Will this country go into 2008 with a future bright and hopeful (compared to the endless doom and gloom, and false charges of conspiracy the come from the leftward Media)? Who knows. Some very disturbing news is out of Pakistan this morning. It seems one of the key masterminds in the UK airline plot to down 12 passenger-filled jets from Europe over US cities has escaped custody:

A man named as a key member of a plot to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners has escaped from police custody in Pakistan.

Authorities in Islamabad say Rashid Rauf escaped Saturday in the capital city, where he had appeared in court earlier for an extradition hearing. Police are questioning several officers who were on guard duty at the time.

Rauf, a British national of Pakistani descent, was arrested in Pakistan in August 2006. Authorities in the West say he had a key role in a terrorist plot to blow up passenger airliners traveling between Britain and the United States, using liquid explosives.

Right now we truly need the eyes and ears of our intelligence network up and scanning. Rauf is a very, very dangerous man. What bothers me is how someone like him could get away from guards. Here is what CNN is reporting:

Rashid Rauf, 25, who has joint British and Pakistani nationality, fled after appearing in court in Islamabad for an extradition hearing Saturday, a Pakistani police source said.

Pakistani officials refused to confirm how Rauf managed to get away but, according to widespread media reports the wanted man slipped his handcuffs and fled following his court appearance.

Two police officers who were accompanying the suspect at the time of his disappearance have been arrested and are being interrogated, the police source told CNN.

Pakistan is one of those nations still rife with Islamo Fascists, though their support in the country seems to be waning, especially after being routed from the Swat valley during the recent national emergency.

But while I was pondering how this man could skip away from handcuffs and a guarded court house, some other news hit my eyes:

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden could be in one of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas’ agency.

Osama could be in Bajaur, the tribal agency bordering Kunar province, Musharraf said in an interview.
When asked whether the US had abandoned him, Musharraf said, “I have nothing against President Bush. I think he has been most supportive; he has been a very sincere friend. I must say he understands fully the Pakistan environment. He understands why I had to act and what I’m facing.”

Coming down heavily on the western media, Musharraf said: “The Western media was undermining what [we] are doing. Your media keeps criticizing the army and the ISI — not understanding what their real contribution is to fighting terrorism.”

OK, let me bring one more dot into this picture – the recent news Musharraf had expanded the number of US Special Forces in Pakistan and given them the go ahead to go after certain special targets:

US special forces at present only go to Pakistan for six-week trips. The intention is that from early next year they will be there for longer assignments, mainly in a training and advisory role, though combat is not ruled out.

…

A senior Defense Department official said that Admiral Olson had prepared a memorandum on how Special Operations forces could assist the Pakistani military in the counterinsurgency, and shared that document with several senior Pentagon officials.

Things that make you go “hmmmm”. Increased US Special Forces in Pakistan with permission to attack certain high value targets, a final admission by Musharraf Bin Laden might be in the lawless provinces of Pakistan which border Afghanistan, and an international terrorist now running for his life from Pakistani authorities. Makes you wonder….. Just like the “Where’s Waldo” books it seems “Where’s Rauf” would be something to ponder. Is he heading to the West with plans for another attack? Is he heading to sanctuary? Is he going to simply go underground and go quiet?

I wonder what 2008 will bring?