DAVE ROSS

Pakistan reaction to raid part of the plan

May 10, 2011, 8:27 AM

pakistan

Dave Ross Commentary – Listen: Pakistan reaction to raid part of the plan

We know the bin Laden raid was so secret that most of the President’s own aides didn’t know.

And certainly not the Pakistani government.

Which has infuriated the Pakistani Prime Minister who warned that if it happens again, “Pakistan reserves the right to retaliate with full force.”

BUT, according to London’s Guardian newspaper, not only COULD it happen again, but Pakistan EXPECTS it to happen again.

The Guardian reports that after bin Laden famously slipped away in the mountains of Tora Bora in 2001, Pakistan’s then-military leader Pervez Musharraf struck a deal with then-President Bush.

The deal was this:

The US would have the right to launch secret commando raids into Pakistan — provided they were against Osama bin Laden, his number two Ayman al-Zawahiri, or his number 3 successor, and Pakistani officials would be publicly indignant — but do nothing to stop us, beyond firing off angry statements.

And that’s exactly what’s happened. Which would explain why the US took so long to make sure they had the right guy:

“If it turns out that its a prince from Dubai that’s in this problem, we’ve got problems,” said Obama.

Now it’s true Pakistan apparently outed the name of the CIA station chief there, but it was a cover name, it was misspelled, and there was no photograph released, so he won’t have to be withdrawn. And yes, they’ve resisted letting us question bin Laden’s widows, but now, we hear, that TOO will happen.

If this is true, I have to say — Pakistan: hands-down favorite for best performance by an ally.

Subscribe to The Dave Ross Commentary Podcast

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the KIRO Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ KIRO colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on KIRO Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

2 years ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

2 years ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

2 years ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren’t just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I’m convinced voters weren’t just voting for a change – they were voting for a hormone.

2 years ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on KIRO Newsradio are both leaving the show.

2 years ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day – that’s what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

2 years ago

Pakistan reaction to raid part of the plan