Military Analyst: ‘The Jig Is Up’ For Pakistan

Local residents and media persons stand outside the house of where al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was caught and killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan. (AP)

Former Washington Post defense reporter Tom Ricks, now a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and contributing editor at Foreign Policy magazine, says because Osama bin Laden was found hiding in plain sight in Pakistan “the jig is up” the U.S. should curtail relations with Pakistan. Ricks argues that means the war in Afghanistan “is likely to end sooner rather than later.”

But that means the U.S. would no longer be able to supply troops in Afghanistan on the key supply route through Pakistan. Ricks joins us to discuss the issues facing the U.S.

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ann stock

This program is supposed to be available by podcast after 2pm ET, but is not. How come?
Denise

I have to wonder at the “wisdom” of publicly announcing that Osama bin Laden’s compound was stormed and he was killed so soon after the covert operation took place.

I realize that the families of the 9/11 victims need justifyably satisfactory closure, but surely a not-quite-so braggy statement, something along the lines of “Last night, with the help of a few carefully informed, un-named Pakistani officials, President Obama ordered a raid in which O b L was captured at a compound……..”, could’ve been quietly stated. A huge white lie, yes, but possibly everyone (except O b L’s camp, who now believe he is a martyr, which is what he wanted in the first place, I’ve heard it said in various reports) could’ve saved some face. A private “conversation” with Pakistan could then be undertaken. (We do kinda need them, don’t we, as our troops are still in Afghanistan?)

Why, for Pete’s sake, were seemingly ALL the details quickly made public knowledge, yet the details keep changing, with more added almost every day? Small wonder there are doubters all over the world! (I also feel under NO circumstances should the pictures be made public!)

Does the whole world REALLY need to know every last minute detail about such operations? I don’t think so. Let the world wonder!

Bravo to the Navy Seals, by the way!
- http://www.facebook.com/terrence.cannon Terrence Cannon
  
  The trouble with what you offered could easily be denied by the Pakistani government and make America look like liars of a deeper nature. I’m quite amazed at the ability of pulling off this maneuver. Had the US captured OBL alive, Pakistan might not have allowed his removal from their country. There’s plenty of second guessing on this. I’m relieved and happy OBL is now out of the picture. Let us go forward and attempt to settle discord wherever, with whomever. We are all one … and need to genuinely connect with all people.
  
  Terrence Cannon
  - Denise
    
    You do have a point, of course. I was only thinking of what the changing details of the raid must look like to other countries. I kinda think the U.S. already must look like a bunch of bumblers to other countries, and was thinking that if maybe every detail of that awesome raid wasn’t revealed, it might help to raise the US’s status a bit. I don’t condone lying, per se, but does it really help anyone when every little detail is made public?
http://profiles.google.com/sirgrahame Stephen Graham

Great interview. This guy knows his stuff.

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