ISLAMABAD, Sept. 12, 2008
U.S. Hits Pakistan Again, Tension Mounts
At Least 12 Reported Killed; Diplomats Warn Rift Between Washington, Islamabad Dangerous
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Play CBS Video
Video
Bush's Secret Pakistan Raids
Katie Couric speaks with chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan, reporting from Afghanistan, about the recent revelation that President Bush secretly ordered military raids in Pakistan.
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Pakistani protesters burn a U.S. flag and an effigy of President Bush to condemn alleged strikes in Pakistani tribal areas along Afghanistan border, Sept 10, 2008 in Multan, Pakistan. (AP Photo/Khalid Tanveer)
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A villager who is injured by artillery waits to leave to hospital in Pakistan's troubled area of Swat where security forces are fighting with militants and Taliban in North Frontier province, Sept. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Sherin Zada)
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Insurgents on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. (CBS)
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Fast Facts
Pakistan
Learn about the people, economy and history.
American forces in Afghanistan are stepping up their efforts to hit Taliban and al Qaeda militants in what they call safe havens in Pakistan's wild border regions, despite stiff protests from Islamabad.
With the insurgency in Afghanistan intensifying, U.S. President George W. Bush secretly approved more aggressive cross-border operations in July, current and former American officials have told the AP.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali, a senior leader of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's opposition party, demanded the government convene a joint session of parliament to discuss and devise a strategy on what he called an increasing and alarming number of the U.S. strikes inside Pakistan.
"This is very serious and very concerning to us," he said.
The latest apparent missile strike was by a U.S. pilotless drone inside Pakistan's lawless northwest border region, according to a senior Pakistani intelligence official.
Two intelligence officials told The Associated Press that missiles struck a home near Miran Shah, a town in North Waziristan which is the capital of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, before dawn Friday.
Friday morning's attack appeared to target a former government school building which is believed to be used by militants, the intelligence official told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari.
A local official in the Miran Shah area, which is about 11 miles east of the border with Afghanistan, told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai the attack killed 12 people, most of them militants.
The strike came as senior European and Arab diplomats warned that the widening rift between Pakistan's leadership and Washington over the sharp increase in American military activity on Pakistani soil could undermine counter-terrorism efforts.
A local official in the Miran Shah area, which is about 11 miles east of the border with Afghanistan, told CBS News' Sami Yousafzai the attack killed 12 people, most of them militants.
Senior U.S. military leaders said earlier this week that America would need to revise its strategy in combating militants on the Pakistani side of the border, following an increase in military casualties in Afghanistan.
CBS News national security correspondent David Marin confirmed Thursday that President Bush had secretly approved U.S. military raids inside Pakistan to go after alleged terrorist targets - the first time his administration was known to have green-lighted ground operations without the consent of Pakistan's leadership.
The new presidential order also gave U.S. troops permission for the first time to fire across the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan even if they are not being fired upon themselves, reported CBS News chief foreign correspondent Lara Logan.
A local militant in the Miran Shah area told Yousafzai by telephone Friday that Taliban fighters were taking more precautions in light of the ramped-up U.S. military activity. He said leaders were being moved more often and with more security, and there was a growing expectation that encounters with American ground forces inside Pakistan could be imminent.
Pakistan's new civilian leadership and its military commanders have reacted with growing anger to what they call a violation of their country's sovereignty.
The most recent, known cross-border raid by U.S. ground forces took place earlier this month when a team of Navy SEALS laid siege to several buildings in a Pakistani village for at least a couple hours. At least 15 people were killed, including one militant subcommander, but many of them were civilians.
Voicing the southeast Asian country's frustration, General Ashfaq Kayani, the overall military chief, said in a strongly worded statement released Wednesday that Pakistan would not allow foreign troops to operate on its soil.
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A senior European ambassador based in Islamabad told CBS News Friday that European NATO members had begun quietly urging both the U.S. and Pakistan to end their squabbling over who should and should not be operating in the border region.It is becoming increasingly clear to us that the public disagreements between the U.S. and Pakistan will ultimately just benefit the militants.
