Bombshell: CIA, Pakistani intel capture Taliban’s number two; Update: Newsweek profile added
posted at 9:49 pm on February 15, 2010 by Allahpundit
A coup not only on its own terms — this guy supposedly ran the Quetta Shura, the Taliban’s leadership council, so it’s a major intelligence windfall — but in what it portends about Pakistan’s posture towards the Taliban.
His capture could cripple the Taliban’s military operations, at least in the short term, said Bruce O. Riedel, a C.I.A. veteran who last spring led the Obama administration’s Afghanistan and Pakistan policy review.
Details of the raid remain murky, but officials said that it had been carried out by Pakistan’s military spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, and that C.I.A. operatives had accompanied the Pakistanis…
The participation of Pakistan’s spy service could suggest a new level of cooperation from Pakistan’s leaders, who have been ambivalent about American efforts to crush the Taliban. Increasingly, the Americans say, senior leaders in Pakistan, including the chief of its army, Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, have gradually come around to the view that they can no longer support the Taliban in Afghanistan — as they have quietly done for years — without endangering themselves. Indeed, American officials have speculated that Pakistani security officials could have picked up Mullah Baradar long ago…
Mr. Riedel, the former C.I.A. official, said that he had not heard about Mullah Baradar’s capture before being contacted by The Times, but that the raid constituted a “sea change in Pakistani behavior.”
In recent weeks, American officials have said they have seen indications that the Pakistani military and spy services may finally have begun to distance themselves from the Taliban. One Obama administration official said Monday that the White House had “no reason to think that anybody was double-dealing at all” in aiding in the capture of Mullah Baradar.
The Times claims it knew about this since Thursday but sat on the info at the feds’ request lest it tip off Taliban commanders in the field that they’d been compromised. I’ve always assumed that ISI can find these people within a few days if it really wanted to, so if the “sea change” is for real, expect plenty of other big Taliban captures in the weeks ahead, possibly including Mullah Omar himself (who’s also reputed to be in Karachi). What I don’t understand is what’s changed. Yeah, the U.S. military offensive in Marja is going well so far, but it isn’t the kind of juggernaut that would turn Pakistan’s leadership on its head. Did Obama buy them off somehow? Or did his build-up in Afghanistan convince them that the U.S. would have a presence there long enough that it wasn’t worth supporting the Taliban’s hopes to return to power?
In light of the base bombing just before New Year’s, this must be especially gratifying for the CIA. Hats off.
Update: Big, big, big fish. Consider the significance of this guy, then consider how far the ISI must be able to reach — when it wants to — to penetrate the Taliban and nab someone like him.
In more than two dozen interviews for this profile, past and present members of the Afghan insurgency portrayed Baradar as no mere stand-in for the reclusive Omar. They say Baradar appoints and fires the Taliban’s commanders and governors; presides over its top military council and central ruling Shura in Quetta, the city in southwestern Pakistan where most of the group’s senior leaders are based; and issues the group’s most important policy statements in his own name. It is key that he controls the Taliban’s treasury—hundreds of millions of dollars in -narcotics protection money, ransom payments, highway tolls, and “charitable donations,” largely from the Gulf. “He commands all military, political, religious, and financial power,” says Mullah Shah Wali Akhund, a guerrilla subcommander from Helmand province who met Baradar this March in Quetta for the fourth time. “Baradar has the makings of a brilliant commander,” says Prof. Thomas Johnson, a longtime expert on Afghanistan and an adviser to Coalition forces. “He’s able, charismatic, and knows the land and the people so much better than we can hope to do. He could prove a formidable foe.”…
Baradar can take much of the credit for rebuilding the Taliban into an effective fighting force. For at least the past three years, Mullah Omar has had little or no say in the group’s daily affairs. His most recent public pronouncement came last December, when two statements were issued in his name denying “baseless” reports of peace talks with the Afghan government and repeating his demand for the withdrawal of all U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan. Some Taliban members speculate that Omar might be dead, although Baradar, his lifelong friend and comrade in arms, denies any such thing. “He is hale and healthy, and not only taking part in but currently leading the jihad,” he told NEWSWEEK. U.S. intelligence experts can’t testify to Omar’s health, but they believe he is alive. “Mullah Omar has put Baradar in charge,” says Mullah Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, the former Taliban regime’s foreign minister, who first met both men in 1992, during the last days of the Soviet-backed regime. “It is Mullah Omar’s idea and his policy to stay quiet in a safe place, because he has a high price on his head, while Baradar leads.”
