Tensions Raised in Pakistan, Obama Responsible?

The jihadists have attacked Pakistan with renewed vigor after Obama's provocative remarks earlier this week, and the media tries to come to his rescue with an old story (two years ago) from someone not even running for President at the time.

2,000 tribesmen rally against troops

MIRANSHAH: Around 2,000 tribesmen rallied in North Waziristan on Friday calling on the government to withdraw troops from the region, Reuters reported. Holding black flags and wearing black armbands, the protesters chanted “Down with America” and demanded the government stop what they called unnecessary military operations in the region. “The government says it has sent troops to Waziristan to maintain peace and order but in fact the peace of the region has deteriorated since the army was deployed here,” Qari Mohammad Roman, an imam of a major mosque of Miranshah, North Wazirista’s main town, told protesters.

Source: Daily Times of Pakistan

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan (Reuters) - At least 22 people were killed on Saturday in spiraling violence in northwestern Pakistan as international concern grew over the deteriorating security situation and al Qaeda threat along the Afghan border.
Soldiers repulsed an attack by pro-Taliban militants in North Waziristan, and a suicide car bomber struck in another tribal area bordering Afghanistan.

--SNIP--
How to make Pakistan do more to eradicate al Qaeda hideouts has become a hot topic in the U.S. election campaign, with Democratic hopeful Barack Obama talking of American forces conducting operations or strikes inside Pakistani territory.

During a telephone call to President Pervez Musharraf, U.S. President George W. Bush said this kind of talk was "unsavory," and assured the Pakistani leader Washington respected its ally's sovereignty, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

On the ground, in a pre-dawn attack on Saturday, militants bombarded a check post in the Dosali area, some 40 km (25 miles) south of Miranshah, North Waziristan's main town.

Troops repulsed the guerrillas when they launched a direct assault on the post.

"Militants fired about 50 rockets on a check post complex at around 0300 hours (6:00 p.m. EDT Friday) and then they carried out a physical attack on the check post," military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad said.

Source: Yahoo! News

Obama touches raw nerve in Pakistan

Pakistan on Friday criticised US presidential hopeful Barack Obama for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes inside this Islamic nation to root out terrorists.

Top Pakistan officials said Obama’s comment was irresponsible and likely made for political reasons related to the race for the Democratic nomination for next year’s US presidential election.

“It’s a very irresponsible statement, that’s all I can say,” Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khusheed Kasuri said. “As the election campaign in America is heating up we would not like American candidates to fight their elections and contest elections at our expense.”

Also on Friday, a senior Pakistani official condemned another presidential hopeful, Colorado Republican Tom Tancredo, for saying best way he could think of to deter a nuclear terrorist attack on the US would be to threaten to retaliate by bombing the holiest Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina.

Obama triggered anger in Pakistan, a key ally of the US in its war on terror, when he said in a speech on Wednesday that as president he would order US military action against terrorists in Pakistan’s tribal region bordering Afghanistan if intelligence warranted it.

Source: Hindustan Times


I'd like to note for the record, that Congressman Tom Tancredo made that statement in 2005. This should show you how far back the media will go to provide cover for one of their own.

Don't believe me? Check this out:

Tancredo: If They Nuke Us, Bomb Mecca

DENVER — A Colorado congressman told a radio show host that the U.S. could "take out" Islamic holy sites if Muslim fundamentalist terrorists attacked the country with nuclear weapons.

Rep. Tom Tancredo made his remarks Friday on WFLA-AM in Orlando, Fla. His spokesman stressed he was only speaking hypothetically.

Talk show host Pat Campbell asked the Littleton Republican how the country should respond if terrorists struck several U.S. cities with nuclear weapons.

"Well, what if you said something like — if this happens in the United States, and we determine that it is the result of extremist, fundamentalist Muslims, you know, you could take out their holy sites," Tancredo answered.

"You're talking about bombing Mecca," Campbell said.

"Yeah," Tancredo responded.

The congressman later said he was "just throwing out some ideas" and that an "ultimate threat" might have to be met with an "ultimate response."

Spokesman Will Adams said Sunday the four-term congressman doesn't support threatening holy Islamic sites but that Tancredo was grappling with the hypothetical situation of a terrorist strike deadlier than the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Source: Fox News July 18, 2005



For the record, I believe we should let the Radical Muslims, and Moderate Muslims know that they will trigger a Berserker Rage should they set nukes off on American Soil. The Moderate Muslims should fear our response more than they fear the jihadists.