CONFIRMED: ‘Shamsi is a FARCE’

A little truth confirming what I have been saying is creeping out (but of course not from our military or civilian leadership):

‘Shamsi base is nice, but not crucial for drone attacks’

WASHINGTON: US drone raids targeting militants in Pakistan will not be jeopardized if Islamabad does indeed expel Americans from a key air base, officials and a former intelligence officer said Monday.

Angered over a Nato air attack on Saturday that left 24 Pakistani soldiers dead, Islamabad has shut off supply routes to US-led forces in Afghanistan and ordered Americans out of the Shamsi air base used by the CIA’s fleet of unmanned aircraft.

Even if the Pakistanis make good on their threat over Shamsi, US officials and analysts say the move would be largely symbolic as Washington could fly Predator and Reaper drones out of air fields in neighboring Afghanistan.

[Here is the little lie/spin in this. Having admitted the threat over Shamsi is largely symbolic, they say Washington “COULD” fly drones out of Afghanistan. Remember “COULD” doesn’t mean “WOULD”. Remember, as previously shown, drones already DO NOT fly from Shamsi any more (hence described as ‘symbolic’) but from OTHER AIRBASES/AIRSTRIPS IN PAKISTAN and they “WOULD” CONTINUE as I stated earlier.]

“Shamsi is a nice thing to have, but it’s not critical to drone operations. They can be carried out from bases in Afghanistan,” said Bruce Reidel, a former CIA officer and fellow at the Brookings Institution think tank.

The remote Shamsi air base in the country’s southwest is particularly useful for flights hampered by poor weather conditions, he said.

[Again, read this carefully. Hidden here is the admission that MOSTLY DO NOT FLY FROM SHAMSI! Keep in mind another fact mentioned in my earlier post: Shamsi is over 500 miles away from North/South Waziristan where all of the drone strikes are taking place and to think they are flying all that way from Shamsi is plain ridiculous!]

A senior US official said the facility was not a make-or-break link for the robotic planes that have proved an effective weapon against Al-Qaeda and Taliban extremists.

“The real issue isn’t Shamsi, it’s air space,” the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

[And NO ONE IS TALKING TAKING AWAY AIRSPACE (or the other real drone bases):]

So far there was no sign that Islamabad would bar the US aircraft from flying over Pakistan, and its announcement on Shamsi appeared designed to placate a domestic audience in Pakistan, officials said.

The Shamsi base reflects the contradictions in the uneasy partnership between the two countries, with Islamabad reluctant to publicly acknowledge its tacit cooperation with US counter-terror efforts, which many Pakistanis see as a violation of their country’s sovereignty.

[ALL Pakistanis (and foreigners) see it as violation of their country’s sovereignty (except our military and civilian leadership; in fact THEY KNOW IT TOO, THAT IS WHY ALL THE LIES!) for IT IS THAT WITHOUT QUESTION]

“You have to have jet fuel delivered to Shamsi,” Reidel said. “The Pakistani public has the impression of a base that operates extraterritorially but in reality it operates because the Pakistani army helps it to operate.”

Shortly after Saturday’s air attack on the border by Nato forces, Pakistan’s cabinet ministers and military chiefs demanded the United States clear out of the Shamsi air field within 15 days.

Pakistan previously called for the Americans to leave the air base in June but later backed off.

Although President Barack Obama’s administration was working on a response to a number of demands from Pakistan, there were no plans to pull back on the drone raids, which intelligence officials have credited with weakening the Al-Qaeda network.

“Pakistan remains a critical counter-terrorism partner, and we do not anticipate significant changes in that relationship,” another US official said.

A more serious problem for the United States and Nato allies is Pakistan’s decision to close its border to convoys ferrying fuel and supplies to coalition troops in landlocked Afghanistan.

[Oh but you can be DAMN SURE that “closure” is ONLY TEMPORARY]

Nearly half of all cargo bound for Nato-led forces runs through Pakistan. Roughly 140,000 foreign troops, including about 97,000 Americans, rely on supplies from outside Afghanistan for the ten-year-old war effort.

Pakistan has shut off the border over previous incidents, partly to allay popular outrage, and US officials said they expected the latest closure would be temporary….

[Ah, so the US  agrees…. ]

Q.E.D.!

RELATED:

• Kiyani’s Endless Lies Continue Following NATO Attack
• Enemy Within: An Open Letter to Roedad Khan
• More NATO Attack Facts…

‘BHAIGHAIRAT/BAYSHARAM FAUJ’ MUST SEE:

• ISPR-wood….Updated

ISPR Spokesperson: "Drones? What Drones? Those Paki officers must have been photoshopped in!"

