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The drone march
October 08, 2012
The drone march | The Nation
The Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf (PTI)’s march against American drone attacks ended outside Tank on Sunday, when it was stopped because it did not have permission to proceed. This brought to a halt one of the PTI’s main moves, but not before PTI chief Imran Khan had milked it, passing with the crowd through his home constituency in Mianwali. However, he finally managed to get through and address the rally at the terminus. It was a piece of activity that was also important for the PTI before the coming election. The march reflected the fact that drone attacks are among the core concerns which arouse emotion across Pakistan, including potential PTI supporters, and the presence of US rights activists reflected an international aspect which also bought the attention of various international media outlets. The unease in the US over President Obama ordering drone strikes without due legal process being offered to the suspects, is considerable, but not widespread. Though this has made many Americans feel that Obama is indeed a ‘powerful’ Commander-in-Chief, it has worried the more thinking among Americans, who feel that it cannot be right for the US President to perform this function.
While the KP government initially stopped the rally, it was the central government which did not give permission for his going. It might be seen that the PPP is engaged in PTI image-building, as it refused permission, but so arranged matters that Imran Khan still addressed the rally, and thus could claim he carried out his commitment.
Whatever the individual political advantage that might have been obtained by any individual party from the whole episode, it should still be clear that this was a party taking the leading advantage in claiming to reflect the resentment felt by Pakistanis against the violence done to national sovereignty symbolised by drones. It might appear paradoxical that the protesters from the USA had to see anti-American slogans at the final rally, but even the USA must realise that it can no longer use terrorism as a catch-all phrase to justify any illegality it pleases. It must cease these attacks, and the Pakistan government must oppose them. Terrorists elements do indeed exist in these areas and their challenge to the writ of the state has been loud and clear. That is why Pakistan must - absolutely must - deal with it. But it must do so with its own hands - and not by the CIA’s. Both the stoppage of drones and acknowledging this reality is the solution, not one without the other.
here is the response from CIA!
just let IMRAN know his worth?
CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say
CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say - The Washington Post
By Greg Miller, Published: October 19
The CIA is urging the White House to approve a significant expansion of the agency’s fleet of armed drones, a move that would extend the spy service’s decade-long transformation into a paramilitary force, U.S. officials said.
The proposal by CIA Director David H. Petraeus would bolster the agency’s ability to sustain its campaigns of lethal strikes in Pakistan and Yemen and enable it, if directed, to shift aircraft to emerging al-Qaeda threats in North Africa or other trouble spots, officials said.
Innovations in drone technology: The modern unmanned aerial vehicle in the U.S. can track its roots back to the Civil War and has been heavily influenced by innovations in Israel.
If approved, the CIA could add as many as 10 drones, the officials said, to an inventory that has ranged between 30 and 35 over the past few years.
The outcome has broad implications for counterterrorism policy and whether the CIA gradually returns to being an organization focused mainly on gathering intelligence, or remains a central player in the targeted killing of terrorism suspects abroad.
In the past, officials from the Pentagon and other departments have raised concerns about the CIA’s expanding arsenal and involvement in lethal operations, but a senior Defense official said that the Pentagon had not opposed the agency’s current plan.
Officials from the White House, the CIA and the Pentagon declined to comment on the proposal. Officials who discussed it did so on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the subject.
One U.S. official said the request reflects a concern that political turmoil across the Middle East and North Africa has created new openings for al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
“With what happened in Libya, we’re realizing that these places are going to heat up,” the official said, referring to the Sept. 11 attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi. No decisions have been made about moving armed CIA drones into these regions, but officials have begun to map out contingencies. “I think we’re actually looking forward a little bit,” the official said.
White House officials are particularly concerned about the emergence of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in North Africa, which has gained weapons and territory following the collapse of the governments in Libya and Mali. Seeking to bolster surveillance in the region, the United States has been forced to rely on small, unarmed turboprop aircraft disguised as private planes.
Meanwhile, the campaign of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen has heated up. Yemeni officials said a strike on Thursday — the 35th this year — killed at least seven al-Qaeda-linked militants near Jaar, a town in southern Yemen previously controlled by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the terrorist group’s affiliate is known.
The CIA’s proposal would have to be evaluated by a group led by President Obama’s counter*terrorism adviser, John O. Brennan, officials said.
The group, which includes senior officials from the CIA, the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, is directly involved in deciding which alleged al-Qaeda operatives are added to “kill” lists. But current and former officials said the group also plays a lesser-known role as referee in deciding the allocation of assets, including whether the CIA or the Defense Department takes possession of newly delivered drones.
