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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| How a Lone Diplomat Compromised the Hunt for Bin Laden |
| 2005-03-28 |
| HT: Powerline. WASHINGTON — A lone U.S. ambassador compromised America's hunt for Osama bin Laden in Pakistan for more than two years,The New York Sun has learned. Ambassador Nancy Powell, America's representative in Pakistan, refused to allow the distribution in Pakistan of wanted posters, matchbooks, and other items advertising America's $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mr. bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders. Instead, thousands of matchbooks, posters, and other material — printed at taxpayer expense and translated into Urdu, Pashto, and other local languages — remained "impounded" on American Embassy grounds from 2002 to 2004, according to Rep. Mark Kirk, Republican of Illinois. While the American government was engaged in a number of "black" or covert intelligence activities to locate Al Qaeda leaders, Mr. Kirk said, the "white" or public efforts — which have succeeded in the past in leading to the capture of wanted terrorists — were effectively shut down in the months following the September 11 attacks... |
| Posted by:Phil Fraering |
| #31 art by photoshop imaging? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-28 8:53:53 PM |
| #30 Hmmm...she trying out for Chair of International Relations and Studies at UC Boulder? Ph.D waiverable, copies of writing [the applicant or others] accepted. |
| Posted by: Thinese Unomotch9553 2005-03-28 8:44:58 PM |
| #29 When they can't teach History or Economics, they call it "Social Studies." |
| Posted by: Asedwich 2005-03-28 8:24:55 PM |
| #28 ahhhh the Carter years...how much damage did that hiring period do? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-28 8:14:55 PM |
| #27 This nit wit was a social studies teacher for six years before got on with the State Department in 1977 |
| Posted by: sea cruise 2005-03-28 7:50:54 PM |
| #26 Doc and Sobieski Muslim leaders don't appreciate having to interact and negotiate with female ambassadors. Especially grotesque females like this Nancy Powell. You can try to pretend this away, but that's how it is with the Muslims. I am a big critic of Islam but I don't think the US should be so discourteous as to send such a "female" to represent the United States. She's a politically correct bonehead who compromised our hunt for Bin Laden |
| Posted by: sea cruise 2005-03-28 7:48:45 PM |
| #25 Don't think that her sexuality of lack of it thereof is relevant. It's the Foggy Bottom culture that is at the bottom of this. Fumigate! |
| Posted by: Sobiesky 2005-03-28 7:35:36 PM |
| #24 Sorry SC, I can't go along with ya - (No flannel shirt). |
| Posted by: Doc8404 2005-03-28 7:23:38 PM |
| #23 Sorry but she's another dumb liberal politically correct lesbian out of the Janet Reno/ Donna Shalala mold. Why do we inflict porky lesbians on Muslim countries? Not exactly the best way to talk with Muslims. She has no husband and there are plenty of photos on the internet from which one can surmise her sexuality or perhaps asexuality |
| Posted by: sea cruise 2005-03-28 7:04:33 PM |
| #22 Powell was a go along to get along guy. That's why he got so far and we stopped short in '91. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-03-28 4:05:44 PM |
| #21 ZF: You will not hear much about this from the liberal media. Don't take my word for it - look under Google News for "Nancy Powell". There is exactly one story about this - in the New York Sun. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-28 3:26:00 PM |
| #20 plainslow: I just don't like the press, two years after the fact, deciding that she hindered the search.Two years ago, they would of attacked her had she done it. This is a story from the New York Sun, NYC's conservative paper. You will not hear much about this from the liberal media. They may surprise me, but I doubt it. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-28 3:24:02 PM |
| #19 You all have great comments, and I agree an order is an order. I just don't like the press, two years after the fact, deciding that she hindered the search.Two years ago, they would of attacked her had she done it. I agree Old Patriot. Colin did'nt do some of the things we all hoped he would. But I also see how one of your statements She's in the State's intelligence department, and also complains about not being listened to by people who "know better" could be how she was thinking about her higher ups, like Mr Powell. Please understand, I don't think she was right, but she is the one who should know how it would be taken in Pakistan. If the State Department really wanted to push it, they should of did it two years ago. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2005-03-28 1:16:53 PM |
