BrassTacks: CIA's Threats to Pakistan-Part7

[Mujahid]

 

[arihant]

Why should not we have separate forum for Ziad miya.

 

[BATMAN]

U.S. war on Pakistan

As George W. Bush predicted, the undeclared war on Pakistan has escalated.

Instead of publicly declaring its war on Pakistan, the Obama administration chose to name the aggression "Afpak Strategy."

Obama's war of terror's plans involve relocating U.S. troops from Iraq to the "Afpak" area and bringing his not-so covert war in Pakistan to the next level.

Mr. Obama officially played the drums of war in Pakistan when he stated in March:

"I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

U.S. Special envoy to Afpak said last month that Pakistan is "the most important country of the world."

From the beginning of the War of Terror, U.S. troops have been stationed in bases inside Pakistan, and it was recently revealed that the bases have been used to launch attacks against the host country itself since 2006.

The carnage in Pakistan has been enormous. Last June, the New York Times reported: "The U.S. carried out 22 previous drones strikes this year, as the Obama administration has intensified a policy inherited from the Bush Administration." In 2008, the U.S. carried 30 reported strikes, killing more than 200 people.

Here are some of the reported strike's casualties so far this year:

January 23: 20 killed

February 14: 27 killed

April 29: 10 killed

May 12: 8 killed

June 23: 60 killed

4th of July: 17 killed; 27 wounded.

August 11: 14 killed

The Obama administration has bombed the Pakistani territory every single month since the new president came to office, making the American war on Pakistan a fact on the ground.

U.S. activist Cindy Sheehan, whose son was a soldier killed in Iraq, became famous for protesting Mr. Bush's wars of aggression. She continues to protest against Mr. Obama's wars, including "the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan." Her and other anti-war protestors will be be camping outside of Martha's Vineyards next week while Mr. Obama enjoying a vacation.

T.C. I'm not the author of this article so comments should be directed at the author and not me!
BTW. orignal article is with supporting links and had no time to add them but i have added the main link to the title.

 

[BATMAN]

Blackwater still working for CIA
August 21, 2009 - 5:13am. News

Blackwater USA founder Erik Prince: The most dangerous man in America?

Xe, the mercenary company formerly known as Blackwater, continues to work for the U.S. government, carrying out counterterrorism operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The New York Times reports the controversial firm founded by an ardest "anti-Muslim" fanatic with strong ties to the Republican Party and the Bush Administration remains a large government contractor even after the State Department publicly severed ties with the company after its operatives murdered Iraqi civilians.

Former Blackwater mercenaries recently implicated company founder Erik Prince in murder plots against those who publicly reveal the firm's secrets.

Reports the Times:

From a secret division at its North Carolina headquarters, the company formerly known as Blackwater has assumed a role in Washington’s most important counterterrorism program: the use of remotely piloted drones to kill Al Qaeda’s leaders, according to government officials and current and former employees.

The division’s operations are carried out at hidden bases in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the company’s contractors assemble and load Hellfire missiles and 500-pound laser-guided bombs on remotely piloted Predator aircraft, work previously performed by employees of the Central Intelligence Agency. They also provide security at the covert bases, the officials said.

The role of the company in the Predator program highlights the degree to which the C.I.A. now depends on outside contractors to perform some of the agency’s most important assignments. And it illustrates the resilience of Blackwater, now known as Xe (pronounced Zee) Services, though most people in and outside the company still refer to it as Blackwater. It has grown through government work, even as it attracted criticism and allegations of brutality in Iraq.

 

[BATMAN]

Former Blackwater mercenaries recently implicated company founder Erik Prince in murder plots against those who publicly reveal the firm's secrets.

Quite a punishment but do they have immunity from state law? or they have previlage to murder at will?
WHen they carry out operations in Pakistan.. do they respect state law and local culture?
Do they come in Pakistan on tourist visa?
As i know they are not employed by US army than they cannot come on military passport! or perhaps they have military passports!
what does US law states about issuing military passports to employees of a private firm?