WikiBites

Published June 12, 2011

“[NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan] Hoti praised the drone attacks, calling the strikes ‘fantastic,’ but also said that he could never publicly endorse them.” - Peshawar Principal Officer Lynne Tracy, cable dated April 30, 2009

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"Taseer criticized the rule of Shahbaz Sharif. ‘His team is pathetic,’ he complained. ‘Shahbaz Sharif is very hardworking, but so is my mali (gardener).’” - Lahore PO Bryan Hunt, cable dated December 31, 2008

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"The Governor [of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer] was unconcerned by the lawyer's long march and sit-in scheduled for March 16, quipping ‘perhaps I'll schedule Basant for the same day and we'll see whether the people prefer to march to Islamabad or party in Lahore.’” - Hunt, cable dated February 27, 2009

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“The Pakistan Air Force is obsessed with F-16s.” - Former Islamabad Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, cable dated May 2, 2006

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"The definition of moral turpitude in Pakistan remains cloudy." - Former US Ambassador Anne Patterson, cable dated February 7, 2008

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“Zardari opened his remarks by saying that the U.S. is ‘our safety blanket’ and recounted how Benazir had returned despite the threats against her because of support and ‘clearance’ from the U.S.” “Zardari admitted that he was ‘scared’ that the closer he gets to General Kayani, the weaker Kayani will become.” - Patterson, cable dated January 28, 2008

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