In the murky world of intelligence and diplomacy – the two often intertwine – it’s not always easy to know the truth. The Raymond Davis case is a prime example. It has now emerged that Raymond Davis, the American held by Pakistan for shooting two alleged robbers, is a CIA contractor. Many news organizations had […]
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Diplomat, Spy, Contractor
Posted February 22nd, 2011 at 8:19 pm (UTC+0)
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Pakistan Killing Raises Security Questions
Posted January 6th, 2011 at 7:05 pm (UTC+0)
Pakistani provincial governor Salman Taseer, an outspoken opponent of his country’s contentious blasphemy laws, was allegedly gunned down by a member of his own protective squad. The assassin immediately surrendered and, with a smile on his face, proudly proclaimed that he had killed a blasphemer. A lone wolf or a conspirator? It is not yet […]
Holbrooke Death Marks Passing of Torch to New Generation
Posted December 15th, 2010 at 5:21 pm (UTC+0)
When someone dies, especially someone of note, accolades pour in praising the deceased’s virtues and praising his or her legacy. But of all the tributes that came in after the death U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, one, for me, stood out. In a statement, CIA director Leon Panetta – who worked […]
Holbrooke Death Leaves Hole in Afghan Policy
Posted December 14th, 2010 at 7:39 pm (UTC+0)
The death of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke came at a rather untimely moment. The Obama Administration was putting the final touches on the strategic review of what is dubbed “Af-Pak” policy, and Holbrooke was a key participant in that. Holbrooke was known for an outsize ego and abrasive manner, and was […]
