Blackwater: Widening the rift

Dawn by Sana Saleem | Sep. 22, 2009 (Opinion)

Conspiracy theories have always had high currency in our part of the world and ritual cynicism towards America is quite usual. Recent reports claiming the presence of CIA’s contractual army – Blackwater – in Pakistan have bolstered concerns within the Pakistani public about US involvement in this country’s affairs. It’s high time, though, that the government came clean with the public about the extent of US involvement in this country’s ... Full Story »

Posted by Sana Saleem

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Kaizar Campwala
4.1
 by Kaizar Campwala - Sep. 23, 2009

Great piece on the use of Blackwater in Pakistan. I was especially impressed that the critique went beyond simply attacking the US, but instead questions the Pakistani government's tendency to lie, rather than explain their positions to a skeptical Pakistani public.

Irrespective of the extent of Blackwater’s work in Pakistan, the list of things being denied by the Pakistani authorities is growing ridiculously long. The possible agreement between Pakistan and the CIA over drones has been dismissed as a speculation far too many times. Not only have the Pakistani authorities gone as far as denying any mutual contract, but have also extended meek condemnations as attacks continued. This has not only incited more anti-American sentiments, but has also raised grave questions about the integrity of the authorities and the military.

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