Statements by Government Officials about Pakistan
CBC Interview with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
Monday, April 2, 2012
MR. MANSBRIDGE: Now you mention how — you took a lot of material out of that compound and you've now had almost a year to go through it all. Have you been able to determine, in what you've seen, any direct connection with Pakistan for his ability to live and operate within a stone's throw of Pakistan's — one of its most important military installations?
SEC. PANETTA: I have not. And you know, there's been a lot of material. They've gone through a lot of material. We haven't had access to, obviously, all of the analysis that's been done, but I have not heard any kind of evidence that involved a direct connection to the Pakistanis. Obviously the concern has always been how could a compound like this, how could bin Laden be in an area where there were military establishments, where we could see the military operating and not have them know.
MR. MANSBRIDGE: And how could it? How could it operate there without their knowledge?
SEC. PANETTA: Well, you know, these situations sometimes, you know, the leadership within Pakistan (sic) is obviously not aware of certain things and yet people lower down in the military establishment find it very well, they've been aware of it. But bottom line is that we have not had evidence that provides that direct link.
MR. MANSBRIDGE: Are you comfortable with the Pakistan military and intelligence community?
SEC. PANETTA: Well, you know, it's a complex relationship. It always has been and I suspect it always will be. In some ways we share a common — common concern and a common threat. Terrorism is as much a threat to Pakistan and the people of Pakistan as it is to us and to the people of Afghanistan. And the fact is that they lost an awful lot of lives because of terrorism. And they continue to conduct military operations against the terrorists. So in many ways we have common cause, but the problem is that they view their position in that part of the world as one that is threatened, threatened by India, threatened by others, threatened by some of the terrorists, threatened by the concern about, you know, how they're going to be viewed in that region, what kind of position are they going to have for the future. And as a result of that, sometimes we get very mixed messages from Pakistan as to just exactly where they're going to be. We've had ups and downs, but my view is it's an absolutely essential relationship if we're going to be able to, A, go after the enemy that we're concerned about, and B, frankly, you can't really have peace in Afghanistan until we've been able to ensure that we have peace in Pakistan with regards to the terrorists.
MR. MANSBRIDGE: Now you never told the Pakistanis anything about the raid that was about to take place on bin Laden, for those fears, right? Fears that they wouldn't keep it a secret?
SEC. PANETTA: The concern we had is that, you know, we had provided intelligence to them with regards to other areas and unfortunately, for one way or another, it got leaked to the individuals we were trying to go after. So as a result of that we were concerned that if we were going to perform a sensitive mission like this, we had to do it on our own.
MR. MANSBRIDGE: Is the trust any deeper or better today than it was a year ago?
SEC. PANETTA: Well, you know, we've — as I said, it's a complex relationship. We've been through our ups and downs. We're actually in a period now, after coming out of a couple of incidents, where I think they're interested and we're interested in trying to put this back on track. And as a result of that actually I think we're making some progress, trying to re-open the blocks, the portals for our supplies. We're making some good progress with regards to cross- border
operations. They are taking some steps to go after terrorists. So, you know, slowly but surely we're trying to get things back in the right place, to try to ensure that both of us are working against terrorism.
CNN Interview with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton
Sunday, April 1, 2012
MS. DOUGHERTY: Quick question on Pakistan. The United States apparently is agreeing to a different way of using drones, a very controversial issue. When that happens, could that be to the detriment of the national security of the United States?
SEC. CLINTON: Well, Jill, I'm not going to comment on any intelligence matter. That would not be appropriate. But I can assure you that the Obama Administration will not enter into any agreement that would be to the detriment of the national security of our country. I think this President has demonstrated conclusively that he's ready to take the tough decisions when America's security is at stake.
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