America’s Inverted View of Terrorism - International Peace/War

America’s Inverted View of Terrorism
by Asif Haroon Raja via quill - Asian Tribune Tuesday, Feb 22 2011, 9:29pm
international / peace/war / other press

(Edited)

The US has destroyed two Muslim countries and is devastating a third Muslim country under the now transparent and tattered banner of spreading democracy, waging a war on terror and making the world a 'safer' place.

However, America's own civilian killing and torturing track record shows that it is the world's leading terrorist state. It not only indulges in state terrorism but also foments terrorism through clandestine black operations in other countries. While the US points the finger at everyone else, it considers its own summary executioners above the law.

American hypocrisy and double standards came into full view when CIA agent, Raymond Allen Davis, a former green beret working for The State Department, was arrested by police in Lahore after shooting two Pakistani citizens dead with his issue 9mm semi-automatic Glock pistol, in broad daylight, on 27 January.

Forty seven (47) eye-witnesses recorded their statements saying that they saw Davis continuing to shoot at the two after they had turned to flee. Both were repeatedly hit in the back; hence claims of self-defence are invalidated. Davis stated that he shot them not because they had menaced him with guns but because he believed that they were armed!

A speeding back-up SUV from the US Consulate in Lahore, which Davis summoned for his rescue, ran over and killed innocent motorcyclist, Ibadur Rehman. Instead of attending to him, the driver of the SUV, who was driving recklessly on the wrong side of the road, chose to 'hit and run.'

Davis has been charged and is facing court while the driver and other occupants of the second vehicle have reportedly (been secretly) flown back to USA.

The Davis case has locked the USA and Pakistan in a diplomatic row. The incident has thrown overboard all rules framed by the USA on terrorism. The entire Muslim world including Muslims resident in USA and Far Eastern countries have been hounded, humiliated, persecuted and murdered in the name of fighting 'terrorism' for over nine years.

The callous hearts of American leaders have not softened even after massacring over two million Muslims, inflicting inhuman torture and illegally detaining innocent people in CIA prisons. America has engaged in a terror campaign of destroying the homes, hearths and livelihood of Muslims in the nations they have forcefully occupied. The indiscriminate death and destruction continues unabated since the questionable 9/11 incident.

State terrorism committed by the USA and Israel are ignored by the Courts of the world. Criminal Drone attacks enjoy immunity from prosecution as do their CIA operators. Substantial evidence linking CIA agent Raymond Davis to terrorist attacks in Pakistan has been found in his possession.

Davis was the chief coordinator and intelligence provider for drone attacks in the North Western Provinces. This is evident from the fact that after the last drone attack in North Waziristan on 23 January, the next one took place on 21 February. It took an entire month since Davis' arrest to reassemble the network under another agent.

America has provided its agents with licenses to kill and expects Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, the three most affected countries to grant full immunity to all murdering US nationals. The Musharraf regime as well as the current regime had given their consent on the quiet but now that the ruling regime is in dire straits and the Army and ISI have adopted a principled stand on national security matters, the US is finding it difficult to get its way.

Sacked foreign minister Qureshi is another disappointment for the US as well as for Zardari since he defied American and PPP leadership pressure. He stood his ground asserting that he would not give a certificate granting Davis immunity, since according to foreign office records, he was not entitled. As a result of his stand he fell from US and Zardari’s grace and lost his seat but enhanced his stature among he people.

Davis is a confirmed CIA agent and was on a special mission to harm Pakistanis. He had served in Special Forces for ten years after which he opened a security company at Las Vegas Nevada with fake addresses. He was sent to Pakistan as a security contractor under the aegis of Blackwater in 2007 and was attached to the US Consulate in Peshawar. During his two year stay he developed contacts in North and South Waziristan and made frequent trips. It was in Waziristan that he became addicted to 'naswar' (an intoxicant).

Davis was also in regular contact with the Xe Services compound at Chinar road University Town, which housed several black colored armored Chevys. Davis was declared persona non-grata twice because of his suspicious activities. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was rocked with maximum terrorist attacks during his stay.

After he moved to Lahore Consulate in 2009, Lahore became turbulent.
While Davis has confessed his crime, the driver and occupants of the back-up SUV have fled.

Carmella comes under the felony of harboring the accused, refusing to hand them over to police and then facilitating their escape. She is also responsible for the conduct of Davis since he was employed under her. The framers of terrorism laws have themselves got caught up in the jumble of their own laws. Obama is demanding that Pakistan immediately free the murdering Davis or face consequences -- typical US blackmail.

The US is brandishing both 'stick and carrot' and is also attempting to buy over the family members of the deceased. Senator Kerry was here to sweet talk our leaders and downplay Davis as a 'minor operative.' The US is attempting to force the Pakistani leadership to overrule the Courts but Pakistani emotions are running high, aggrieved families and an entire population are not simple matters to deal with.

The US is arguing that CIA agent, Davis, had diplomatic immunity - rubbish! His failed mission has gained international attention and highlighted the overtly criminal activities of the USA in Pakistan. US popularity in Pakistan which some said improved in the aftermath of floods, has again slumped.

It is intriguing that the pressure to free Davis is being exerted by President Obama himself, though most people are aware he is a puppet to the more powerful interests that control the USA. Nevertheless, Obama, with his background in Law, should be aware that diplomatic immunity does not cover those involved in serious crimes against humanity.

