Asia Times says Pakistan is holding terrorists, to be presented when bush

[milkyway]

needs them during the campaign. Terrorists are already captured and being held in safe houses. Pakistan will use them as bargaining chips with bush.

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Security experts close to the corridors of power in Pakistan tell Asia Times Online that as the November presidential elections in the US draw closer, more such dramatic - and timely - arrests can be expected.
<snip>
Already, though, under intense pressure from the US, Pakistan has handed over as many as 350 suspected al-Qaeda operators into US custody. Most have been low-ranking, but some important names are, according to Asia Times Online contacts, being held in Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) safe houses to be presented at the right moment.

The contacts say that Pakistan's strategic circles see the high-value al-Qaeda operators as "bargaining chips" to ensure continued US support for President General Pervez Musharraf's de facto military rule in Pakistan. Had Pakistan handed over top targets such as Osama bin Laden, his deputy Dr Aiman al-Zawahir, Tahir Yuldash (leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) and others - assuming it was in a position to do so - the military rulers would have lost their usefulness to the US in its "war on terror".
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http://atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/FH04Df03.html

Here's Washington Monthly's Kevin Drum (Calpundit) take on this (where I found the link):

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Lerkfish]

1. color me not surprised n/t

[Gloria]

2. Posted last night in the World Media Watch........check it out

I post it M-W-F and catch lots of stories....I posted an even earlier first version of this story a short while back...

The current issue also has a story about Putin's "reform" of benefits for vets, disabled people, etc. It will raise the hair on the back of your neck..........

(URL in sig)

[ParisFrance]

3. What city is the Asia Times based out of ?

[milkyway]

4. kick. If true, it's too important to fade into oblivion.