It's been a sweaty, uncomfortable summer for Pervez Musharraf, said Patrick Devenny in The Washington Times. Pakistan's dictatorial president swears he's America's ally, yet every week he seems to bring new evidence that Pakistan remains the world's foremost haven—and training ground—for terrorists. CIA director Porter Goss recently admitted that U.S. officials had a good idea where Osama bin Laden was hiding, but couldn't snatch him because of resistance from his 'œhost country.'(Hint: It begins with a 'œP.') Then it emerged that two of the London suicide bombers had studied in Pakistan's infamous madrasas—the religious schools that gave birth to the Taliban. In response, Musharraf announced last week that he would ban foreigners from studying in madrasas. But given his track record, there's little reason to think he'll follow through. For three and a half years, Musharraf has been playing a 'œpolitical shell game,' placating the U.S. with empty promises, while giving free rein to Pakistan's extremists. 'œThere are a lot of gray areas,' Musharraf said last week. 'œThose gray areas have to be addressed with a lot of prudence and a lot of understanding.'
One of those gray areas is in the Hindu Kush mountains of northwest Pakistan, said David Rohde and Somini Sengupta in The New York Times. It's there, in the remote provinces along the Afghanistan border, that al Qaida and the Taliban are currently regrouping, unhindered by Musharraf's anti-terror 'œinitiatives.' About 150 commanders loyal to al Qaida roam freely in the region, attacking Pakistani soldiers and any tribal leaders suspected of collaborating with the government. The emboldened Islamic extremists have, in recent weeks, launched strikes across the border into Afghanistan, and are now said to be running training camps for the resurgent Taliban. Musharraf claims to have al Qaida 'œon the run,' but even Pakistan's 'œstaunchest backers” seriously doubt that.
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