Senators Defend Airstrikes in Pakistan

[Rose Siding]

SNIP>
"We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again" in going after Ayman al-Zawahri, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
....
"It's a regrettable situation, but what else are we supposed to do?" Bayh told CNN's "Late Edition." "It's like the wild, wild west out there. The Pakistani border is a real problem."

Pakistani intelligence officials have told The Associated Press that al-Zawahri was invited to a dinner marking an Islamic holiday in the border village of Damadola, but that he did not show up.

Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said strikes are necessary to get at al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan who are directing anti-American violence in Iraq. "My information is that this strike was clearly justified by the intelligence," Lott said.

Both Bayh and Lott serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Bayh said the CIA had been watching the area for several days and that the agency would not have conducted such an operation without extraordinarily high levels of intelligence. Bayh said he has "every reason to believe" that high-ranking officials in the Pakistani government were told in advance of the strike.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-pakistan,0,7001258.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

Someone should tell Bayh that the US has, on occasion, ahem, operated with less than credible evidence.

[raysr]

1. All repukes.

[babylonsister]

5. Bayh's a Dem, supposedly. nt

[raysr]

11. Oops, so he is.

[IndianaGreen]

39. Bayh is a puke

the "D" after his name is for "Dickhead"!

[babylonsister]

2. "Extraordinarily high levels of intelligence." "???

Apparently it wasn't high enough, but way to go to make America even more hated, and justly so. :eyes:

[wordpix2]

22. intel is "high" enough for *, which is to say, very little

[0rganism]

36. In other words, "stoned off their asses"

:smoke: :smoke: :smoke:

I've had some "high levels of intelligence" too, but I wouldn't want to go around bombing people on that basis.

[still_one]

3. sorry we killed you kid, but hey that's the breaks

[Terran1212]

4. Would these Senators kindly go to hell?

I've been to Pakistan many times and I can't tell you how horrendous it is for these poor people to be bombed by foreigners and have their own government allow that.

[leftchick]

6. nice... killing babies women and families is "regretable"

what a warpig. :grr: And these folks agree...








Protesters hold their party flags as they take part in an anti-U.S. rally in Karachi, Pakistan on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006. Islamic groups staged nationwide protests Sunday against a purported CIA airstrike that Pakistan says killed innocent civilians instead of the apparent target, top al-Qaida lieutenant Ayman al-Zawahri. (AP Photo/Shakil Adil)

[cliss]

27. I'd like to see that idiot McCain

stand in front of these people and say that.

***And don't forget: this is the man who was having a birthday party, along with a nice cake, while people were drowning, breathing their last breaths in New Orleans as this fool was having a pleasant afternoon.

[pinerow]

7. When you have intelligence from rival

tribal groups as your primary "boots on the ground" spotters, there will always be a high level of error...

[orwell]

8. This is why...

...the Dems are losers. While everyone is demanding an Altio filibuster, this kind of mindless military "rah rah" goes on unchecked. Someone should tear McCain and Lott a new asshole over this.

This is unacceptable. Pathetic.

So much for the "culture of life."

[leftchick]

12. Bayh

is DLC as are most of the Senators. It appears to be a problem doesn't it, this centrist crap?

[orwell]

51. I don't mind centrist...

...but if our esteemed politicians can't call this war a failure, they don't deserve to sit in their chairs. It has failed on every level, besides being illegal to start with.

I am not a fan of the DLC by any means. Frankly I don't care whether they are left, right, or middle, I don't like their attempt to stifle real political movements and their cozying up to the big money cronies of modern politics.

The campaign financing system is totally out of control. If the Dems had a spine they would use the recent corruption scandals to push for public campaign financing.

[rustydog]

9. We bombed 3 houses and killed 17 civilians because

someone invited him to a party?
Did anyone bother to confirm his ACCEPTANCE of the invite and his Fucking presence before sending the missiles?

This Administration is praying for a REAl #2 or #3 kill they are just prematurely blowing their wad hoping to show a severed head on the 6pm news to prove we are winning the war on terror.

[MrPrax]

20. Exactly...

It's not outside the realm of possibility that a family might extend an invitation out of courtesy to a family member, with the full knowledge that the person won't come...

Yes...that's very unusual even in our own culture.

I sure hope it's not a case where the intelligence is speculation based on custom...like thinking that if Terrorist Jones is related to Family Smith, then it is customary for Terrorist Jones in his capacity as 'Fill in Relationship' to be present at the wedding announcement party...so bomb the party, because he should been there.

[Warren Stupidity]

29. It is not out of the realm of possibility that

a local feud resulted in a rather horrendous misuse of our idiotic 'death from above' technology. Hey, what the heck, my neighbors mow their damn lawn 24/7 I think that they are having Zawahari over for dinner next tuesday.