Senior European diplomatSpeaking on condition of anonymity, the ambassador told Bokhari, "it is becoming increasingly clear to us that the public disagreements between the U.S. and Pakistan will ultimately just benefit the militants… We are urging restraint on both sides."
An Arab diplomat based in Islamabad echoed those concerns: "This alliance is going to be in trouble unless the U.S. and Pakistan return to some sanity in their respective positions," he told Bokhari.
Pakistan's tribal belt, at the centre of the growing debate between Washington and Islamabad, is widely believed to be used as a safe haven for leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda, who use the rugged terrain to regroup and plan cross-border attacks on U.S., coalition and Afghan troops across the border.
The growing tension comes just days after Asif Ali Zardari, widower of slain prime minister Benazir Bhutti took the oath as Pakistan's new president. Zardari has vowed to step up the hunt for militants, but Pakistani officials say his position will be weakened if the current row with Washington is not resolved.
On Friday, army spokesman Maj. Murad Khan said 32 militants and two Pakistani soldiers had died in the previous 24 hours in the Bajur region.
Iqbal Khattak, a local government official, put the total for the 24-hour period higher, saying about 60 militants have died.
Officials say hundreds of militants have died in a weeks-long Pakistani offensive into Bajur. An estimated 500,000 people have fled their homes. Officials acknowledge that civilians have been killed and villages badly damaged in the fighting.
The fight for American soldiers and their military partners is no less perilous inside Afghanistan, where U.S.-led coalition troops killed more than 10 militants and detained two others during two separate raids, the coalition said Friday.
The militants were killed in Tagab district of northern Kapisa province during a Thursday raid on an insurgent commander involved in roadside bomb attacks, the coalition said in a statement.
"Coalition forces were engaged with small-arms fire from multiple groups of armed militants as they entered a compound. The force returned fire, killing the militants," the statement said.
© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 119 Commentsclose enough that the doctor figured to
check out Bush''s moral area of the brain
and found but ONE sinaps there,,,,,
the one that makes your nose itch when
you lift something heavy and must
walk a distance with it.
now in his last days (thank God) he is bombing a sovereign country, killing innocent villagers in the hope of getting OBL and electing McBush jr.
cynical, inhuman, and beastly.
On the western news media:
"I am surprised at it''s power
as a propaganda machine."
Tell the dems about it, Dude.
The American pressitutes have the ability
to even have folks believing that they are
liberal complicit.
If Obama wins it will be a major
shock and disapointment to the GOP
and a total reworking of their
scripting of news reports.
Only way Obama can win is by a goodly
margin.
In ohio there aren''t enough moniters
to stop thugs from intimidating
blacks like last time in a squeeker.
Obama is a strong contender and now
apparently the only way McCain has to
compete with him is to run a female
ars around the country AND through web
site pages bugging out the eyes of women
and independents.
THIS will be the election of the
"S W I F T B U T T".
now we''re indiscrimately bombing pakistan killing all sorts of folks -
what ill be their response to this?
all bush & henchmen have done is stir up he hornets nest.
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Posted by guyfrompa49
These are facts dumbo - pay attention:
Was 9-11 hit by Afghans? Nope, saudis - friends of the Bush family. Did Iraq have anything to do with it? Nope, and the only WMD Saddam ever had was given to him by Rumsfeld in the 80s. Why is the US in Afghanistan and Iraq? Because Bush and Cheney planned it in the 90s. Why are they still there? Figure that one for yourself dumbo ... clue: ans = 3 letters.
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Posted by guyfrompa49
Make your (very small) mind up, am I two years old or a freak? Perhaps I am a two year old freak, although even you should be able to figure that such an entity would unlikely be posting here at this hour of the day. Nope, I am neither ... dumbo is fairly accurate and validated by your response. Keep hold of your feather big-ears, there''s a storm coming and you might need to take flight.
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Posted by willymack4
Make your mind up, is it the drones killing the civillians or ''men'' doing their job? And who says I weep? Maybe I raise a glass when the resistance gets a result. There aint no cocaine left because the stupid GIs dying for the richest 2% of america are buying it all up from the Taliban. Have a nice day dumbo.