& here we go ANGEL KHAN runaway?
PTI postpones anti-drone rally before UN in New York
Internews/Islamabad
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=539069&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has postponed the anti-drone rally in front of the United Nations Headquarters in the New York City on October 26.
PTI sources said that the decision to postpone the protest was taken after the PTI United States chapter extended a request in this regard due to Eid al-Adha, falling on the same date and that scores of party activists wanted to celebrate the Eid with their families in Pakistan.
“The request was made directly to Imran Khan as many party activists are planning to return to Pakistan to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones,” sources said.
When approached through short messages on his cell-phone, Imran Khan confirmed to have postponed the agitation following the request by PTI’s US activists.
Asked if it meant that there would be no PTI protest in front of the UN head office, he said it was only delayed as new date would be announced for the purpose very soon.
He did not agree with that the decision to postpone the anti-drone rally was taken after immense pressure from certain quarters.
“PTI and its leadership never pay heed to pressures come what may,” he said.
Imran said the programme would be rescheduled after consulting the party’s US chapter.
Talking to mediapersons in Lahore on October 10 on the heels of his peace caravan to South Waziristan Agency (SWA) early this month, Imran announced to agitate in front of the world body in New York on
Oct 26 and also file a petition in the US against drones, being in contravention to the world laws, human rights and undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Asked aboutthe reasons for Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal’s decision to part ways with PTI, the party chairman played it down and remarked, “People always come and go in political parties”.
Iqbal is the founding member of the party, who decided to quit before the PTI embarks on the tricky path of intra-party elections early next month. Iqbal was not available for comments.
However, it is said that PTI’s proposed intra-party elections, using cell phone technology, Imran’s stance on terrorism and militancy could be among the major reasons for Iqbal to quit the party.
The upcoming exercise was earlier planned for September and then October but again delayed for unknown reasons.
& the dinner is still on!
its simple, IMRAN doesnt know anything called international affairs, & his dramatic politics is falling apart, using international AFFAIRS to his advantages, sure got shut=up call?
October 08, 2012
The drone march | The Nation
The Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf (PTI)’s march against American drone attacks ended outside Tank on Sunday, when it was stopped because it did not have permission to proceed. This brought to a halt one of the PTI’s main moves, but not before PTI chief Imran Khan had milked it, passing with the crowd through his home constituency in Mianwali. However, he finally managed to get through and address the rally at the terminus. It was a piece of activity that was also important for the PTI before the coming election. The march reflected the fact that drone attacks are among the core concerns which arouse emotion across Pakistan, including potential PTI supporters, and the presence of US rights activists reflected an international aspect which also bought the attention of various international media outlets. The unease in the US over President Obama ordering drone strikes without due legal process being offered to the suspects, is considerable, but not widespread. Though this has made many Americans feel that Obama is indeed a ‘powerful’ Commander-in-Chief, it has worried the more thinking among Americans, who feel that it cannot be right for the US President to perform this function.
While the KP government initially stopped the rally, it was the central government which did not give permission for his going. It might be seen that the PPP is engaged in PTI image-building, as it refused permission, but so arranged matters that Imran Khan still addressed the rally, and thus could claim he carried out his commitment.
Whatever the individual political advantage that might have been obtained by any individual party from the whole episode, it should still be clear that this was a party taking the leading advantage in claiming to reflect the resentment felt by Pakistanis against the violence done to national sovereignty symbolised by drones. It might appear paradoxical that the protesters from the USA had to see anti-American slogans at the final rally, but even the USA must realise that it can no longer use terrorism as a catch-all phrase to justify any illegality it pleases. It must cease these attacks, and the Pakistan government must oppose them. Terrorists elements do indeed exist in these areas and their challenge to the writ of the state has been loud and clear. That is why Pakistan must - absolutely must - deal with it. But it must do so with its own hands - and not by the CIA’s. Both the stoppage of drones and acknowledging this reality is the solution, not one without the other.
here is the response from CIA!
just let IMRAN know his worth?
CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say
CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say - The Washington Post
By Greg Miller, Published: October 19
The CIA is urging the White House to approve a significant expansion of the agency’s fleet of armed drones, a move that would extend the spy service’s decade-long transformation into a paramilitary force, U.S. officials said.
