The truth is I really don't know if Pakistan hid him, I would need to see documents (and, duh, I know even video is easy to fake these days). I personaly think that some Pakistani elements were complicit, but not the state at large. (to Ifran, I forgot to quote)
sir,
I have been to Abbotabad recently, I have met serving and retired army/ ISI officers 2 months ago. we, ourselves cant brush off this feeling and the absolute anger (at OBL) that how he managed to elude us and how (if at all) he did it on his own.
indeed videos can be faked etc. so i wont put my hopes on them. but one thing is for sure, if there was any proof in the documents that the navy SEALS were able to take away, incriminating Pakistani state then you and I can bet our lifesavings that your Government and military wont have stayed quiet.
what we have got since that date is speculations and assumptions and then building arguments based on those suspicions and speculations. then one write quotes the speculations of another and his article is quoted by another and then the last one decides well when so many of these people are speculating and suspecting this then Pakistan state might have been complicit.
also, there was much left over after the raid which ISI took hold of and we did our own inquiry and couldn’t find anything ourselves who (ISI/ Army) could have been covering OBL.
some "Born Again" writers came up with a novel brain wave that the middle tier of the military might have been involved in it and kept the top leadership in the dark but that’s so stupid for anyone who knows how the military works, where people dont stay in one station for more than 1 or 2 years and are rotated all over the country and have no say or no knowledge who they are going to replace or who is going to relieve them (hence filling in that person or indoctrinating him in a week to look after the guest).
but one thing I have convinced myself with is that it WAS OBL who didnt give up all the perks he was used to (multiple wives) while on the run. one of his wives have refuted the American claim so I will give weigh to their statement rather than Mr Armchair ANALyst. secondly if someone suspects that their statement might be under duress then I would ask that person to explain what Pakistan will gain by forcing a statement from Osama’s wife that is actually supporting America’s claim when it is the same America that is actually blaming Pakistan of hiding him. I know it’s its just an argument and an argument cant be presented as a definite proof that OBL was there but I can live with that.
Re Afia Sadique, no apology required, I think she has American nationality too and I would like to know what made her leave her Pakistani husband and marry an Al Qaeda’s top lieutenant? I am sure that wasn’t out of pure and impulsive love because the circumstances that can make it happen (the love/ crush) are very unislamic anyway. I don’t condone what happened to her at Badgram airbrase but I don’t think she was discussing global warming with some Al Qaeda members (referring to her interest in use of chemicals and causing civilian deaths at public places).
Drone strikes we agreed together but there were some that were done to punish us by murdering tribesmen in open and peaceful gatherings on behalf of Panetta, just to punish us for keeping their blacktops operative in custody.
We already talked a lot about Salalla checkpost, I have my reasoning and I wish I am wrong so I cant add anything to it. That attack was just like the attack right after Raymond Davis release, the only difference was that Americans didn’t leave any chance of a doubt. Sad and unfortunate but they know they will get away with it so they did it and they got away with it.
Re dictatorship I think the Pakistani people must apologize to the world that they cant elect a suitable and true representatives of themselves and only bring sardars and feudal lords in the parliament that is just a joke in the name of the democracy who don’t know arse from elbow (or dont really care) about the affairs of the state and international relations. So Americans find easy to deal with military men, well too bad.
we will never find out what happens unless there is an other leak by someone who tells us what actually happened that day