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All Talibans are number 2.
bayview on February 15, 2010 at 10:53 PM
one talib down
thousands of tullab to go
blatantblue on February 15, 2010 at 10:57 PM
Wait…I thought Obama’s policy was killing, not capturing…
fossten on February 15, 2010 at 10:58 PM
I wonder if this has anything to do with the recent terror bombing in India. Pakistan doesn’t want a direct confrontation with India, so they need to look tough on terror. I agree with AP that the ISI has the ability to grab most of these guys whenever they want, and they do that when they feel the heat.
Johnson on February 15, 2010 at 11:00 PM
Lets just hope this guy has a loving and caring family that can be called upon to get this thug to spill his guts.
Electrongod on February 15, 2010 at 11:00 PM
The Taliban pi@@ed off the wrong people (ISI).
Just hearing Garretts reporting, sounds like the lead interrogator is a Pakistani. The CIA guy is only listening.
Whether that’s true or not, who knows, but the main thing is the Pakistani is leading it.
B Man on February 15, 2010 at 11:01 PM
Excellent. Now bleed every bit of intel out of him and then…kill him with extreme prejudice.
onlineanalyst on February 15, 2010 at 11:07 PM
With the Paki’s holding him ya think he wishing he was being waterboarded
Aggie95 on February 15, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Get this guy to GITMO stat. WE do not need this guy to escape (i.e., let go by ISI members) to the battle field.
WashJeff on February 15, 2010 at 11:10 PM
It will be interesting to see what statements are made and actions taken in this case vis-a-vis ‘torture’ to obtain intel. Expect much renewed hypocrisy from the ex-lecturer on Constitutional law, who neither knew Bush’s actual policies, nor cared to know.
JDPerren on February 15, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Reminds me of the prisoner.
TheBigOldDog on February 15, 2010 at 11:13 PM
Thank God he didn’t make it to America…
Because then Obama would get him to lawyer up before he said anything.
Lehosh on February 15, 2010 at 11:16 PM
Kill him now.
President HUSSEIN says so, remember?
Virus-X on February 15, 2010 at 11:21 PM
All Bush’s Fault
Del Dolemonte on February 15, 2010 at 11:25 PM
Yes it is….
….and we well remember how liberals like yourself treated the killing of Musab Al-Zarkawi….the al-qaeda leader who had set up cells and launched attacks in Iraq BEFORE we invaded.
The same terrorist that was responsible for thousands and thousands of deaths before the Bush Administration took him out.
liberals:
“not a big deal…he will just be replaced”
“It is not really him….Bush regime made it up for propaganda”.
“It will not solve anything..we will still lose the war.”
….yea I remember well how liberals acted just a few years ago.
So tell us crr6,was this Taliban captured by waving the peace sign and withdrawing all troops from around the world like you liberals are always calling for….or was it made possible by the imperialistic military machine you Chomsky fans are always whining about.
Gotta love the work of that warmonger,chickenhawk Obama!!!!
….didn’t take long for WAR TO BE THE ANSWER from the democrats and their anti-war supporters.
We should take this victory with a grain of salt though.
The Pakistanis have given us big fish before (KSM for one) to appease the White House and get money.
They also have a similar record as Yemen when it comes to keeping jihadist behind bars…..major failure.
This is a game that has been played many times:
Right at the Edge
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/magazine/07pakistan-t.html?_r=2&ref=world&pagewanted=print
By DEXTER FILKINS
Whenever I hear about Pakistan fighting the taliban I remember this quote: “I cannot lie to you,” Namdar said, smiling at last. “The [Pakistani] army comes in, and they fire at empty buildings. It is a drama — it is just to entertain….America’
The dealings with the Taliban and the many power struggles that go on between the different tribes changes how the ISI and Pakistani military deal with them.
Pakistan’s number one concern is self preservation.
This involves a tough balance between getting the money it needs from the US,and keeping the Taliban appeased along with their population that strongly supports the Taliban.
