White House memo to the public on the leak, on issues addressed in the documents.
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[
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/25/the-war-logs/?ref=asia]
The President has commented on safe"haven in Pakistan and connection to Afghanistan
3/27/09: President Obama said: "After years of mixed results, we will not, and cannot, provide a blank
check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda and the violent extremists
within its borders." "Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning
attacks on the United States homeland from its safe haven in Pakistan"¦.The future of Afghanistan is
inextricably linked to the future of its neighbor, Pakistan. In the nearly eight years since 9/11, al Qaeda
and its extremist allies have moved across the border to the remote areas of the Pakistani frontier. This
almost certainly includes al Qaeda's leadership: Osama bin Laden and Ayman al"Zawahiri. They have
used this mountainous terrain as a safe haven to hide, to train terrorists, to communicate with
followers, to plot attacks, and to send fighters to support the insurgency in Afghanistan. For the
American people, this border region has become the most dangerous place in the world."
"The terrorists within Pakistan's borders are not simply enemies of America or Afghanistan "" they are a
grave and urgent danger to the people of Pakistan. Al Qaeda and other violent extremists have killed
several thousand Pakistanis since 9/11. They've killed many Pakistani soldiers and police. They
assassinated Benazir Bhutto. They've blown up buildings, derailed foreign investment, and threatened
the stability of the state. So make no mistake: al Qaeda and its extremist allies are a cancer that risks
killing Pakistan from within. It's important for the American people to understand that Pakistan needs
our help in going after al Qaeda. This is no simple task. The tribal regions are vast, they are rugged, and
they are often ungoverned. And that's why we must focus our military assistance on the tools, training
and support that Pakistan needs to root out the terrorists. And after years of mixed results, we will not,
and cannot, provide a blank check. Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out al Qaeda
and the violent extremists within its borders. And we will insist that action be taken "" one way or
another "" when we have intelligence about high"level terrorist targets." {Remarks of the President,
Marcy 27, 2009}
12/1/09: President Obama said: "We're in Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading
through that country. But this same cancer has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan.
That's why we need a strategy that works on both sides of the border." "But while we've achieved
hard"earned milestones in Iraq, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated. After escaping across the
border into Pakistan in 2001 and 2002, al Qaeda's leadership established a safe haven there"¦.We're in
Afghanistan to prevent a cancer from once again spreading through that country. But this same cancer
has also taken root in the border region of Pakistan. That's why we need a strategy that works on both
sides of the border"¦. In the past, there have been those in Pakistan who've argued that the struggle
against extremism is not their fight, and that Pakistan is better off doing little or seeking accommodation
with those who use violence. But in recent years, as innocents have been killed from Karachi to
Islamabad, it has become clear that it is the Pakistani people who are the most endangered by
extremism. Public opinion has turned. The Pakistani army has waged an offensive in Swat and South
Waziristan. And there is no doubt that the United States and Pakistan share a common enemy.
{Remarks of the President, 12/1/09}
U.S. Officials Have Discussed Links Between ISI and Extremist Groups
6/29/10: Gen. Petraeus Said It Was Difficult to Determine If ISI's Contacts With the Taliban and Other
Extremists Were to Support Those Groups or to Recruit Sources – "There Are No Questions About the
Longstanding Lenghts. Let's Remember that We Funded the ISI to Build These Organizations When
They Were the Mujahideen and Helping to Expel the Soviets from Afghanistan. And so Certainly
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Residual Links Would Not Be a Surprise. The Question Is What the Character of Those Links Is and
What the Activities Are Behind Them." "Well, again, what we have to always figure out with Pakistan
center is, are they working with the Taliban to support the Taliban or to recruit sources in the Taliban?
And that's the difficulty, frankly, in trying to assess what the ISI is doing in some of their activities in the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in contacts with the Haqqani network, or the "" the Afghan Taliban.
There are no questions about the longstanding lengths. Let's remember that we funded the ISI to build
these organizations when they were the Mujahideen and helping to expel the Soviets from Afghanistan.
