I’ve been meaning to write about the remarkable comments made last week by outgoing Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen regarding Pakistan. In unusually frank terms, Adm. Mullen pointed the finger at Pakistan’s ISI secret service as being a “veritable arm” of the terrorist group the Haqqani network, which is accused in the bombing the American Embassy in Kabul. Retiring soon or not, Admiral Mullen wouldn’t dare make this accusation if there wasn’t solid intelligence backing it up.
We send billions in aid to Pakistan, only to have their spy service assist in blowing us up? So what does America do with a double-dealing supposed ally? Cut the aid and force the good Pakistanis to throw their lot in with those who support terrorism? We can’t bomb them and we can’t afford for them to close their border with Afghanistan as it’s one of our main supply routes into the country.
According to former American ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson, quoted in a diplomatic cable provided by Wikileaks, “no amount of money” will keep Pakistan from supporting terrorists. Pakistan has been playing a dangerous game and perhaps it’s time they paid the price for their double-dealing. Maybe the U.S. should consider labeling Pakistan what it appears to be: a state sponsor of terrorism. I don’t want our money going to Pakistan, only to be used to kill American soldiers.