ISPR-wood….Updated

"Glorious Resolve received the Jury's Special award from the President of the Italian Senate," says ISPR

At a time when the army were busy burying their dead, I was surprised to find ISPR found it an appropriate time to create a plug for their……MOVIE!

ISPR documentary bags first prize at International Film Festival

Funny thing is they are calling it a “documentary” though it is no such thing. That it is “based on a true story” gives away the fact that it is a complete work of fiction, confirmed yet again when they describe it as “emotionally powerful dramatization of the story of the courageous soldiers under fire in a dire combat situation.” And when they talk “International Award”, they really are not talking Oscars but some third-rate “International Film [PROPAGANDA] Festival” named “Eserciti-e-Popoli” (Army and People)  specifically put together to hawk trash like this in Italy.

One other thing I can not comprehend is that though the story states “‘Glorious Resolve’ received first prize“, the ISPR release states it received a “Jury’s Special award” (so that “first prize” is bullshit; and we can well imagine how that Jury’s Special Award was acquired 😉

Anyways, here is the “official” synopsis:

Glorious Resolve is based on a true story about the infantry soldiers “who fought against all odds when 1500 miscreants raided one of the section level outpost of an Infantry Battalion in South Waziristan Agency on the night of 29 May 2009.”

The documentary highlights “not only the sacrifices and achievements of the Pakistan Army in War against Terrorism but also its glorious resolve to uproot the menace of terrorism from Pakistan.”

Glorious Resolve recreates the sacrifice of 43 soldiers of the Punjab Regiment who laid their lives during the attack.

Barf at all the clichés! And  “1500 miscreants” vs 43 soldiers? Right! The “miscreants” always attack in such huge numbers since they are doing gorilla warfare (I won’t be surprised if the numbers have been switched in this “true story” moviementary…)

UPDATE: Now this supposed raid by “1500 miscreants” that killed “43 soldiers” has been bugging me. If there was such a raid in which 43 soldiers were killed, I am sure it would have made the papers (ISPR would not stay silent over this achievement, as this moviementary proves). But checking the papers for May 30, 2009 and May 31, 2009 (in case this happened late at night and did not make it on May 30), I can find NOT A SINGLE story about this raid. Oh yes, there are plenty of stories but they are of army raids killing “militants” but not the other way around (remember too that it was Swat that was hot those days and not South Waziristan), e.g.: May 30, 2009: Forces Secure Peuchar, Bahrain in Swat Valley Killing 28 insurgents ‘Operation against militants in Swat to continue’ ‘Bajaur, Mohmand IDPs not to forget government’s apathy and discriminatory behaviour ’ Stolen US arms being used in Swat ISPR  Bounty for Fazlullah raised to Rs50m  May 31, 2009 Troops regain control of Mingora, Swat Taliban behead three ‘spies’ in Pacha Killay Military operation likely Residents of Charbagh asked to leave area  Eight militants killed in Kohat Frontier Region  See what I mean? That “May 29, 2009 raid by 1500 miscreants” is itself A COMPLETE FABRICATION! So much for “based on a true story!”

Here is another interesting thing: Visiting “Eserciti-e-Popoli” you see that it is almost a dead site. Most of the links don’t work and those that do have useless info that it is there is like:

An International Competition of Documentaries about the contemporary military produced by participating nations and by institutions in some way connected with the world of Defense.

It mentions no films except an Italian one form 2002 festival (I checked all pages, including the italian ones). It mentions no other festival that was held so of course it gives no calendar or a list of winners.

Sorry folks, but this post is NOT “based on a true story”. It is a TRUE STORY of just another of ISPR’s lies.

BTW: I could write a book about the moviementary’s byline “Death before Disgrace” but I wont. Let me just mention:

1948, 1965, 1971, Kargil, Balochistan, FATA, PATA, Raymond Davis, DHAs, Musharraf, Zia, Yahya, Ayub, GHQ attack, Mehran Base attack, Abbotabad, NATO attacks, DAILY drones, NRO,…,…,…(and I don’t know how much more I am missing)

P.S. Seeing the comments on the Tribune site where this story comes from, one states:

Its directed by Sarosh Kiyani who is the son of Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani

And checking the ISPR release confirms it:

Glorious Resolve was the joint venture of ISPR and Mind[DOESN’T]works Media.Brigadier Syed Azmat Ali was the Executive Producer whereas Brig Syed Mujtaba Tirmizi was the Executive Director of the film. Lieutenant Colonel Irfan Aziz was the project director and the writer of this film which was amicably directed by Sarosh Kayani. Dr Hassan Waqas Rana of Mind[DOESN’T]works Media was the producer whereas Bilal Lashari was the Director of Photography.