And so certainly residual links would not be a surprise. The question is what the character of those links
is and what the activities are behind them." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 6/29/10]
6/29/10: Gen. Petraeus Thought that Pakistan Had Recently Decided that Internal Extremists Posed a
Pressing Threat But That They Could Not Deal With All of Them Simultaneously, Noted that Many of
these Groups Were Founded With U.S. Money Through the ISI "With respect to the Pakistanis, I think
there is some reassessment that has gone on with respect to Afghanistan. I think as important has been
the reassessment of the situation within their own borders. It took place about 12 to 18 months or so
ago when the Pakistani people, the leadership, and the clerics all came to recognize that the most
pressing existential threat to their country was that posed by internal extremists who had threatened
the writ of governance for "" again, in Swat Valley and the rest of what is now called Khyber
Pukhtoonkhwa, and then in a number of areas of the "" of the tribal areas. The fact is, I think they came
to recognize that the "" the concept that had been in practice, was in practice, and still may be in some
areas, that concept that you can allow poisonous snakes to have a nest in your backyard as long as they
only bite the neighbor's kids inevitably turns around and "" and ends up biting you in the backside. And I
think they have come to see the challenges of this. Now, to be fair to them, let's remember that many of
these groups were formed in the beginning with our money through the ISI when we were trying to help
get rid of the Soviets out of Afghanistan and the Mujahideen were our heroes at that time, while those
very groups put down roots and in some cases turned into transnational extremist elements, in others,
extremist elements that have threatened the idea of Pakistan being able to move forward and actually
want to turn the clock back several centuries. And I think that they have come to recognize the threat
that these groups pose to their country, but have also realized that they cannot deal with all of them
simultaneously and that their means, particularly when it comes to the holding, building, and transition
phases, is particularly "" or somewhat limited." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 6/29/10]
2/8/10: Gates Said Al Qaeda, The Taliban And Other Extremist Networks Are Working Together In
Pakistan. Gates said, "You know, just to go back to an earlier point, one of the things that I talked about
when I was in Pakistan is that al Qaeda, the Taliban in Pakistan and the Taliban in Afghanistan are all
working together. And the al Qaeda "" al Qaeda is helping the Pakistani Taliban try to destabilize the
Pakistani government there. There is evidence that al Qaeda is helping them plan these attacks, the
targeting, the training on capabilities, and so on. These threats are all mixed together. It's a syndicate.
And trying to help the Pakistanis understand that each "" if any of the three of these, or others such as
the Haqqani network, are successful, it redounds to the benefit of the others. And so we've got to attack
this problem as a whole, rather than piecemeal. [FOX News, 2/8/10]
3/12/10: Admiral Mullen Said that ISI "Have Been Very Attached to Many of these Extremist
Organizations." "He certainly is aware of the concerns that I have with respect to his intelligence
agency, ISI. And in fact, that they have "" they were literally created by the government of Pakistan. They
have "" they have been very attached to many of these extremist organizations. And it`s my belief that in
the long run, they have got to completely cut ties with those in order to really move in the right
direction, and that ISI fundamentally has to change its strategic approach, which has been clear to focus
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on India as well as Afghanistan. And I don`t believe they can make a lot of progress until that actually
occurs. Now, General Kiyani has taken one of his best guys and appointed him as the new director of ISI,
General Pasha. I`m encouraged "" I`ve met with General Pasha many times, but recently since he`s been
appointed, and I`m encouraged with his views and I`m encouraged with how he sees the problem. It`s
going to take some time to get at it inside ISI." [Charlie Rose, 3/12/09]
12/10/08: Mullen " "There's A Rich History Of ISI Fomenting Challenges." "There's a rich history here of
ISI fomenting challenges, particularly in Kashmir, and everybody is aware of that. We're aware of
that. The Indians are aware of that. The Pakistanis are aware of that, as is the international community
writ large. And it's literally that piece of the previous strategy in Pakistan which I believe's got to shift for
the future, and without getting into the specifics of what was causal, certainly in a classified way, or
what happened here. [Transcript, DOD News Briefing, 12/10/08]
4/5/09: Admiral Mullen Said, "Do I Think the ISI Has to Change?... Absolutely. Do I Think There Are
Elements of ISI Connected to Those Militant Organizations? Absolutely. Gen. Kayani and I Talk About
This. Gen. Pasha and I Talk About this, More Than Once, But It Isn't Going to Happen Overnight."
"Another key U.S. concern: Will the ISI cut off its support for militant groups like the Afghan Taliban,
which it uses to counter Indian influence in Afghanistan? Taliban leader Mullah Muhammad Omar
operates out of Pakistan's Baluchistan region. Or will the ISI end ties with Pakistani terrorists such as the
group that recently conducted an outrageous attack in Mumbai, India? The ISI trained such groups in the
past to attack Indian targets in Kashmir. 'Do I think the ISI has to change?' Mullen asks rhetorically.
