Drone Attacks May Be Expanded in Pakistan (City of Quetta-850,000)

[tekisui]

Source: LA Times

Reporting from Washington - Senior U.S. officials are pushing to expand CIA drone strikes beyond Pakistan's tribal region and into a major city in an attempt to pressure the Pakistani government to pursue Taliban leaders based in Quetta.

The proposal has opened a contentious new front in the clandestine war. The prospect of Predator aircraft strikes in Quetta, a sprawling city, signals a new U.S. resolve to decapitate the Taliban. But it also risks rupturing Washington's relationship with Islamabad.

The concern has created tension among Obama administration officials over whether unmanned aircraft strikes in a city of 850,000 are a realistic option. Proponents, including some military leaders, argue that attacking the Taliban in Quetta -- or at least threatening to do so -- is crucial to the success of the revised war strategy President Obama unveiled last week.

"If we don't do this -- at least have a real discussion of it -- Pakistan might not think we are serious," said a senior U.S. official involved in war planning. "What the Pakistanis have to do is tell the Taliban that there is too much pressure from the U.S.; we can't allow you to have sanctuary inside Pakistan anymore."

But others, including high-ranking U.S. intelligence officials, have been more skeptical of employing drone attacks in a place that Pakistanis see as part of their country's core. Pakistani officials have warned that the fallout would be severe.

"We are not a banana republic," said a senior Pakistani official involved in discussions of security issues with the Obama administration. If the United States follows through, the official said, "this might be the end of the road."

more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-us-pakistan14-2009dec14,0,3724162.story

[mmonk]

1. Could you imagine if another country did this to the US?

[ixion]

2. exactly... can you imagine the reaction

if Pakistan were to launch a drone in New York or somewhere?

Of course, it would not be tolerated for one second, and the result, no doubt, would be that the US would "liberate" Pakistan.

[izquierdista]

3. I imagine the reaction of the British to the Nazis

after a V-1 or V-2 attack.

[newfie11]

4. This is not going to endear America

to the family of innocents who are killed or who lose homes/property.

[closeupready]

5. As others here say, this is a bad idea.

Very bad.

[Mira]

6. K&R