Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Times
January 23, 2008
Pg. 13
Will hold off on military strikes
By Richard Lardner, Associated Press
The Bush administration isn't satisfied with the quality of information it's getting about terrorist groups operating in Pakistan's volatile tribal area, a senior U.S. official said yesterday.
Despite the shortcomings, the United States won't conduct military strikes on its own inside Pakistan unless President Pervez Musharraf's government requests such direct support, said Dell Dailey, the State Department's counterterrorism chief.
"There's gaps in intelligence," Mr. Dailey said during a breakfast meeting with reporters. "We don't have enough information about what's going on there. Not on al Qaeda. Not on foreign fighters. Not on the Taliban."
Mr. Dailey, a retired Army lieutenant general with an extensive background in special operations, said the lack of information makes him "uncomfortable." Yet the solution to the problem rests mainly with the Pakistanis, who would likely perceive a strong U.S. presence as an unwelcome intrusion.
"We have to be careful conducting operations in a sovereign country, particularly one that's a friend of ours and one that has given us a lot of support," Mr. Dailey said. "The blowback would be pretty serious."
Mr. Dailey's comments came on the same day that Islamic militants in Pakistan attacked a fort near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, sparking fighting with government forces that left at least five troops and 37 fighters dead, the Pakistani army said.
The attack occurred in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal region where al Qaeda- and Taliban-linked militants operate.
Mr. Musharraf played down the impact of recent attacks in the region, saying yesterday they were "pinpricks" his government must manage.
Aside from political repercussions of the United States acting unilaterally, Mr. Dailey said trying to blend even highly skilled U.S. commandos into such a hostile area is extremely risky. Even a seemingly innocuous mistake, such as wearing a piece of clothing incorrectly, could tip off the enemy and undermine the mission.
"Folks like the special operations [forces] are pretty darn good, but the potential to be detected is pretty high," Mr. Dailey said. "So unless it's a very, very, very focused effort, it's pretty tough to be immediately effective."
Pakistan's new military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, already has shown he's an aggressive commander, and U.S. officials are confident he will make progress. If Pakistanis ask for assistance, the United States will provide it, Mr. Dailey said.
In a related development, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Bush administration will fight congressional efforts to curb billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Pakistan while also warning that Mr. Musharraf must support and promote democracy.
Prior to talks with Mr. Mush-arraf in Switzerland today, Miss Rice said it is critical that February legislative elections be free and fair.
January 23, 2008
Pg. 13
Will hold off on military strikes
By Richard Lardner, Associated Press
The Bush administration isn't satisfied with the quality of information it's getting about terrorist groups operating in Pakistan's volatile tribal area, a senior U.S. official said yesterday.
Despite the shortcomings, the United States won't conduct military strikes on its own inside Pakistan unless President Pervez Musharraf's government requests such direct support, said Dell Dailey, the State Department's counterterrorism chief.
"There's gaps in intelligence," Mr. Dailey said during a breakfast meeting with reporters. "We don't have enough information about what's going on there. Not on al Qaeda. Not on foreign fighters. Not on the Taliban."
Mr. Dailey, a retired Army lieutenant general with an extensive background in special operations, said the lack of information makes him "uncomfortable." Yet the solution to the problem rests mainly with the Pakistanis, who would likely perceive a strong U.S. presence as an unwelcome intrusion.
"We have to be careful conducting operations in a sovereign country, particularly one that's a friend of ours and one that has given us a lot of support," Mr. Dailey said. "The blowback would be pretty serious."
Mr. Dailey's comments came on the same day that Islamic militants in Pakistan attacked a fort near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, sparking fighting with government forces that left at least five troops and 37 fighters dead, the Pakistani army said.
The attack occurred in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal region where al Qaeda- and Taliban-linked militants operate.
Mr. Musharraf played down the impact of recent attacks in the region, saying yesterday they were "pinpricks" his government must manage.
Aside from political repercussions of the United States acting unilaterally, Mr. Dailey said trying to blend even highly skilled U.S. commandos into such a hostile area is extremely risky. Even a seemingly innocuous mistake, such as wearing a piece of clothing incorrectly, could tip off the enemy and undermine the mission.
"Folks like the special operations [forces] are pretty darn good, but the potential to be detected is pretty high," Mr. Dailey said. "So unless it's a very, very, very focused effort, it's pretty tough to be immediately effective."
Pakistan's new military chief, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, already has shown he's an aggressive commander, and U.S. officials are confident he will make progress. If Pakistanis ask for assistance, the United States will provide it, Mr. Dailey said.
In a related development, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Bush administration will fight congressional efforts to curb billions of dollars in U.S. aid to Pakistan while also warning that Mr. Musharraf must support and promote democracy.
Prior to talks with Mr. Mush-arraf in Switzerland today, Miss Rice said it is critical that February legislative elections be free and fair.