Michael Mullen Quotes
I've said for a long time, clearly the - a, a critical key to success in the region is going to be Pakistan and our relationship with Pakistan, which was one that was broken in the late '80s and which we've worked hard to restore.
Mullen, Michael. Interview by Jim Lehrer. PBS NewsHour, PBS, 2009.
Pakistan while feigning alliance during the Afghanistan War was actually supporting terrorist groups and giving safe haven to the Taliban. America poured billions into Pakistan much of which was siphoned off by corruption and much of the money actually funded the Pakistani Intelligence Service which was supporting terrorist groups who in turn were attacking Americans in Afghanistan. Pakistan was paranoid about India and used terrorist groups to harass and attack that country. America had been a little reluctant to form a strong alliance with India as during the cold war they were neutral and did not support us. But it was a real democracy, as opposed to Pakistan, and not duplicitous like Pakistan had been.
At the time Pakistan was almost a failed state which had nuclear weapons. They took large amounts of American aid (military and civilian) and claimed that they were an ally in the War on Terror. On some occasions they deployed their troops against fundamentalist terrorists. On others they shielded terrorists and provided them with sanctuary from attack, intelligence and allowed terrorist leaders to not only live in Pakistan but operate their organizations from Pakistan. They supported radical Madrassas (religious schools) that taught hate and terrorism, and armed terrorists in the hopes that they could be used against their enemy India while the terrorists themselves killed more Pakistanis by far than the Indians ever did. The civilian government was subservient to the military which itself was subservient to the Intelligence Arm.
The 21st century perception of Pakistani leaders was not new. The same delusional view of the nation’s importance was held by the founder of Pakistan from the start of nation. The perception of American leaders has been on both sides of this question at different times. The reality is that Pakistan and the United States have both profited from the relationship, but there is constant reevaluation in both nations as to whether the price that is paid for the relationship is worth the cost.
Michael Glenn Mullen is a retired United States Navy admiral, who served as the 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2011.
