Pakistani who helped US track osama sentenced to prison
Read more here http://news.yahoo.com/pakistani-help...111936200.htmlA Pakistani doctor who helped the U.S. track down Osama bin Laden was convicted of high treason Wednesday and sentenced to 33 years in prison, officials said, a verdict that is likely to further strain the country's relationship with Washington.Shakil Afridi ran a vaccination program for the CIA to collect DNA and verify bin Laden's presence at the compound in the town of Abbottabad where U.S. commandos killed the al-Qaida chief last May. The operation outraged Pakistani officials because they were not told about it beforehand.
Senior U.S. officials have called for Afridi to be released, saying his work served Pakistani and American interests. His conviction comes at a sensitive time because the U.S. is already frustrated by Pakistan's refusal to reopen NATO supply routes to Afghanistan. The supply routes were closed six months ago in retaliation for American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.
Afridi also was ordered to pay a fine of about $3,500 and will spend an additional three and half years in prison if he does not, said Nasir Khan, a government official in the Khyber tribal area, where the doctor was arrested and tried.
What a hypocrisy.
From May 2, 2011
"Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates."
From the perspective that he helped get Bin Laden he did a good job.
But imo using doctors and vaccination for war and espionage is pretty low. He sold patients data and DNA samples to a foreign country - I'm not surprised that didn't get a friendly pat on the back from Pakistan.
I'm surprised the americans didn't get him out. If not for the kindness of their hearts, at least to show that they do take care of those that help them.
In interest of maintaining the prestige of our commitments, I hope we secure his release at some point.
Now we know where Pakistan's true allegiance lies with.
who else were caught?
Question is why was he still there. Knowing all the riskOriginally Posted by SBL
Doubt he had much choice or freedom of movement.
Unfortunately this is the crux of the issue, legally Pakistan's completely within their rights to prosecute those working for a foreign spy agency, just look at the thread about the FBI vs CIA where the FBI questions the legality of some CIA actions and the response is that the CIA doesn't break any US laws, just foreign laws. Unsurprisingly people connected or involved with the CIA are going to be prosecuted wherever they come from. Legally there's not much of an argument that can be made that this man should be let to do what he did, what you can and should argue is that Pakistan should have been providing the intel and assistance that the CIA ended up providing through this guy to prosecute the Bin Ladin raid.
Pretty discouraging for future co-operatives.
Couldn't agree more, I wondered at the time why this stuff came out. (Using the DNA from vaccinations) Was it leaked? Or let out on purpose?
Why did it take you so long to realize this?
I'd say double tap is much more likely in scenarios like this. The dead can't speak and do not need demand payment.
US intelligence usually dont take care of their own... even Capt. Pryce from CoD knows that LOL.
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