by Javier Manjarres

Fox News is reporting that the Pakistani Government is now “very reluctant” to continue aiding the U.S. in the Global war on Terror, as the Pakistanis are now demanding the withdrawal of all CIA and Special Operations from Pakistan proper.  In addition to the withdrawal of all U.S. personnel, Pakistan is also restricting Predator Drone strikes to the narrow mountainous region along the Pakistani-Afghan border and demanding that the U.S. stop all drone strikes outside of this  particular region.

Interestingly enough, as former Bush Administration official interviewed in the same report stated that since,”Barack Obama has taken office,  we have not taken into custody a single high valued terrorist, we have not taken on captured terrorist into U.S.  custody for interrogation, that is a scandal.”-Fox News Video

This comment comes on the heels of the possibility that the Pakistani government may now release a top level fugitive terrorist that it has in custody- Umar Patek, a known aquaintance of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who is tied to the Bali bombings in 2002 that killed over 200.  The CIA considers Patek  a “gold mine of information” and yet may never be able to interrogate him if he is released and sent back to Indonesia where he will most likely disappear.

Florida Congressman Allen West, House Armed Services Committee member and authority in Middle East affairs, issued the following statement on the developing situation in Pakistan:

“I have been consistent in my statements to the issue with regard to terrorist groups.  All nations should be denied sanctuary to any terrorist groups within their borders. The number one strategic objective on the 21st Century battlefield is to deny them enemy sanctuary.

It is well known that contained within the borders Pakistan are known terrorist groups. If the country of Pakistan cannot route out these know of individuals and groups they should seek assistance from other nations.

President Obama and his Administration should be investigating all individuals, such as Umar Patel, who has ties to terrorist groups.” – Congressman Allen West

With the instablility in Pakistan continuing, questions are lingering as to what end will the extremist element within the Pakistani government will go to sever ties with the United States.  Pakistan has long been an ally of the U.S., but the possibility that its nuclear arsenal may come under the command of the radical Islamic extremists who are presently having success in thwarting U.S.-Pakistan collaboration in the war on global terrorism is yet another cause for concern in the already volatile and unstable region.