The General Accountability Office has released a report accusing Pakistan of blocking efforts to curb the smuggling of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) into Afghanistan:
IEDs are the top killer of U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan, according the Pentagon’s Joint IED Defeat Organization. JIEDDO estimates that 83 percent of IEDs used in attacks on U.S. troops are made with fertilizers produced in Pakistan. IED attacks have increased slightly over the 12 months ending April 30, the most recent data available. There were 16,165 IED incidents over that period, a 2 percent increase.
While the majority of IEDs used in Afghanistan may be low-tech—made with fertilizers as JIEDDO notes—questions remain about the origins of other IEDs. Certainly, Iran has been smuggling weaponry to the Taliban. But, according to American servicemen deploying or recently deployed to Afghanistan, there is growing concern that China may be working with Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) to provide and perfect IEDs with the goal of testing new Chinese technology against American armor.
If so, the Obama administration, Governor Romney’s team, and even Tom Friedman might want to take pause to once again consider China’s trajectory and its future intentions.
Where is there anywhere in Rubin's little effort that provides anything of substance about China? n nsure, we've heard heard rumors that Israel is behind the IEDs and we're considering joining the increasingly long list of those concerned and alarmed over the trajectory of the right-wing bigots associated with the Israeli government, but we would never think of stooping to spreading such stuff without some substantiation.