Kerry: Pakistan to return tail of chopper

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan on Tuesday will return the tail of a U.S. helicopter that was damaged during the raid that killed terror leader Osama bin Laden, a move that is part of a process to improve cooperation between the two nations, Sen. John Kerry said.

The helicopter crashed during the raid of the al Qaeda leader's compound on May 1.

"I can tell you, an example, tomorrow the tail of the helicopter will be returned to America and we'll take possession of that in a coordinated operation that will take place with them," Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, told reporters Monday during a visit to Islamabad. "That's step number one. And there are other steps that will take place immediately."

The one major problem for the Navy SEALs who killed bin Laden was the crash of the helicopter.

In photos of what was left after the SEAL team tried to destroy the craft, numerous aviation experts say they saw several telltale signs of stealth technology.

"Had this particular helicopter not crashed, we still would have no idea of its existence," said Gareth Jennings, the aviation desk editor for Jane's Defence Weekly.

The helicopter was left on the ground at the al Qaeda leader's compound during the raid.

The SEALs were able to destroy much of the main body when it became clear it couldn't fly.

But the tail rotor assembly came down on the other side of the compound wall and was left largely intact when the SEALs finished their mission.

Pakistani troops were seen hauling the wreckage away on trucks covered with tarps.

In his remarks Monday, Kerry said the United States need not apologize to Pakistan for the successful raid that killed bin Laden. But, he said, it is important that the countries find a way to mend their frayed relationship in the wake of the attack.

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Kerry said his goal in visiting was to begin a process that would leave the United States and Pakistan in a position where "isolated episodes, no matter how profound, do not jeopardize the relationships between our countries."

But he said Pakistan must choose between being a haven for extremists or a tolerant democracy and that the United States is willing to help the country.

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"Our progress in the days ahead will be measured by actions, not words," he said.

Although many in Pakistan have accused the United States of violating Pakistani sovereignty by launching a unilateral military attack inside the country, Kerry said Pakistanis should direct their ire at bin Laden and his legion of foreign fighters, who he said were responsible for thousands of deaths inside Pakistan.

The Pakistani parliament recently condemned the raid, adopting a resolution calling for a review of its counter-terrorism cooperation agreement with the United States. The resolution also ordered the immediate end of drone attacks in a tribal region of Pakistan near the Afghan border.

Kerry said he was pleased Pakistan officials have committed to finding new ways to work on the terror threat and increased cooperation on joint operations and intelligence sharing, but did not elaborate on the steps to be taken.

He said two senior administration officials would soon visit the country to expand on the work. That visit would be followed by another featuring U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Kerry said.

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Senator Kerry has tough questions for angry Pakistan (Reuters)

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – U.S. Senator John Kerry will push Pakistani leaders on Monday to explain how Osama bin Laden was able to hide in their country for years, without further inflaming Pakistani anger over the U.S. raid that killed the al Qaeda chief.

Compounding Pakistan's reputation as an unstable Muslim country infested with militants, gunmen on motorcycles shot dead a Saudi diplomat in the city of Karachi as he was driving to work.

Al Qaeda-linked Pakistani Taliban militants, who have vowed to strike back for the killing of Saudi-born bin Laden, claimed responsibility.

U.S. special forces flew in from Afghanistan on a secret operation to find and kill bin Laden on May 2, nearly 10 years after he orchestrated the September 11 attacks on the United States.

His discovery holed up in the comfortable garrison town of Abbottabad, only 50 km (30 miles) from the Pakistani capital, has revived suspicion that U.S. ally Pakistan knew where he was and has been playing a double game.

Pakistan has rejected that as absurd. It welcomed bin Laden's killing as a big step in the fight against militancy but objected about being left in the dark over the raid to get him.

Parliament condemned the raid on Saturday as a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and called for a review of ties.

It also said the government should consider cutting U.S. supply lines through Pakistan for U.S. forces in Afghanistan in the event of another "unilateral" assault.

Kerry arrived in Pakistan on Sunday from Afghanistan where he told reporters the United States wanted Pakistan to be a real ally in the fight against militancy.

Kerry, a Democrat close to the Obama administration and who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani at army headquarters late on Sunday and was due to meet other leaders on Monday.

While Kerry has tough questions for Pakistan, its military can be expected to convey its anger over the U.S. assault on bin Laden, which military officials say has caused a breakdown in trust and cast a shadow over security cooperation.

"Kayani ... apprised the visiting dignitary about intense feelings of rank and file of the Pakistan army on the Abbottabad incident," the military said in a statement on Monday, referring to the operation to get bin Laden.

It did not elaborate but said Kerry would hold detailed discussions on relations with government leaders on Monday.

