US safer because of Pak support | Report

“The threat has become more geographically diverse, with much of al Qaeda’s activity devolving to its affiliates around the world. I have long described al Qaeda as a syndicate of terror, not a monolith, and this is becoming truer every day.” [Secretary of State Hillary Clinton]

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Nation | Pakistan
By The Nation | September 11, 2011

WASHINGTON - In a distinct change of tone, the White House said Friday that the United States was safer because of the cooperation it received from Pakistan in combating terrorism with the world marking a decade since the deadliest attack on US soil, and the tragedy seared into America’s collective memory, honouring those lost in the disaster amid beefed up police presence at checkpoints, subway systems and airports in New York and Washington on the eve of the anniversary.

“It (US-Pakistan) is an important relationship and it is complicated as I have said numerous times from the podium, but America and Americans are safer because of the cooperation we have been able to achieve with Pakistan,” President Barack Obama’s press secretary Jay Carney said on the eve of the 10th anniversary terrorist attacks.


Observers noted that Carney’s praise of Pakistan came amid tensions in Washington-Islamabad ties set off by the unilateral American raid of Abbottabad in May during which Osama bin Laden was killed. Also noted was the fact that his statement did not contain the usual “do more” mantra.

The White House Press Secretary, in an interaction with foreign journalists, also recognised the Pakistani sacrifices in the struggle against terrorists, since Islamabad joined the war against terrorism.

“It is important to remember that Pakistanis and Pakistan have been victims of Al-Qaeda, victims of all kinds of extremist terrorism,” he noted as officials and experts in Pakistan weighed in on the heavy price Pakistan has paid in terms of human lives and economic losses in the continuing anti-terror fight and retaliatory bombings originating from the Pak-Afghan border.

The Obama Administration continues “to pursue a relationship of cooperation” as the two countries continue to go after Al-Qaeda, Carney said, days after Islamabad captured a top Qaeda operative Younis al Maruitani.

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said while the US has significantly weakened Qaeda’s core leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they can still conduct regional and international attacks and inspire others to do so.

“The threat has become more geographically diverse, with much of al Qaeda’s activity devolving to its affiliates around the world. I have long described al Qaeda as a syndicate of terror, not a monolith, and this is becoming truer every day,” she said.

“For example, Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is reaching far beyond its base in Yemen and seeking to carry out attacks like its attempts to bring down cargo and passenger planes bound for the United States,” Hillary said.

“Other extremist groups in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan not only continue to protect Qaeda’s remaining leadership; they are plotting attacks like the failed Times Square bombing. And from Somalia, Al-Shabaab is looking to carry out more strikes like last July’s suicide bombings that killed 76 people in Uganda during the World Cup,” she said.

Agencies add: President Barack Obama vowed Saturday that the United States will never waver in its fight against terrorism as Americans ready for the 10th anniversary of 9/11 under the shadow of another terror threat.

Relatives of victims also gathered on a field in Pennsylvania where former president George W Bush and current Vice President Joe Biden will unveil a memorial to those who died aboard hijacked United Airlines Flight 93.

Even as US intelligence agencies chased down what officials said was a credible but unconfirmed threat of an Al-Qaeda attack around the September 11 commemorations, Obama assured terrorism would never win.
“Ten years ago, ordinary Americans showed us the true meaning of courage when they rushed up those stairwells, into those flames, into that cockpit,” the president said in his radio and Internet address.

“We will protect the country we love and pass it safer, stronger and more prosperous to the next generation,” he added.

“Today, America is strong and Al-Qaeda is on the path to defeat.”

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