US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta still believes someone in authority in Pakistan knew where Osama bin Laden was hiding before US forces went in to find him, he said in a TV interview to air on Sunday.
Intelligence reports found Pakistani military helicopters had passed over the compound in Abbottabad, where US Navy SEALs discovered and killed bin Laden last year, according to excerpts of an interview Panetta gave to CBS News. “I personally have always felt that somebody must have had some sense of what was happening at this compound. Don’t forget, this compound had 18-foot walls… It was the largest compound in the area.” “So you would have thought that somebody would have asked the question, ‘What the hell’s going on there?’” Panetta told CBS. The Pentagon chief said concern played a significant factor in Washington not warning Pakistan officials of the impending raid, “it concerned us that, if we, in fact, brought (Pakistan) into it, that—they might… give bin Laden a heads up”, he said. Panetta acknowledged he did not have “hard evidence” Pakistan knew of the Al Qaeda leader’s whereabouts.
Doctor: Panetta also expressed concern about Pakistan’s treatment of a doctor who helped the US find bin Laden.
The doctor, Shakeel Afridi, has been arrested and charged with treason by the government. Panetta acknowledged that Afridi, a doctor in Abbottabad had in fact been working for US intelligence, collecting DNA to verify the 9/11 mastermind’s presence. “I’m very concerned about what the Pakistanis did with this individual… who in fact helped provide intelligence that was very helpful with regards to this operation,” Panetta said, according to excerpts of the interview. “He was not in any way treasonous towards Pakistan,” the US defence secretary said. “Pakistan and the United States have a common cause here against terrorism … and for them to take this kind of action against somebody who was helping to go after terrorism, I just think is a real mistake on their part.”
I would like to ask Mr.Panetta if the powerful US govt. knows the whereabouts of all 11 million illegal aliens living in America? ……………Thats what I thought. Case closed.
I thought the Head of the CIA Leon Panetta at the time, should have asked "what the hell is going on" with that X doing in the word THE TXE, in a government official stamp ~ It reads – I CERTIFY THIS IS A TRUE COPY OR AN ABSTRACT OF TXE COPY ON FILE IN THE HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Alvin T. Onaka, Ph.D. STATE REGISTRAR – Obama Birth Certificate Released By White House (PHOTO) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/obama-bi… The link is inside the Huffington Post news story "long form" birth certificate, http://www.slideshare.net/whitehouse/birth-certif…
Well said!!!
Panetta has caused more damage to U.S. Pakistan relations than any other American. The man keeps putting his foot in his mouth.
Panetta is not a friend of Pakistan. But his statement that somebody in authority knew about OBL's presence makes sense. The only real authority in Pakistan is Army. It is quite unbelievable that Kayani & Pasha did not know that OBL was living just outside the walls of PMA Kakul for several years. However, some time the impossible happens. And if that is the case, Kayani & Pasha should present true facts to the people of Pakistan.
Why is it impossible for someone in Pakistan when it seems every intelligence agency in the world was looking for him and didn't know either
Well, it takes 'two to tango.' Also, you cant clap with one hand.
Panetta is a problem and so are the incumbents; Obama, Zardari and Gillani. Like Bush and Musharraf were thorns in the side.
The war has it's sides and we are in the thick of it. So what can be done? As the saying goes "all is fair in love and war." No point in rueing over over spilt milk. In war, you lose some and win some. You cant go winning all the time. Think: The academy at Kakul has been attacked twice and we have not as yet secured it's boundaries/peripheries. Once this war is over we can really build our country and region but that will take time and EDUCATION and not bones and brawn. Pray we do right in a year's time, INSHALLAH. Salams to our sixty-five year old Pakistan
Panetta should actually be more concerned with how the CIA didn't know where he was officially.
One theory that is making the rounds is that the CIA always knw where he was and it was just up to an american president to decide when to play that card and kill him.
Lets see, an embattled President seeking re-election when his economy and poll numbers are nose diving….kills OBL and wins the White House again…. plausible
WAS IT OSAMA ? I would take bet it wasn't. This very man in the statement yesterday said he did not have any proof that Pakistan knew. Today he is adamant. Tomorrow he will be certain and the day after our own media will join him.
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