Well, besides confirming what our generals are really busy at, this confirmed the director was indeed one named “Sarosh Kayani” but not knowing Ashfaq Kayani’s family, I had to check (the name “Sarosh” did sound Indian to me). And lo and behold, imagine my surprise when this story confirmed the fact that Sarosh is indeed Ashfaq Kayani’s son….

Now I knew Kayani was bad, but that he was this pathetic, I couldn’t have imagined!

Side Note 1: Here is another news item that puts a new light on the NATO strike. According to this story, i.e. NATO’s explanation, “aircraft which had been called into the area to provide “close air support” to troops on the ground was responsible for causing casualties among the Pakistani soldiers.” This only means one thing: Not only NATO violated the airspace, but also crossed into Pakistan territory on foot. (Shouldn’t they accept NATO’s explanation for it makes them look a little better? At least it shows that — for a change — their men acted the way they were supposed to and tried to stop the intrusion? But expecting that is expecting a bit much…they refuse to accept this excuse by NATO and the damn fools are instead pushing the “We pleaded” story:

The NATO airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers lasted almost two hours and continued even after Pakistani commanders had pleaded with coalition forces to stop, the army claimed Monday in charges that could further inflame anger in Pakistan.

Point to note is that this EXPOSES THEM FURTHER (besides the “pleading” bit). Note that here is the admission that the ATTACK LASTED ALMOST TWO HOURS and these bozos on the ground did not get any support from their bozos in the air…One can be certain that those commanders were also in contact with their own commanders elsewhere but those commanders (including Kayani, for I am sure he was informed of what was going on) DID NOTHING (in fact they probably issued a stand-down order and let their fellow soldiers burn).

UPDATE: It is now being confirmed that NO ACTION was taken following the attack for a FULL FOUR HOURS AT LEAST (Maybe they were too busy putting finishing touches on this news release).

Side Note 2: I don’t have a clue what CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry means by this:

• ‘Terrorists behind Swat unrest to face justice’

BUSTED AGAIN!: INCREDIBLE FAKE MASS MEDIA FOOTAGE: BBC Shows “Green Square, Libya” FROM INDIA!

UPDATE: Not that I had any doubts, but this one should remove any doubts for the dense ones (though I am sure it won’t):

NTC Dum Leader Jalil Admits Tripoli Fake Video on TV, NATO Crimes In Libya

[End Update]

BUSTED INDEED!

Look at the faces, the hats, and the clothing! — They’re not even using the right props — Look carefully at the flags— & the picture that is held up by some one in the “Libyan” crowd! What were these Indians, waving Indian flags, really demonstrating about?

For those who don’t know:

Indian flag:

Libyan ‘Rebel’ flag:

Almost similar, eh?? 😛

Of course Fox News can’t be far behind:
Busted! FAKE Fox News Broadcast about Libya!

Army: Bending Over In Plain Sight Yet Denying The Obvious

"They make a desolation and call it peace." - Tacitus

As usual, we get the truth about our Army from Washington, D.C.:

‘Pakistan has moved 100,000 troops from eastern border’

As usual, our Army LIES:

Pakistan denies reports on troop shift

Haroon Rashid Wins 4-0 vs Aitzaz Ahsan

Recently columnist Haroon Rashid(HR) wrote an article on the games played by Aitzaz Ahsan(AA), confirming what has appeared on this blog (e.g. see here and here) and, as expected,  Aitzaz was quick to respond to what he called “accusations” — I call them statements of facts — by HR. But in trying to clear his name by further telling lies, AA has only managed to confirm what HR and I have stated.

Below are the so-called “accusations” by HR and the lies offered by AA as “clarifications”.

“Accusation” #1:
There really was no accusation here. HR stated AA had refused to defend Zardari using the excuse that he had to earn a living (“work with sweat and blood”) to pay for his kids’ school fees. Of course AA was lying as every one knows his kids are not in school (I think they are enjoying high-paying jobs overseas thanks to Aitzaz’s connections) and even if they were in school, Aitzaz has himself accepted he makes millions a month so he hardly has to worry about school fees for his kids. And AA suggesting he would not be paid by Zardari for his services was ridiculous indeed and I do believe Zardari was willing to pay him enough to “take care of all his expenses for a hundred years.” AA certainly might not have wanted to take his fee in cash for appearances sake but we know he would have taken it in favors which would have been a lot more lucrative and we do have the as precedence

1. him receiving an LPG quota,
2. him defending CJ resulting him in upping his fee up to rs 20 Million per case.

“Clarification” #1:
Aitzaz right away starts off with the greatest of fabrications. He quotes HR but the quote is 100% fabricated. AA says HR has stated:

“I demanded fee from Mr. Zardari to fight his case and apparently refused to help him further.”