"DISENCHANTED AND DISMAYED"

The Nation newspaper, which generally reflects the thinking of the military establishment, said Kerry's mission was to pressure Pakistan into accepting all U.S. demands, even at the cost of Pakistan's national interests.

"The U.S. may have serious questions post-Osama episode, but Pakistan stands totally disenchanted and dismayed," the paper said in an editorial.

The government should stick to the positions spelled out by parliament on the weekend, it said.

"There should be no compromise on sovereignty and national interests at any costs."

The U.S. administration has not accused Pakistan of complicity in hiding bin Laden but has said he must have had some sort of support network, which it wants to uncover.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke on Sunday to President Asif Ali Zardari by telephone about the situation since bin Laden's death, Zardari's office said, adding Zardari told Clinton about parliament's concerns.

"Both agreed to resolve the issues amicably and move forward," the president's office said.

Police in the southern commercial hub of Karachi said gunmen on motorcycles killed the Saudi diplomat. The attack came days after assailants threw two hand grenades at the Saudi consulate in Pakistan's commercial hub. No one was hurt in that attack.

Al Qaeda is violently opposed to the Saudi government, which is a close ally of Pakistan, and has vowed revenge for the killing of its leader. Their allies, the Pakistani Taliban, said they killed the diplomat.

"We take responsibility," a Taliban spokesman said by telephone from an undisclosed location, referring to the killing of the diplomat earlier in the day.

"Until America stops chasing al Qaeda and stops drone strikes we will keep carrying out such attacks," he said, referring to U.S. attacks with pilotless aircraft on militants in northwest Pakistan.

(Additional reporting by Faisal Aziz, Kamran Haider; editing by Miral Fahmy)

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Kerry warns of 'critical moment' with Pakistan (AFP)

KABUL (AFP) – US Senator John Kerry said Sunday relations with key ally Pakistan were at a "critical moment" as he headed from Kabul to Islamabad as the first senior US visitor since the death of Osama bin Laden.

Kerry said he was ready to listen to Pakistan's leaders but the discovery of the Al-Qaeda chief living close to Islamabad meant that talks had to "resolve some very serious issues."

Pakistan's government, intelligence services and military have been widely accused of incompetence or complicity over the presence of bin Laden, who was killed by US commandos in a covert raid on May 2.

"We need to find a way to march forward if it is possible. If it is not possible, there are a set of downside consequences that can be profound," said Kerry, whose trip to the region has been endorsed by President Barack Obama.

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Kerry to ask Pakistan tough questions at critical time (Reuters)

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – U.S. Senator John Kerry will press Pakistani leaders for answers on Osama bin Laden in talks on Monday but he will be keen to ensure Pakistani anger over the raid does not subvert vital security cooperation.

U.S. special forces found and killed the al Qaeda leader in the garrison town of Abbottabad, 50 km (30 miles) north of Islamabad on May 2.

His discovery living comfortably in a high-walled compound virtually under the noses of military authorities has revived suspicion that Pakistani security agencies knew where he was.

Pakistan welcomed bin Laden's killing as a big step against militancy.

But the secret U.S. raid to get him has been condemned as a violation of sovereignty which embarrassed and outraged the military. Military officials say it has caused a breakdown in trust which has cast a shadow over security cooperation.

Pakistan might be a tricky ally but it is vital to U.S. efforts to combat Islamist militants and to efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, where U.S. forces depend on Pakistani supply lines for water, food, fuel and other essentials.

In a sign of Pakistani anger, the chairman of Pakistan's joint chiefs of staff committee, General Khalid Shameem Wynne, on Friday canceled a five-day visit to the United States that had been set to begin on May 22.

But officials in Pakistan's civilian government said security cooperation with the United States would go on.

"There is difference of opinion but we'll continue our cooperation with the world as well as the United States," said one senior government official who declined to be identified.

Kerry told reporters in Afghanistan on Sunday he would hold a series of "important discussions" in Islamabad on Monday.

"CRITICAL MOMENT"

Kerry has long been seen as a friend of Pakistan but told reporters in Kabul on Sunday the relationship between Washington and Islamabad had reached "a critical moment."

"It is fair to say that some of my colleagues in the House and Senate have deep reservations as to whether or not Pakistan is committed to the same goals or prepared to be a full partner in pursuing those goals," Kerry told reporters.

The U.S. administration has not accused Pakistan of complicity in hiding bin Laden but has said he must have had some sort of support network, which it wants to uncover.

U.S. legislators have questioned whether Pakistan is serious about fighting militants and some have called for a suspension of U.S. aid.

Kerry said if there is no "improvement in the current situation" it will become increasingly difficult to convince people at home of the need to give aid to Pakistan.

