The US and Pakistan struck a secret deal almost a decade ago permitting a US operation against Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil similar to last week's raid that killed the al-Qaida leader, the Guardian has learned.
The deal was struck between the military leader General Pervez Musharraf and President George Bush after Bin Laden escaped US forces in the mountains of Tora Bora in late 2001, according to serving and retired Pakistani and US officials.
Under its terms, Pakistan would allow US forces to conduct a unilateral raid inside Pakistan in search of Bin Laden, his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the al-Qaida No3. Afterwards, both sides agreed, Pakistan would vociferously protest the incursion.
That made my day. Even when President Obama tries to act all Bush-like unilateral, Bush set the stage.
Let's say it again: vindication.
UPDATE: The former Pakistani ruler denies there was a deal:
"Pervez Musharraf has seen a media report, and let me make it clear that no such agreement had been signed during his tenure," said Musharraf's spokesman Fawad Chaudhry. "Also, there was no verbal understanding."
So there you go. You'd expect them to say that even if there was a deal. But then they'd say that if there really wasn't a deal.
Given the atmosphere of the time, I'm pretty secure in assuming that we demanded--and got--such an agreement.