'Absolutely. Do I think there are elements of ISI connected to those militant organizations? Absolutely.
Gen. Kayani and I talk about this. Gen. Pasha and I talk about this, more than once, but it isn't going to
happen overnight.' Mullen says he has 'complete confidence that the military and civilian leadership in
Pakistan recognize the seriousness of their problem with the insurgents.' He says that Pasha was
'handpicked' by Kayani to change the ISI, and that Kayani has 'put some of his best people in key
positions in the ISI.' But can Kayani and Pasha change the ISI's culture? 'I've led big organizations all my
life,' says Mullen, 'and it takes a fairly significant time to change an organization.'" [Philadelphia
Inquirer, Rubin Column, 4/5/09]
3/31/09: Gates " "The ISI's Contacts With [Extremist Groups] Are A Real Concern To Us., And We Have
Made These Concerns Known Directly To The Pakistanis." "The ISI's contacts with some of these
extremist groups "" with Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the Haqqani network, Commander Nazir (sp) and others
"" are a real concern to us, and we have made these concerns known directly to the Pakistanis. And we
hope that they will take action to put an end to it." [Transcript, Interview with Afghan TV, 3/31/09]
3/29/09: Gates " "We Certainly Have Concerns About The Contacts [Between ISI] And Some OF These
[Extremist] Groups In The Past." "Well, the way I would answer is to say that we certainly have
concerns about the contacts of – between the Pakistani intelligence service and the – and some of these
groups in the past. But the reality is the Pakistanis have had contacts with these groups since they were
fighting the Soviets 20 or 25 years ago when I first was dealing with the Pakistanis on this. And, I must
say, also helping make sure that some of those same groups got weapons from our safe haven in
Pakistan. But with people like Gulbaddin Hekmatyar and the Hakani network, the Pakistanis have had
contacts with these people for a long time, I think partly as a hedge against what might happen in
Afghanistan if we were to walk away or whatever. What we need to do is try and help the Pakistanis
understand these groups are now an existential threat to them, and that we will be there as a steadfast
ally for Pakistan, that they can count on us, and that they don't need that hedge. [Transcript, Interview
on FOX News, 3/29/09]
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3/27/09: Mullen Said There Were Indication that There Were Still Elements Within ISI That Were
Supporting the Taliban and/or Al Qaeda.
BLITZER: How much can you, the U.S. military, the U.S. government, trust the Pakistanis?
MULLEN: The "" the agency you're really talking about, Wolf, is their "" is their intelligence
agency, the ISI.
And I have believed for a significant period of time now, fundamentally, the strategic approach
with the ISI must change. And their support for militants, their support for militants actually on
both borders, has to fundamentally shift in order for...
BLITZER: Are there still elements in the Pakistani intelligence, the ISI, who are sympathetic or,
even worse, actually supporting the Taliban and/or al Qaeda?
MULLEN: There are certainly indications that that's the case. And fundamentally that's one of
the things that has to change. [CNN Situation Room, 3/27/09]
3/27/09: Mullen " "I Have Believed For A Significant Period Of Time Now Fundamentally [That] The
Strategic Approach With The ISI Must Change"¦And Their Support For Militants – Actually On Both
Borders – Has To Fundamentally Shift." "Also regarding Pakistan, Mullen stressed the need for a
fundamental shift in the role of the country's intelligence agency, known as the ISI. Mullen
acknowledged indications that confirm news reports claiming the ISI supports insurgent elements in
Afghanistan and Pakistan with money, supplies and guidance. The United States has raised the issue
with Pakistani civilian and military leadership, he added. "I have believed for a significant period of time
now fundamentally [that] the strategic approach with the ISI must change," he said. "And their support
for militants "" actually on both borders "" has to fundamentally shift. [Armed Forces Press, 3/27/09]
4/1/09: Gen. Petraeus Said It Was Difficult to Tell The Nature of an Intelligence Contact in Pakistan
and that There Were Troubling Examples of Contacts Warning The Enemy of Impending Operations –
Said He Had Discussed the Issue With the Head of Pakistani Intelligence."How we do that has to be
done very carefully, and we will have to go through a process, I think, where we literally do build some
of the trust because there are both troubling events in the past and there are troubling accusations out
there. Some of these, frankly, when you dig into them are a bit more ambiguous than they seem to be
on the surface, although some are not. There are "" it is difficult in some cases to sort out what is an
intelligence agency contact that is trying to develop a source or, on the other hand, what is an
intelligence agency contact that is warning them of an impending operation. There have been examples
