U.S. Strikes Said To Kill Militant Leader

Pakistani Officials Say U.S. Launched Missiles Against Al Qaeda Commander, Say His Death Won't Be Major Disruption

(CBS/ AP)  U.S. missile strikes on Friday targeting locations in Pakistan’s tribal areas were “unlikely to cause a major upset to militant activity in the region” in spite of the killing of an al Qaeda field commander of Iraqi origin, senior Pakistani security officials and diplomats said in their first assessments.

The killing of Abu Akash, the al Qaeda field commander, was first seen as a significant hit to the militant outfit which has made the Pak-Afghan border region its main battleground against troops from Pakistan, the U.S. and NATO member countries.

But a few hours after the attack, a senior Pakistani security official told CBS News' Farhan Bokhari that the killing made little difference to the organization's ability to continue to wage its campaign.

Intelligence officials said that suspected U.S. missiles hit two houses in northwest Pakistan, killing 27 people.

Two missiles were fired Friday into Mir Ali village in North Waziristan after drones had been flying overhead for several hours, the officials said, citing reports from agents and informers in the area.

They said 20 people were killed in the attack, but their identifies were unknown.

The first missile hit the house frequented by the Arab militant, while seconds later another blew up a car parked close by, the officials said.

A local Taliban commander told CBS News there was no presence of a "high-value target" in the alleged missile strike.

A second house in northwest Pakistan was hit late Friday, killing seven including suspected foreign militants. That strike took place in Kari Kot in South Waziristan.

Pakistan's privately-owned GEO TV reported that at least 33 people were killed in the attacks.

Suspected U.S. unmanned planes have fired at militant targets in Pakistan at least 16 times since mid-August.

The United States rarely confirms or denies firing the missiles and the identities of those killed are also rarely made public.

But the marked up-tick in their frequency is straining America's seven-year alliance with Pakistan, where rising violence is exacerbating economic problems gnawing at the nuclear-armed country's stability.

“One Abu Akash dies and I am sure there is another to take his place," the Pakistani official said, sharing his first assessment on the condition of anonymity with CBS News. "His killing may be significant but not backbreaking for al Qaeda.”

Arab and Western diplomats based in Islamabad concurred with the assessment, though they emphasized that the U.S. campaign had intensified pressure on fighters from al Qaeda and the Taliban who until recently saw the largely mountainous Pak-Afghan region as an ideal ground for staging a guerrilla-type resistance.

Pakistani officials said Abu Akash had operated in the North Waziristan region for years, moving with relative ease in the company of a small group of well-armed bodyguards.

“The killing of this man will demonstrate to others that you can’t just go about defying the dangers. Others will think twice before they decide to stay at any one place for more than a day or two,” said the anonymous security official.

A Western diplomat who also spoke on the condition of anonymity said Abu Akash’s killing may suggest that the U.S. was making better progress in locating and targeting such suspects in spite of a growing number of Pakistani protests against the use of pilot- less drones.

Pakistan says the strikes are violations of its sovereignty and insists it is tackling the militants, pointing out an ongoing military offensive just north of Waziristan that has killed some 1,500 insurgents.

On Wednesday, the Pakistani foreign ministry summoned U.S. ambassador Ann Patterson to protest the continued use of pilot-less planes to attack sites on Pakistani soil.

U.S. officials have regretted the loss of innocent lives in such attacks, but have said they reserve the right to protect U.S. troops stationed in neighbouring Afghanistan from militant attacks. U.S. officials continue to urge Pakistan to take a tougher line against al Qaeda and Taliban militants who they say operate from Pakistani soil, and allegedly stage attacks on U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.


Suicide Attack Against Police Official

On Friday a suicide bomber attacked a police chief outside his house in the northwestern city of Mardan, missing him but killing three other officers and five civilians, officials said.

The suicide attacker, who was on foot, hit the first vehicle in a convoy as it emerged from the police chief's residence in the city, but the officer was in another car behind the gate.

"I was the target but such attacks cannot stop us from doing our duty," said the chief, Akhtar Ali Shah.

TV footage showed a badly damaged police pickup truck just outside the police chief's residence and rescue workers loading bloodied survivors into ambulances.

There have been more than 90 suicide attacks on civilian, military and Western targets since July last year, killing nearly 1,200 people, according to military statistics.

[larryhammick]

An unnamed "senior Pakistani intelligence official" is now saying that Abu Akash was unharmed but a /really/ senior guy, Abu Jihad al-Masri, was one of three killed in the strike on a car in N. Waziristan (AFP). He is in the Rewards For Justice list under the surname al-Hakim. Al-Qa''ida has consistently said his surname is al-Hukaymah however.

[docpeter1953]

To accept your thinking requires us to believe that the CIA, the FBI, the military, and everyone in government is corrupt or dishonest. Most Americans do not believe this. There is no question that there can be occasional mistakes and mistaken intelligence information. This is no reason to condemn everyone.

Posted by rhs648 at 01:10 AM : Nov 01, 2008
_______________

Very true. And, if you have listened to what has come out since invading Iraq, the CIA, FBI and even the Brit. intelligence questioned the intel validity of WMDs in Iraq. So this leaves the invasion of Iraq as the decision of who? GWB? Cheney?

