Af-Pak Happenings

The news about the capture of Abdolmalek Rigi by Iran has thrown a ton of uncertainty into the mix coming on the heels of the Baradar capture and possible relocation to Afghanistan.

Iranian state TV paraded Rigi out for a photo-op message where he claimed Obama was solely responsible for contact with Jund'allah (obviously false) and that the US wasn't that concerned about AQ or the Taliban anymore, only Iran.

US state media the New York Times was quick to point out that Bush had some dabblings with this group too, getting a twofer dig in at both Iran and Bush, but it's interesting that the Iranians cut off the relationship at Obama's inauguration to maximize propaganda. Apparently they have no trouble moving on from the Bush years, unlike Obama.

As to Baradar, Mark Hosenball of Newsweek wasn't as kind to the administration in regards to the apparent reluctance to use the HIG interrogation unit (that wasn't available for underbomber) for Taliban Two:

Some of the officials say they find this puzzling, since Baradar, who before his capture served as the Afghan Taliban's top military commander, is widely believed to possess information that might be very useful to U.S. and allied forces fighting his Taliban comrades in Afghanistan.

Maybe that makes Rigi's 'propaganda' a little more interesting.

BTW....

Here's what I uttered on this blog January 31st of the year 2010:

In the meantime here's a thought--why not hold the trial in DC? The administration has already said they plan to try "Hambali" there and so far there's only a whimper of protest. KSM also bombed the Pentagon and tried to take out the government by hitting the Capitol or White House, so it's fitting. Besides, Washington already has a pretty strong no-fly restricted airspace zone and ample security.

And wouldn't it be just a little bit fun to see the DC politicos trying to justify not trying KSM in Washington for the same reasons New Yorkers are now saying he shouldn't be tried in New York, after saying the Big Apple should steel themselves and not let the terrorists win?

Mentioned only because today's WaPo has a feature titled, "Bring Sheikh Mohammed's Trial to D.C.", whereupon Thomas Pennfield Jackson states:

A highly competent panel of prosecutors has reportedly told the attorney general that it is convinced it has sufficient admissible, credible and untainted evidence to convict KSM of the criminal conspiracy behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and most of its substantive criminal acts. There is virtually no possibility of an acquittal or even a hung jury.

Nice to see my influence in action over a former federal judge but c'mon, virtually no possibility of acquittal? Really? Hell, why not just blast the man with a hellfire from close range and save a lot of dough, since it's apparently legal and authorized.