Taliban Furious Over U.S. Missile Strike

Senior Militant May Have Been Among 24 Killed, Pakistani Intelligence Officials Say

(AP)  The Taliban are furious about the latest apparent U.S. missile strike in Pakistan, indicating a senior militant may be among two dozen people killed, officials and residents said Sunday.

The attack Friday on the North Waziristan tribal region was believed to have killed several Arab fighters but government officials have been notably quiet.

However, two Pakistani intelligence officials said insurgents were moving aggressively in the area while using harsh language against local residents, including calling them "salable commodities" - an accusation of spying.

The intelligence officials, who said their information came from informants and field agents, interpreted the Taliban's anger as a sign that a senior militant may have been among at least 24 people killed. But that has not been confirmed, said the officials, who sought anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to media.

The U.S. has ramped up cross-border strikes that target alleged al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in Pakistan's tribal regions bordering Afghanistan. Pakistani leaders have condemned the attacks as violations of their country's sovereignty.

Pakistan's chief army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said at least 20 people died in the attack, eight of them foreign militants.

Two residents in the area targeted Friday said Taliban fighters warned people not to discuss the missile strike or inspect the rubble at the site. The residents requested anonymity for fear of Taliban retribution.

Taliban and top Pakistani government spokesmen either could not be reached, did not return calls or declined to comment on the strike.

The U.S. rarely acknowledges cross-border attacks inside Pakistani territory by forces from Afghanistan. A U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, 1st Lt. Nathan Perry, did not deny U.S. involvement but said he had "no information to give."

Extremists based in Pakistan's border regions have been blamed for attacks on American and NATO forces in Afghanistan and for violence inside Pakistan. Al Qaeda leaders including Osama bin Laden are believed to be hiding somewhere in the lawless tribal regions along the border.

Just last month, a suicide truck bombing killed 54 people and severely damaged the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Pakistan's fledgling civilian government has tried to convince the population it cannot duck the fight against militancy. But leaders also warn that American attacks in Pakistan inflame public opinion against the West and undermine the fight against terrorism.

On Wednesday, intelligence agencies are to privately brief lawmakers about the militant threat facing Pakistan during a special joint session of parliament.

Pakistan has been carrying out its own operations against insurgents in the northwest.

Security forces on Sunday killed two alleged Taliban commanders in Swat, one of whom was believed to be affiliated with al Qaeda, said Maj. Nasir Ali, an army spokesman.

In the Bajur tribal region, overnight clashes with security forces killed five suspected militants, police official Fazl Rabi said. A Sunday bomb blast wounded five people in a compound where tribal elders were meeting to discuss ways to rid the area of militants, Rabi said.

The military offensive in Bajur has earned praise from the U.S., but it has also prompted a mass exodus of civilians fleeing the fighting.

Many are in relief camps in Pakistan, but some 20,000 Pakistanis have crossed the border into eastern Afghanistan, according to the United Nations.

Meanwhile, a three-day ultimatum from the government for Afghans living illegally in Bajur to leave was due to expire later Sunday. Of an estimated 80,000 Afghans, only about 15,000 had left, said Abdul Haseeb, a local government official.

He said "the administration may be lenient and give them another couple of days."

It was unclear whether the Afghans were all heading back across the porous, disputed border to Afghanistan or simply going to other parts of Pakistan.

[petro49l]

The Saudis insist on war between Pakistan and the Coalition. The Pakistani Army harbors Osama Bin Laden. The fighting escalates the price for a barrel of oil. OPEC has reduced outflow of petroleum from the Persian Gulf in anticipation of a cold winter. Americans will pay $150 for each barrel of oil. They have no other choice.

[freedomobama]

Raised by a COMMUNIST; Socializes with / supported by a TERRORIST; Sat in a pew for over 20 years listening to a RACIST.

OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT?


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Posted by krisinal at 09:54 AM




Lies, Lies, and more Lies

[republic1776]

Imprisonrov,

I resent your lack of respect you have.
You may think your being witty and cute with your puns on names.
However, It just shows your immaturity.
In addition, it%u2019s embarrass your parents.

