RIP Osama Bin Laden

Its futile to reiterate the exact nature of the operation and the circumstances in which it took place; something thats all over the papers, 'free media', and the web at the moment, nor do I feel it pertinent to mention the state of utter crises that has suddenly engulfed Pakistan's name in the world arena ... as we speak. But what I do see is that the consequences will be dire, it will be grave and long term at the same time. It is certainly not something that the Pakistani public is not accustomed to after all these years (ok, nine years since September 11th) of conflict, chaos, sounds-of-gunfire, ambulance sirens and hysterical news reporting. On camparison with the 'jubilant' reactions of the American people on some foreign renowned news networks, yes, I am so not surprised by the state of disbelief (in comparative terms) that a Pakistani living in its own land suddenly finds himself in. Reactions range from staying mum to complete obliviousness, and from scenes of frustration and hurling abuses at the Interior Mnister to emotions of content and 'smiles' over a new bluff game emanating from the horizon.

Its too early to say anything and predict what the sign of things would be, but what I do see happening after the many related "exchange of intelligence official's comments", and the heated debates over the growing tensions between the two countries, the stakes of both the countries are really heavily involved. As for Pakistan, the stakes are much more higher. But what amazes a layman on the roadsid,e and if the wordmouth is anything of value, is that even with so much at stake, he is still kept in oblivion over the whole issue. Rationality seems to be lacking over the whole decision making process, and yes, it seems the nature of it is all the more elusive.

Waging a war over a foreign land, and as with all foreign operations, theres not too much to lose for the US. Yes, the aftermaths of such an operation and the consequences of it are tilted highly in favour of the Americans. Anlaysing the situation, one wonders about the circumstances in which the 'attack' actually took place, especially when the relations between the US and the Pakistani Intelligentsia were known to be at its 'lowest ebb' after almost a decade or more since the May 28th, 1998 Atomic Explosions in Chagai, Pakistan. It is also a fact that the 'war against terror' in the north of the country was never possible, and would never be possible without Pakistan's help in the entire process from supply of logistics to intelligentsia and to false and suppressed news reports in the local media that is bought and sold at will.(ref : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKRGMQJPTBc&feature=youtu.be )

Yes, the US is highly dependent and by however means we chose to negate this fact, it still remains a stark ground reality.

OBL's photograph widely circulated in the electronic media is claimed to be fake by many

There are two ways that any news analyst or common man sees this as being the 'aftermath' of such an operation:

1 - After showing to the world that US 'does actually achieve what it strives for' and portraying the killing of one man as being a magnanimous victory, the US would leave Af-Pak region pretty soon keeping in view Obama's promise to leave the region completely by 2014. The serious economic crises the US faces currently do not help but pushes the US elected representatives to call for a pullback anytime sooner than later. As the saying goes that 'wars are fought more in the minds than real', America seems to have already won this war with the chanting and the 'Go US' slogans at Times Square being obvious reasons to this effect.

With Pakistan portrayed as world's number one terrorist's hideout, the US can now aim to launch operations at will anywhere, anytime, without taking the 'dependency' factor into consideration. So without doubt, the killing of Osama gives a further 'free-hand' to America to bully around world's "Islamic terror" (or men in beards/women in hijab) at will !

2-  The US would not leave anytime soon. Over the past several years, with Pakistan declared a state engulfed with terrorism, together with the killing of an "house-hold icon" (the infamous Arabian 'bogey man'), the US is currently at complete liberty to launch operations anywhere inside Pakistan without slipping off from "moral ground" that today it chose to create.

With OBL killed within some hundred kilometres away from the place where Pakistan's highly secretive Atomic Research Laboratories are located, the US has grounds to lament further on the "nuclear free Pakistan" agenda - something claimed to be extremely vital to the very existence of Pakistan. 

Moreover, with the next year's US elections in sight, the US might never look to cease its operations here, but would aim for 'continued government policy to counter terror' to generate votes.

Whatever the circumstances or the path that they may chose to adopt, the US is in a winning position by far.

The question is, what Pakistan gains out of it?? Possible gain may come, in Imran Khan's words, "the US now has no reason to stay in Pakistan or Afghanistan and should leave immediately". Adopting such a policy still seems, to the common man, like asking too much from the current setup in place. Possibly some bucks to keep the 'big fish' thriving in the country can silent such voices further !!

Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden dead - Obama

 

Bin Laden was top of the US "most wanted" list

Al-Qaeda founder and leader Osama Bin Laden has been killed by US forces in Pakistan, President Obama has said.

The al-Qaeda leader was killed in a ground operation outside Islamabad based on US intelligence, the first lead for which emerged last August.Mr Obama said after "a firefight", US forces took possession of his body.Bin Laden was accused of being behind a number of atrocities, including the attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September 2001.He was top of the US "most wanted" list.

Mr Obama said it was "the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda".

The US has put its embassies around the world on alert, warning Americans of the possibility of al-Qaeda reprisal attacks for Bin Laden's killing.Crowds gathered outside the White House in Washington DC, chanting "USA, USA" after the news emerged.

AT THE SCENE

Haroon Rashid BBC News, Islamabad, Pakistan

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Last night there were rumours an operation was going on in an area close to Abbottabad. There were unconfirmed reports of a military helicopter crashing in the area as well.

Witnesses said the whole area was cordoned off and nobody was allowed close although they did hear gunshots and firearms. But nobody had any inkling that this was an operation to get Osama bin Laden.

For those who keep a close on eye on these matters it wasn't a total shock that he was ultimately hunted down in an urban area.

In the past we have had reports of him being treated in hospitals in Rawalpindi for kidney problems. There was even one report that he was treated in the southern city of Karachi. All of these were officially denied.

And some of the big al-Qaeda and Taliban names in the past have been captured in big Pakistani cities. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Kuwaiti-born senior al Qaeda leader was captured in Rawalpindi, Pakistan and Afghan Taliban military commander Mullah Baradar was reportedly captured in Karachi.

Lead last August

 

Bin Laden approved the 9/11 attacks in which nearly 3,000 people died, saying later that the results had exceeded his expectations.He evaded the forces of the US and its allies for almost a decade, despite a $25m bounty on his head.His death will be seen as a major blow to al-Qaeda but also raise fears of reprisal attacks, correspondents say.

Mr Obama said he had been briefed last August on a possible lead to Bin Laden's whereabouts."It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground," Mr Obama said."I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located Bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside of Pakistan.

"And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorised an operation to get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice," the president said.On Sunday a small team of US forces undertook the operation in Abbottabad, north of Islamabad.After a "firefight" Bin Laden was killed and his body taken by US forces, the president said. 

Momentous achievement

Former US President Bill Clinton said in a statement: "This is a profoundly important moment not just for the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in al-Qaeda's other attacks but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children."

 

Mr Clinton's successor, President George W Bush, described the news as a "momentous achievement".

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," Mr Bush said in a statement.

BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner says that to many in the West, Bin Laden became the embodiment of global terrorism, but to others he was a hero, a devout Muslim who fought two world superpowers in the name of jihad.

The son of a wealthy Saudi construction family, Bin Laden grew up in a privileged world. But soon after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan he joined the Mujahideen there and fought alongside them with his Arab followers, a group that later formed the nucleus for al-Qaeda.

After declaring war on America in 1998, Bin Laden is widely believed to have been behind the bombings of US embassies in East Africa, a billion-dollar US warship, and the attacks on New York and Washington.