Roggio states an example of this:
The Long War Journal: Pakistan carefully advances in South Waziristan
Written by Bill Roggio on October 20, 2009 12:46 AM to The Long War Journal
The ISI may have needed to turn over a big fish to keep US funding coming and they may also have determined that he was expendable if he had made the mistake of launching attacks against them.
Getting him is nice but is a far cry from ridding Pakistan of the number one threat to Afghanistan and the US…..taking out Taliban control in the country and eliminating the jihadist training camps.
Pakistan has already announced that they are not engaging in any further major assaults against the Taliban.
No military push against Taliban in 2010, says Pakistan
By Saeed Shah McClatchy Newspapers
posted January 21, 2010 at 11:16 pm EST
http://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/print/content/view/print/275276
Islamabad —
Great catch but what about the big picture…..ridding Pakistan of the ability to train terrorist that will launch attacks against the US.
Baxter Greene on February 15, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Sometimes the number 2′s come back to life:
Taliban’s mastermind of suicide attacks is alive
By Bill RoggioFebruary 15, 2010 1:12 AM
Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/02/talibans_mastermind.php#ixzz0ffcYtK4I
If I am not mistaken…this killing was actually confirmed by Pakistani Intelligence.
…amazing how he just pops back up.
Baxter Greene on February 15, 2010 at 11:38 PM
Oh I would not want to be in this guy’s shoes. He knew what he was in for – let the games begin.
KillerKane on February 15, 2010 at 11:54 PM
naw, Holder will get in there and Mirandize him.
John the Libertarian on February 16, 2010 at 12:04 AM
Beautiful! Can we have a story like this EVERY day?
Tony737 on February 16, 2010 at 12:05 AM
?
Dude, if CIA acts without civilian authority then it acts in direct contravention of American constitution. Are not “true conservatives” supposed to be constitutionalist? Or are they going to condone CIA going rogue.
For the record, no, I don’t believe that BS.
rightistliberal on February 16, 2010 at 12:12 AM
Neither do I. But a lot of the idiots on this forum believe exactly that.
rightistliberal on February 16, 2010 at 12:13 AM
Has it been 50 minutes yet? Do we know where the rest of his family is?
lovingmyUSA on February 16, 2010 at 12:14 AM
Someone mentioned on another thread that this is the only thing that Obama won’t claim he “inherited” from Bush…
lovingmyUSA on February 16, 2010 at 12:37 AM
Calm down.
crr6 on February 16, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Sea change? I don’t know. It took some major Taliban attacks on Pakistan to move them to this. Something else is going on and it has nothing to do with the US.
neurosculptor on February 16, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Has anyone read him his Miranda rights yet? Gotta get a New York or DC courtroom ready! How much for first class to New York or DC? Wait! The guards gotta go coach and pay for their own seats! Tell the AG to get him a good lawyer ready!
/sarc
Vntnrse on February 16, 2010 at 12:57 AM
Beautiful! Can we have a story like this EVERY day?
@Tony737, check out Baxter Green’s post… worth reading. There is a reason why this does not happen every day. The Pakis are playing a wily game, and i am afraid you are all falling for it…they have OBL as well..
Pakistan is the problem. i know it sounds simplistic. but they are the fountainhead of all major terror operations today.
nagee76 on February 16, 2010 at 1:12 AM
You can’t ask for much more than this. Too bad they can’t waterboard him.
WisCon on February 16, 2010 at 1:16 AM
I’m just happy we got a big fish. I’m glad Obama is clamping down on Al-Queda.
Hopefully, he has learned his lesson from the Christmas day bomber and not mirandize this dude.
Conservative Samizdat on February 16, 2010 at 1:21 AM
Good work. Thanks.
Maquis on February 16, 2010 at 1:31 AM
Thats where the recent London Conference becomes relevant.
Any guess what $500 mil will be used for ?
http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/26/is-london-conference-becoming-a-taliban-fundraiser/
—-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Is-the-neighbourhood-set-to-get-even-more-dangerous/articleshow/5541012.cms
macncheez on February 16, 2010 at 1:37 AM
No problem and thank you.
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2010 at 1:38 AM
That was the first thought that ran through my head when I saw this.
capitalist piglet on February 16, 2010 at 1:58 AM
Great links,thanks.