He has already told the enemy he only intends to talk to them on their terms. He needs to read the history of "peace talks" at the 38th parallel. Talking is useless when your opponent has as a base position philosophy of "what is mine is mine and what is yours is negotiable".
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Posted by listenupfool
Yep, it''s probably McCain and his flying ability is similar to his IQ ... next to zilch.
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Posted by cb55555
ROFLMMFAO!!!!!
Only a user of crack cocaine would think the comment
was dumb......but it got your attention and no rebuttal.
Thanks for the compliment. Some times you think no one out there hears you.
Please be careful not to raise your glass in a toast to the resistance when a Navy Seal is nearby, unless you enjoy chewing on glass.
Posted by guyfrompa49 at 08:06 AM : Sep 12, 2008
+ report abuse
What did he say that was false? I read his post and EVERY word of it was true. Now maybe, after 7 long years of getting your butts kicked, YOU think the Incompetent LOSER a few still call a President can again claim respect enough from the world to carry this out... YOU are living in a dream world. THEY loser should leave well enough alone until Obama gets there. HE CAN get the World''s support. He CAN get the respect from our former enemies to take care of this. BUSH has NO creditability and is considered by the Vast Majority of the citizens of this world to be a FASCIST. That''s called REALITY!!
If Clinton spent more time reading intel reports that pinpointed Osama bin ladin location, instead of having Monica Lewnski polish his rocket, Bush would not have to spend your tax dollars sending drones after him.
He has already told the enemy he only intends to talk to them on their terms. He needs to read the history of "peace talks" at the 38th parallel. Talking is useless when your opponent has as a base position philosophy of "what is mine is mine and what is yours is negotiable".
Posted by willymack4 at 08:41 AM : Sep 12, 2008
LOL You wacked out Bushbots!! ROFLMAO Always telling everyone what the OTHER guy wants to do or will do. You NEVER address the MOUNTAIN of Incompetence and Failure of Bush/McSame! THEY have been in power the last 8 years! THEY promised to bring Bin Laden to Justice! THEY let him off the hook telling all of us and the world, they didn''t matter anymore. THEY turned to the occupation of ANOTHER Country and allowed the Enemy to escape! Maybe YOU should think about ALL that YOU and YOUR Party are responsible for and stop trying to tell us what our NEXT President will do. EVERYONE can see with their OWN eyes that he, unlike Bush/McSame CAN and WILL bring the world to our side in our attempt to capture and bring those who attacked us to Justice.
Posted by willymack4 at 08:49 AM : Sep 12, 2008
Why is that? You poor people are so sad. NOT only are you and your leader total failures... but you pretend to KNOW what other people will say or do. Again WHAT about his post was wrong? It would appear to me that we have listened to you people and we haven''t a lot of options left to us now.
Duh, Bush is not running against Obama. Obama is running against McCain & Palin. Obama has certainly impressed Europe, that is until he said he expected them to pay for their own defense, then their cheers turned to awkward silence. State one accomplishment Obama can list as a credential that leads you to believe he can change our enemies into our friends.
You may not want to waste your time thinking about it because there are none.
Duh, Bush is not running against Obama. Obama is running against McCain & Palin. Obama has certainly impressed Europe, that is until he said he expected them to pay for their own defense, then their cheers turned to awkward silence. State one accomplishment Obama can list as a credential that leads you to believe he can change our enemies into our friends.
You may not want to waste your time thinking about it because there are none.
At Least 10 Reported Killed, Diplomats Warn Rift Between Washington, Islamabad Dangerous
7 years later, and were FINALLY going after bin Laden in the safe haven provided to him by Musharaff?
What a failure this administration is!!
Duh, Bush is not running against Obama. Obama is running against McCain & Palin. Obama has certainly impressed Europe, that is until he said he expected them to pay for their own defense, then their cheers turned to awkward silence. State one accomplishment Obama can list as a credential that leads you to believe he can change our enemies into our friends.
You may not want to waste your time thinking about it because there are none.
Maybe just the PUB part of Republic where you must spend most of your time with your buds who like the color pink.
Please be careful not to raise your glass in a toast to the resistance when a Navy Seal is nearby, unless you enjoy chewing on glass.
