The spy games continue in “AfPak”, but this one ended in tragedy, and may yet have wider and serious repercussions.
The known facts are that a US national, Raymond Davis, driving a car with non-diplomatic plates in Lahore, while stopped at a red light pulled out a Glock 9mm pistol and, firing through the windshield, shot dead two people nearby on a motor cycle. He radioed the US consulate for back up, stepped out of the car and took pictures of the two dead young men with his camera. The backup van came tearing up the wrong side of the dual carriageway, hit a cyclist, killing him on the spot, turned around and sped away. Davis ran off on foot, mingling among the crowds on a side street, but was chased and captured by two traffic wardens.
Taken to a police station, Davis claimed that he fired in self-defence as the men were trying to rob him. The men were also found to be carrying guns, but the autopsy reports show that, of the several bullets that hit each of them, some were in the back. In Davis’s car were found a telescope, a headband with attached flashlight, and a phone tracker, while in his camera were pictures of various military buildings and sites. Several identity cards were found on him, one indicating that he was a Defence Dept contractor.
The US embassy claimed that Davis had diplomatic immunity as he was a diplomat attached to the US consulate in Lahore, but next day changed that to say he was attached to the embassy in Islamabad. One of the identity cards found on him showed him as attached to the consulate in Peshawar. The embassy demanded that he be released from police custody because of his diplomatic immunity. Meanwhile, the Lahore consulate stated that it had no knowledge of the (backup) van that had killed the cyclist.
This incident became front-page news, with follow-up stories every day reporting the latest rumours. Everyone agreed that Davis was an intelligence operative, though speculation varied on what his mission was. A report appeared that the two men shot dead were Pakistani intelligence men (though this was officially denied). Doubts arose as to whether Davis was the American’s real name after the State Dept spokesman said there was some confusion about it. The NYT reported that he was a former Special Forces soldier working as a contractor.
As the Pakistan government dithered, US pressure ratcheted up. A visiting Congressional delegation told President Zardari that US aid would be threatened if Davis were not released immediately. Secretary Clinton refused to meet the Pakistani foreign minister at the Munich security conference, though she did meet the army chief, Gen Kayani, to deliver a stern demand for Davis’s release. Several planned visits to Pakistan by US officials were put on hold. The Pakistan government, scared of public reaction, has publicly said nothing while it continues to wrestle with the issue.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck again in this sorry saga. The families of the slain men reported that they had been approached to accept a large sum of money (as well as ‘green cards’) to drop charges, but had refused. Presumably, other pressures were applied on them by the Pakistani authorities. The 18-year old wife of one of the young men killed, stricken by grief over her loss, and losing hope of any redress, took poison and killed herself. This has further inflamed popular sentiment over the issue, making its resolution even more difficult.
The bomb continues to tick on.
Gee, I wonder why most in that part of the world hate our guts.
And Hillary was nose to nose with the guy responsible for protecting all those nukes?
Anyway,how many aircraft carriers do we have over there, and how big a bang to sink one hit in the sweet spot?
Posted by: John Kirkman | 09 February 2011 at 12:50 AM
General Ali! Sounds like one more Tic Toc on the time clock moving towards an even greater tragedy. Total loss of confidence between the US and Pakistan aggravated by many factors including drone strikes and collateral damages. Do you have any rough estimate without disclosing sources of boots on the ground of US forces in Pakistan? Even a guestimate?
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 09 February 2011 at 01:41 AM
Davis's car was a 'rental' not an embassy vehicle.
Under Pakistan law only actual consular functionaries have diplomatic status, not service workers. Ergo no immunity status.
Journos investigating Davis found that the company he was supposedly working for was bogus, and appears to be a store-front.
Which begs the question -- Is this one of Dewey Claridge's boyz perchance?
Posted by: J | 09 February 2011 at 02:15 AM
http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_2_1963.pdf
Section II, Article 41 of the treaty, in its first paragraph regarding the “Personal inviolability of consular officers,” states:
“Consular officers shall not be liable to arrest or detention pending trial, except in the case of a grave crime and pursuant to a decision by the competent judicial authority.”
