‘Blood money’ frees CIA contractor in Pakistan

‘Blood money’ frees CIA contractor in Pakistan

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) - A CIA contractor who shot and killed two Pakistani men was freed from prison on Wednesday after the United States paid $2.34 million in “blood money” to the victims’ families, Pakistani officials said, defusing a dispute that had strained ties between Washington and Islamabad.

In what appeared to be carefully choreographed end to the diplomatic crisis, the U.S. Embassy said the Justice Department had opened an investigation into the killings on Jan. 27 by Raymond Allen Davis. It thanked the families for “their generosity” in pardoning Davis, but did not mention any money changing hands.

Davis left the country immediately on a U.S. flight, Pakistani and American officials said.

The killings and detention of Davis triggered a fresh wave of anti-American sentiment in Pakistan and were testing an alliance seen as key to defeating al-Qaida and ending the war in Afghanistan.

Full Story Here:
‘Blood money’ frees CIA contractor in Pakistan

There are so many things WRONG with this story, one of the more important things being the fact that the Obama regime gave up Raymond Davis to the Pakistanis as a CIA employee.

Davis, a 36-year-old Virginia native, claimed he acted in self-defense when he killed the two men on the street in the eastern city of Lahore. The United States initially described him as either a U.S. consular or embassy official, but officials later acknowledged he was working for the CIA, confirming suspicions that had aired in the Pakistani media.

It was never fully stated if Davis was a CIA Officer or a contractor, there is a difference, but the fact that he was outed at all is a rather disturbing matter.

I had quite a bit to say about this incident recently, and I am surprised that Davis is alive and out of Pakistan, American Held in Pakistan Worked for CIA.

The United States had insisted Davis was covered by diplomatic immunity, but the weak government here, facing intense pressure from Islamist parties, sections of the media and the general public, did not say whether this was the case.

The payment of “blood money,” sanctioned under Pakistani law, had been suggested as the best way to end the dispute.

Translation: The WEAK administration of Barack Hussein Obama got their collective asses kicked by the Pakistanis.

We already send untold BILLIONS of U.S. dollars to Pakistan. Instead of making a payoff, the *blood money* thing, why not instead tell the Pakistani government that the spigot just closed, and until Davis is released, unharmed, the flow will remain shut down. How long do you think the Pakistanis would survive if that happened?

Something else that this *blood money* thing may bring up, we now know the price Pakistan is willing to accept for the death of 2 people, $2.34 million dollars, or $1.17 million dollars a head.

Think about this, the CIA has been in the news a lot lately, regarding unmanned Predator drones that are taking out *the bad guys* right and left. Suppose Pakistan sees an opportunity to extort $1.17 million dollars a head for all of the collateral damage they claim is happening?

Given the high stakes for both nations, few imagined either side would allow it to derail the relationship. The main question was how long it would take to reach a deal.

And there it is. They reached a *deal*. The cost of a life was defined in monetary terms and that settles that. We hope.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said Davis was charged with murder Wednesday in a court that was convened in a prison in Lahore, but was immediately pardoned by the families of the victims after the payment.

I would take bets that the conversation went something like this, “Oh, but of course we will take that money and pardon the American infidel, I never was too fond of *so and so* to begin with…” and I would be surprised if the family got much of anything, the Pakistani government made out well though I am guessing.

Raja Muhammad Irshad, a lawyer for the families, said 19 male and female relatives appeared in court to accept the $2.34 million. One Pakistani official said the sum was just under twice that, while other media outlets reported the amount was between $700,000 and $1.4 million.

Lies, confusion, obfuscation, looks like the Pakistanis operate much like the Obama regime and the U.S. news media.

One ISI official said CIA director Leon Panetta and ISI chief Gen. Shuja Pasha talked in mid-February to smooth out the friction between the two spy agencies. A U.S. official confirmed that the phone call took place.

Pasha demanded the U.S. identify “all the Ray Davises working in Pakistan, behind our backs,” the official said.

He said Panetta agreed “in principle” to declare such employees, the official said, but would not confirm if the agency had done so.

I’m surprised that Panetta hasn’t been ordered to hand over a full list of all CIA employees, officers, contractors, secretarial and cleaning staff, the whole list. It seems they had no problem in giving up Raymond Davis.

From my previous post on this matter:

Here is a bit of personal opinion; if the CIA and/or the Obama administration keep on giving up the identity of Officers and contractors, pretty soon there won’t be any officers left to give up. Unlike the FBI and Secret Service, the CIA is not a bunch of Federal Agents and automatons that blindly, and mindlessly follow the orders and wishes of the President.

The CIA will carry out the missions given them, and they can also brew up their own missions if nothing is particularly piquing their interest, but they won’t go needlessly into the fray in an effort that requires they sacrifice themselves for moronic leaders. Think Obama.

And that, my friends, is the fact of the matter…