LONDON, Dec. 1, 2008
Rice Urges "Transparency" In Pakistan
Secretary Of State Says America Expects Full Cooperation With Probe Into India Attack
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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, shown in a February 2008 file photo in London. (Press Association via AP Images)
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Appearing at a news conference with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, Rice said the perpetrators of attacks that have taken the lives of at least 170 in Mumbai, India, "must be brought to justice." She also said that Pakistan's response to the attacks will be a test of the will of the new civilian government.
"What we are emphasizing to the Pakistani government is the need to follow the evidence wherever it leads," Rice said. "I don't want to jump to any conclusions myself on this, but I do think that this is a time for complete, absolute, total transparency and cooperation and that's what we expect."
At President Bush's direction, Rice is cutting short a European trip to visit India later this week. Six Americans were among those killed in attacks spanning three days in the Indian commercial capital Mumbai.
Rice said that "ultimately, the terrorists have to be stopped because they will keep trying to bring down" civilized nations and institutions.
At another point in the news conference, she made clear that the United States is working directly with the top leaders of Pakistan.
"The president of Pakistan is the elected Pakistani president and he therefore has the legitimacy that comes with election," she said. "The military now serves in a civilian government. We have obviously good contacts with all Pakistani officials ... but the government of Pakistan has a legitimate and elected president."
Indian leaders have pointed fingers at "elements in Pakistan" although it is not yet clear where the well-planned operation originated.
Attackers chose sites representing the city's wealth and tourism, and reportedly sought out Westerners as victims. Rice will see Indian leaders in New Delhi. She does not plan to go to Mumbai.
A previously unknown Muslim group called Deccan Mujahideen - a name suggesting origins inside India - has claimed responsibility for the attacks. But a top Indian police officer said Sunday he believed the attackers were from Lashkar-e-Taiba, long seen as a creation of the Pakistani intelligence service to help fight India in the disputed Kashmir region. The group was banned in Pakistan in 2002 under pressure from the U.S., a year after Washington and Britain listed it a terrorist organization.
President Bush was in the Situation Room Monday morning, getting another update on the terrorist attacks.
Pressed about what the White House knows of the terrorists' motives, press secretary Dana Perino said: "The intelligence community is still assessing all aspects of the attack, the motivation, the plotting and planning and the operational details of it."
Asked if she was convinced that there was no Pakistani government role in the attacks, "I'm not going to comment on any possible involvement. ... I've heard nothing that says the Pakistani government was involved."
Later, Perino added the White House has "no reason" not to trust the Pakistanis. Perino noted that Pakistan, too, has been the victim of horrific terrorist attacks.
As for Americans' safety, Perino said "We do believe that all the American citizens are accounted for at this point."
(AP Photo/Gautam Singh)
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of complicity in terrorist attacks on its soil, many of which it traces to militant groups fighting Indian rule in Kashmir. The U.S. has tried to persuade Pakistan to shift its security focus from India, with which it has fought three wars, to Islamic militants along the Afghan border.
The Mumbai assaults raised fears among U.S officials of renewed violence between India and Pakistan. Both nations possess nuclear arms.
Rice said Pakistan's U.S.-backed civilian president, Asif Ali Zardari, has pledged to improve relations.
Zardari replaced President Pervez Musharraf earlier this year and has established polite but distanced relations with Washington. Musharraf was a military man and a Bush administration ally against terrorism, but that closeness cost him support at home.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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See all 87 CommentsHey brianwwb, XYZ, old chap...
The Israelis are sending "investigators" to the scene, giving them an opportunity to reach whatever conclusions they would like to about who is responsible for the attacks.
Posted by MikeTotten1 at 02:41 AM : Dec 02, 2008
Hey Mike, I don''t agree with you about Israel being behind the Mumbai massacre.
But I know you''ll keep the phony brianwwb entertained so it''s off to bed for me!
Posted by brianwwb at 02:34 AM : Dec 02, 2008
One thing I can say is you''re good! At copying and pasting other people''s stuff.
There was another guy here who was equally adept at it.
His name was singingprick or something.
You wouldn''t know him by any chance, do you?
Posted by brianwwb at 02:27 AM : Dec 02, 2008
That little bit of Americanism don''t fool me.
Is that what they teach you in Tel Aviv to sound like an American?
Gee whiz!
Oh gosh!
Been watching too much "Leave it to Beaver?"
Posted by brianwwb at 02:23 AM : Dec 02, 2008
So what other words do you know besides "suck?"
Posted by brianwwb at 02:14 AM : Dec 02, 2008
Guess they don''t teach you how to construct an original sentence in Tel Aviv as you can''t seem to come up with something of your own.
Here go ahead, copy and paste this one too, dumba$$.
Posted by brianwwb at 02:12 AM : Dec 02, 2008
All that hysterical LOL.
Must be getting hot in Tel Aviv.
And if I were you, I would use a real screen name instead of hiding behind Brianwb''s.
But of course you guys have no guts.
As evidenced from the fact you''re constantly stirring the pot to get us to fight another war for you in Iran.
Leeches, parasites, the lot of you!
I say if you don''t like the Arabs, go and nuke them to he11, you got the nukes!
How''s the weather in Tel Aviv my friend?
But let me give you some facts. No more wars for Israel.
We''re bleeding blood and money in Iraq for you guys!
Before this woman gets us involved in another war, attacking people for no reason, we need some answers. That%u2019s what we expect.
"Brian"
You''re one heck of a guy.
Using someone''s screen name and now plagiarizing my post.
But what can you expect from an Israeli agent who''s posing as a conservative American?
Hmmm transparency.
Does that mean stonewalling subpoenas?
Claiming executive privilege to avoid testimony?
Leaking the names of CIA operatives who speak out against you?
When it comes to transparency, the Bush Admin knows a thing or two!
pretty much the same when they said..poverty in africa ends after live8
gun violence ends after they ban guns..
otice a lot of ''solutions'' these liberals offered causes mroe problems than it solves.
Posted by jerr11 at 07:24 PM : Dec 01, 2008
+ report abuse
*********
SOUNDS LIKE A LIBERAL PRETENDING TO CARE..
Does that include Palestinian civilians terrorized and murdered by the Israeli military and Iraqi civilians terrorized and murdered by the US military?
Posted by cdfoxtrot5 at 10:31 PM : Dec 01, 2008
+ report abuse
******
NOPE!! terrorists and liberals HAS THIER OWN ALLIANCES
Does that include Palestinian civilians terrorized and murdered by the Israeli military and Iraqi civilians terrorized and murdered by the US military?
Mike what are you smoking buddy!
Sounds like Jeffrey Dahmer urging people to be vegetarians.
Still spamming, I see. More of your mental dribble.
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