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U.S. Designates Pakistan-Based Haqqani Network a ‘Terrorist Organization’

Sep. 7, 2012 11:28am

The Obama administration on Friday formally designated the Pakistan-based Haqqani network — responsible for high-profile attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan — as a terrorist organization, a move some say could put U.S.-Pakistani ties in an even more precarious position.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a report to Congress Friday morning stating the Haqqani network “meets the statutory criteria for designation as a foreign terrorist organization,” a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity told the Associated Press.

Clinton did so two days ahead of a congressional deadline set in July to try to spur the Obama administration into imposing on the group the blanket financial sanctions that come with the terrorist designation. The U.S. had already placed sanctions on individual Haqqani leaders and has been targeting its members militarily, but had held off on formally labeling it a terrorist group, according to the AP.

“We are drying up their resources, we are targeting their military and intelligence personnel and we are pressing the Pakistanis to step up their own efforts,” Clinton said earlier this month.

The Taliban- and Al-Qaeda-affiliated Haqqanis have been blamed for a September 2011 assault on the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters in Kabul and other strikes throughout the country. According to the New York Times, U.S. officials say Pakistan’s intelligence agency is secretly aiding the Haqqanis, a charge Pakistanis deny.

A senior Pakistani official told Reuters blacklisting the group would be counterproductive and put increased pressure on the Pakistani government.

“If the United States wants to have a constructive relationship with Pakistan, then this is a bad move,” the official said. “This will push Pakistan into a corner.”

According to the New York Times, “many” senior officials, including some in the White House, expressed reservations about the designation out of concern about further souring relations with Pakistan, putting peace talks with the Taliban at risk and potentially putting Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier known to be held by the Haqqanis, in jeopardy.

But Supporters of the designation won out, with one senior administration official telling the Times it is a “very strong signal of our resolve to combat the Haqqanis.”

“This shows that we are using everything we can to put the squeeze on these guys,” another administration official said.

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Comments (16)

  • RedManWalking
    Posted on September 8, 2012 at 11:31pm

    There was a 25 million dollar reward for Osama bin Laden. This money should be used to free the Pakistani doctor who identified the bin Laden DNA. Once freed and in the United States he should be given a substantial reward. That is the right thing to do.

    Report this comment

    RedManWalking  
  • universalphilos
    Posted on September 8, 2012 at 4:30am

    One might wonder about this prophecy in relation to The Revelation 6:3 and chapter 12, when asked January 29, 1978: “In 1973, you spoke of the Red Horse, to beware of the Red Horse. Who is the Red Horse? And who is China?”

    China is the Dragon. And the Red Horse is Pakistan. For what you have given unto this country, Pakistan, you have given unto the “Black September.” And for what the nations shall give unto the power of the Palestinians is but a short time they shall have it back, for this is a nation of terrorists, murders, who have cared not, for they have not known of God, nor shall they ever − for they are the Anti-Christ.
    Yet, they shall come unto you and say, “Woe is me.”
    But when they kill you and kill your children, and rob your churches − and they have already done these things and proven themselves that which they are − they condemned themselves in the eyes of God.
    And we say unto you, the sins of the mother and father shall go into the fifth generation. For as in the days of Lot, the Lord would look upon them and say, “SHOW ME TEN RIGHTEOUS MEN AND WE SHALL NOT DESTROY THEM.”
    But yet, you have freedom of choice.

    [Note: The Father of Modern Terrorism, Yasser Arafat, hijacked four passenger jets and blew three up in Jordan before international media, sparking what Arabs call the Black September war. When it was lost, he led his Black September group of the P.L.O. and Fatah radicals to “seek reven

    Report this comment

    universalphilos  
  • Individualism
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 4:54pm

    Look at what USA is doing to Pakistan and Iran doesn’t want the samething done to them, that is why they want a nuke because they don’t want to end up like Iraq or Pakistan with USA invading, killing their people and installing a puppet goverment.

    Report this comment

    Individualism  
  • Individualism
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 4:52pm

    Pakistan has amazing restrain not to retaliate against American forces for what there doing.

    Report this comment

    Individualism  
  • Classical Liberal
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 4:32pm

    The federal government is setting the stage for more war and conflict in the middle east, and the American people fall for it hook line and sinker.

    We are in the age of global nativism, and that is a world where we will hate men for his beliefs, and then kill him and his family and cheer for the action. I blame this on rampant stupidity in this country from people on all sides. If you really can’t fix stupid, then we really are done.

    Report this comment

    Classical Liberal  
  • TIME_THE_AVENGER
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 2:47pm

    And the civilized world just declared islam a dangerous religion. We’re behind the curve there.

    Report this comment

    TIME_THE_AVENGER  
  • Chronykle
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 2:15pm

    Sure is convenient that the deadline was Sunday and Obama waits until after the DNC to claim them as terrorists after all this time they have been killing our troops in Afghanistan. So the President goes so low that he gets a bump from the DNC then goes for an additional bump off the blood of our soldiers? Way to court the American Citizens off their lost loved ones.

    Report this comment

    Chronykle  
  • jackact
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 1:15pm

    …”Arab Fall” perhaps?
    Too late dummies.

    Report this comment

    jackact  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 12:01pm

    So, we park 75K troops next to them and fly drone strikes into their country and violate the borders of Pakistan. Then when some whack-job jihadi’s take offense to it and fight back we label them “terrorists” and thus setting off all the bureaucratic switches to level Pakistan at will…without declaring war of course.

    Here’s a thought….Bin Laden has been dead over a year. LEAVE!!!! Why in the hell are our sons and daughters dying in this crap hole? You wanna stay? Declare a war, determine what victory looks like. This nation building crap is just stupid. How’d that work for the British? The Greeks? The Romans? On and on…you go empire building and it will crumble.

    Our founders rebelled AGAINST an empire. Here we are now trying to build them. There is no mission in that backwards craphole. Come home and let them all kill each other…we don’t even have to fire a shot.

    Report this comment

    Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
    • PeachyinGA
      Posted on September 7, 2012 at 12:24pm

      When no one can honestly answer the question “Why are we still there?”, it’s time to wish them well with the knowledge and equipment we’ve provided for 10 years and bring our troops home. This terrorist labeling is more last minute election tactic. This was deliberately planned then ‘leaked’ today by “a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity”.

      Report this comment

      PeachyinGA  
    • Passerbye
      Posted on September 8, 2012 at 10:33pm

      We are there because they came here and murdered thousands of Americans and they plot to slaughter us wholesale.

      Glad to help you sort out that far too difficult puzzle.

      Report this comment

      Passerbye  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:55am

    Stating the obvious is a bold move by this administration.

    Report this comment

    Gonzo  
  • justangry
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:38am

    So how long will it be before we’re arming/supporting them in destabilizing other countries?

    Report this comment

    justangry  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on September 7, 2012 at 11:33am

    Uh oh. They’ve been named. A low, bowing apology can’t be far behind.

    Report this comment

    JACKTHETOAD  

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