Pakistanis Say U.S. Raid Left 4 or 5 Militants Dead

[ECH1969]

The provincial government said Tuesday that in addition to 18 civilians, four or five foreign militants were killed by the American airstrikes on the village of Damadola on Friday, but that their bodies were removed from the scene by companions. In all, 10 to 12 militants had been invited to a dinner in the village that night, it said.

The deaths of 18 civilians, among them 6 children, have stirred anger among the population in Pakistan and put pressure on the government to explain what happened in Bajaur.

"At least four to five foreign elements had also been killed in the incident, but their bodies were removed from the scene within no time by their companions, so as to suppress the actual reason of the attack," Mr. Wazir said, according to the statement.

Mr. Zawahiri, believed to be hiding near the Afghan-Pakistan border, has served as Al Qaeda's primary intermediary with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian who heads Al Qaeda's efforts in Iraq. American officials believe that if Mr. Zawahiri is killed, he would not be easily replaced.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/18/international/asia/18pakistan.html?oref=login
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interesting to see how many times their line on this matter changes. Now they are saying there were 10-12 militants there.

[ihelpu2see]

1. this is how cynical I have gotton... Our leader lies to us constantly

so why should I believe we actually hit someone we targeted, Could there have just been one terrorist in the rubble? Why 4 or 5? Why did initial reports suggest 10 bodies were quickly removed? We did not get the guy we were aiming for and civilians did die..... Just say you missed and had bad intel.... Think of these villagers hearing planes going over every night for 3 or 4 nights then boom.... Why would they lie and state that no foreigners (terrorists) were in their village, what do they gain???

I have babbled too long...

[applegrove]

2. Okay - then the USA is not terrorists.

[merwin]

3. Yeah, the dead insurgents were dragged off by their non-existant

friends without any trace and without anybody even noticing it happening.

Suuuuuuure.

[ECH1969]

4. How would the NY Slime know this? Have they asked him?

Mr. Zawahiri, believed to be hiding near the Afghan-Pakistan border, has served as Al Qaeda's primary intermediary with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian who heads Al Qaeda's efforts in Iraq.

[wtmusic]

5. Musharraf trying to save his political skin

has put these guys up to it. What's a dictatorship good for if you can't strongarm once in awhile?

[FloridaPat]

6. The bribes went through I see.

[mike_c]

7. lies....

Business as usual.

[joanski0]

8. I read somewhere recently that Poppy

Bush was over in Pakistan and apologized for killing the civilians. So the next day, the Pakistani's say that four or five militants were killed. Wonder how much of our money Poppy gave them to say that?

[RagingInMiami]

9. This is clearly an example of some backroom strong-arming

from the US on Pakistan. I don't believe it at all.