U.S. Drones Have al Qaeda On the Run

(CBS)  It's not often the enemy tells you something you're doing - strikes by CIA drones against al Qaeda sanctuaries in Pakistan - is working.

But in this document posted on the Web, a top al Qaeda commander writes: "The harm is alarming. The matter is very grave."

Both senior government officials and outside experts say it is an extraordinary confession, reports CBS News correspondent David Martin.

"It exposes for the first time a level of paranoia and a level of self-consciousness and a lack of confidence in al Qaeda's leadership in their propaganda that we just haven't seen up until now," said Nicholas Schmidle, the author of "To Live or to Perish Forever: Two Tumultuous Years in Pakistan."

In the past year, the CIA has flown more than 50 drone strikes in Pakistan, killing half of al Qaeda's top leaders and hundreds of its fighters. One senior official said the central leadership of al Qaeda is under more pressure now than at any time since the bombing of Tora Bora in 2001. The document blames the accuracy of the strikes on "spies … (who) have spread throughout the land like locusts … So many brave commanders have been snatched away … so many hidden homes have been leveled."

"The accuracy of these drone strikes has been so remarkable that there's been no - there's not even been an attempt to al Qaeda or the Taliban to offer a counter narrative to say that no there were actually women and children that were killed. There's been nothing but silence," said Schmidle.

The predator strikes do cause civilian casualties, but one senior official claimed more innocent people have been executed by al Qaeda as suspected spies than killed by CIA drones.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 July 11, 2009 8:25 AM PDT

Yo, wake up Zep, read the disapprove polls from Rassmussen, Obama is dropping like a lead balloon.






Oh yeah - rasmussen.com. Great site - very informative.

30% disapprove of Obama and 30% approve of Obama, which means that 40% have NO OPINION, right?

If it wasn't so absurd, it would be laughable.

[darthcheney345]

40% have NO OPINION, right?
--------
Because that's how many voted for Obama and now they're stunned by what an utter failure he is.

Just wait a few more months - that 40% will turn more and more "disapprove."

It is already becoming clear to the majority of voters:

OBAMA = One Big A** Mistake, America!

[ToolMangler1]

No! that means that 40% are like me, taking a long view and not rushing in where 'Fools dare to tread'..
We can go in at any time, Getting out might be very hard to do.

[shawshank22]

So the pinko media now report drones and any other successes in afghanistan in a positive light now.What a difference an election makes.No wonder the media has lost anything that resembles trust or respect.Stay in the tank for your messiah.The american people have other choices of media. The old days are over

[gravyboat4000]

Gee, what if GW never invaded Iraq? We'd have killed the Taliban AND al Queda by now. Oh well, as long as we're gettin 'em now I guess, huh Bushies?

[Joe_NY_15]

by nextgenman09 July 11, 2009 8:23 AM PDT
You sound bitter because America kicked the nutball RINO Party to the curb.
______________________________

Yo, wake up Zep, read the disapprove polls from Rassmussen, Obama is dropping like a lead balloon.

[gravyboat4000]

Obama's numbers will fluctuate, but the GOP is dead.

Live with it Joe.

[darthcheney345]

by gravyboat4000 July 11, 2009 9:41 AM PDT
Obama's numbers will fluctuate, but the GOP is dead.
-------------------

And by the time Obama and Pelosi are finished wrecking our economy, the Democrats will be like the GOP.

And please, no talk about Libertarians. Alan Greenspan is a Libertarian. He has totally discredited the entire Libertarian credo of deregulation.

[Joe_NY_15]

by nextgenman09 July 11, 2009 8:01 AM PDT
We did get our positions straight. Afghanistan is the War Bush failed at when he dropped the ball by invading and failing in Iraq for no reason. Does that help clear it up for you?
____________________

One big problem floyd, is America didn't "fail" in Iraq, we WON the war, despite your efforts to undermine the war, like "Fifth Column"

[nextgenman09]

Yeah, that's why they still have car bombs going off in Baghdad. HAHAHAHA!!

[Joe_NY_15]

AND.....YOU still can't take toothpaste in your carry-on luggage........we have bombs going off all over the world, it's nothing new.

I see you are still underming the war......how un-american and treasonous

[Joe_NY_15]

War mongering when done by a Lib = "A-OK" Fine and Dandy
War fighting when done by a Conservative = Unnecessary Illegal wars

I mean get your positions straight.....what you would call..."Selective" support for the military according to the executive in office.....when its a Republican president, you are a virtual "Fifth Column" but when its a girlyman Liberal "praise Obama"

[nextgenman09]

We did get our positions straight. Afghanistan is the War Bush failed at when he dropped the ball by invading and failing in Iraq for no reason. Does that help clear it up for you?

Once you recognize Republican failure, it all falls into place.

[darthcheney345]

***** TROLL ALERT TROLL ALERT TROLL ALERT *****
nextgenman09 is nothing but a partisan troll. Ignore all posts from nextgenman09.

[Joe_NY_15]

Wait, attacking a sovereign country in which the country is no direct threat to the U.S. ? Do I smell hypocrasy here ?

Ohhhh, chasing Al Qeada gives you "justification".....well destroying the middle-east's brutal dictator's regime was "justification" as well

[DoubleHappiness88]

**U.S. Drones Have al Qaeda On the Run**

BullSh*ite! This is the same lie as *There is light at the end of the tunnel* and "We have turned the corner in Vietnam.*

The same lies worked for Robert McNamara and William Westmoreland. The sheepeople are falling for them again today.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are waged for the benefit of
THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX and for no other reason.

NONE DARE CALL IT TREASON.

[hungry1968-16]

by Joe_NY_15 July 11, 2009 7:16 AM PDT
It might have been the case, if we elected the bomber pilot, but instead you irresponsibly elected a totally unqualified community organizer to the position of President, so there will be no wiping of anything.....just empty talks, diplomacy-only, appeasement, negotiations, sanctions, and other weak liberal ideas of how enemies are dealt with.






Tell it to the Somali pirates.

Obama's successful military operations: ONE

Bush's successful military operations: ZERO

[Joe_NY_15]

Obama didn't have any successful military operations.....a couple trained seals took a few head-shots at teenager pirates...that's it....so now killing a couple teenager pirates is a "Military Success" for you libs ??? Destroying the 5th largest army (Iraq) and the U.S. defeating Nazi Germany in WW2 are examples of military successes.....not taking out 2 thugs....get real already

[geneonlbk]

Let nobody go unkilled. After all they are only rag-heads. Have you noticed that we are alone in our crazed logic?