I watched the UN briefings where Powell presented the case. Even Powell has come out and questioned the intel as he did prior to invading Iraq.

Intel is only as good as: the source, the interpreter and the decision maker.

[rhs648]

"Pakistani Officials Say U.S. Launched Missiles Against Al Qaeda Commander"

So they say. What happened to the "weapons of mass destruction" excuse?

Posted by anon00

To accept your thinking requires us to believe that the CIA, the FBI, the military, and everyone in government is corrupt or dishonest. Most Americans do not believe this. There is no question that there can be occasional mistakes and mistaken intelligence information. This is no reason to condemn everyone.

[rhs648]

Gee, maybe if the terrorists who caused 9-11 in the first place didn''''t live with their wives and kids, we wouldn''''t be having these so-called "innocents" die when we attacked. Why don''''t these Jihadists sacrifice for their cause and stay unmarried? Why do they insist on endangering others with their lifestyle?

Posted by michaelt302

You raise some good points. These are people whose cause is more important than their wives or children. Few Americans subscribe to this type of thinking. This is what makes these people "fanatics" and so dangerous. There is no way to take these people out when they live with their families among civilian populations without others getting hurt or killed. Further, how can we assume that their wives and children are innocent when their husbands are intent on killing American soldiers and changing the world?

[petro49l]

Why does George W. Bush want a missile base in Poland? The Coalition easily launches missiles at enemy targets in Pakistan. Drones can destroy fired Russian missiles. Poland is a beautiful land. NATO should not build a base that Moscow will strike with silo and bunker buster bombs. America should not accept Bush''s hallucinations and delusions from binge drinking and street narcotics.

[downsteamjim]

Michaelt302: I doubt seriously that these terrorist mind if their families are killed. In fact, it makes good photos.

[impeach__w]

America would be better off with Bush and Cheney in a Coma.
I predicted Iran would be attacked at the end of Oct or end of November (check your moon phases with which Muslim holidays almost always coinside.) Admittedly, I honestly didn''t see an attack on Syria coming this soon though.

Posted by guyfrompa49 : impeach__W - You''re a regular genius. Does the moon determine whether you have a brain or not?

No idiot, it determines how dark it is at night. We always use a dark night to launch an attack. And those dark nights work out to dates Musliums are celebrating. It doesn''t take a genius to draw that conclusion, why couldn''t you figure that out?

[hunterdon6]

its better to fight this war on foreign soil than here. you can sleep safe tonight thanks to our men and women in service. and most of you people mock them.

[kuei12]

Arrested or molested?

[inventagod2]

Daily Pentagoon Koolaid.

Enjoy!

[kuei12]

Give me a break. America cannot win a war on it''s own soil. Americans are too fat, lazy and too scared to fight a real battle.

[kuei12]

My guess is this fella was not a militant leader until after he was killed in the cross border raid. Gotta find a way to justify killing innocent civilians.

[eric-914]

What a bunch of loons out in the message board tonight...

[easeup-2009]

SO by that score, what is wrong with them bombing america to get him?

Posted by tapsettle at 03:52 PM : Oct 31, 2008

Wow. You are one twisted fvck.

[tapsettle]

americans are so brainwashed by the war on terror they will rejoice all murder and suffering in its name. Because of that, much of the world now rejoices in the death and suffering of americans. Do you not see how it has become a vicious cycle that no-one can win? Wake up you dumb-arses !

[tapsettle]

You''re against killing al Qaeda?
-----
Posted by easeup

I''m against the US dropping bombs anywhere it pleases. Do you realise much of the world, including much of the west, sees Bush as a terrorist? SO by that score, what is wrong with them bombing america to get him?

Heres a thought for you, and I dont care if you dont believe it because its true anyway. Given the Easter scenario of allowing the people to choose who to free (Barabas or Jesus), who do you think most people of the world would set free today - Bin Laden or Bush? I''ll give you a clue - by a big margin it''s not Bush.

[easeup-2009]

I hope another country follows americas lead and kills the worlds most dangerous terrorist in his home country. The death of george W bush from Pakistan bombing america would be a perfect answer to americas bombing of other sovereign countries.

Posted by tapsettle at 03:29 PM : Oct 31, 2008

You''re against killing al Qaeda?

[tapsettle]

I hope another country follows americas lead and kills the worlds most dangerous terrorist in his home country. The death of george W bush from Pakistan bombing america would be a perfect answer to americas bombing of other sovereign countries.

[toolmangler-2009]

"FBI and CIA are classifying Sarah palin%u2019s Secessionist Alaska Independent party as a danger to American security and stability. Grouped along with Al-Qaida and Neo Nazi terrorist organizations."



McCain promised her that if she would stop trying to get Russia to help Alaska Secede from the union, that he would make her his VP (if he won).
(its as plausible as some of the other arguments I have read on here.)

[impeach__w]

America would be better off with Bush and Cheny in a Coma.
I predicted Iran would be attacked at the end of Oct or end of November (check your moon phases with which Muslim holidays almost always coinside.) Admittedly, I honestly didn''''t see an attack on Syria coming this soon though.