So on a lighter note. They blew up three houses. I'm confused. Did all three house invite #2 over for dinner? Did our most excellent intelligence not quite have the right address down? What? I'm dying to know the explanation for that detail. I'm sure our media will be all over the loose ends here.

[msongs]

10. moslem pakistanis are not really human, are they??

its easier to murder people if you discount their value as human or worthy, and its easier to
justify it by saying they were unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

anybody who thinks john mccain is worthy of votes from democrats is not paying attention.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/dean2008.htm

[RC]

13. Justify being in their own homes at the time they were killed as being

in the wrong place at the wrong time. Gotta face facts, our own government is the predominant terrorist in the world.

[Kagemusha]

14. John Cole argued the Pakistanis definitely approved...

And I agree. And that isn't stopping them from condemning this because it was a spectacular failure.

And maybe the intelligence came from Pakistanis in the first place. Who knows.

[Warren Stupidity]

30. Yeah sure the military junta hates the tribal regions

because they are populated with backwards tribal pakistanis who don't give a rats ass for their sophisticated urban pakistani ways. Sure they would approve. Why not?

[fujiyama]

50. I think he's right

The intel was likely from the ISI or warring tribal factions. The ISI has a lot to gain by getting the Pakistanis pissed off at both the US and Musharraf.

Rather than simply defend the airstrikes, these senators should be looking at why the intel was such a failure.

[rodeodance]

15. the attitude, is we-the US can do anything related to the war on

terror. what if iran bombed another country--saying people were threatening them. it would not go over good at all.

[PsychoDad]

44. Iran pre-emptivly attacks the fleet in the gulf...

Because the US is threatining the peace in the middle east. That would be justified by the neo-con bush logic, wouldn't it?

peace.

[Earth_First]

16. Pentagon: "Laugh it off"

Pentagon to families: Go ahead, laugh
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

When the stress of the war in Iraq becomes too severe, the Pentagon has a suggestion for military families: Learn how to laugh.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-01-12-pentagon-laughter_x.htm?POE=NEWISVA

[daleo]

17. They say it's Pakistan's fault for having a porous border

"The Pakistani border is a real problem." Well, the border is certainly porous as far as predator missiles go.

[IndianaGreen]

40. Our border with Mexico is even more porous

using the same rationale, American cities should be bombed because someone spotted Osama bin Forgotten driving a taxi in Chicago.

[daleo]

43. That's a very good point. n/t

[aquart]

18. We bombed an ALLY?

Dear god, never mind "high levels of intelligence." WTF are we using for brains?

[Sadie5]

19. Ind. will never get Bayh out of office

too much Repig money behind him. Another DLC'er.

[leftchick]

26. actually it was a few families in the ally's country

and it is the second time in as many weeks. There were huge demonstrations all over Pakistan today against the amerikan terrorists.

[Solly Mack]

21. No death too many in pursuit of the number 2 man

no matter how many number 2's we have to come up with...no matter how many people have to die...we'll keep bombing until the name Osama Bin Laden is forgotten...oh wait...OBL is not a threat...I forgot...disregard the Bin Laden reference. It's all about the number 2! Some say the number 2 is a cutsie way of saying shit but I declare the number 2 to be the most evil number in the world!

And we will bomb and bomb and bomb and bomb until the last brown person standing...and that last brown person standing will, of course, be...the number 2 man we wanted along.

It's tragic but somebody's got to do it.

[lovuian]

23. Attacking Pakistan War with Iraq and now maybe war with Iran

and lets add crossing over into Syria and Lebanon... Ya get the picture here people!!!

[Atmashine]

24. Blood makes the grass grow! Kill! Kill! Kill!

Oops, missed.

[Copperred]

25. U.S. Foreign Policy of Ethnic Supremecy in Pakistan: 50 years and counting

U.S. Foreign Policy of Ethnic Supremacy in Pakistan: 50 years and counting
December 26, 2005 - Robert R. Khan

The United States continued policy of support for Pakistan is now viewed by the majority of average and poor Pakistanies as a policy of ethnic supremacy. That the majority of these same peoples would like to dissolve the country into its natural democratic secular nationalist intentions seems to be lost on the one great power whom would gain the most from such unities.

For 50 years the US, intentionally or unintentionally, has supported the Punjabi military and economic elite of Pakistan in suppressing the overwhelming majority of the rest of the countries ethno-religious groups. The minority elites, usually of the military persuasion, of the other three noteworthy ethno-religious groups of Pakistan that the Punjabies buy into their camp is a mockery of the reality of this regressive state. That in and of itself would not be so bad, except for our hand in its longevity.

As long as the US continues to have its intentions backwards in Pakistan the majority of its people will hold the US responsible for its duplicity in their present sufferings and the US will in fact create a more dangerous world for its own interests.

