U.S. Apologizes as Attacks in Pakistan Continue

[Mefistofeles]

Source: New York Times

October 6, 2010

Dozens of tanker trucks carrying fuel to Afghanistan for NATO troops were torched near Quetta in western Pakistan on Wednesday, the third major attack on supplies since Pakistan closed a border crossing to Afghanistan a week ago and the first at the only checkpoint that remained open.

The latest sabotage came as American officials for the first time offered an explicit apology to Pakistan over a shooting that led to the closing of the other border crossing, possibly laying the ground work for its reopening.

At least one person was killed in the Quetta torchings after three carloads of gunmen fired at the tankers and then burned them, the police said.

“According to eyewitnesses and initial reports some terrorists came on vehicles a few minutes before morning prayer and started firing and then burned some of the tankers,” said Hamid Shakeel, the deputy inspector general of the Quetta police.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/world/asia/07pstan.html?_r=1&hp

[msongs]

1. so why does general petraeus allow this to happen? nt

[saigon68]

6. Betrayus wants Empire and Permanent War

Its about the fruit salad on his chest

[maxsolomon]

2. the Pakistan drone attacks are upping the ante

& the Taliban are responding. fuel supplies are logical targets. without fuel, the US military grinds to a halt.

the US response will probably be to bring in more through Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan - but that's a LOOOONG way around, versus the Khyber Pass.

surprised they haven't paralyzed fuel supply lines earlier.

[earcandle]

3. Sombody who is nearby. Can you just check for me. Are there clones trained for suicide raised in

them there hills?  Or is that some crazy fantasy? 

[earcandle]

4. And are they bent on killing them? Wouldn't that be just atrocious?

[Javaman]

5. "I'm sorry I keep punching in the face, while I'm punching you in the face". nt

[bemildred]

7. US accuses Pakistan of avoiding militant conflict

The United States has criticised Pakistan for avoiding direct conflict with militants in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.

A White House report said this was as much a political choice as one based on resources.

The report comes in the wake of a row between the US and Pakistan about a recent US incursion into Pakistani territory in which two border guards were killed.

Pakistan says it works together with the US in the "war against terror."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11492192