of the latter. Those are troubling. We have discussed those with the head of Pakistani intelligence, of the
ISI, Lieutenant General Pasha. I have done that, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, others. Ambassador
Holbrooke and I had a session with him together. The Pakistani military "" again, we've had these same
conversations with them." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 4/1/09]
U.S. Officials Have Discussed Pakistan as a Safe Haven for Extremists and Urged Greater Effort and
Cooperation Against Extremists in the Tribal Region From Pakistan
7/23/10: Holbrooke Said The Level Of Cooperation Between Pakistan And Allies Is "Not Yet Where We
Hope It Will Be." "It's a very complicated relationship, but it is an indispensable one for Great Britain
and the United States and very much at the top of the U.S."U.K. agenda is how to work together with
4
Pakistan to make Pakistan part of the solution to the problems of the region — because without
Pakistan's participation, this war could go on indefinitely," Holbrooke said. The envoy said ties between
Pakistan and the West had greatly improved in recent months, bringing "much more co"operation at
every level" in dealing with the Afghan conflict. "I don't want to mislead you," Holbrooke said. Levels of
co"operation are "not yet where we hope it will be." [AP, 7/23/10]
7/19/10: Secretary Clinton Called for Greater Cooperation Between the U.S. and Pakistan in Targeting
Bin Laden and Al"Qaida Who Have Used Pakistan as a Safe Haven. "But we're not saying go do it alone;
we're saying we're doing it with you. We're doing more and you're doing more. So there are, I'm sure,
additional steps that each of us can and should take. The problem is that we don't have any clear idea
about how best to get at the people we consider to be our primary enemies. Al"Qaida, Usama bin Ladin,
those are the people who attacked us and those are the people who are at the top of our list. Now, they
are somewhere, we believe, based on our best information. Where, we don't know. We would like to
work more closely together to go after them and to either capture or kill them, because we believe that
at the center of this syndicate of terror that is terrorizing people in Pakistan, al"Qaida exists." [Sec.
Clinton Roundtable with Pakistani Journalists, 7/19/10]
7/14/10: Holbrooke " "We Do Not Have Enough Action Yet On The Pakistani Side Of The Border."
"We do not have enough action yet on the Pakistani side of the border. And here is a perfect example
of why the two countries cannot be disaggregated for purposes of policy. We got what we wanted on
one side of the border, but we haven't gotten it on the other yet. And Americans are being killed and
wounded because of this. And I can assure you that we will take this up again when I go to Pakistan in
a few days and other senior officials go as well." [Transcript, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript, 7/14/10]
10/30/09: Sec. Clinton Said Al"Qaida Had a Safe Haven in Pakistan Since 2002 and She Found It "Hard
to Believe that Nobody in Your Government Knows Where They Are and Couldn't Get Them If They
Really Wanted to" – Urged More Cooperation in Tracking Down Al"Qaida. "But let me ask you
something. Al"Qaida has had safe haven in Pakistan since 2002. I find it hard to believe that nobody in
your government knows where they are and couldn't get them if they really wanted to. And maybe
that's the case. Maybe they're not getable. I don't know. But that's something that in respect for your
sovereignty, al"Qaida has run attacks against Indonesia, Spain, Great Britain, the United States, other
countries, the Philippines, et cetera, through either direct or indirect approaches. So the world has an
interest in seeing the capture and killing of the people who are the masterminds of this terrorist
syndicate, but so far as we know, they're in Pakistan. So I think I am more than willing to hear every
complaint about the United States. I am more than willing to do my best both to answer but also to
change where we can so that we do have better communication and we have better understanding. But
this is a two"way street. If we're going to have a mature partnership where we work together on
matters that really are in the best interest of both of our countries, then there are issues that not just
the United States but others have with your government and your military security establishment. So I
think that that's what I'm looking for. I don't believe in dancing around difficult issues, because I don't
think that benefits anybody. And I think part of the problem that we're facing in terms of the deficit of
trust that has been talked about is that we haven't taken seriously a lot of the concerns. I'm here to take
them seriously. But I ask in the pursuit of mutual respect that you take seriously our concerns so that it's
not just a one"sided argument. And I believe that if we do that, we may still not agree or there may still
be answers like, well, I don't know what is happening in this province of your country or I don't know
