(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - November 29, 2010: The latest document dump from WikiLeaks reveals the diplomatic high wire the United States is often walking in its relationship with countries that are considered crucial allies in fighting terrorism, such as Pakistan.Cables that pertain to the U.S. relationship with Pakistan show the extent to which U.S. diplomatic officials think the American agenda is often undermined by the poor standing of the superpower among Pakistanis. One cable urges a reinvigorated effort at public diplomacy to shore up the United States' reputation and eat away at support for figures such as al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who is thought to be hiding in the tribal frontier of Pakistan
The January 2009 cable, posted on the Web site of Der Spiegel, laments that many Pakistanis consider bin Laden "an Islamic hero because the U.S. has named him 'public enemy number one.' " A plan to distribute "wanted" posters and matchbooks depicting bin Laden - presumably advertising the U.S. offer of a reward for his capture - might only increase his stature "as a kind of folk hero," the cable says.
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