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Posted by willymack4
Can you be so sure that I have not raised a glass with Navy Seals, or even greater beings from the SAS? Or that I can hold my own with either, or that we may together salute a brave adversary when it is justified. A man who fights with no weapon is usually more of a man than one who fights with several. A man who fights with no weapon, but has right on his side, will win even if he is slain.
Nah, I''m just jossin wiv ya, I''d probably run a mile.
That Bud above was for you
Bet you could lick a Seal. I mean the easter kind
Yeah, just jiving
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Posted by OlFishGut
You cant even beat a third world country you had already previously half destroyed with sanctions. Even if you plucked up enough courage (fat chance), what could you do against a country that can properly fight back? ans = lose even more quickly.
You may not want to waste your time thinking about it because there are none.
Posted by willymack4 at 08:59 AM : Sep 12, 2008
You are just a typical Bootlicker there Sparky! We were TOLD by Bush/McSame that IRAQ was the "Front" in the War on Terror! We were told that Al Queda and Bin Laden weren''t important anymore. Now any FOOL listening to Obama and DOESN''T understand that he was right about Iraq all along is in stupid denial. Anyone listening to Obama on Afganistan now KNOW''s he has the judgment an vision to lead... NOT these two old tired men. McSame has supported Bush every step of the way in this INSANE LIE so let''s not try that old bait and switch.
Posted by OlFishGut at 09:29 AM : Sep 12, 2008
You know I think the Russian''s said the SAME thing... Oh didn''t WE say that about Iraq as well. LOL That''s the problem with the fascist and those who follow them. THEY can not understand where the strength of this nation REALLY comes from... It IS not our military.
Two Russian supersonic strategic bombers, the advance party for a deployment of Russian forces for a joint exercise, landed in Venezuela on Wednesday in a move guaranteed to infuriate all believers in America%u2019s divine right to hegemony. The Tu-160 bombers(pictured above) are reputed to be the equals of America%u2019s B-1 and with an even bigger weapons load. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said that the bombers were there for ''training purposes%u2019 and added that he planned to fly one of the aircraft himself.
The entire exercise is designed to send a %u201Chow do you like it?%u201D message to the West, following the US and allied military presence in Georgia and the Black Sea:
And still doesn''t....
Posted by mortal3 at 04:22 AM : Sep 12, 2008
Pakistan is a country that has as much right to exist as the USA. We have NO right to be bombing them and killing their civilians! If GWB wished to ''get'' bin Laden, he should have done it seven years ago. We ahve capabilities that would enable us to get this person without taking out whole communities. Why can they not be used?
Instead he has killed close to, or possibly more than, a million innocent Iraqis. We won''t even include all the Afghanis he has killed. And should I mention the 4743 dead US service personnel? How about the 33077 wounded in action, counting those returned to action as well as those not able to return? Have you seen some of the pictures of some of those soldiers unable to return? They are rather horrific injuries these soldiers are having to cope with.... and thanks to this administration, are doing so without appropriate veteran medical care.
My numbers are from the DoD site dated 9-11-08.
Here is a site with some further numbers that are quite interesting.
http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html
Posted by babooph at 10:11 AM : Sep 12, 2008
And that isn''t all..... GWB has ''decided'' to give Russia the old ''Bring ''em on'' challenge as well. He has forgotten, just like Palin, or perhaps Palin just never even knew, that Russia has far more nukes than we do.
If Pakistan cannot exert its sovereignty in the tribal areas, they cannot claim it is their territory. It is a no-man''s land.
As if the Pakistanis can be trusted anyway--developers of the Islamic bomb, who spread nuclear weapons to any state with enough money to pay off the *** power structure and Dr. Q.
Bomb away! Hope they nail Ben Laden. Bush has neglected him for too long in Bush''s rush to do favors for multi-national corporations--there''s no money for them in catching OBL!
Several months ago, the left was complaining that we weren''t going after them. Now they complain that we do. If the townspeople would not support the enemy, they wouldn''t be in the way of firefights. Were are all of the complaints against the enemy when they blow up their own muslim brothers and sisters?
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