So why is the State Dept. whining that Pakistan is violating the Vienna Convention regarding Davis? Just what was Davis really doing? Which again begs the question -- Is Davis one of Dewey Clarridge's boyz?
Posted by: J | 09 February 2011 at 02:37 AM
Funny how many of these details continue to escape the interest of US mainstream media.
Thanks BG Ali for posting on it.
RP
Posted by: Retired (once-Serving)Patriot | 09 February 2011 at 05:33 AM
Seems like Davis was pinged by the two men he was following and he responded - the back-up team? FUBAR.
Posted by: Lord Curzon | 09 February 2011 at 06:01 AM
strange Mafia-like story. I wonder what job description his contract has, and if it contains a passage that no matter what he does he will be guarded as a diplomat?
Strange if true: take green card and money or you are dead man walking. Of course not if this was only a trick to get the men to Guantanamo Bay.
Posted by: LeaNder | 09 February 2011 at 06:47 AM
The web has pictures of Davis's car. The front windshield has some 5 holes in it. The rear windshield is completely shattered.
The holes in the front windshield are visible here: http://pakistanpal.livejournal.com/987922.html
The rear of the car is here:
(click on the picture to zoom in)
http://www.thetrueperspective.com/2011/01/american-fundos-who-like-to-play-guns.html
A third view of the car is here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12298546
One should also remember that cars in Pakistan have right-hand drives.
firing through the windshield needs clarification - which windshield - front or back? or both?
I myself find it hard to construct a narrative in which the damage is as in the pictures without Davis having been shot at.
Posted by: Arun | 09 February 2011 at 07:44 AM
Interpreting the holes in the front windscreen:
http://www.freereferral.com/newsletter/spring2010/lateral_angle_determination_bullet_holes_windshields.php
Posted by: Arun | 09 February 2011 at 07:53 AM
Today's NY Times has coverage of the event.
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 09 February 2011 at 08:11 AM
It seems the Pakistani government is in a no win situation, between a rock and a hard place.
If they let Davis go without even a fig leaf of justice their legitimacy is further eroded in the eyes of their people but they have the American government bearing down on them like a ton of bricks.
Not a good situation! If there should be concern of an Egypt like situation it should be Pakistan which has both jihadis and military capability.
Would we ever find out what Davis was really up to and who gave the tasking order?
Posted by: zanzibar | 09 February 2011 at 08:17 AM
The way we are handling things lately, we might as well shoot ourselves in the foot with a... grenade.
Posted by: Jake | 09 February 2011 at 08:33 AM
After reading the latest news (sic) reports and if partially true. I have to think this guy has to be a contractor of some sort. Either that or its worse, the cover shop (another contractor) at CIA needs to be hung upside down for stupidity.
Posted by: Jake | 09 February 2011 at 08:49 AM
RaY davis was contracted by whom or what company? Does to US refuse to answer this question? Did US give out false info -- front or front group. Not clear from the articlem but this seems to be the case. Usgovt withholding evidence in this case. While we're t it. what is his true name?
Posted by: charlottemom | 09 February 2011 at 09:59 AM
I was wondering yesterday if Mr. FB Ali was going to write on this "Davis" incident, and the thought was fulfilled.
Here is another article about it by Dave Lindorff, with some additional information. He claims that the U.S. Embassy said that "Raymond A. Davis" was an employee of Hyperion Protective Consultants LLC, which, upon investigation, appears to be the proverbial empty storefront!
http://www.counterpunch.org/lindorff02082011.html
Posted by: robt willmann | 09 February 2011 at 10:11 AM
So. Do spies have the right to use deadly force in self- defense against apparent civilians?
The cyclist is the true tragedy. The rest would seem to have assumed the risk in their activities.