Three things really stuck out:
Is India’s neighbourhood set to get even more dangerous?
1.
This can’t help us with India,who is a major trading partner and one of the fastest growing economies in the world…
..also…
………….having the Saudis “reintegrate” is a joke.
There program has been shown to be nothing but a failure with many going to Yemen and working to launch attacks against the US.
2.
Pakistan must have taken notes on how Russia schooled Mr. Hope and Change’s idea of “smart power” in getting us to scrap a major military installation in Poland that would have given us major intel on Russian activities for nothing in return.
“unconditional defense and economic assistance”……
…are you kidding me with this?????
Hope Mr.57 states and his foreign policy team brought plenty of KY for these supposed “negotiations”.
3.
It appears that Obama’s idea of “smart power” could be
summed up with a simple picture of a set of lips pressed firmly against a jihadist’s a$$.
Looks like policies that sell out our National Security and future for a few positive results now,all in the name of “political gain”.
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2010 at 2:03 AM
Well, isn’t that sweet? Where was this type of journalistic restraint say, I don’t know, 2001-08?
Left Coast Right Mind on February 16, 2010 at 2:51 AM
There are many out there that would love to see some of that money…..
…..especially weapons dealers:
http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/204/42584.html
Many more where Bout came from…….
…enough money might get WMD that the Russians can’t seem to keep control over…..
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2010 at 3:32 AM
I have had the honor of having honest and lengthy discussions with a few Indian intel ( MI) ppl, over the last decade, and what they say about our policy towards islamic terrorism has amazed me.
I always doubted their neutrality on the matter of islamic terrorism, but the more I hear them explain the news-stories coming out of DC, the more I am inclined to believe them.
In short:
Terrorism is the only engine that drives the economy of pakistan. Terrorists bribe the government officials to look the other way, terrorists donate to politicians to buy protection, and the US and UK taxpayers pay generous billions in aid to the Pakistan government to fight the same terrorists. Anytime Pakistan needs more money, they catch someone, make headlines in US and UK and then everyone moves on to other matters.
After 9/11, one of this intel guy was pretty upset that US did not seal off our borders and start cleaning up within our own boundries. That was the most crucial misstep. But as soon as the offensive in Afganistan started in 2001, he called it the continuity of US policy towards Pakistan, which started in early 1960s.
He was right . Starting with Kissinger, US has been a sucker when dealing with pakistan and terrorism. Whatever the ruse and whatever the event, over more than 40 years now, US has had one continuous policy : pump huge amounts of money into pakistan and get very little in return, and repeat. It never changed and no one in the WH ever bothered to change that policy. Ever. They may huff and puff and talk tough but its all a show for the media.
Anytime a vote for more money for Pakistan is coming up in the Congress, we see this drama unfold: someone gets captured in pakistan, the news gets splashed, editorials are written, the money gets approved and for next 6-7 months, all is quiet.
Taliban was supposed to give Afganistan (territory) to Pakistan and help Pakistan acquire parts of India, specially Kashmir. But instead , somewhere along the way, Pakistan got lazy and so used to US money that they lost the passion . Instead , now Pakistan government is just happy to act as contract killers and hitmen for anyone who pays them, whether its the taliban or the US government.
Whenever US and UK loadup pakistan with cash and weapons, Indians get killed . That has been the continuity of US policy, and there are no signs anyone wants to change it.
macncheez on February 16, 2010 at 4:11 AM
We can capture or kill them by the bushel. But we can only win this when they re-write the Koran and change their society.
Don’t hold your breath.
J.J. Sefton on February 16, 2010 at 6:09 AM
The ISI is not our friend.
They have been funding terrorist groups since the 1950′s and have been the source of some of the nastiest Islamic terror organizations in the region. Gulbuddin Hekmatyar who they started funding in the ’70s, became a leader in the Taliban in the ’90s and ran Afghanistan, runs a terror organization out of a refugee camp in Pakistan that stretches from China to the UK and is funded by opium, emeralds and gold as well as the standard ‘terrorist taxes’ placed on people who live too close to them. While the ISI looks the other way and continues funneling money to him and others. The Mehsud clan didn’t get its funding from nowhere…
Getting a top al Qaeda military leader is nice, yes. But those forming the core of al Qaeda for its policy and directives are a key to bringing the organization down a few thousand notches. Getting the financiers, ideologues and those heavily connected to the Muslim Brotherhood and more local terror organizations is key. And it is questionable if the ISI is up to the task of trying to unravel that as it leads to too many people they fund.
