt dumbest motherfucker in the room, then this is stunningly arrogant.
“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” ~ Steve Jobs
he cracks jokes at Pakistan’s expense(in India of all places) and then continues on to say “It’s important that you try to make what progress you can in dealing with Pakistan in trying to resolve your differences,†Mr. Panetta said. “The same is true for the United States.â€
It doesn’t sound for one second that he gives a shit about repairing any type of relationship with Pakistan. He treats them like shit and expects them to kiss his ass and do his bidding. That type of foreign relations doesn’t work with Iran or Cuba and surely won’t get him anywhere with Pakistan.
Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart. ~ Phil Jackson
Caring about repairing that relationship is like caring about repairing the relationship with an abusive spouse. MHO, Pakistan’s being sent a message and that message is “fuck you, you’re not indispensable and we’re not eternally stupid”.
“Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use.” ~ Steve Jobs
say it and be done. He sounds just as petty and immature as the Pakistanis speakers.
Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart. ~ Phil Jackson
targeted assassination as a tactic, when it comes back to bite them.
It would certainly be a welcome change from the way war has been waged for the last century.
I don’t think there’s any question that taking Panetta out would be justifiable for lots of countries as “defending themselves”.