Officials: U.S. drone strike kills 8 in Pakistan

AP Graphics

(AP) PESHAWAR, Pakistan - An American drone fired a volley of missiles into a house close to the Afghan border on Saturday, killing eight suspected militants and indicating U.S. resolve to continue with the attacks despite renewed Pakistani opposition, officials said.

The strike in North Waziristan was the second American drone operation in Pakistan this week.

The attacks come amid American efforts to rebuild its relationship with Pakistan, which in November blocked the passage of U.S. and NATO war supplies to neighboring Afghanistan. The country's parliament has called for an end to the drone strikes, which many here regard as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty.

Up to eight missiles were fired at a house in the Dra Nishtar area of North Waziristan early Saturday, Pakistani intelligence officials said. They didn't give their names because they were not authorized to be named in the media.

America is unwilling to stop the drone attacks because they have weakened al Qaeda and associated groups in Pakistan's tribal regions, large parts of which are not under the control of the Pakistani state. In the past, Pakistan's intelligence agency has cooperated with the attacks, but the government has not publicly acknowledged this.

North Waziristan is a haven for Islamist militants from many parts of the world. It is also believed to be a key command and control center for insurgents fighting American troops in neighboring Afghanistan. The identities and affiliations of those killed Saturday were not immediately known.

Civilians have also been killed in the drone attacks, but the United States doesn't publicly investigate or apologize for any mistakes it makes. The frequency of the strikes has significantly dropped this year.

[alex_glaz]

Pakistanis, Afghanis and Arabs are all victims of terrorists whose primary sponsors are British MI6 and their proxy states of Saudi Arabia and UAE. Terrorists will persevere as long as British exist under current regime.

The sad irony is that we support British people while their proxies are killing our soldiers everywhere. MI6 also gives reconnaissance tips to terrorists to attack American forces in Afghanistan.

[mors_libertatis]

I just read the Washington Times article and the FAA is saying 30,000 drones over American skies, not 3000. Otherwise, wizardlady is correct,just wait until the first few times they get the wrong address. It COULD be you. Or your whole family.
This is a genuine, legitimate concern, it is NOT conspiracy theory, and it must be addressed.

[wizardlady]

JUST WAIT FOLKS.....THIS WILL BE THE HEADLINES IN YOUR LOCAL PAPER, AND IT MIGHT BE YOUR HOME....WHEN THE 3000 DRONES (APPROVED BY PRESIDENTAL ORDER) GETS DISTRIBUTED TO POLICE DEPTS, REALTORS AND OTHER AGENCIES.

THIS IS TECHNOLOGY WHICH WILL INVADE EVERY FAUCET OF OUR LIVES AND MAKE US NOTHING MORE THAN RATS.......SHOULD BE BANNED.

[1notrub11]

Faucet?

[venusvegasvada]

BooYaah!

[fedup12]

each drone strike probably costs us 500 million in bribes to let it happen.

[canameri]

Thank you US military and President Obama.
Together you have made the country safer. Using this strategy you have almost eliminated al Queda, and cost 0 deaths of our fine military men and women.
Keep up the good work!
Obama, you have my vote secured for November!

[oldman67]

Did you finish school?

[violist47]

Since when did the ends justify the means? What if the Mexicans did this to us? What if, while targeting drug cartellists, the Mexican government used a drone to take out a house in, say, Brownsville, unfortunately killing a few innocents while missing the drug lords??

[train99]

And of course if Bush had done that you'd have joined (now, non-existent)street demonstrations denouncing his murderous behavior.

[CHICO_KK]

Good riddance. The Pakistanis aren't worth peanuts anyway. As far as Mexico, they would be commiting suicide.