Sources: Obama Eyes More Afghan War Drone Strikes

[tekisui]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — The White House is looking at expanding counterterror operations in Pakistan to refocus on eliminating al-Qaida instead of mounting a major military escalation in Afghanistan.

Two senior administration officials said Monday that the renewed fight against the terrorist organization could lead to more missile attacks on Pakistan terrorist havens by unmanned U.S. spy planes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made.

Top aides to President Barack Obama said he wants more time to decide.

The proposed shift would bolster the U.S. mission in the region on Obama's long-stated goal of dismantling al-Qaida. White House and Pentagon officials are debating whether to send more troops to Afghanistan.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iqyaFh_efr-brDq0rMLF1hkop0tgD9ARUSBO0

[Eric J in MN]

1. Imagine how we would feel if another country killed mourners...

...at funeral in the US, because one person at the funeral was a suspected terrorist leader?

[tekisui]

2. And, then promised to expand that practice....

[27inCali]

3. I'm sorry

it's hard for me to feel sorry for (or even be tolerant) of a people and culture that deems it appropriate to stone women to death for not marrying who they are told to by their parents, or to throw acid on the faces of children just for trying to get an education. Cultural relativism can only go so far and I'm sorry, but that kind of shit strikes me as just fucking Satanic and anyone willing to accept that kind of behavior as normal is completely unworthy of any sympathy whatsoever.

it's not we are so fucking righteous. We are just as big assholes as them really. but if they don't want to get bombed, they could tell the Taliban to fuck off and kick them out of their own fucking country, and those people are armed to the teeth, every one of them, don't tell me they can't kick out the Taliban-they don't want to. They support terrorism. If that's what they choose, then it's their choice, but the consequence of their choice is that they are going to get bombed, -they know that, they don't care, they keep going on protecting the Taliban, so it's their choice really. They could serve us Bin Laden's head on a platter and never hear from us again, but they choose not to and if bombing with drones saves the lives of just a few servicemen, then that's enough for me.

[tekisui]

5. It's not a black and white world.

We kill innocent men, women and children with our bombs and our occupation. We destabilize the country and when the Taliban(as bad as they are) offer protection, it is no surprise. We send young men into the Taliban recruitment centers.

We have done very little for women's rights since we've been there. They are still subjected to the horrors of the most extremist warlords, AND are trying to survive a war.

The Taliban is a convenient, and simplistic label. There are many that are called Taliban in the Western media that are a tribal faction that has been in tact for a long time. They may have outdated and oppressive cultures, but not all who are labeled Taliban behead people and throw acid in girl's faces.

Further, how would you suggest the people living in a war zone "throw out" the "Taliban"?

[slipslidingaway]

4. knr - appeciate the updates n/t