Pakistan's parliament condemned on Saturday the U.S. raid to find and kill bin Laden, and called for a review of U.S. ties, warning that Pakistan could cut U.S. supply lines to its forces in Afghanistan if there were more such attacks.

ARRESTS

The United States is likely to seek Pakistani help in an investigation into an imam of a Florida mosque and his two sons, arrested in the United States on Saturday on charges of financing the Pakistani Taliban.

Three others charged were living in Pakistan, U.S. officials said. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said had yet to get a request for help but was ready to assist.

"As far as countering terrorism is concerned, there has been constant cooperation with the United States and there is no suspension of it," said ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua.

Kerry, speaking two days after two suicide bombers killed 80 people at a Pakistani paramilitary academy, said Pakistan was also a victim of "terrorism" and that the death of bin Laden provided a critical chance to move forward.

"This is not a moment for anything but very sober serious discussion with an understanding that there is a lot at stake. There is no other way to put it. I think they understand that, we understand that," he said.

Pakistan has rejected as absurd suggestions the killing showed incompetence or complicity in hiding the al Qaeda leader.

Kerry, a Democrat close to the Obama administration and who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said earlier it was "extraordinarily hard to believe" bin Laden could have been in Pakistan for so long without any knowledge.

Asked if the United States would conduct a similar raid inside Pakistan to kill Mullah Omar, the reclusive leader of the Afghan Taliban, Kerry said Washington would consider all options.

Pakistan has a long record of using Islamist militants as proxies, especially to counter the influence of nuclear-armed rival, India.

(Additional reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman in Kabul; Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Paul Tait)

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Kerry, McCain Seek to Give Consumers Upper Hand in Personal Data Online

AP

Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., unveiled an online privacy bill Tuesday aimed at strengthening the protection of personal information that companies collect from consumers over the Internet.

The Commercial Privacy Bill of Rights Act of 2011 would require companies to collect personal data only if they receive affirmative consent, or an opt-in, from consumers. Under the bill, the companies would then offer consumers the option to opt out of having their data shared with third parties. 

The bill would also allow collection and sharing of personal information only by companies that do advertising or marketing.

"Right now there is no law protecting the information that what we share. Companies can harvest our personal information online and keep it for as long as they like," Kerry told reporters, emphasizing that the senators are not opposed to companies collecting information from consumers to target ads at them.

"But the data deluge is worrying at the same time," Kerry said. Companies can sell information "without asking permission or even letting you know that they're selling your own information. ... You shouldn't have to be a computer genius in order to be able to opt out of information sharing."

Yahoo, which already allows users to opt out of targeted advertising, offered cautious support for the bill.

"As a pioneer in protecting user privacy, Yahoo! Believes that Sens. Kerry and McCain have taken an important step in trying to establish industry-wide baseline protections for consumer privacy," Yahoo said in a statement to FoxNews.com. "While there certainly remain some fundamental issues to be worked out to make sure that this legislation protects the extraordinary breadth of free services for consumers made possible by online advertising, Yahoo! commends the hard work that Sens. Kerry and McCain have done thus far."

In recent years, the Federal Trade Commission has been under pressure from privacy advocates to crack down on companies that track users' Internet usage, saying that the practice poses risks to consumer privacy. After issuing a report late last year on Internet privacy that underscored highlighted dissatisfaction with the self-regulating efforts by companies, the agency began pushing Congress to introduce legislation.

The Obama administration gave its blessing to online privacy legislation for the first time last month. Lawrence Strickling, who oversees the telecom arm of the Commerce Department, told a Senate legislative committee that "ground rules" are needed to "promote innovative uses of information while respecting consumers' legitimate privacy interests."

He added that those privacy guidelines should avoid creating "an overly complicated regulatory environment."

McCain said their bill balances the business interests of companies and the privacy concerns of consumers.

"Our bill seeks to respect the ability of businesses to advertise, market and recruit new customers while also respecting consumer's personal information," McCain said. "Striking this balance was the hard part of our negotiations and our efforts to bring forth this legislation. "

This isn't the first online privacy bill introduced in this year's Congress. In February, Rep. Jackie Speier , D-Calif., unveiled her Do Not Track Me Online Act of 2011. Her bill would direct the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to develop standards for a "Do Not Track" mechanism that would allow consumers to opt out of having their data used by third parties instead of relying on companies the way the Kerry-McCain bill does.

Her bill is under committee review.

Kerry said he and McCain didn't include the do-not-track feature because "it didn't seem to fit into our ability to get the balance between the consumer support and the industry support that we wanted to get."

Kerry added that if the opt-out clause is strong enough a do-not-track mechanism is not necessary.

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