A government official says a Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. track down Osama bin Laden has been convicted of high treason and sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Shakil Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify Mr. bin Laden�s presence at the compound in the town of Abbottabad where U.S. commandos killed the al-Qaida chief last May. The operation outraged Pakistani officials because they were not told about it beforehand.
Which makes him nothing more than a spy. No offence, but isn't it kinda stupid that Pakistan authorities were not notified?
When the Pakistani's cannot be trusted why would you tip them off? Bin Laden could of been living unknown to us in Tweed with Elvis and the Americans would have done the same thing, they keep their secrets to themselves. I have no problem with that attitude
I'll play the devils advocate here. No matter what, would any sovereign nation allow foreign boots on the ground to carry out a military operation without their consent ? And wouldn't anyone who facilitates such, be tried for treason.
Wouldn't the US make any noise if Mexican military crossed the border to take out a known drug cartel ? Or try a US citizen who helped in such.
That's a good point, DD. Going back, the Argentinians went nutzo when the Israelis grabbed Adolf Eichmann without say-so from the Argentine government. But while the UN Charter protects member nations' domestic sovereignty, it also requires members to do their part to protect international security. I would argue that the US does more than its part to protect international security. That would make any hypothetical Mexican mission in the USA a violation of international law. On the other hand, Pakistan is clearly not living up to its obligations under the UN Charter. If they're not prepared to do their due diligence in protecting international security then they're, by default, forcing the international community to that dirty work for them. Pakistan has forfeited some of their domestic sovereignty through their unwillingness to ferret out threats to international peace and security operating within their borders.
Well in that case any such action would have to be approved in the UN, right ? Although these are total double standard on the part of the Pakistani goverment, who in the past have willingly handed over their citizens wholesale over to US as suspected terrorists, specially during Musharafs reign. Pakistani law states no one will be extraditing without going trough legal channels.
Also it is being said the court which tried and sentenced the doctor has no legal jurisdiction over such matters nor can it pass such sentences. So the whole trial and sentence itself should be thrown out if it is the case.
ALSO since Pakistan is a suppose to be a "strategic" partner in the US's war on terror and that Pakistan has paid a very very heavy price in the form of attacks and suicide bombings on its population which did not exist before it became "partners". In a way the doctor should be rewarded for his work.
But the point still stands it was an attack on Pakistan's sovereignity and so are the regular drone attacks, most recent one being last Thursday.
"Regina" said Yeah no kidding! Makes you think they were hiding him all along.
That's essentially what these people are saying, isn't it?
The man was convicted of treason because the whereabouts of OBL were a Pakistani state secret - meaning they were fully cognizant of who he was and where he was.
Wouldn't the US make any noise if Mexican military crossed the border to take out a known drug cartel ?
Not really. One of the problems the border states (aside from California) have had is that the Mexican military routinely crosses the border to assist the drug cartels and they can't get the Federal government to even acknowledge that it's happening, let alone do anything about it.
Which makes him nothing more than a spy.
No offence, but isn't it kinda stupid that Pakistan authorities were not notified?
Nice to see whose side the Pakistanis are really on....
Which is why the US didn't notify the Pakistani govt before the raid.
Bin Laden could of been living unknown to us in Tweed with Elvis and the Americans would have done the same thing, they keep their secrets to themselves. I have no problem with that attitude
Wouldn't the US make any noise if Mexican military crossed the border to take out a known drug cartel ? Or try a US citizen who helped in such.
Also it is being said the court which tried and sentenced the doctor has no legal jurisdiction over such matters nor can it pass such sentences. So the whole trial and sentence itself should be thrown out if it is the case.
ALSO since Pakistan is a suppose to be a "strategic" partner in the US's war on terror and that Pakistan has paid a very very heavy price in the form of attacks and suicide bombings on its population which did not exist before it became "partners". In a way the doctor should be rewarded for his work.
But the point still stands it was an attack on Pakistan's sovereignity and so are the regular drone attacks, most recent one being last Thursday.
Yeah no kidding! Makes you think they were hiding him all along.
That's essentially what these people are saying, isn't it?
The man was convicted of treason because the whereabouts of OBL were a Pakistani state secret - meaning they were fully cognizant of who he was and where he was.
the Argentinians went nutzo when the Israelis grabbed Adolf Eichmann without say-so from the Argentine government.
The Israelis asked first and they were rebuffed. So they went in and nabbed a guy with an international war crimes warrant out for him.
Argentina chose to harbor a criminal. They got spanked. Too bad.
Wouldn't the US make any noise if Mexican military crossed the border to take out a known drug cartel ?
Not really. One of the problems the border states (aside from California) have had is that the Mexican military routinely crosses the border to assist the drug cartels and they can't get the Federal government to even acknowledge that it's happening, let alone do anything about it.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw= ... iAKQ5bTbBw