NightWatch
For the Night of 23 August 2009
North Korea-South
It was the first high-level meeting between the countries in nearly two years and the atmospherics of the 30-minute session, which a spokesman described as "very serious and gentle."
The Associated Press on 24 August repeated reports by two South
Korean news services who cited unidentified government officials that the North
Korean delegation conveyed Kim Chong-il’s desire to hold a summit with
President Lee. Lee reportedly said only if the nuclear program is discussed.
The South Korean government denied the news reports
The thaw continues. Last week, President Lee said he does
not intend to soften his hard-line policy towards
North Korea-US: Last week after meeting North Korean
emissaries from the UN Mission, Governor Richardson confirmed the North expects
a significant reward for releasing the two
Sri Lanka-Pakistan: The Telegraph reported on Friday that Sri Lankan military authorities are swamped with requests for training by countries around the world, in the aftermath of the crushing of the Tamil Tigers.
“We received a
request from
The appointment of Hakimullah Mehsud as his successor is in
accordance with the living will of Baitullah Mehsud. Mohammad added that TTP
rivals Maulvi Nazir and Hafiz Gul Bahadir are also pleased with the appointment
of Hakeemullah Mehsud. Mohammad also said that his group was ready for
negotiations with the Pakistani government but that
Pakistani intelligence officials said on 23 August that the naming of Hakimullah Mehsud as the new leader of the Pakistani Taliban on 22 August is likely a diversion to hold the movement together, Reuters reported. An unnamed Pakistani intelligence official said that while the announcement by the Taliban was authentic, Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a shootout days after Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed by a U.S. air strike 5 August.
Another intelligence official said the announcement was
aimed at buying time until one of Hakimullah's brothers could return from
fighting in
According to Dawn news paper, which also quoted
Faqir Mohammad, the shura had 22 attendees. The vote was unanimous. Faqir
Mohammad again became a deputy to the leader and remained the Pakistani Taliban
amir of Bajaur Agency in
According to The News on 24 August, the shura to
replace Baitullah Mehsud has not yet met, but plans to within the next five
days. A Commander Wali
None of the stories are credible. The Pakistani government version about Hakimullah dying in a shoot out has the merit of consistency in that the government has stuck to its version all month. Nevertheless all parties are dissembling. The government is engaging in information operations to aggravate leadership rivalries in the insurgency. The insurgency is trying to project its leadership is intact and its membership is not in disarray.
The leader, if one is selected, might not be know before the end of Ramadan, which began Saturday. Two things seem clear: the name of the movement did not change, as Faqir Mohammad announced; the threat has not diminished. All the lads claiming leadership are as vicious and less well-mannered as Baitullah.
Note: One of the more instructive reports from the weekend was disclosed by the Pakistani Interior Minister who claimed that the Pakistani Taliban executed an unknown number of Baitullah Mehsud’s blood relations and relations by marriage because they spied on him and ratted his movements to US and Pakistani authorities.
The Daily Times reported “No new strategy was undertaken while hunting Baitullah. Agents pin-pointed the TTP chief’s position and the CIA took him out through a drone attack,” officials familiar with training agents for tracking down targets told Daily Times. “He (TTP chief) was simply not spotted through the powerful lens fixed on the drone, rather the complete set of procedures laid down for such missions was followed,” the officials said
A belt wrapped above an agent’s waist carries two electronic chips, the officials said. “The agent pushes the first chip when he finds himself close to the target to intimate the satellite, which transfers the information to the control-room. The second chip is pushed only when the target is present and the agent has moved to a safer place. That is what happens when the drone is positioned and Hellfire missiles are fired,” officials explained.
The Taliban confirmed they had executed a resident of Mardan on charges of spying for the CIA, one week after the August 5 drone attack. The killed man’s family said he had served Baitullah as his driver, according to the Daily Times.
The BBC carried the same story. In Mardan, a driver for Baitullah Mehsud was buried a day or so after the 5 August attack, but the news at the time reported he was killed with Baitullah Mehsud.
The CJCS’ comments are unusually candid but the timing is odd … three days after the elections.
Germany-Afghanistan: Reuters reported 22 August that German
Foreign Minister Steinmeier, who is bidding to oust Angela Merkel as chancellor
of
Steinmeier, a member of the Social Democrats (SPD) who share
power with Merkel's conservatives, said once it became clear who would lead
Afghanistan after last Thursday's election there, talks should begin over how
long foreign troops should stay. "We need to agree with the new Afghan
president...how long international troops should remain in
The security surge was linked to the elections, despite hopes by some that presence would translate into permanence. A number of NATO and ISAF members will start withdrawing their forces now the elections are over. The fighting and loss of life are not popular among most European electorates, which are calling their parliamentary leaders to account.
End of NightWatch
for 23 August.