Pakistan Gave Iran Advice On U.S. Attack genre: Just Jihad & Polispeak & Six Degrees of Speculation
Managing alliances is a complicated proposition. Since 9/11, many believe the U.S. has done a less than stellar job in that regard. Today in an article by the Associated Press, it appears that even countries we currently count as "friendly" don't always act in the American interest. You can read the full article here.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan's former army chief says Iranian officials came to him for advice on heading off an attack on their nuclear facilities, and he in effect advised them to take a hostage -- Israel.
Retired Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg said he suggested their government "make it clear that if anything happens to Iran, if anyone attacks it -- it doesn't matter who it is or how it is attacked -- that Iran's answer will be to hit Israel; the only target will be Israel."
The U.S. relationship with Pakistan is certainly complex. President Pervez Musharref retains power despite strong opposition from much of Pakistan's population as well as a number of those within the countries military. I see Musharraf as a skilled manipulator in that he has an ability to balance conflicting interests to his advantage. The U.S. has seemingly given Musharraf a lot of latitude for what appears to be cooperation in the war on terror. At the same time, this article demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the alliance. It also points out the many considerations needed before executing a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.
He said he also advised them to "attempt to degrade the defense systems of Israel," harass it through the Hamas government of the Palestinian Authority and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon, and put second-strike nuclear weapons on submarines.
Although analysts are divided on how soon Iran might have nuclear weapons, Beg said he is sure Iran has had enough time to develop them. But he insists the Pakistani government didn't help, even though he says former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto once told him the Iranians offered more than $4 billion for the technology.
Although Beg insisted his government never gave Iran nuclear weapons, Pakistan now acknowledges that Khan sold Iran centrifuges to produce weapons-grade uranium, though without his government's knowledge.
Khan has been pardoned by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and Pakistan has refused to hand him over to the United States or the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency for questioning.
The obvious concern is whether the current U.S. administration has the desire or the ability to analyze the many necessary considerations before moving forward with any plan to disrupt the Iranian nuclear program. The festering dislike of American foreign policy in Islamic populations coupled with the Israeli / Palestinian conflict has the potential to foster dangerous new alliances...alliances that oppose the United States. In the end, the stated goal of bringing democracy to Iraq and the region may have numerous unforeseen twists and turns. Sadly, it seems that the initial decision to proceed may be found to be even far more flawed than it currently appears.
Daniel DiRito | May 12, 2006 | 1:00 PM
Comments
1 On March 12, 2007 at 1:53 PM, John wrote —
Both Pakistan and Iran are terrorist countries and we its our holy duty to get rid of these states.
Trackback Pings
© Copyright 2008
Post a comment