US directing operations in Pakistan border battle

[UpInArms]

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/21/1079823239701.html

Americans are involved in directing operations against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the tribal region of South Waziristan, a senior Pakistani Army official said.

<snip>

The CIA reportedly identified the area as a likely hideout for Zawahiri as long ago as December, but Washington took the decision to hold off mounting an immediate operation.

<snip>

A Pakistani helicopter gunship, meanwhile, opened fire on Saturday on a van fleeing one of the villages where the rebels are concentrated, killing five women, five children and a 70-year-old man, an aide to the governor of the province that includes South Waziristan said.

...more...

[saigon68]

1. They have their Butter Fly Nets deployed

And they are seriously trying to catch teerists, assorted rag heads and old women and children.

[54anickel]

2. "Is sure to complicate the army's effort to win local support in the area"

Well, duh!

This other article states they've cordon off an area and no one can leave now. Also states for years these tribes have been told the foreign fighters were heros of Islam, now they are being told they are terrorists.

This is just going to get really ugly!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=435514&mesg_id=435514

[Devils Advocate NZ]

3. Wow - they admit "holding off"!

The CIA reportedly identified the area as a likely hideout for Zawahiri as long ago as December, but Washington took the decision to hold off mounting an immediate operation.

What the hell? The NUMBER TWO man in "Al Qaeda" and they "hold off"? Why in hell's name would they do that? Unless of course they were looking for a more politically expedient time.

Or even worse, they don't really want to catch him at all...

[warrior1]

4. you know us

we've got to kill a couple of hundred innocents first.

[saigon68]

7. Unfortunate

[bemildred]

5. "unexpectedly stiff resistance"

Unexpected by whom? Sounds like they have lost
the initiative and are bogged down at this point.
You have to be fairly ignorant to expect to waltz
into Waziristan, fancy helicopters or not.

[xchrom]

6. indeed -- unexpected by whom

when did they first hear about waziristans resitance to musharraf and the u.s., wednesday?