There have been quite a few people carrying a lot of water for Pakistan. They can't say that attacking OBL violated any of his rights since they know he declared war on us and therefore was subject to attack anywhere we could find him. But they seem to be saying instead that we broke international law by launching the attack in a soveriegn Country. The premise of that argument is that Pakistan did not approve.
Well, according to the Guardian
The US and Pakistan struck a secret deal almost a decade ago permitting a US operation against Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil similar to last week's raid that killed the al-Qaida leader, the Guardian has learned.
Under its terms, Pakistan would allow US forces to conduct a unilateral raid inside Pakistan in search of Bin Laden, his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the al-Qaida No3. Afterwards, both sides agreed, Pakistan would vociferously protest the incursion.
"There was an agreement between Bush and Musharraf that if we knew where Osama was, we were going to come and get him," said a former senior US official with knowledge of counterterrorism operations. "The Pakistanis would put up a hue and cry, but they wouldn't stop us."
The deal puts a new complexion on the political storm triggered by Bin Laden's death in Abbottabad, 35 miles north of Islamabad, where a team of US navy Seals assaulted his safe house in the early hours of 2 May.
Here are a few more tid bits from the article that are too good to pass up.
Referring to the assault on Bin Laden's Abbottabad compound, the official added: "As far as our American friends are concerned, they have just implemented the agreement."
The former US official said the Pakistani protests of the past week were the "public face" of the deal. "We knew they would deny this stuff."
The agreement is consistent with Pakistan's unspoken policy towards CIA drone strikes in the tribal belt, which was revealed by the WikiLeaks US embassy cables last November. In August 2008, Gilani reportedly told a US official: "I don't care if they do it, as long as they get the right people. We'll protest in the National Assembly and then ignore it."
Is this true? Can't be sure. But it sure is consistent with the Pakistani reaction to the attack. Lots of handwringing, of the type one would expect. But as with all the other attacks launched in Pakistan, nothing more. The day Pakistan prohibits us from using their territory to provide most of the supplies our troops need in Afghanistan, is the day you will know they really have a problem with us. Till then, it's al politics for internal consumption.
For a little historical precedent on the Abbatobad you can go here. Please accept my apologies for some self-promotion