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January 23, 2008 BLITZER: But first, some other important news we're watching right now. A CNN exclusive -- word that the Pentagon is now actually drawing up plans that might -- repeat -- might send U.S. troops to Pakistan. There are some significant obstacles underway right now.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, has been looking into this story.
She's getting some new information -- Barbara, this is a lot easier said than done. Pakistan, a Muslim country, with a nuclear arsenal, an Al Qaeda and Taliban presence right there.
What's going on?
BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the Pakistanis have already made it very clear they will not accept U.S. combat troops on the ground, but there is discussion behind-the-scenes about sending some U.S. troops to train the Pakistanis to fight Al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: CNN has learned U.S. military commanders are reviewing a classified planning order which could result in hundreds of U.S. troops going to Pakistan to train security forces -- but only if the Pakistanis buy the idea. President Pervez Musharraf has said his troops will be the ones to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda. But last week, Taliban fighters overran a Pakistani fort. There's worry Pakistani forces are failing against a growing extremist threat.
ADM. MICHAEL MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: That continues to be a grave concern to us, both in the near term and the long-term.
STARR: For the U.S., the job now is to get an agreement to train Pakistani forces in counter-insurgency warfare.
FREDERICK BARTON, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The presence of U.S. forces in Pakistan would be hugely inflammatory for the rest of the country and probably would destabilize Pakistan in a more serious way than it is right now. So clearly training is the best thing we can do.
STARR: Why now?
The assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has destabilized the country. Al Qaeda now operates in many major cities.
DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES: I think that the Pakistani government, frankly, is dealing with the emergence of a threat inside Pakistan that it has not confronted until very recently. That's not a surprise to me that they're having some challenges in trying to deal with that.
STARR: The planning order, should Pakistan give the OK, is part of a five year, $750 million security and economic effort. Still, the Pentagon is treading lightly before sending U.S. troops to a place they're not likely to be widely welcomed.
GEN. JAMES CARTWRIGHT, JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN: We're trying to make sure we understand ground truth before we take any action.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
STARR: Wolf, I have to tell you that U.S. military officials say if -- if this all came to pass, it actually might result in a very small number of troops going to Pakistan because the Pakistanis simply may not find it acceptable. But already senior U.S. military officials are saying if the Pakistanis won't take U.S. trainers, they may try and offer them either contractors -- like Blackwater -- or possibly they're even talking about trying to get the British to weigh in and send British troops -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good reporting for us Barbara.
Thanks very much.
January 23, 2008 BLITZER: But first, some other important news we're watching right now. A CNN exclusive -- word that the Pentagon is now actually drawing up plans that might -- repeat -- might send U.S. troops to Pakistan. There are some significant obstacles underway right now.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, has been looking into this story.
She's getting some new information -- Barbara, this is a lot easier said than done. Pakistan, a Muslim country, with a nuclear arsenal, an Al Qaeda and Taliban presence right there.
What's going on?
BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the Pakistanis have already made it very clear they will not accept U.S. combat troops on the ground, but there is discussion behind-the-scenes about sending some U.S. troops to train the Pakistanis to fight Al Qaeda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: CNN has learned U.S. military commanders are reviewing a classified planning order which could result in hundreds of U.S. troops going to Pakistan to train security forces -- but only if the Pakistanis buy the idea. President Pervez Musharraf has said his troops will be the ones to fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda. But last week, Taliban fighters overran a Pakistani fort. There's worry Pakistani forces are failing against a growing extremist threat.
ADM. MICHAEL MULLEN, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: That continues to be a grave concern to us, both in the near term and the long-term.
STARR: For the U.S., the job now is to get an agreement to train Pakistani forces in counter-insurgency warfare.
FREDERICK BARTON, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The presence of U.S. forces in Pakistan would be hugely inflammatory for the rest of the country and probably would destabilize Pakistan in a more serious way than it is right now. So clearly training is the best thing we can do.
STARR: Why now?
The assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has destabilized the country. Al Qaeda now operates in many major cities.
DEFENSE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES: I think that the Pakistani government, frankly, is dealing with the emergence of a threat inside Pakistan that it has not confronted until very recently. That's not a surprise to me that they're having some challenges in trying to deal with that.
STARR: The planning order, should Pakistan give the OK, is part of a five year, $750 million security and economic effort. Still, the Pentagon is treading lightly before sending U.S. troops to a place they're not likely to be widely welcomed.
GEN. JAMES CARTWRIGHT, JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN: We're trying to make sure we understand ground truth before we take any action.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
STARR: Wolf, I have to tell you that U.S. military officials say if -- if this all came to pass, it actually might result in a very small number of troops going to Pakistan because the Pakistanis simply may not find it acceptable. But already senior U.S. military officials are saying if the Pakistanis won't take U.S. trainers, they may try and offer them either contractors -- like Blackwater -- or possibly they're even talking about trying to get the British to weigh in and send British troops -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good reporting for us Barbara.
Thanks very much.