Andrew Nenow is a wine and viticulture sophomore and Mustang Daily conservative columnist.
Americans do not necessarily worry about Pakistan quite like Iran, Iraq or Yemen. The quiet nation of Pakistan is not a hotbed for troubling protest or even known for radical Islamic ideals.
However, the death of Osama bin Laden has momentarily narrowed the focus on the Pakistani government. There might be other issues domestically for Americans to be concerned about, but there are some facts to consider.
In the aftermath of bin Laden’s death, the American government has discovered some facts that indicate that the Pakistani government was in cahoots with bin Laden. The first consideration is the location of bin Laden’s compound where he was killed.
Located outside the city of Abbottabad, the compound was probably the last place the United States military expected bin Laden to be. For 10 years the world thought bin Laden was in a hole in a mountain; many thought he was roughing it without electricity or running water.
Instead, he was living in the suburbs in a mansion only called a compound due to the double-layered, barbed wire wall surrounding it. If the Pakistani government was unaware bin Laden was in the country, how dim-witted is it?
If that was not enough, Abbottabad is home to the country’s military academy.
So let me get this right … bin Laden was just about 1,000 yards from Pakistani forces for five years? It would be crazy to think Pakistan had no idea he was in the country.
Now let’s consider the compound mansion and rip through some facts about it.
The mansion was worth more than $1 million. It was constructed in 2005 and is eight times larger than nearby homes. The mansion is on a hilltop surrounded by two 12 by 18 feet high concrete walls equipped with barbed wire. Expensive cars were often seen pulling in and out of the compound, and those inhabiting the compound were so paranoid about security that they burned their garbage instead of leaving it out for collection.
So what is the definition of suspicious behavior to the Pakistani government? What about barbed wire walls, expensive cars and paranoid inhabitants does not scream suspicious to these people?
As far as we know, military officials stationed at the military academy in Abbottabad were looking up at this complex thinking, “That giant, walled mansion looks perfectly normal in this desert.”
So what has the Pakistani government had to say about bin Laden’s discovered whereabouts?
Of course, it has refused to acknowledge knowing anything about him being in the country and have put forward a half-hearted agreement to help the United States fight terrorism.
On a completely unexpected note, the former spy chief of Pakistan turned the tables and chided our military for an unauthorized and unlawful entry into Pakistan. Some have even said Pakistan should retaliate for such a forced entry. This begs the question: Who do they think they are dealing with?
It is laughable to take them serious. I mean, you’re going to threaten the U.S. for killing one of the biggest mass murderers in history? You might as well just tell Americans you harbored bin Laden and are supporting al-Qaida. This American thinks our government should take a good look at Pakistan and decide what role it is playing with al-Qaida.