Viktor Bout, thankfully in jail, is a symptom of how terror works in a region. I would assume the Mogilevich organization, now run by an able operative, which has deep ties to the region and its own cargo airline is more than able to keep terrorists supplied for the right price. Unlike Bout he makes great money in the Triangle Trade, standard smuggling and has been implicated in seeking to transfer nuclear material to al Qaeda in Egypt in the late ’90s. Now the Mogilevich operation gets its money by swindling Russia in the natural gas trade, and has run the same swindle on them on three successive contracts… those boys do not play nice, do not play fair and see the Russian leadership as a minor problem they can handle. And the ISI does NOT want to see any of the Red Mafia adding to the fun and mayhem in Pakistan.
So either the guy thats been picked up gets a serious case of lead poisoning at supersonic speeds in a few days, or he is released when he ‘promises’ to mend his ways. I hope its supersonic lead poisoning, myself. More power to the CIA if they have convinced the Administration that Gitmo is necessary and they are working behind the scenes for a hush-hush transfer and announcement ex post facto, for that would prove competence and capability in the organization exists somewhere. My bet is lead poisoning.
ajacksonian on February 16, 2010 at 6:35 AM
good news!
just don’t screw it up with some left wing idea…
cmsinaz on February 16, 2010 at 6:42 AM
PresidentsObama Day in honor of Dear Leader’s heroic military leadership.angryed on February 16, 2010 at 6:59 AM
shhhhh, they may hear you and and actually enact it…
*shudder*
cmsinaz on February 16, 2010 at 7:01 AM
Do you remember how we ended up capturing KSM? You are correct, the ISI is not our friend at all.
They know where all the senior Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders are.
dogsoldier on February 16, 2010 at 7:15 AM
Obama is following W’s policies on almost everything. I expect this guy WILL be waterboarded and thoroughly interrogated BEFORE being read his maranda rights.
kanda on February 16, 2010 at 7:35 AM
I really hope they turn him over to the US for interrogation so we can use our new most effective method…. bringing in his Mom and Dad to get him to talk after we read him his rights.
Spider79 on February 16, 2010 at 7:52 AM
Good news on many counts, not the least of which is the Pakistanis are holding/interrogating him, not us.
petefrt on February 16, 2010 at 7:55 AM
Let’s hope somebody is extracting some useful information from this piece of scum.
Disturb the Universe on February 16, 2010 at 7:57 AM
Fabulous information you have provided on this thread Baxter. Thanks for that. Macncheez, thanks to you and ajacksonian as well. I have always believed that our real effort should be to destroy the root of this evil tree.
Attack America and or Americans anywhere in the world, and we will go straight for the root. Destroy an entire years crop along the way, and see how that effects those who would attack America. I find it very interesting that the opium crops have never been destroyed. It would seem that this method of “return fire” is off limits. I’d love to know the reason why.
Keemo on February 16, 2010 at 8:09 AM
I’m glad to see this effort in Majah is doing really well. It reflects well on McCrystal and the UN troop coordination. And it’s really good to see Pakistan more supportive.
AnninCA on February 16, 2010 at 8:35 AM
Our troops say that the ROE is absolutely insane (even worse rules than before) and is allowing the enemy to fight, drop their weapons, and then just walk free.
neurosculptor on February 16, 2010 at 9:13 AM
Sounds like the same mission template that bagged KSM.
Cr4sh Dummy on February 16, 2010 at 10:00 AM
I’m glad we captured him. I’m a little PO’d that we are hearing about it.
MarkTheGreat on February 16, 2010 at 10:12 AM
Maybe those attempts by the Taliban to assignate senior defense and intelligence personnel weren’t such a good idea after all.
MarkTheGreat on February 16, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Let’s see how quickly Holder can jump in and screw this up.
DuctTapeMyBrain on February 16, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Here’s to hoping that he gives up account numbers before the money can be moved.
