BBC: Dupes For Pakistan

Mullah Nazir the leader of the Taliban militants in South Waziristan has said he has evidence implicating the Pakistani government in the drone attacks on militants in Waziristan. He also added that all “spies” caught by his men admitted to being employed by the Pakistani army. Advanced location-tracking SIMs used by them had been provided by Pakistan. Dupes at the BBC say that US armed forces and CIA in Afghanistan are the only forces capable of deploying drones in the region, accordin to their unidentified analyst. These analysts must not have access to YouTube (Pakistan Drones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjGOEva_4gU)(Pakistan Drone Attacks: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/09/monitor/entry4932942.shtml

Nazir agrees with me that “The assertion that America is behind this and we are helpless is only meant to deceive the public.” Pakistan has the resources and technology to conduct the attacks or stop U.S. Drones. The most rational scenario behind “these attacks that have happened and are still happening are the work of Pakistan,” as Mr. Nazir has said.

Since at least 2004, the US Central Intelligence Agency has allegedly been operating the drones out of Shamsi airfield in Pakistan to attack militants in Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Nazir appeared in a 56 minute video where he made his claims, it may have been recorded in early 2009, since Nazir mentions U.S. President Barack Obama took office. An investigation by The Times “revealed that the CIA was secretly” using Shamsi to launch the Predator drones that observe and attack al-Qaeda and Taleban militants around Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. Once again a “news” outlet fails to specify sources. Of course any assumption that can not be countered with evidence must be the truth.

No one should be optimistic that Obama will change the U.S. policy of diversion in Pakistan. His adminsitration has shown a proclivity to blame others in a wide variety of situations.

Taliban and al Qaeda’s targeting of mosques and marketplaces plays into Pakistan’s hands and Nazir’s claims that such attacks had been masterminded by the Pakistani intelligence service and not the militants has fallen on the deaf ears of the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8343701.stm

According to the BBC “at least four suspected militants were killed when a US drone” fired two missiles in Pakistan’s North Waziristan. The BBC and many other pundits have dropped the modifier “suspected” from their “reporting” in regards to the drones but not “militants”. Pakistan has publicly criticized drone attacks, saying they fuel support for the militants. But, the facts on the ground show that many Pakistan natives have cooperated in combating foreign militants such as the Uzbeki’s.

A “blame America first” attitude from the BBC and a home grow Pakistan orchestrated “rally around” the flag have born fruit. The greatest sign of success is the absence of a recognizable movement to get any traction for news about Pakistani involvement in the “U.S. drone” attacks or claims of ISI complicity in domestic bombings.