Huh? Where did HR say that? What HR stated is right above. Can you find HR saying anything close to what AA claims HR said — and that too with a supposedly direct quote? Well, I certainly can’t. HR CERTAINLY DID NOT SAY THAT! Are we to assume a “brilliant lawyer” is so stupid as to not being able to copy one sentence? Most likely AA is doing this intentionally to twist things.

But starting with this lie (“HR said I demanded fees”), AA goes into this long rant about all the occasions he had not charged fees from his corrupt PPP buddies for defending them in court and doesn’t shy away from having helped them get away with it. Hello! That is not HR “accused” you of and at least have the decency/sense not to make up quotes to suit your purpose.

“Accusation” #2:
HR talks about the recent details that have come out about the LPG scandal in which consumers were bilked an extra 220 Billion. He tells us about 20-ton-a-day quota that AA enjoys. HR does say AA got the quota not because he is “a friend” of the LPG Mafia Don Iqbal Z Ahmed but  because of Benazir Bhutto’s looking after her lap dogs.

“Clarication” #2:
What is interesting is that AA comes back not disagreeing with HR about the other people that got the LPG quota (and confirms his own 20-ton a day one) and even suggests they were improper as each of them faced some sort of an “Accountability Bureau” but — this is so funny — he says only his was on the up-and-up and he repeats the lie that his wife got it from his “friend” Iqbal Z Ahmed. He claims his his wife getting the LPG windfall was proper because:

1. He never was accused before, and
2. Musharraf never canceled it.

My!  Is that the best defense you can offer, Mr. Brilliant Lawyer who charges Rs 2 crore per case? Amazing what bull you have been getting away with! Your first defense is now out the door as you have — belatedly but finally — been accused and the second defense just confirms the next accusation that you in fact were playing every side but the lawyers (the only side you were supposed to be playing). Also managing to secure such a lucrative deal (netting AA anywhere between Rs 3 million to Rs 38 million per month) admittedly due to nepotism — and not qualification — itself speaks volumes!

“Accusation” #3:
HR talks about the lawyers movement and does say AA pulled a fast one on the lawyers by calling off the “dharna” on his own, leading some young ones to tears by being stabbed in the back by their very leader (HR was being kind here — I have accused AA of not only that but a similar role in the second Long March. Remember at this time AA was NOT among the leaders of the Lawyers movement but managed to insert himself into Nawaz’s vehicle and again managed to halt the Long March in Gujranwala as preplanned (unless you are ready to believe Nawaz is a genius to have predicted it days ahead))

“Clarification” #3:
AA puts up a false claim that some “All Pakistan Lawyers Representaives” organization (is there one?) was “undecided” on dharna in May 2008 (first Long March) but had decided to do so in Jan 2009 (second Long March). Well Mr Aitzaz, if the lawyers were “undecided” in May 2008 as you yourself say, then who gave you the right to decide it for them? And if they had decided in it’s favor in Jan 2009, then again why did you announce it’s cancellation??

Aitzaz follows this crap with some silly excuses for him acted that way. He says it was too hot in June (is that a revelation or is June always hot?) and the guys in black coats (lawyers) would have suffered (Oh, and they did not suffer during the Long March when the sun was out but would have suffered more say at 3 in the morning?). Next he says he cancelled it because he was afraid some lawyers would have attacked the parliament and would have been arrested and no one would have bailed them out (Oh, so the lawyers were so helpless and alone?). Next he adds he did it for the women and kids who were present who would have suffered (Oh thanks AA for being so caring — we know women have no sense to make that decision for themselves or their kids). But AA is not done yet. Then he adds that anyone not supporting his decision were in fact agents of the forces  wanting to do away with democracy (ignore the fact that Mush the dictator was sitting in the presidency) and those who wanted to spill blood and guts — another pathetic ‘excuse’.

Accusation #4:
HR talks about the time AA took CJ to meet Zardari under the pretense “to offer condolence for the death of Benazir Bhutto”. Of course it was a senseless move and a lot of fingers were pointed at CJ and HR rightly wonders if the real purpose behind it was AA trying to raise his rate.

“Clarification” #4:
AA goes into another rant against being called greedy and opportunist and gives us a list of qurbanis (how could a jiyala not shout qurbani when he has no legs to stand on — in fact you know he has trying to divert from the issue at hand) he gave like “I turned down the PMship”, blah, blah, blah.

But in all of that rant, he, of course, makes no mention of his rate having skyrocketed (his opportunism already proven by the BoP and the LPG affairs alone).

So what do you think? I score it 4-0 in favor of Haroon Rashid.