Pakistan Al-Qaeda chief killed by US drone

[ellisonz]

AFP – 16 mins ago

US missiles on Thursday killed Al-Qaeda's chief in Pakistan, one of the Americans' main targets in the volatile country and wanted for attacks that killed scores of people, officials said.

Badr Mansoor, who reputedly sent fighters to Afghanistan and ran a training camp in North Waziristan, was killed in a pre-dawn drone strike near the Afghan border, Pakistani officials and a member of his group told AFP.

"He died in the missile attacks overnight in Miranshah. His death is a major blow to Al-Qaeda's abilities to strike in Pakistan," a senior Pakistani official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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Four militants were reported killed in the pre-dawn drone strike, which targeted a compound in Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan.

More: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-al-qaeda-chief-killed-us-drone-officials-081221206.html

[pansypoo53219]

2. do these people count as #1s or #2s? compared to he bush #3s.

nt

[ellisonz]

3. I believe it's a different set of #s.

Different affiliate

[Kurmudgeon]

4. This organization declared war on the US, reap what you sow...

[truth2power]

5. Works both ways, you know. I guess you think the US comes to this with clean hands...

Anyway, it's too early in the morning for me to start thinking about American hubris. <sigh>

[Kurmudgeon]

6. Only if you're willing to blame all in the US for the actions of Bush Corp and the Sauds.

[GliderGuider]

7. The equivalent American organization to al-Qaeda in this context would be the CIA:

They are both self-contained extremist organizations that survive the succession of governments, are supported by extremist factions within the ongoing governmental bureaucracy, and operate outside the control of the people of the country in which they are based.

[24601]

10. You must have missed the part about being controlled by the

President - or are you saying only controlled by evil Presidents, when it's a benevolent President, they don't obey?

Maybe Obama didn't really appoint the Director, with Senate Confirmation...twice. Was that just a dream?

[GliderGuider]

11. As far as I can tell, that legal nicety is essentially irrelevant.

Either the president's interests coincide with theirs, or the agency proceeds as if they do ... or Kennedy. On this issue I'm a complete cynic I'm afraid.

[JackRiddler]

12. As if you have any idea whom the US bombings are killing.

[Dreamer Tatum]

13. Another opinion with a birth certificate dated January 2009 nt

[Brettongarcia]

8. Not Reported: Innocent People Killed by Drones

Yup! Lots of them.

[denem]

9. No not this time actually.

“We have removed the bodies from the house, and Badr Mansoor was among the killed while a woman and a girl child were injured,” a TTP commander said, requesting anonymity."

http://www.centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/features/pakistan/main/2012/02/09/feature-02

But perhaps you can tell me how you can target a house or tent, and keep any companions safe?

And what do with Badr Mansoor nee Qari Imran, who, as head of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) authorised the attack on the Madokhel mosque. Do those 48 people killed or 110 injured count for anything.

[24601]

14. Clearly not - there is not one reported instance of anyone being killed

by a drone impact. Hellfire missiles, sure - but that's why they are called "Hellfire" in the first place.

Of course, I don't really blame the missile, or the person pushing the button, it's the order from the top that makes these things fly. And blame isn't really the word I'd use, it's the responsibility of the President to make the decisions that set the rules of engagement. It's not perfect - but much more precise than Dresden, Hiroshima or the WTC.