…refer them to this Richard Miniter piece:
A lone U.S. ambassador compromised America’s hunt for Osama bin Laden in Pakistan for more than two years, The New York Sun has learned.
Ambassador Nancy Powell, America’s representative in Pakistan, refused to allow the distribution in Pakistan of wanted posters, matchbooks, and other items advertising America’s $25 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mr. bin Laden and other Al Qaeda leaders.
Instead, thousands of matchbooks, posters, and other material  printed at taxpayer expense and translated into Urdu, Pashto, and other local languages  remained “impounded†on American Embassy grounds from 2002 to 2004, according to Rep. Mark Kirk, Republican of Illinois.
While the American government was engaged in a number of “black†or covert intelligence activities to locate Al Qaeda leaders, Mr. Kirk said, the “white†or public efforts  which have succeeded in the past in leading to the capture of wanted terrorists  were effectively shut down in the months following the September 11 attacks.
Mr. Kirk discovered Ms. Powell’s unusual order in January 2004 and, over the past year, launched a series of behind-the-scenes moves that culminated in a blunt conversation with President Bush aboard Air Force One, the removal of the ambassador, and congressional approval for reinvigorating the hunt for Mr. bin Laden.
The full effect of Ms. Powell’s impoundment order is difficult to measure. Pakistan is a key theater in the war on terror. Virtually every Al Qaeda leader captured to date has been apprehended in Pakistan, including Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the planner of the September 11 attacks.More than 600 Al Qaeda fighters have been killed or captured in Pakistan since 2001.
Mr. Kirk accidentally learned of Ms. Powell’s impoundment policy as part of an official congressional delegation visiting Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, in January 2004.
Well well. Looks like for all its private grousing about the pitfalls of unilateral foreign policy decisions, the State Department was not averse to employing functionaries who didn’t hesitate to initiate such actions on the micro level…
(Via LGF)
If handled properly there should some criminal charges announced soon.
…there should BE some…
pesky language
Impounded matchbooks, eh? In defense of Ms. Powell, how many packs of smokes did she do per day?
Has there been a reason given for this action yet?
Sheesh. I’ll be curious to see what kind of bullshit gets spread lavishly all over this.
Jeff, excellent use of “portentously”, especially the extra u. Glad you haven’t succumbed to the “famously said” fad.
The diplomatic corps attracts such asshats. Here’s an example of more diplomatic asshattery.
Check out the first names of some of those guys. With names like that, you know you’re in trouble.
The State Dept would really prefer to be representing a different country than ours.
Prefer?
They do, apparently.
Would that Nancy had the same pull in the journalistic community as Colin.
That was a two year breathing space she handed to America’s enemy #1. Somebody less partisan than myself, please inform me how this does not constitute aid and comfort.
I’d also be *very* interested in finding out why, exactly, this lady was standing between the US and its deadliest aggressor since 1945.
Hoping to prevent a Chimpy McSmirk victory in 2004 perhaps? Or was there money involved?
I have the same question as CraigC- how does this moron explain her actions ?
Spamfilter= England ?
“You’re bloody right, England”
Not to stoop lower or anything, but have you seen this woman?!
Gaaahh!! My eyes, they BURN!!
I hope that Secretary Rice purges from the State Department all of those who would obstruct American foreign policy.