"Who told them where he was?"

In a post for the London Review of Books blog today, Tariq Ali wonders whether the war "that has already led to civilian casualties that are, at the very least, four times higher than the casualties of Twin Towers," will be brought to an end following Osama bin Laden's death ... "Like hell [it] will."

A US Special Forces operation in Pakistan has taken out Osama bin Laden and a few others. He was in a safe house close to Kakul Military Academy (Pakistan's Sandhurst). The only interesting question is who betrayed his whereabouts and why. The leak could only have come from the ISI and, if this is the case, which I'm convinced it is, then General Kayani, the military boss of the country, must have green-lighted the decision. What pressure was put on him will come out sooner or later.The event took me back to a conversation I had a few years ago.

In 2006 on my way back from Lahore I encountered an acquaintance from my youth. Shamefacedly he confessed that he was a senior intelligence officer on his way to a European conference to discuss better ways of combating terrorism. The following conversation (a lengthier version can be found in The Duel: Pakistan on the Flightpath of American Power) ensued:

"Is OBL still alive?"
He didn't reply.
"When you don't reply," I said, "I'll assume the answer is yes."
I repeated the question. He didn't reply.
"Do you know where he is?"
He burst out laughing.
"I don't, and even if I did, do you think I'd tell you?"
"No, but I thought I'd ask anyway. Does anyone else know where he is?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
I insisted: "Nothing in our wonderful country is ever a secret. Someone must know."
"Three people know. Possibly four. You can guess who they are."
I could. "And Washington?"
"They don't want him alive."
"And your boys can't kill him?"
"Listen friend, why should we kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?"

Now the Americans have killed the goose themselves. What was the bounty promised and to whom? Would that they also now brought to an end the war and occupation that was supposedly fought to take out Osama and that has already led to civilian casualties that are, at the very least, four times higher than the casualties of Twin Towers. Will they? Like hell they will.

Visit the London Review of Books blog to read the post in situ.