Whether the anti-American sentiments of the Pakistani public are based in credible grievances is mute as it relates to the fertile ground our policies are creating for such sentiment. How any of this serves long-term US interests in Central and South Asia a prudent National Security Advisor should ask.

Conversely to our present policy, if the US were to implement strategies that led to the natural break up of Pakistan under the democratic nationalist forces within it, or at a minimum withheld military and economic support from Islamabad in oppressing our would be allies, the US would find itself the legitimate protector and instigator of self determined liberty once more and its credibility on the ascendancy. Furthermore, the odds for achieving critical US national security goals in the region would undoubtedly rise substantially. At current, Russia, Iran and China are having a field day in playing us like fools. If you do not believe Pakistan is at the center of this war, you’re missing the Achilles heel.

At what point does the American public speak out against their government's policy which is the lynch pin behind the cultural and religious genocide taking place inside Pakistan?

END

[4dsc]

28. Defenders of terrorism from the sky

make no mistake about it, this is a act of terrorism at its finest!! I could not describe terrorism any better and these slimey Senators want to defend it..

How f*cking sad..

[saigon68]

31. They are coddling killers of children and encouraging them

Ergo--- They are War Criminals.

[joanski0]

32. Do you suppose the military intelligence

got their misinformation from torturing prisoners? McCain makes me ill. Then Feinstein said she agreed with him. Then Feinstein said she wasn't going to vote for Alito, but she would not filibuster because her views were different than his. They needed some kind of "turptitude".

[The Stranger]

33. Baby killers.

They're back.

[moondust]

34. I'll bet they had NO visual confirmation.

None at all. They probably intercepted a message or somebody in the village tipped them off in advance with a time and place. The strike was then simply pre-programmed.

Sure would be easy to knock off your tribal adversary by feeding the U.S. false time and place info knowing they're reckless with those drones!

"I'm gonna be patient about this thing, and not go firing a 2 million dollar missile at a 10 dollar tent just to hit a camel in the butt."--GWB

[seemslikeadream]

35. Fight the real enemy!

WAR
Until the philosophy,
Which holds one race superior
And another inferior,
Is finally and permanently
Discredited and abandoned,
Everywhere is war.

WAR

Until there is no longer first class
Or second class citizens of any nation.
Until the color of a man's skin,
Is of no more significance than
The color of his eyes,
I've got to say "war".

WAR

That until the basic human rights,
Are equally guaranteed to all,
Without regard to race,
I'll say "war"

Until that day the dream of lasting peace,
World-citizenship and the rule of
International morality will remain
Just a fleeting illusion to be pursued,
But never obtained.
And everywhere is war.

Until the ignoble and unhappy regime
Which holds all of us through,
Child-abuse, yeah, child-abuse yeah,
Sub-human bondage has been toppled,
Utterly destroyed,
Everywhere is war.

War in the east,
War in the west,
War up north,
War down south,
There is war,
And the rumors of war.

Until that day,
the african continent will know no peace
There is no continent,
Which will know peace.

Children, children.

Fight!

We find it necessary.
We know we will win.
We have confidence in the victory
Of good over evil
Of good over evil

Fight the real enemy!

[Rex]

37. Bomb another country that has nukes. Yeah, really smart move.

Besides the WHOLE FUCKING PLANET knew OBL and his boys HQd themselves in Pakistan right after 911. McCain is the Living Asshole of George Bush. When he speaks, it is with brainwashed eyes and mind.

[IndianaGreen]

38. Senators defend the bombing of innocent civilians

These warmongers should be the ones that get bombed by the families of the victims. May they all rot in Hell!

[killbotfactory]

41. He's directing activities in Iraq, now?

With what, carrier pigeons?

“No way a terrorist who blows up women and children is going to be called a ‘freedom fighter’ on my program.” -O’Reilly

[Gloria]

42. When the Musharaff is finally killed off and Pakistan's nukes

fall into the hands of the people we don't want...then what??? 10,000 Pakistanis were protesting the US today....Musharaff has to be outraged, just to try to keep himself alive.

[mom cat]

45. Every reason to believe... now where have I heard that before?

[HuffleClaw]

46. "apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again"

that is just sickening. 'oops. but we'll do it again!'

[pinniped]

47. I'm sure the US is harboring some bad dudes wanted in other countries.

I suppose there would be nothing wrong with them using the same tactics.

[tanyev]

48. "It's like the wild, wild west out there"

And indiscriminate bombings of innocent civilians only contribute to the problem.

[splat@14]

49. Has God weighed in on this? What's Robertson had to say?

[donkeyotay]

52. How many innocent people will we kill and say, "nasty break"

Can you imagine if Canada was lobbing missiles into the land of the free, home of the brave, wiping out whole families and saying, "Oops."

Pakistan will be a future war or police action, and once again we can thank our secret military and their leadership for they fine job they've done of winning hearts and minds.