US Missile Attack on Taliban in South Waziristan (Pakistan)

[Metallic]

1 March 2009

Missiles said to have been fired by US unmanned aircraft have killed seven people close to Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, Pakistani sources say.

Two missiles reportedly struck a house in Sararogha, in South Waziristan, and the dead are believed to include suspected militants.

The region is a stronghold of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

US drones have targeted the area with missiles before, in attacks criticised by Pakistani politicians.

Local people said Taleban militants had been operating from the house which was attacked.

When asked about the attack, Adm Mike Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he would not talk about the specifics of US operations.

But, speaking to Fox News, he added that the military overall was "carrying out guidance from [US] President [Barack] Obama" in the region.

'Taleban sanctuary'

A villager, named by Reuters news agency as Hakeemullah, said that people were searching the rubble for more casualties.

"It was a Taleban sanctuary, which was destroyed in the attack," an unnamed Pakistani security official told AFP news agency.

"Some foreigners were possibly among those killed."

At least four of the dead are believed to have been foreign militants, unnamed Pakistani officials told the Associated Press.

They added that drones were seen in the air ahead of the strike and Taleban fighters afterwards surrounded the damaged house which was allegedly a militant training facility.

Previous US missile attacks have been aimed at militant groups such as al-Qaeda, which have used the region as a base for attacks inside Afghanistan.

More than 20 such attacks have been carried out on targets in north-western Pakistan in recent months.

The US and Pakistan have had serious disagreements over the Afghan border zone, with Washington unhappy at Pakistani efforts to tackle militants and Islamabad condemning the US drone attacks.

Pakistani leaders had expressed hope that the new US administration would halt the controversial air strikes, saying they fuelled public anger and complicated Pakistan's own counter-insurgency efforts.

But the drone attacks have continued since Mr Obama was inaugurated as US president in January.

Source: BBC

American MQ-9 Reaper Hunter/Killer Drone



An MQ-9 Reaper with Two GBU-49 GPS Guided Bombs


AGM-114 Hellfire Air-to-Ground missile

 

[roadrunner]

"Believed" to have been killed.

If it's a tribal, the standard of evidence for blowing up their houses is "believed" to be something.

For any normal citizen it's proof beyond doubt.

It'll not help much.

 

[muse]

The drone attacks targeting talib and Al-Qaida are indeed helpful - Every Talib and Al-Qaida death leads Pakistan closer to regaining it's sovereignty over areas in which talib and Al-Qaida have become entrenced, threatening the lives and liberty of Pakistani citizens.

 

[roadrunner]

The drone attacks targeting talib and Al-Qaida are indeed helpful - Every Talib and Al-Qaida death leads Pakistan closer to regaining it's sovereignty over areas in which talib and Al-Qaida have become entrenced, threatening the lives and liberty of Pakistani citizens.

Drone attacks where innocent lives are lost are not helpful.

They lead to a further spread of Talibanization.

When an authority does not provide security, the people look for alternatives.

When an authority is killing innocent people endlessly, they look for alternatives.

That alternative is Sharia law. It's already happened in some places.

It's almost as if the US wants to destabilize the region through drone strikes. They do not contribute much to ridding the place of Al Q or foreigners, they just stir up the locals, and push them towards Talibanization.

What could the goal be? Perhaps removing the government writ throughout the entire province so that the Americans can be justified for entering there? The current government is creating a problem when there should not be.

 

[muse]

Choori upar se si na zoori?? have your cake and eat it too??


First Talib and Al-Qaida, by force of arms and the use of beheadings (terror) cow the population, then they blame the state for not providing security for those citizens and when the talib Al-qaida are confronted, they use the innocents as shields, suggesting that what they really want is islamic this or that.

No sir, this line may work in some political opinion colums, however; reality is transparent.

No is arguing that innocents are not being killed, and one wonders why it is that voices of conscience seem only to find their voice when the talib and Al-Qaida are confronted by the state which these very same voices blame for not having confronted TalibAlQaida earlier?

 

[roadrunner]

Choori upar se si na zoori?? have your cake and eat it too??


First Talib and Al-Qaida, by force of arms and the use of beheadings (terror) cow the population, then they blame the state for not providing security for those citizens and when the talib Al-qaida are confronted, they use the innocents as shields, suggesting that what they really want is islamic this or that.

No sir, this line may work in some political opinion colums, however; reality is transparent.

The facts on the ground that people see is that

1) People, many of them innocent, are getting blown up in drone strikes
2) People don't like it, and it's leading to a greater problem where people look for alternatives (namely Sharia law).

No is arguing that innocents are not being killed, and one wonders why it is that voices of conscience seem only to find their voice when the talib and Al-Qaida are confronted by the state which these very same voices blame for not having confronted TalibAlQaida earlier?

Could you point out where I said Al Qaeda or the Taliban did not behead innocent people and were good people?

The point which you're missing is that the perception of the people on the ground is what is important. Whether I feel that the Taliban are good or bad is irrelevant.

It is that perception on the ground that can lead to further Talibanization.

 

[muse]

RR

I understand your point about perception, I do not however; agree with it - it demands more of a leap of imagination than I am able to make - it would require that I concede that "people" want to be beheaded and terrorized by islamist - a road much to far for the likes of me.

"People" do not like or want ot be with these talib and Al-Qaida and those "people" killed in attacks by drones are aiding and abetting the enemies of Pakistan - far better this than a single drop of a Pakistani Fauji, wouldn't you agree?

How dare those who harbor, aid, abet and shelter talib and Al-qaida whose mission is to destroy Pakistan, make noises about being turned on to talib and Al-Qaida.

I read your posts with great interest and may I encourage you to also express concern for the lives of Pakistani Fauji -- "the people" will be on any side that emerges victorious, lets remember that and focus on the task at hand.

 

[IceCold]

American MQ-9 Reaper Hunter/Killer Drone



An MQ-9 Reaper with Two GBU-49 GPS Guided Bombs


AGM-114 Hellfire Air-to-Ground missile

We got to have one of these, would really boost COIN capabilities of the armed forces moreover the perception of the people about US attacking their soil and with GOP completely helpless, will change.This way no matter how many taliban or foreign militants are killed, it will still be considered as an invasion by the local people which means that militant organizations have a handy option in recruiting the locals against the state and GOP