Since 2002, destroying the terrorist threat and closing the terrorist safe haven have been key national security goals. The United States has provided Pakistan, a key ally in the war on terror, more than $10.5 billion for military, economic, and development activities. Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which border Afghanistan, are vast unpoliced regions attractive to extremists and terrorists seeking a safe haven. GAO was asked to assess (1) the progress in meeting these national security goals for Pakistan's FATA, and (2) the status of U.S. efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for the FATA. To address these objectives, GAO compared national security goals against assessments conducted by U.S. agencies and reviewed available plans.

The United States has not met its national security goals to destroy terrorist threats and close the safe haven in Pakistan's FATA. Since 2002, the United States relied principally on the Pakistan military to address U.S. national security goals. Of the approximately $5.8 billion the United States provided for efforts in the FATA and border region from 2002 through 2007, about 96 percent reimbursed Pakistan for military operations there. According to the Department of State, Pakistan deployed 120,000 military and paramilitary forces in the FATA and helped kill and capture hundreds of suspected al Qaeda operatives; these efforts cost the lives of approximately 1,400 members of Pakistan's security forces. However, GAO found broad agreement, as documented in the National Intelligence Estimate, State, and embassy documents, as well as Defense officials in Pakistan, that al Qaeda had regenerated its ability to attack the United States and had succeeded in establishing a safe haven in Pakistan's FATA. No comprehensive plan for meeting U.S. national security goals in the FATA has been developed, as stipulated by the National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (2003), called for by an independent commission (2004), and mandated by congressional legislation (2007). Furthermore, Congress created the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) in 2004 specifically to develop comprehensive plans to combat terrorism. However, neither the National Security Council (NSC), NCTC, nor other executive branch departments have developed a comprehensive plan that includes all elements of national power--diplomatic, military, intelligence, development assistance, economic, and law enforcement support--called for by the various national security strategies and Congress. As a result, since 2002, the U.S. embassy in Pakistan has had no Washington-supported, comprehensive plan to combat terrorism and close the terrorist safe haven in the FATA. In 2006, the embassy, in conjunction with Defense, State, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in cooperation with the government of Pakistan, began an effort to focus more attention on other key elements of national power, such as development assistance and public diplomacy, to address U.S. goals in the FATA. However, this does not yet constitute a comprehensive plan.

Yeah

Why aren't my fellow Americans mad as hell that George Bush has let Osama bin Laden get away with murder?

it's not in Bush's interest to capture Bin Laden. they both need each other to continue pursuing their respective goals.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

This.

Besides, Bin Laden was a patsy. Just someone to blame, to give a FACE to terrorism. I bet he's been paid by the US Govt. in some fashion. The Brits did the same thing with some other guy who was allegedly responsible for the Tube bombings on 7/7 but was being paid by the British government and was even allowed to land and take off from Heathrow in London despite being at the top of MI6's watch list.

Also, the War On Terror® is a lie. Just one more thing to get people scared. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do being killed by a terrorist.

what's unbelievable is that people believe this bullshit.

2Jay said:

Are you calling the report from the GAO bullshit?

Seriously?

RodeoSchro said:

no the fact that we're winning the war in Iraq-- People believe that.

Why aren't my fellow Americans mad as hell that George Bush has let Osama bin Laden get away with murder?

RodeoSchro said:

Some are

IrresistibleB1tch said:

This.

Besides, Bin Laden was a patsy. Just someone to blame, to give a FACE to terrorism. I bet he's been paid by the US Govt. in some fashion. The Brits did the same thing with some other guy who was allegedly responsible for the Tube bombings on 7/7 but was being paid by the British government and was even allowed to land and take off from Heathrow in London despite being at the top of MI6's watch list.
Also, the War On Terror® is a lie. Just one more thing to get people scared. You have a better chance of winning the lottery than you do being killed by a terrorist.

Mach said:

I think many are. But many if not most of them are in the faceless middle, the independents who decide elections.