[xmanborg]

Oh Yeah and there was a story in CNN or a News Channel here in the USA a few months ago about what the Taliban men do with young 14-15-16-17-18 year old men in their tents and was pretty GayEEEE. Sleeping with Boys and Young Men makes you Gaye, Gaye, Gaye and also makes you Pillow-biters !

[bigal321321]

krisinal - Did you even read the story above? Or do you just pointlessly spread your hate wherever you can? Think about where America is at this moment in time. We need to unite as a people not be separated by petty politics. Please stay on subject and go to a story about politics to comment.

[xmanborg]

Remember 9-11 Taliban !

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWaaaaaaaaaa that your Furious Over U.S. Missile Strikes. Soon we will use a Neutron Bomb on your sorry A$$e$ and get rid of all of you with a slow death and radiation. If you dont know what a Neutron Bomb is then Google it douschebags.

[gangesdak]

Pakistan is always a suspect in Taliban affairs. Their government officials and generals support the Talibans. At the same time they pretend they are fighting the Talibans. I hope our next president sees through that, and wipes both the Talibans and their supporter Pakistan officials.

[michaelm07]

Good, kill more of them and with extreme malice. And anyone who thinks a hug will fix things should feel welcome to travel over and negotiate peace with them.

[tipsyinct]

OH NO!!!! They''re mad?!?! oh geez oh geez oh geez, what should we do?! should we apologize? I think we should just be really nice to them for a couple weeks and then everything will blow over.

[chenz66]

Good, let them be furious. That only means they realize they have no where to hide. Pakistan is no longer a safe haven.

[alien_view]

Only the LIBERALS care about the Taliban terrorists'' rights,safety and well being; and that is because LIBERALS need them to support their own political agendas.

[jesusface]

The Taliban are terrorists! They have no education and no manners! Their children learn early on to fear God%u2026

[ocasanas]

Why should they be furious, if they are the scum of the Earth. When I use the toilet I always see little pieces of Talibans coming out of my *ss, then I flush them.

[myopinion1]

Like anyone cares what these pieces of slime think. Ask the mother of a WTC victim how they feel about the Taliban''s "emotions". Kill them all.

[promaclaura]

Pakistan, the new front after Afghanistan (the war America fought and finished, sending their coward fighters into Iraq and Pakistan). They''ve returned and we''re finishing them off with drones instead of boots on the ground, good.

[bailmeout1]

bin Laden should have been turned over once the bigger terrorist, Ariel Sharon, was turned over for his far more murderous terrorist acts against the Palestinians and Lebanese.
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Posted by AVSuvorov at 04:25 AM : Oct 06, 2008

Case closed. Bombs away dude and I hope all of you lose cherished loved ones. Loved ones that were not even alive 3000 years ago. Oh yeah, plus don''t forget the fiery horrific ''pre-knowing'' part also. C ya!

[bailmeout1]

Taking lots of time there. Getting permission to lie about your glorious leader while you are incognito as a non-Muslim?

[bailmeout1]

Do you think they should have given up Bin Laden? Careful now, point blank question that doesn''t go back 3000 years.

[bailmeout1]

bailmeout1 my English and spelling are far better than yours. Answer the question: do you really think the U.S. has sufficient munitions to turn Afghanistan into "ashes"? Be careful - this is a test of your intelligence.
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Posted by AVSuvorov at 04:07 AM : Oct 06, 2008

Longtrees post was rhetorical. He said they should have given up Bin Laden "Or else" - ok ? Is that better? But what are you now? In charge of dump trucks for the Peoples Republic or something?

[bailmeout1]

Longtree said they should have given up Bin Laden. Then you replied that Afghanistan was the size of Texas and had mountains.

Did they need transportation? Was it a two day journy on a one day camel?

Ok you win,they have mountains you are right!
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Posted by bailmeout1 at 03:53 AM : Oct 06, 2008

Oh I am sorry, English is your second language. My bad. Or maybe you went to the Iranian School of Nuke Making and think mountains can protect you as long as Allah has been there.