or Powell's or me• • •
"Mike and Jon, Jon and Mike—I've known them both for years, and, clearly, one of them is very funny. As for the other: truly one of the great hangers-on of our time."—Steve Bodow, head writer, The Daily Show
•
"Who can really judge what's funny? If humor is a subjective medium, then can there be something that is really and truly hilarious? Me. This book."—Daniel Handler, author, Adverbs, and personal representative of Lemony Snicket
•
"The good news: I thought Our Kampf was consistently hilarious. The bad news: I’m the guy who wrote Monkeybone."—Sam Hamm, screenwriter, Batman, Batman Returns, and Homecoming
August 01, 2008
All Under Control
By: Bernard Chazelle
I read the news today, oh boy!
Some American officials have begun to suggest that Pakistan is no longer a fully reliable American partner.
The Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked 3 weeks ago, and Pakistan's ISI (its CIA) seems to have had a hand in it.
American officials say they believe that the embassy attack was probably carried out by members of a network led by Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani, whose alliance with Al Qaeda and its affiliates has allowed the terrorist network to rebuild in the tribal areas.
Who's Mr Haqqani?
Jalaluddin Haqqani [...] has had a long and complicated relationship with the CIA. He was among a group of fighters who received arms and millions of dollars from the CIA, but his allegiance with Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda during the following decade led the United States to sever the relationship.
But, fear not, we're on the case.
Britain and the United States had each offered to send about two dozen military trainers to Pakistan later this summer to train Pakistani Army officers who in turn would instruct the Frontier Corps paramilitary forces.
CNN Headline News, September 11, 2012:
The masterminds behind the nuclear attack that destroyed Chicago this morning include two former Pakistani Army officers. They appeared to have had a long and complicated relationship with the United States, which included active training by the US military in 2008.
— Bernard Chazelle
Posted at August 1, 2008 10:31 AMI read a site that tied much of this together with Sibel Edmonds' case. It made sense, at least to my untrained ear, but wonder what all of you thought of it?
http://lukery.blogspot.com/2008/07/sibel-edmonds-case-central-asia.html
Posted by: Bruce F at August 1, 2008 11:02 AMJalaluddin Haqqani was IIRC the first choice of the US for President of Afghanistan (Karzai was the third) - he declined the honor. Since then he has reportedly been offered the post of Prime Minister by Karzai. He more or less stayed out of active fighting against the US led forces until 2006. A long and complicated relationship indeed.
Posted by: empty at August 3, 2008 10:06 AMProf Chazelle: Just curious to know if Chicago was selected randomly or for a specific reason? May be, because one pays taxes, one 'reaps what one sows'!!
Bruce F: In "Sibel Edmonds’ State Secrets Privilege Gallery", the Americans are all neocons, if I am correct. With their Project for a new American Century ( now non-existent in words but very much present in thought and intention )and wishing USA to be THE ONLY superpower, USA needs physical presence around the world a.k.a. bases, 737 to be exact according to Chalmers Johnson http://www.alternet.org/story/47998/
Sadly, "morality" is a word that does not exist in USA govt's dictionary and will use any means, may it be Islamization or drug trafficking, to achieve its goals as its record in Central America and latin America has shown. Though I must add, I respect Amy carter ( daughter of an ex-president whom I respect) who protested recruitment by CIA on her campus and "put CIA on trial for its deeds".
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6D61131F935A25757C0A961948260
The only answer to this long and complicated and unholy relationship is to dismantle the agency.
Why Chicago? Because many ATR aficionados live there and I needed to get their attention.
Why Chicago?
I've wondered what would be more psychologically terrifying. Large coast cities or large heartland cities.
I think heartland.
Posted by: Labiche at August 4, 2008 07:57 AMLabiche: I guess, Chicagoans would appreciate your thoughtfulness! Better to get evaporated in a few seconds than have to deal with the aftermath-- in coastal cities!
Posted by: Rupa Shah at August 4, 2008 10:10 AM