what the reasons are that al"Qaida has a safe haven in your country, but let's explore it and let's try to
5
be honest about it and figure out what we can do." [Sec. Clinton Roundtable with Senior Pakistani
Editors, 10/30/09]
2/3/10: DNI Blair Said the Safe Haven That Afghan Insurgents Had In Pakistan Was the Group's "Most
Important Outside Support," and that Disrupting that Safe Haven Was Necessary to Succeed in Our
Overall Effort in Afghanistan. "The safe haven that the Afghan insurgents have in Pakistan is the group's
most important outside support. And disrupting that safe haven won't be sufficient by itself to defeat
the insurgency in Afghanistan. But disrupting that presence in Pakistan is necessary " it's a necessary
condition for making overall program in Afghanistan." [House Intelligence Committee Hearing, 2/3/10]
6/29/10: Gen. Petraeus Said Al"Qaida Had Established New Sanctuaries in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan
Following the U.S. Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. "It was, of course, in response to those attacks that
a U.S."led coalition entered Afghanistan in late 2001 and defeated Al Qaida and the Taliban elements
that allowed Al Qaida to establish its headquarters in training camps in Afghanistan. In the subsequent
years, however, the extremists were able to recruit, with Al Qaida establishing new sanctuaries in the
tribal areas of Pakistan and the Taliban and its affiliates reentering Afghanistan in an effort to reestablish
the control they once had in much of the country. In light of those developments, our task in
Afghanistan is clear. Indeed, President Obama has explained America's vital national interests there. We
will not, he has stated, tolerate a safe haven for terrorists, who want to destroy Afghan security from
within and launch attacks against innocent men, women and children in our country and around the
world." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 6/29/10]
6/29/10: Gen. Petraeus Said There Were Still Extremist Elements That Had Sanctuary in the Pakistan
Tribal Areas that Were Carrying Out Operations in Afghanistan and Others That Were Transnational,
Like Al" Qaida. "They have sustained significant losses, as is well known, in the tribal areas. Their
freedom of action has been reduced by Pakistani "" or operations by the Pakistani army and Frontier
Corps in the former Northwest Frontier Province, Pakhtunkhwa, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and in several of
the agencies of the tribal areas "" certainly not all of them. And certainly, there are still, without
question, extremist elements there that have sanctuary there and are carrying out operations inside
Afghanistan, and others that are transnational, as is the case of Al Qaida and some other elements in
Pakistan, as well." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 6/29/10]
1/20/10: Gates Said The "Afghan"Pakistan Border Is [Al"Qaeda's] Primary Home And Safe Haven."
Gates said, "What we have in the area of the Afghan"Pakistan border is first of all, al"Qaida. It's its
primary home and safe haven. You also have the Taliban who are active in Afghanistan. You also have
the Tehrik"e" Taliban Pakistan that are focused on Pakistan. You also have Lashkar" e"Taiba, LET, that is
focused on Pakistan but also on India. And what we see is that the success of any one of these groups
leads to new capabilities and new reputation for all. A victory for one is a victory for all. What I see
happening is these groups operating under the umbrella of al"Qaida in the Northwest Frontier Province,
probably in North Waziristan, is orchestrating attacks using one element in Afghanistan, using another
element of the Taliban in Pakistan to attack targets in Pakistan to try to destabilize Pakistan, and again,
working with al" Qaida, Lashkar"e"Taiba, planning attacks in India. I believe this operation under the
umbrella of al"Qaida, working with all of these different groups, is intended to destabilize not just
Afghanistan or not just Pakistan, but potentially the whole region by provoking a conflict perhaps
between India and Pakistan through some provocative act or terrorist act, or provoking instability in
Pakistan itself through terrorist attacks in Pakistan. So I think it's a very complicated situation. I think it's
very dangerous for the region as a whole. I also think it's dangerous to single out any one of these
groups and say if we could beat that group that will solve the problem. Because they are, in effect, a
6
syndicate of terrorist operators intending to destabilize this entire region. That's why it is so important
for all of us to be engaged, to understand the magnitude of this threat and to be engaged in trying to
reduce the threat, and wherever possible eliminate it. And it does require a high level of cooperation
among us all." [CQ Transcript, Press Conference in India, 1/20/10]
12/8/09: Gates Said Pakistan Should "Focus On What Has Become, In My View, A Real Existential
Threat To Pakistan Which Is These Different Terrorist Groups Operating Within It's Territory." "What
