News Headlines 13/05/2015
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Headlines
• Kerry Visits Russia
• Seymour Hersh Reveals Pakistan Complicity
Details
Seymour Hersh Reveals Pakistan Complicity
The investigative Journalist Seymour Hersh, famous for revealing US government cover up's such as the 1969 My Lai Massacre during the Vietnam War and the 2004 Abu Ghraib scandal has now exposed what really happened in the capture of Osama bin Laden. By conducting countless interviews with Pakistani military, intelligence and US officials he exposed Pakistan's complicity. He confirmed that bin Laden had been a prisoner of the ISI at the Abbottabad compound since 2006; that Kayani and Pasha knew of the raid in advance and had made sure that the two helicopters delivering the Seals to Abbottabad could cross Pakistani airspace without triggering any alarms. He also highlighted that despite their constant public feuding, American and Pakistani military and intelligence services have worked together closely for decades on counterterrorism in South Asia. Both services often find it useful to engage in public feuds ‘to cover their backs, but they continually share intelligence used for drone attacks, and co-operate on covert operations.' Hersh further noted that ‘It didn't take long to get the co-operation the US needed, because the Pakistanis wanted to ensure the continued release of American military aid, a good percentage of which was anti-terrorism funding that finances personal security, such as bullet-proof limousines and security guards and housing for the ISI leadership. Hersh revealed again and again the central role General Kayani and ISI Chief Ahmed Pasha played, they were responsible for ensuring that Pakistan's army and air defence command would not track or engage with the US helicopters used on the mission on the night they would kill bin laden. At the Abbottabad compound ISI guards were posted around the clock to keep watch over bin Laden and his wives and children. They were under orders to leave as soon as they heard the rotors of the US helicopters. The town's electricity supply had been cut off on the orders of the ISI hours before the raid began. In the days that followed the military of Pakistan took the position the US had not informed them, whilst the US put out contradictory messages as they kept changing their story. Hersh has confirmed once and for all it was Pakistan who always had bin laden, and the raid was all orchestrated for electoral purposes in the US.
Kerry Visits Russia
The global media gave much fanfare to US Secretary of State, John Kerry's visit to Russia, the first since the Ukraine conflict began back in late 2013. Kerry said he has held a "frank meeting" with President Vladimir Putin and both sides say that eight hours of talks between them were a welcome development. Kerry also stressed it was necessary to keep the lines of communication open between the US and Russia as they addressed pressing global issues. For America's number two to visit Russia is significant and the timing is very revealing. Even during the height of the Cold War Moscow and Washington would speak directly on critical issues, both countries understood when it came to global issues it was they other that could achieve what was necessary. The current visit take place with Syria at a critical juncture. Khaled Khoja, the head of the National Coalition in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat Newspaper on May 2nd said, "We have to fill the fault lines which were controlled by the regime and to provide a civilian government by the FSA and the coalition transitional government; because the regime can fall at an unexpected moment is calculated that will be surprise for everyone, a matter which was tried to be avoid by both regional states or the big players in the Syrian issue, such as the United States." Daily reports continue to trickle out of Bashar al-Assad losing control of his army, intelligence officers and the Alawi community no longer willing to support his course. The recent falls of Idlib has only highlighted the precarious situation al-Assad is in. As America's plan to train new rebel groups begins it has no alternative strong enough to replace Bashar or enter into negotiations with him. Every group, faction or individual the US has proposed as an alternative has bene exposed or overthrown by the sincere elements in Syria, it is in this context Kerry visits Russia.