Wednesday, March 16, 2011

The Obama Administration Admits It Believes in the Tooth Fairy

Raymond Davis, an American CIA employee being detained in Pakistan, was released after a $2 million restitution payment was made to the two families of the men he killed. Of course the US government officially says it never pays bribes. So, obviously, the official Obama administration explanation is that the Tooth Fairly suddenly appeared in Pakistan and left $2 million with these families. The families were of course stunned by the appearance of a mythical creature. At first they were simply going to keep the money and maintain their insistence that Davis be punished. But somehow, somebody, whispered in their ear and told them that they should view the Tooth Fairy payment as "restitution" from the US government and a tit-for-tat gesture was required of them: give up their call for judicial death for Raymond Davis.

I'm heartened to see that the Obama administration believes in the Tooth Fairy. Maybe they will reveal a belief in Santa Claus and work hard to convince Santa to bring jobs to the 16 million unemployed & underemployed in the US.

Here is how CBS News is treating this unexpected release of Raymond Davis:
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday that America "welcomed the release" of Raymond Davis, an American CIA employee being detained in Pakistan, but said he had no information on whether or not "blood money" had been used in negotiating the release.

Davis was arrested in Lahore, Pakistan on January 27, 2011 after fatally shooting two Pakistani men he said were trying to rob him, and was detained there until Wednesday. The White House initially attempted to secure his release by seeking diplomatic immunity, but Pakistan's foreign ministry argued he had not been given diplomatic designation prior to the killings. It was subsequently discovered that Davis was working with the CIA as part of a covert intelligence-gathering team.

Since his release on Wednesday, reports have surfaced alleging that the U.S. paid a substantial sum in "blood money" to relatives of the victims in order to guarantee the release.

Carney told reporters during a press briefing on Wednesday that Davis had been pardoned by the families of the victims "in accordance with Pakistani law" - but said that as far as the blood money was concerned, "I don't have any info that would corroborate that."
Is anybody in America concerned that high government officials are so inept at managing tax payer money that $2 million can disappear out of the Treasury and suddenly appear in the hands of Pakistani relatives along with a note saying "please accept this blood money on behalf of the American people seeking your agreement to the release of Raymond Davis". How often does the Obama administration lose track of millions of dollars?

I guess the American taxpayer should be relieved. Under the Bush administration it was billions of taxpayer money that disappeared down the Alice in Wonderland rabbit holes of the Middle East with no accountability. At least Obama has "tightened the belt" and is holding the line at letting millions disappear in one fell swoop.

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