we [and the Indian government] talked about at some length was the syndicate of different terrorist
groups that I talked about at the outset and how they put all of the countries here in the region "
Afghanistan, Pakistan, India " at risk because of their activities. And as we've talked about, clearly one of
the subjects of discussion for my next visit is how to allay their concerns so that they can focus on what
has become, in my view, a real existential threat to Pakistan which is these different terrorist groups
operating within its territory." [American Forces Press Service, 12/8/09]
12/2/09: Sec. Clinton Said It Was Difficult to Parse Out the Different Groups Operating in Pakistan, All
of Whom We Thought Were Connected to Al Qaida and Partition Some Off and Go After Others, Said
Adm. Mullen Had Been Key in Making the Case to the Pakistanis That They Needed to Do More
Against the Insurgents. "It is difficult to parse out the different groups that are operating within
Pakistan all of whom we think are connected in one way or another with al"Qaida and partition some off
and go after the others. So it will be our continuing effort. And Admiral Mullen has been instrumental in
working on this with his counterparts to make the case that the Pakistanis have to do more against all of
the insurgent terrorist groups that are threatening them, that are threatening us in Afghanistan and the
Afghan people, are threatening other neighbors in the region. And we hope that we'll be able to make
that case successfully." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 12/2/09]
12/2/09: Sec. Clinton Said We Were Asking for More Help from the Pakistanis to Go After Al"Qaida
and the Leadership of the Afghan Taliban Inside Their Own Territory. "But that we also are asking for
more help from the Pakistanis to go after al"Qaida and the leadership of the Afghan Taliban inside their
own territory." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 12/2/09]
9/15/09: Adm. Mullen Said It Was Clear that Al"Qaida Was Diminished While It Was Living in Pakistan
But That They Were By No Means Dead and Was a Very Serious Threat. "It's very clear that, in fact, Al
Qaida is diminished while it's living in Pakistan. And this is a Pakistan" Afghanistan issue. They are by no
means dead. It's a very serious threat. And that if we allow the Taliban to "" to take control and run
Afghanistan again, I think the likelihood that they would return to that safe haven would be high."
[Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 9/15/09]
4/1/09: Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Flournoy Said that the U.S. Strategy Required
Eliminating Al"Qaida's Safe Haven in Pakistan and Ensuring they Did Not Return to Afghanistan – Said
Pakistan's Ability to Dismantle the Safe Havens in its Terrority Was Critical to Its Stability and Security.
"As the president stated last Friday, I think very eloquently, we have a very clear goal. This strategy went
"" really went back to first principles about our interests and our objectives, and we clarified our goal in
this region as disrupting, dismantling, and defeating Al Qaida and its extremist allies, and to do so, we
must eliminate their safe haven in Pakistan and ensure that such a safe haven does not return to
Afghanistan"¦ Pakistan's ability to dismantle the safe havens on its territory and defeat the terror and
insurgent networks within its borders are absolutely critical to the security and stability of that nuclear"
armed state." [Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing, 4/1/09]
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3/27/09: Admiral Mullen Said that Al Qaida's Safe Haven in Pakistan Was in the FATA and He
Assumed that's Where Bin Laden and Zawahiri Were Hiding Out.
I have been in Pakistan on multiple trips to meet with their leadership. And, in fact, in the last
year, the Pakistan army and the Frontier Corps, who are the "" the local troops on the border...
FOREMAN: And they're "" they're based where...
(CROSSTALK)
MULLEN: They're actually based here in the FATA. And when we talk about...
FOREMAN: Right here.
MULLEN: ... a safe haven for al Qaeda and the president's focus on al Qaeda, this is where they
live.
BLITZER: And that's where you assume Osama bin Laden and Ayman Al"Zawahri are hiding out,
on the "" on the Pakistan side of this border?
MULLEN: Absolutely, and "" and they hide very well. [CNN's Situation Room, 3/27/09]
3/27/09: Interagency Report " "The Core Goal of the U.S. Must Be to Disrupt, Dismantle, and Defeat al
Qaeda and its Safe Havens in Pakistan, and to Prevent Their Return to Pakistan or Afghanistan."
"Therefore, the core goal of the U.S. must be to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda and its safe
havens in Pakistan, and to prevent their return to Pakistan or Afghanistan. The ability of extremists in
Pakistan to undermine Afghanistan is proven, while insurgency in Afghanistan feeds instability in
Pakistan." [White Paper on the Interagency Policy Group's Report on U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan and
Pakistan, 3/27/09]