Posted by: Jane | 09 February 2011 at 12:24 PM
Prof Christine Fair has an article in the Daily Times and I think it gets to the core issue facing Pakistan right now. All the controversies regarding blasphemy law, civilian vs military rule, etc., etc., in my opinion, are distractions from the main issue.
Quote: "To free Pakistan of international meddling, Pakistan’s political leaders need only to subject themselves and their patronage networks to an agricultural and industrial tax, a move which Pakistan’s leadership has steadfastly avoided throughout the state’s entire history. Of course, it must improve income tax compliance too."
Posted by: Arun | 09 February 2011 at 12:48 PM
It has just occurred to me that what we are seeing in Egypt (I know, I'm already off-topic) is the difference in philosophies between Bush père and Bush fils.
Bush the elder refused to overthrow Saddam Hussein. His reasoning was that he wanted stability in the ME and probably a counter to Iran.
I agreed then, and I agree now.
It is similar with Egypt. Mubarak, God love him, is no Saddam Hussein... I think. But whatever he is, we don't overthrow him.
Now, if you talk to George junior, you overthrow anyone you want to. But George junior caused more harm than good.
After all, he elected Obama.
I can't believe I said any of that, but I believe it.
Posted by: arbogast | 09 February 2011 at 01:22 PM
Interesting write up in counterpunch, thanks for the link robt.
As to Xe, here's a nice tid-bit from wiki:
"Xe is currently the largest of the U.S. State Department's three private security contractors. ...At least 90% of the company's revenue comes from government contracts."
Posted by: Fred | 09 February 2011 at 01:24 PM
Here’s my take on the occurrence (guess, really). Davis appears to be an ex-SF soldier working on contract to a US intelligence agency (DIA?). He was probably running local agents out of various US consulates in Pakistan. The two men he killed were probably in that category. He had a meeting with them earlier that went sour (possibly about money). Davis drove off and they chased him on their motorbike. They caught up with him at the stoplight, and made some threatening move; he shot them both. (I can’t imagine why he would photograph his ‘kill’ before taking off!).
Arun: He shot them through the front windshield. The rear one was probably shattered by the angry crowd that collected after the shooting.
WRC: The US has an airbase in Pakistan (out of which the CIA flies drones). There are a couple of hundred or so “trainers” with the Frontier Corps, which operates in the tribal areas. They are mostly SF personnel and accompany the FC on operations as ‘mentors’. It is possible that some of these operations are initiated by them, and they do more than mentoring during them.
Posted by: FB Ali | 09 February 2011 at 02:13 PM
No one would fire through a windshield unless he felt his life, or a ton of money, depended on it. Or for some bizarre reason that was the ONLY way to shoot. No one would do it if they could avoid it. My take anyway.
Not that that changes a whole lot....I'm just saying
Posted by: jonst | 09 February 2011 at 02:55 PM
Gen. Ali:
"(I can’t imagine why he would photograph his ‘kill’ before taking off!)."
If this occurred, I wonder if Col. Lang might like to comment?
Posted by: walrus | 09 February 2011 at 03:21 PM
From the article: "
Meanwhile, tragedy struck again in this sorry saga. The families of the slain men reported that they had been approached to accept a large sum of money (as well as ‘green cards’) to drop charges, but had refused."
Why would we be giving green cards to people who obviously have a beef with the US Govt? Does anyone remember Faisal "Times Square bomber" Shahzad?
Posted by: psc | 09 February 2011 at 03:49 PM
Thanks General Ali. I believe we (US) started with 200 advisors in the Republic of Viet Nam, not that there is any comparison.
Posted by: William R. Cumming | 09 February 2011 at 04:14 PM
Arbogast, we are not overthrowing Mubarak, the people of Egypt are. There is a big difference between Iraq and Egypt. Are not citizens allowed to overthrow a corrupt president, one that has been a dictator for years, and was planning on his equally corupt son replacing him. Is is not all about us. As for Bush Jr, causing Obama to be elected, I think it was more likely McCain and Palin who caused that.
Posted by: Nancy K | 09 February 2011 at 04:17 PM