Where Osama Bin Laden was found
The death of big time bad guy Osama Bin Laden prompted a worldwide celebration.
Now a hangover is settling in.
The raid at Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan took place a short walk from the nation’s military academy (like West Point). The Economist reports
Local residents say that police regularly swept the area, roughly once a week, checking residents’ IDs and sometimes looking inside homes. It is hard to believe that this house could have escaped scrutiny for long.
Some think it is hard to believe important people in Pakistan did not know the presence of Bin Laden in their midst.
This is a reminder of Pakistan’s uncomfortably cozy relationship with extremist groups.
While the government fights terrorist groups with vigor on one hand, other elements in the government turn a blind eye.
The country of 200 million people is a combustible mix of tribes and religions. Political stability in Pakistan remains elusive with leading politicians, even Prime Ministers living in fear of assassination.
To make things worse, it borders on the tumultuous state of Afghanistan where Taliban extremists use Pakistan’s mountain as hideaways.
To help keep Pakistan from tumbling into civil war, the United States gives nearly $3 Billion in aid to the country. Why?
Pakistan has a large arsenal of nuclear weapons.
Should Pakistan dissolve into chaos, the extremist groups already present in the country may get access to some true terror.
Thanks to the death of Bin Laden Pakistan is currently the center of the world’s attention… and will likely remain a central focus for years to come.