US drone kills dozen in Pakistan

[Lars77]

Source: Al Jazeera



A raid by a US drone in northwest Pakistan has killed at least 12 suspected opposition fighters, Pakistani officials have said.

The attack took place on Sunday in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan, close to the Afghanistan border.

"The target was a militant compound," a senior military official said of the raid, which occurred about 40km southeast of Miranshah, the primary town in North Waziristan.

Another official added: "The drones are apparently tracking and targeting Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, whose presence is frequently reported in the area."

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2010/01/20101178213701265.html

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At least it wasn't a wedding this time.

[thunder rising]

1. Little legs and long arms ... terrorists come in all sizes ya'know.

[Mari333]

2. one dead =100 new angry fighters

just like vietnam.
bring the troops home. fuck the pipeline.

[saigon68]

3. "BRING EM ON" shouted the AWOL CHIMPANZEE

[Robb]

4. Sounds like good news to me.

From the article:

The latest attack is the 10th US drone strike this year. The use of the pilotless aircraft has been criticised by Pakistani officials for causing civilian casualties, as well as for breaching the country's sovereignty.

...So if Pakistani officials are telling the story that all killed are suspected opposition fighters, instead of seizing the opportunity to suggest any more civilian casualties, it implies there aren't any.

So some bad guys were targeted, and only bad guys were killed. Not as good as world peace, but better than bombing a wedding.

[lunatica]

5. 'They say' always makes me doubtful

'They' can say anything they like at any time. Facts need not be involved.

I carry lots of salt these days

[Lars77]

7. And the bit about breaching a sovereign nations sovereignty? nt

[Robb]

8. Again, there was no noise made on this event.

Plenty of opportunity, plenty willing to repeat a message of "U.S. continues to violate our airspace and kill civilians" etc. etc.

But not a peep. Suggests something "good" happened because of these strikes, that's all.

[StarfarerBill]

6. The body count is up to 20, according to the AP.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100117/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan

[maryf]

9. Thanks

K&R