Had Davis committed this crime in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan, he would have been killed by the people on the spot. At the same time I would add that had this crime been committed in Islamabad or in any of the smaller provinces and he survived the wrath of the crowd, Davis would have been flown out by now.

US leaders must sorely miss their puppet General Musharraf and PCO judges. Had puppet Musharraf been in command, Davis would have been freed on demand.

Davis has become a ticking bomb for Pakistan. His safety until the completion of his trial, which will take a considerable length of time, has become a headache for law enforcement officials in Lahore. There is no possibility that he could be swooped away by US Special Forces, which are already secretly positioned in Pakistan for exactly that purpose -- who knows, the issue could escalate into a far larger nightmare for America if they unsuccessfully attempt an escape. RAW could play a dirty role in harming him to put Pakistan in another tight corner.

Fearful of Davis divulging CIA clandestine operations in Pakistan, the CIA could have him assassinated themselves and blame Pakistan. Anti-American militant groups based in Pakistan may attempt to kill him to prevent his escape from lawful justice.

Davis himself is becoming nervy and has reportedly refused to have his meals since he desires Mexican food and removal of a surveillance camera which enables the police to keep watch over him. Once he finds that the US government has been unable to rescue him he may attempt self-harm. In any case Pakistan would be blamed.

The US has categorically stated that it will hold Pakistan fully responsible for his safety. If he is released under pressure from the USA, it could trigger a serious law and order situation and possibly trigger social uprisings like those of Tunis, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen.

The Sky has not fallen after the postponement of tripartite meeting in Washington. Pakistan will not collapse if Zardari’s visit to Washington is postponed, or the US blocks aid or Obama cancels his visit to Pakistan.

Pakistan has gone through much worse testing times and is even now suffering despite American aid. What is important for our leaders to understand is that under the changed geopolitical environment in Afghanistan; the US needs Pakistan more than Pakistan needs American financial support.

The US has assured Pakistan the Davis affair, irrespective of its strong reservations, will not strain Pak-US relations. The unfinished war on 'terror' forces the US into a relationship with Pakistan whether it likes it or not.

We should allow the Law to run its course in the Davis case and not make any compromises whatsoever. At the same time, Pakistan should rid itself of about 1100 Davis-like CIA agents roaming freely on our soil.

Copyright applies.

MIRAMSHAH: Eight people were killed and others wounded Monday in a US drone strike on a house in a village near Mir Ali town in North Waziristan.

Earlier, on Sunday, six people were killed and others injured in a missile strike by US drones in Azam Warsak village near Wana in South Waziristan.

The death toll is 14 in two separate attacks by CIA-operated UAV drones armed with missiles.

The two attacks in the Pakistani tribal areas were the first since the arrest of CIA operative Raymond Davis who is now in custody awaiting trial for the murder of two Pakistani nationals in Lahore. A period of almost one month has elapsed since a previous drone attack, on January 23, which Davis is said to have engineered.

It was thought the CIA had ceased missile attacks in the Pakistani tribal areas in order to help US negotiators secure his release, it seems that Davis has been sacrificed, as criminal drone strikes have resumed in Pakistan.

Villagers in North Waziristan's tribal region were overjoyed by the brief hiatus in attacks. They were hoping that criminal drone attacks would cease permanently and they would be allowed to get on with their lives but the terrorists in Washington have other plans.

The villagers joy was short-lived as the drones on Sunday and Monday night fired two missiles and struck a house at Azam Warsak village near Wana, the main town of South Waziristan tribal region.

Tribal sources said the attack in South Waziristan killed six villagers and injured others. It was the first attack by US drones in South Waziristan this year. The sources said the drone hit the house of tribesman Hukam Khan, who belongs to the Sarkikhel Wazir tribe. The identities of all the slain people could not be ascertained, but local tribesmen claimed all were tribal people, not militants.

In the other attack, eight people were killed and some others sustained injuries when drones pounded a house in Malik Ashdar village with missiles. Malik Ashdar is 12 kilometers east of Miramshah, the principal town of North Waziristan.

Villagers and official sources said 10 US UAV spy planes were seen hovering over various villages in Mir Ali and Miramshah throughout the day on Monday. According to villagers in Mir Ali, the drones fired four missiles and hit two rooms and a car parked inside the mud house. The villagers claimed all the victims were local tribes people and had no affiliation with militants. They said the injured people were rushed to a nearby hospital in Mir Ali town, where doctors said the condition of some injured was critical.

The tribesmen who pulled bodies from the debris said the bodies of most of the dead were barely recognisable.

Official sources said it was the eighth attack by US spy aircraft in North Waziristan in 2011. Some officials and tribesmen said one of the main reasons behind the pause in drone attacks in North Waziristan could be the cloudy weather but others said it was related to the arrest of CIA agent, Davis. “We were so excited when we heard there would be no more drone attacks in North Waziristan after the arrest of CIA Raymond Davis," disappointed tribesman, Noor Kalam Dawar said in Miramshah.

He said there were more than a dozen spy planes flying over various villages in the tribal region at low altitude on Monday and that angry tribesmen were seen firing at them. “The Americans don’t care who they hit and will continue killing innocent villagers,” Kalam said.

Copyright applies.

[Edited.]

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