| #18 Further, it is not her job to refuse to execute according to the laws passed by Congress. The $25m rewards are acts of Congress. |
| Posted by: Kalle (kafir forever) 2005-03-28 12:58:09 PM |
| #17 This is a persistent problem at the State Department, one Colin Powell was supposed to take care of. The "old hands" don't believe the President is wise enough to make foreign policy, and they need to be in charge. Unfortunately, since these dumbs$$$s are all Civil Service, it's almost impossible to get rid of them. One of my classmates from high school works for the State Department, and constantly complains about the lack of common sense and willingness to do what the PRESIDENT wants. She's in the State's intelligence department, and also complains about not being listened to by people who "know better". This is a place that needs intense fumigation, but the civil service rules and unionization of government bureaucrats makes it all but impossible to clean house. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-03-28 12:56:30 PM |
| #16 Article: The senior State Department official denied that Ms.Powell had restricted the distribution of materials touting the reward for Mr. bin Laden and other âhighvalue targets.âThat program â known as Rewards for Justice â was discontinued in Pakistan prior to Ms. Powellâs 2002 arrival because it was âineffective,âthe senior official said.At the time, the Rewards for Justice program was widely used by other American embassies farther from the center of Americaâs operations to kill or capture key Al Qaeda leaders. Discontinued prior to her arrival? That is just a travesty. Doing something like this for trade shows in New York costs peanuts. I bet doing it in Pakistan costs less than peanuts. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-28 12:53:28 PM |
| #15 In her position, she is supposed to advance the policies of the President. Period. The way to argue with those policies is behind closed doors. When the decision is made, it is her job to put that policy into effect. |
| Posted by: too true 2005-03-28 12:00:56 PM |
| #14 If she is given specific instructions, her job is to see that they are carried out. In the absence of specific instructions, she may use her own judgement. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2005-03-28 12:00:24 PM |
| #13 I don't agree with what the lady did. But in her position, is'nt she supposed to make a decision based on what she thinks is best for our country. Maybe her belief was that it would make matters worse. If we feel she was wrong, get her out of there, sure. But don't make it so another diplomat won't be afraid to say no when it is a good desision to say no. |
| Posted by: plainslow 2005-03-28 11:57:11 AM |
| #12 Janet Reno's sister? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-28 11:49:19 AM |
| #11 |
| Posted by: Snolulet Slusing8992 2005-03-28 11:34:22 AM |
| #10 Phil, I have two family (in-laws) that work for the UN and the state department. That is WHY I belive this report. Bunch a freaken morons.... |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-03-28 11:14:40 AM |
| #9 Here's a vote for Vladivostok or somewhere else where this idiot can chill for a while. |
| Posted by: Raj 2005-03-28 11:03:23 AM |
| #8 Of course, that all depends on if you believe the report. I'm not sure I do, or if they just needed someone to blame for something. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-03-28 10:43:44 AM |
| #7 Ambassador to Tikrit |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-03-28 10:39:12 AM |
| #6 I hear Kamchatka is pleasant this time of year DB ! |
| Posted by: MacNails 2005-03-28 10:26:22 AM |
| #5 Early retirement would be better. She can also take her little paki charming lapdog out of service. |
| Posted by: Tkat 2005-03-28 10:25:32 AM |
| #4 Lovely....isn't there a diplomatic post in say, Tierra del Fuego or some other garden spot even more delightful than Pakistan we can put this idjit? |
| Posted by: Desert Blondie 2005-03-28 10:20:39 AM |
| #3 Condi & Karen need to bring in the Lysol and clean these pigs out. |
| Posted by: Poison Reverse 2005-03-28 10:16:17 AM |
| #2 Foggy bottom bureaucrats. We need to have an open season on these idiots.. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-03-28 10:12:19 AM |
| #1 BOOO! |
| Posted by: Ebbeager Gliling6223 2005-03-28 9:30:37 AM |