The proposal by CIA Director David H. Petraeus would bolster the agency’s ability to sustain its campaigns of lethal strikes in Pakistan and Yemen and enable it, if directed, to shift aircraft to emerging al-Qaeda threats in North Africa or other trouble spots, officials said.
Innovations in drone technology: The modern unmanned aerial vehicle in the U.S. can track its roots back to the Civil War and has been heavily influenced by innovations in Israel.
If approved, the CIA could add as many as 10 drones, the officials said, to an inventory that has ranged between 30 and 35 over the past few years.
The outcome has broad implications for counterterrorism policy and whether the CIA gradually returns to being an organization focused mainly on gathering intelligence, or remains a central player in the targeted killing of terrorism suspects abroad.
In the past, officials from the Pentagon and other departments have raised concerns about the CIA’s expanding arsenal and involvement in lethal operations, but a senior Defense official said that the Pentagon had not opposed the agency’s current plan.
Officials from the White House, the CIA and the Pentagon declined to comment on the proposal. Officials who discussed it did so on the condition of anonymity, citing the sensitive nature of the subject.
One U.S. official said the request reflects a concern that political turmoil across the Middle East and North Africa has created new openings for al-Qaeda and its affiliates.
“With what happened in Libya, we’re realizing that these places are going to heat up,” the official said, referring to the Sept. 11 attack on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi. No decisions have been made about moving armed CIA drones into these regions, but officials have begun to map out contingencies. “I think we’re actually looking forward a little bit,” the official said.
White House officials are particularly concerned about the emergence of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in North Africa, which has gained weapons and territory following the collapse of the governments in Libya and Mali. Seeking to bolster surveillance in the region, the United States has been forced to rely on small, unarmed turboprop aircraft disguised as private planes.
Meanwhile, the campaign of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen has heated up. Yemeni officials said a strike on Thursday — the 35th this year — killed at least seven al-Qaeda-linked militants near Jaar, a town in southern Yemen previously controlled by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the terrorist group’s affiliate is known.
The CIA’s proposal would have to be evaluated by a group led by President Obama’s counter*terrorism adviser, John O. Brennan, officials said.
The group, which includes senior officials from the CIA, the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, is directly involved in deciding which alleged al-Qaeda operatives are added to “kill” lists. But current and former officials said the group also plays a lesser-known role as referee in deciding the allocation of assets, including whether the CIA or the Defense Department takes possession of newly delivered drones.
& here we go ANGEL KHAN runaway?
PTI postpones anti-drone rally before UN in New York
Internews/Islamabad
http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topi...=539069&version=1&template_id=41&parent_id=23
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has postponed the anti-drone rally in front of the United Nations Headquarters in the New York City on October 26.
PTI sources said that the decision to postpone the protest was taken after the PTI United States chapter extended a request in this regard due to Eid al-Adha, falling on the same date and that scores of party activists wanted to celebrate the Eid with their families in Pakistan.
“The request was made directly to Imran Khan as many party activists are planning to return to Pakistan to celebrate the religious festival with their near and dear ones,” sources said.
When approached through short messages on his cell-phone, Imran Khan confirmed to have postponed the agitation following the request by PTI’s US activists.
Asked if it meant that there would be no PTI protest in front of the UN head office, he said it was only delayed as new date would be announced for the purpose very soon.
He did not agree with that the decision to postpone the anti-drone rally was taken after immense pressure from certain quarters.
“PTI and its leadership never pay heed to pressures come what may,” he said.
Imran said the programme would be rescheduled after consulting the party’s US chapter.
Talking to mediapersons in Lahore on October 10 on the heels of his peace caravan to South Waziristan Agency (SWA) early this month, Imran announced to agitate in front of the world body in New York on
Oct 26 and also file a petition in the US against drones, being in contravention to the world laws, human rights and undermining Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Asked aboutthe reasons for Admiral (r) Javed Iqbal’s decision to part ways with PTI, the party chairman played it down and remarked, “People always come and go in political parties”.
Iqbal is the founding member of the party, who decided to quit before the PTI embarks on the tricky path of intra-party elections early next month. Iqbal was not available for comments.
However, it is said that PTI’s proposed intra-party elections, using cell phone technology, Imran’s stance on terrorism and militancy could be among the major reasons for Iqbal to quit the party.
The upcoming exercise was earlier planned for September and then October but again delayed for unknown reasons.
& the dinner is still on!
its simple, IMRAN doesnt know anything called international affairs, & his dramatic politics is falling apart, using international AFFAIRS to his advantages, sure got shut=up call?
