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Al Qaeda’s Newest Triggerman
Baitullah has clearly outsmarted the unpopular Musharraf, whom President George W. Bush praised again last week as an "ally" who "understands clearly the risks of dealing with extremists and terrorists." In February 2005, with his military getting bloodied in the tribal areas, the Pakistani president decided to strike a peace deal with Baitullah and other militant leaders and their frontmen. Under the terms of the deal the militants agreed not to provide assistance or shelter to foreign fighters, not to attack government forces, and not to support the Taliban or launch cross-border operations into Afghanistan. As part of the deal, Baitullah coaxed the government into giving him and the other leaders $540,000 that they supposedly owed to Al Qaeda. The large cash infusion bolstered the jihadist forces, and under cover of the ceasefire Baitullah's territory became an even more secure safe haven. He and other militant leaders have assassinated some 200 tribal elders who dared to oppose them. The Pakistani government struck a similar peace agreement with militants in North Waziristan in September 2006, transforming much of that tribal area into a militant camp as well.
One of Baitullah's biggest successes came in August, when his men captured more than 250 Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary troops, who surrendered without firing a shot. Mehsud demanded the release of 30 jailed militants and the end of Pakistani military operations in the Mehsud tribal area as the price for the men's release. To show he meant business, he ordered the beheading of three of his hostages. Once again, Musharraf gave in. On the day after Musharraf declared a state of emergency—which he claimed was aimed at giving him a stronger hand to fight militants like Baitullah—the Pakistani president released 25 jailed insurgents including several failed suicide bombers. Last week Mehsud's forces captured four more Pakistani paramilitary troops in several brazen operations that may have led to the death of 25 of his men.
In his few statements to the press, Baitullah has made his agenda frighteningly clear. He vowed, in a January 2007 interview, to continue waging a jihad against "the infidel forces of American and Britain," and to "continue our struggle until foreign troops are thrown out" of neighboring Afghanistan. He knows he's a marked man: "The Angel of Death is flying over our heads all the time," he told the now deceased Taliban leader Mullah Akhund Dadullah at a dinner, according to one senior Taliban source. But from his secure corner of Pakistan—a country run by a widely despised autocrat who, after Bhutto, has few real democratic successors—Baitullah may well wage that fight for a long time to come.
With Mark Hosenball in Washington
© 2008
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Member Comments
Posted By: namatkhan @ 05/29/2008 7:13:41 PM
Comment: PETITION UNDER THE HIGH TREASON (PUNISHMENT) ACT 1973 AGAINST SYED JAMALUDDIN, WRITER OF "DIVIDE PAKISTAN TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM" AND "FORMATION OF REPUBLIC OF JINNAHPUR"
1. That the Petitioner is a group of patriotic citizens of Islamic Republic of Pakistan living in Pakistan and abroad;
2. That the Petitioner files this Petition at the honourable Supreme Court of Pakistan under the High Treason (Punishment) Act 1973 against the Respondent, in the best interest of Pakistan's sovereignty and for promoting patriotism among Pakistanis by ridiculing anti-Pakistan sentiments as well as exposing conspiracies to destabilize Pakistan;
3. That the grievances of the Petitioner against the Respondent are as follows:
(a) That the Respondent being a socalled, self-styled and self-proclaimed political analyst has committed TREASON by writing two books titled "DIVIDE PAKISTAN TO ELIMINATE TERRORISM" and "FORMATION OF REPUBLIC OF JINNAHPUR" respectively;
(b) That the Respondent has committed TREASON by tarnishing the image of Pakistan in the whole world by accusing Pakistan as a supporter of terrorism in these two books;
(c) That the Respondent has committed TREASON by distorting facts and figures about Pakistan's role in elimination of terrorism by making undue suggestions about Pakistan's disintegration in these two books;
(d) That the Respondent has committed TREASON by disseminating incorrect, baseless, unfounded, ridiculous and inaccurate information about Pakistan and its ideological background in these two books;
(e) That the Respondent has committed TREASON by accusing in these two books that Pakistan's armed forces and Pakistan's secret agencies (which actually work for the country's security and sovereignty) are involved in supporting terrorism and helping terrorist militant groups operating somewhere in hidden locations inside Pakistan or Afghanistan;
(f) That the Respondent has committed TREASON by spreading hatred against Pakistan and its peace-loving people by writing these two books which contain objectionable contents about the existence of Pakistan as an Islamic state;
Posted By: gromansky @ 01/25/2008 7:12:47 PM
Comment: Faminchin: are you really this dense? In case you hadn't noticed, it's your God of Gods, George Bush, who can't find Mullah Omar or Bin Laden or alZahari. Remember? Your guy. I don't see how you blame it on "democrats" unless you like to forget that the buck stops at the White House. By the say, "montra" isn't a word. Try a spell-check once in awhile.
Posted By: faminchin @ 01/23/2008 4:12:31 PM
Comment: You want to know what the biggest problem facing this country today is? We have two sides....one side with their head stuck up a donkeys butt, and the other with their head stuck up an elephants butt. Both side incapable of seeing the truth because of all the dung in their eyes and ears!
One day you may realize....that our politicians, both sides, are living the lifestyle of the rich and famous on our tax dollar, keeping us divided between donkeys and elephants so we won't notice that they are stealing us blind!
This "Bush Hatred Syndrome" that you and so many others suffer from is just the fuel the donkeys use to keep the fire going.