Suspected US drones kill 38 in Pakistan

[The Northerner]

The unusually heavy barrage suggests the US has no intention of halting its drone programme despite tensions with Pakistan

Three suspected US missile strikes in north-western Pakistan in less than 12 hours have killed at least 38 alleged militants, an unusually heavy barrage at a time when relations between the two countries are badly strained, Pakistani intelligence officials said.

The strikes follow the Obama administration's announcement that it is suspending more than one-third of US military aid to Pakistan until disagreements are worked out. The attacks indicate the White House has no intention of stopping the unmanned drone programme, even though the attacks have increasingly caused tension with Pakistan.

In the latest strike, suspected US missiles hit a house in Dremala village in the South Waziristan tribal area early on Tuesday, killing at least eight alleged militants, according to two Pakistani intelligence officials. Two other officials put the death toll from the strike at 13. The village is located close to the border with North Waziristan.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/12/us-drones-pakistan

[MADem]

1. In for a penny, in for a pound.

You have to wonder if those Pakistani ISI guys gave up these militants to spare their own necks. I mean, think about it--Osama was living next door to the Pakistani West Point; don't tell me he didn't have help. He had more help than Whitey Bulger, I'd wager.

Further, we give Pakistan a TON of money, and we've cut off the flow to less than 2/3 of normal capacity. I'm sure their addiction to cash had something to do with this latest event.

The leadership, both military and civilian, have to engage in a game of plausible deniability in order to avoid internal unrest and provide the disaffected with a bogeyman to rail against. If I had to guess, though, I'd bet that Pakistani officials are in this up to their necks. We've NEVER been such good marksmen on our own intel!