Pakistan Irked Over U.S. Missile Strikes

Militants Killed In Airstrike; Pakistan Officials Say U.S. Attacks Hurt Mission

(AP)  Suspected U.S. missiles and Pakistani fighter jets attacked followers of a notorious militant leader close to the Afghan border Tuesday, but the army complained the American strikes were hurting its campaign against the country's public enemy No. 1.

Between 12 and 14 militants were killed when two missiles hit a training camp run by Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan tribal region, intelligence officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. The missiles were believed fired by American drones.

Five foreigners were among the dead, but their nationalities were not known, the officials said. Top Arab leaders of the al Qaeda terror network are believed to be hiding in the region, as well as scores of militants from nearby countries such as Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.

Mehsud was not among the victims of the strike, the fourth in the space of two weeks targeting him or his followers.

Hours after the strikes, Pakistani war planes bombed militants positions around 25 miles away, the army said. Casualties in those strikes were unknown.

The army insisted it was not coordinating the missile strikes with Washington and reiterated its opposition to them despite the damage they were inflicting on Mehsud's followers.

"It hurts the campaign rather than helps," said Maj. Gen Athar Abbas, arguing that they alienate local tribes whose support the military needs to defeat Mehsud.

The United States is believed to have launched more than 40 missile strikes against targets in the border area since last August, according to a count by The Associated Press.

Washington does not directly acknowledge being responsible for launching the missiles, which have killed civilians as well as militants and contributed to anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan.

Any admission Islamabad works with the United States in attacks on its citizens likely would be damaging for the shaky civilian government. Most experts, however, believe the country's civilian and military leaders secretly endorse the strikes and likely provide the United States with intelligence on possible targets.

Washington wants to see Pakistan crack down on militants close to the border that also attack NATO and US troops in Afghanistan.

Three months ago, the Pakistan army launched an offensive in the Swat Valley, earning praise in the West.

Last month, it said it was undertaking an offfensive in South Waziristan to kill or capture Mehsud, who is blamed for most of the bloodiest bombings to hit the nuclear-armed country in recent years.

[hamiltongrad]

Irked ?

Gee we hurt their feelings, call the ACFU

[pensacola8-2009]

I have looked in the faces of our soldiers who lost their legs and arms to I.E.D's. I have seen families in my town grieve over loss of their loved ones due to I.E.D's.

It is very clear that drones which launch missiles are a high tech response to the I.E.D's. Doing nothing just simply means our attrition will be higher than theirs.

We have to adapt and fight this like an entity that has full intentions of winning. The opponents have taken opportunities to make peace and then violate their own agreements as an entity that can not be trusted to honor it's own promises.

Many Pakistani civilians have exited the region and taken status as refugees. The ones that remain behind, know full well about the possible death risk which results from not leaving.

In every moral conscience of the prosecution of this conflict, there is nothing more we can do to stop collateral damage and be considered effective in the prosecution.

I think critics need to be reminded that IED explosions have killed their own civilians in far greater numbers than our missiles launched from drones.

[tautomer]

Of course WW2 is comparable. It was another Democrat-launched war, just like WW1,Korea and Vietnam.

Obama's oil war is keeping his Halliburton , Exxon and Defense contractor friends fat and happy. Once Obama subdues Afghanistan and Pakistan, Halliburton will get the contract to build a pipeline to transprt Exxon and Chevron's Oil to the Indian Ocean. That is why Obama wants so badly to bring his war to Pakistan.

With Afghanistan subdued and the residual force Obama plans to leave in Iraq, Iran will be sandwiched from both sides and easily bent to Obama and Exxon's will.

This will give Obama's Oil buds a solid swath from Iraq to Pakistan with access to the Med, the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean as well as pipe access to China.
Halliburton and Chevron are smiling.!!!

[Benton09]

I think you're a president behind. Try to keep up.

[tautomer]

Nope I'm talking about Obama. Obama is paying Halliburton very day.

[Sloughfoot]

Hunt them down, root them out and light them up, YES!

[xlib]

Irked??? Irked!! Who comes up with these words. Oh yea, the messiah's media.

[sean58z]

Armed drones failed to defeat the Nazis, during World War II. In fact, they counter-attacked due to harassment from the Allies. A number of German and French civilians were slain as a counter-measure. The Rebels use bombs/land mines and assassins to make their point. Why allow so many innocent civilians to die in the crossfire?

[gravyboat4000]

WWII comparisons?

Yeah, that's appropriate/comparable. Not

[JBARON79]

Armed drones failed to defeat the Nazis

Huh? Drones in WWII, by the allies? You may be thinking of the Vengence weapons used by the Third Reich... Are you saying the Third Reich was victorious. Get a clue

Back to current conflicts the bombs and assasins you speak of use themselves as mindless drones!

[hamiltongrad]

Anothernutcase War and killing is the answer, when you are at war fighting EVIL.

We were victorious today. Thank you troops.