MarkTheGreat on February 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM
Okay, so they caught him.
What are they going to do with him?
bridgetown on February 16, 2010 at 10:20 AM
Waiting for Ron Paul to issue a statement.
chaswv on February 16, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Pattycake is NOT on the menu! He is in Paki hands and they don’t follow the same rules as our people. Mirandizing ain’t gonna happen either.
VegasRick on February 16, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Thanks..
Macncheez really brought forth a new light on this situation and provided some good links as to what is going on behind the scenes.
I will believe Pakistan is serious when they start taking out the terrorist training camps and leadership from all the Taliban tribes that are conducting them.
This capture was great but we have seen this many times from Pakistan.
From the looks of what the Obama adminstration is giving up…
plus hundreds of millions in payoffs to the Taliban…..
….I would hope that Osama and al-Zawahiri would be included in this round up along with military missions to take out the Taliban that are training the jihadist.
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2010 at 10:31 AM
Two reports out today indicate the Taliban are waving their hands in the air (with civilians) and openly mocking our troops because they know they cannot shoot them if they do not have a weapon in their hands.
This is part of the Taliban’s plan:
“a Taliban commander told NBC News’ Richard Engel that many insurgents would wait out the offensive.”
”
I would love to see a change in ROE that would make the Taliban regret their pompous cheer leading.
Baxter Greene on February 16, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Let the waterboarding begin!
Winebabe on February 16, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Yep. It’s just plain crazy.
neurosculptor on February 16, 2010 at 10:47 AM
Obama declares Baradar an “isolated extremist”
drjohn on February 16, 2010 at 10:50 AM
I’m sorry but I’m not buying it. All of a sudden the Pakistani intelligence folks, many of whom support the Taliban are suddenly helping us? Who is to say this is not a set up just to pander to the Obama administration’s hunger for credit, that the guy who is captured not just doing this as a means of spreading dis-information, and maybe they have agreement to trade him out later.
In this business, we just can’t always believe our own eyes and ears…something is missing to this story
georgealbert on February 16, 2010 at 11:03 AM
I’m glad we captured him. I’m a little PO’d that we are hearing about it.
MarkTheGreat on February 16, 2010 at 10:12 AM
==============================================
Exactly, why would we hear abou this?? Nah, there is now way we have the whole story on this
georgealbert on February 16, 2010 at 11:04 AM
The only problem is that if he refuses to talk, Obama won’t make him. Bush would have made the guy talk one way or another.
jonezee on February 16, 2010 at 11:25 AM
***
You have the right to a new bullwhip. You have the right to a red hot branding iron. You have the right to a new rope. You have the right to a full barrel of C**P filled water to be half drowned in. You have the right to fully charged cattle prods, electric drills,and assorted power tools. You have the right to yell, scream, and wail as long as you want. You have the right to rat out all your Jihadi buddies.
***
If you refuse to rat them out we will continue abusing you as long as we can keep you alive. You will be shot with a clean bullet when we are done with you.
***
No–we are out of waterboards and panties to put on your head. And we are also fresh out of Korans and prayer rugs.
***
Have a nice day! Enjoy your Pakistani “Al Queda” rights.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman on February 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Water, meet board.
Or as the U.K. prisioners would add:
Boiling, meet oil.
profitsbeard on February 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
I saw the complaints. However, we seem to be threading the needle.
I am impressed, anyway.
AnninCA on February 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Habius what?
I’ll expect the lefty moonbats to be protesting in 5… 4… 3…
oh nevermind. This is Obama doing it so it’s all peachy.
Scrappy on February 16, 2010 at 11:50 AM
Great news all around. Obama deserves some kudos for this. Of course, John McCain would be agressively prosecuting the War on Terror, too.
But at least this is an area where our President isn’t ridiculously incompetent.
hawksruleva on February 16, 2010 at 12:07 PM
Even better news, Pakistan captured him, so we’re likely to get reams of information from him. I wonder what their policy is on Miranda rights for captured enemy forces?
hawksruleva on February 16, 2010 at 12:09 PM
My guess, the ISI didn’t feel like Baradar was paying them the proper respect. And by respect, I mean cash.
