US confused over action against al Qaeda hideouts in Pakistan

The Bush Administration is sending conflicting signals to Pakistan and seems confused about the action it might take against the al Qaeda hideouts in the tribal belt.

Washington, July 19 : The Bush Administration is sending conflicting signals to Pakistan and seems confused about the action it might take against the al Qaeda hideouts in the tribal belt.

"You don't blithely go into another nation and conduct operations," said White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.

While Frances Townsend, Homeland Security Adviser to President George Bush when asked if the US could send troops into the tribal zone said, "The way to look at this is that there are no options off the table if that is what is required."

The New York Times quoted Bush Administration officials, as saying that there was growing concern that 'pinprick' attacks on the al Qaeda targets were not enough and some new steps must be taken.

Both officials were commenting on the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) report, a consensus view of 16 American spy agencies, which has warned that the al Qaeda has regenerated its capability to strike the US, and had established a safe haven in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas.

Snow when asked if the US could send troops to Pakistan as it did against Iraq, said the US invasion of Iraq had been made in a different situation, and President Bush had the support of 17 UN resolutions when he sent troops to that country.

Snow, however, disagreed with a suggestion that the US could seek similar world support for sending troops into Pakistan's tribal belt as it did against Iraq, the Dawn reported.

"We are working with a sovereign nation which is an ally with us, in this particular case," he said.

Meanwhile, the NYT story claimed that the intelligence officials held President Musharraf responsible for the al Qaeda resurgence.

"While identifying the main reasons for Al Qaeda's resurgence, intelligence officials and White House aides pointed the finger squarely at a hands-off approach toward the tribal areas by President Musharraf, who last year brokered a ceasefire with tribal leaders," the paper reported.

The NIE report, the most formal assessment since 9/11 attacks about the terrorist threat faced by the country, concludes that the US is losing ground on a number of fronts in the fight against Al Qaeda.

However, Townsend declined to describe what might be alternative strategies for dealing with the al Qaeda threat in Pakistan.

She added that the al Qaeda had succeeded in rebuilding its infrastructure and its links to affiliates, while keeping Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants alive for nearly six years since the 9/11 attacks.

ANI