Why has it taken so long to understand?

In a half hour speech at Fort Myer military base in Arlington, Virginia, President Donald Trump laid out his policy on Afghanistan, in which he stressed that ending the war against the Taliban will depend on results and not on a timetable. And for the first time a US president laid the blame squarely on Pakistan. "For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and terror," he said. Former Taliban chief, Mullah Omar died in a hospital in Karachi in April 2013. Pakistan kept it secret for over 2 years and the news was announced by the Afghan government in July 2015. For some unknown reason the US has turned a blind eye to Pakistan's involvement in the 9/11 attacks even though India provided proof that Gen Mahmood Ahmad of the ISI transferred $100,000 to Mohamed Atta, the lead hijacker. Bill Clinton ordered missile strikes on Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan in August 1998, in revenge for attacks against US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, but Bin Laden escaped, presumably warned by the ISI. After that Bin Laden was terrified of using phones and preferred to give instructions through couriers. It would have been impossible for him to have planned and executed 9/11 attacks while hiding in a cave in Tora Bora. The Americans had him cornered a few months later but somehow allowed him and his comrades to walk freely into Pakistan, where he was protected for 9 years. "We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond," said Trump. While acknowledging sacrifices Pakistani citizens have made he said,"But Pakistan has also sheltered the same organizations that try every single day to kill our troops. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting." It's a puzzle why it has taken the US so long to understand that 9/11 could only have been planned and executed by the ISI. The first plane hit the 80th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center at 8.45 am. Why not lower? Because the rising smoke would have obscured the vision of the pilot of the second plane which hit the 60th floor of the south tower 18 minutes later. At around 10 am the south tower collapsed, followed by the north tower at 10.30 am. Such meticulous planning required people trained in strategy and tactics of war. So, what will Pakistan do if the US turns off the taps? Saudi Arabian economy is struggling to diversify as revenues from oil have plunged due to low prices. The only option is China which is struggling with over capacity as exports fall due to competition from other countries. But Pakistan may find that China is a predator and China may find that Pakistan is a parasite. As long as we protect our borders we can watch the fun.