So, Baradar gets picked up in the middle of the night. The next Taliban treasurer will make sure to make his payments on time.
hawksruleva on February 16, 2010 at 12:12 PM
What shall we do with Mulla Baradar? Question Answered:
http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=411
BigAlSouth on February 16, 2010 at 12:16 PM
So does Ed Morrissey have anything to add to his whining over the past couple days that we need to stop killing terrorists and start capturing them?
orange on February 16, 2010 at 12:53 PM
A tiny bone of doubtful value from the ISI as Pakistans labor for the Tribute payments. These hill monkeys are of no real threat or value. The enemy are in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula pouring single malts for Americas guardians. The rest are in Tehran fantasizing about being buggered by the 12th Imam. All else is secondary.
BL@KBIRD on February 16, 2010 at 1:02 PM
One word—STAGED!
BobAnthony on February 16, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Soooo…. the Pakistanis have him? I HOPE!
Since all we can now do to interrogate him is apparently go and call his Parents…
Romeo13 on February 16, 2010 at 1:31 PM
One word—STAGED!
BobAnthony on February 16, 2010 at 1:20 PM
=========================================
Ditto
georgealbert on February 16, 2010 at 1:36 PM
Maybe all of these recent bomb blasts and the resulting deaths in Pakistan has awakened the government. When soccer games are targeted, people might get a little angry. The blowing up of a mosque where police officials attended might have also caused a reevaluation of their policies. President Obama’s decision to hang in Afghanistan I’m also sure helped.
amr on February 16, 2010 at 2:25 PM
They say numnber 2 on the media to boost the news of the capture but al-Zawahiri is the REAL #2.
Conservative Samizdat on February 16, 2010 at 2:38 PM
Can anyone recognize a student of US university, a community activist, a mail-order muslim bride with anchor babies or a UN worker among these faces ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXyh8WeRYiE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8nhXi2wrs4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4f89Jg-TnY
We have always done a half @$$ job of securing and protecting our homeland
We didn’t secure our borders when we went with amnesty
We didn’t secure our borders when we went after terrorists in Af-Pak region
We didn’t tighten our visa-regulations inspite of 2 WTC attacks, and numerous attempts from overseas flights
If ANY US Prez wanted to secure our land, they would have done that. But since the NYT decides whether we secure our own country or not, every prez gets away with ” we have to do something” meme, whether it is sensible or not.
Even today, whatever little media coverage I have been able to watch and listen to, the story of Baradar’s capture is being used to establish Hussain’s street cred, as a counterpoint to Cheney’s barbs .
Its not very difficult to root out islamic terrorism from the US soil, and even easier to stop it from being imported into our homeland. All we need to do are the following
1. Close our borders
2. Stop granting visas under frivolous conditions
( students, extended family memebers,no visa countries, tourist and K1s)
3. Deport illegals, no exceptions
4. Follow the money laundering from and to our borders, watch the activities of those within our homeland
5. Stop giving legitimacy to the concept of ” muslim world” both within and outside our borders
6. Embrace energy independence by opening up our own resources
Hard questions:
What has been the NYT’s position to the above ?
How many times has the NYT attempted and succeeded to undermine our security ?
Why does anyone take their policy guidelines from the NYT ?
How has the trillions we have given to ” muslim world” to secure our own homeland, worked out? For us ?
macncheez on February 16, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Now where did I see that before ?
Hmmmmmm
http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:-2d4XfrB7E0J:hotair.com/archives/2009/12/02/a-few-more-thoughts-on-obamas-afghanistan-speech/+macncheez+%22taliban,%22+site:hotair.com&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
macncheez on February 16, 2010 at 5:46 PM
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/17/obama-convenes-war-cabinet-taliban-capture/
Last 3 paragraphs of story mention that they believe Baradar is a pragmatist who will be willing to “negotiate” with the US.
That surge is not going to happen.
Does anyone not think that Code Pink didn’t talk to the Taliban and mention that Obama wants an out and to deliver the highest leader of the Taliban for negotiations?
Negotiations have worked so well with the Taliban in the past. Ugh.
journeyintothewhirlwind on February 17, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Here’s a British online article showing the terrorist blindfolded and tied in chains.
Nice.
Conservative Samizdat on February 17, 2010 at 6:22 PM
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