Drone Attack Reported to Kill Scores in Northwest Pakistan

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

Drone Attack Reported to Kill Scores in Northwest Pakistan
By SALMAN MASOOD
Published: March 17, 2011

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Drone aircraft heavily pounded the semiautonomous tribal region of North Waziristan in northwest Pakistan with missiles on Thursday, killing at least 40 people, according to news agencies and local media reports. A local television news network put the number of dead at 80.

The attack by drone aircraft, suspected of being operated by the Central Intelligence Agency, came a day after the United States secured the release of an American intelligence contractor jailed for the killing of two Pakistanis after paying compensation to the families of the victims.

Several missiles struck Datta Khel on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where Taliban and Qaeda fighters have found a safe haven to stage attacks inside Afghanistan. A local warlord and Taliban commander, Hafiz Gul Bahadur, holds sway in Datta Khel, and reports suggested that the drones had targeted a gathering of fighters loyal to him.

Attacks by the American drones are immensely unpopular in Pakistan and have been a rallying point for anti-American sentiment. At the same time, top Pakistani civil and military leadership have privately acknowledged the benefit of these strikes in targeting Al Qaeda and the Taliban.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/18/world/asia/18pakistan.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

[rfranklin]

1. Now that they got the hit man out of custody...

it's business as usual.

[bemildred]

2. 80 people reportedly killed in U.S. drone strike in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, March 17 (Xinhua) -- At least 80 people were killed in U.S. drone strikes launched Thursday morning in different parts of Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan, reported local state-run Urdu TV channel PTV, but the report failed to give details other than saying 12 missiles were fired at different targets in the afore-said area.

Late Thursday morning, there came in the news that U.S. drones launched a strike in the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan. Initial reports by most of the local media said that two missiles were fired at a house in which militants were said to be holding a meeting inside, killing 4 people and injuring several others.

But the death toll has kept rising as more information came in from the remote area with inadequate communication facilities. Some local media reports said the target of the U.S. drones is a house at a village in the Datta Khel area in which a meeting was being held by local Taliban militants while others reported that the target was actually a tribal "jirga" or council of elders to resolve dispute over the ownership of minerals in the mountains in North Waziristan tribal region.

According to a tribal elder who asked to remain anonymous in a telephone interview from Miranshah, center of North Waziristan, the tribesmen from Madda Khel tribe were holding a meeting at Nawai Adda area, some 25 kilometers from Miranshah, when two U.S. drones fired four missiles at the participants of the tribal council at 11:30 am (local time)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/17/c_13784458.htm

[bemildred]

3. Pakistan demands apology over drone strike

It is the seventh such attack in nine days.

"The government of Pakistan strongly condemns the drone strike which has resulted in a large number of casualties," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said in a statement.

"Foreign secretary Salman Bashir conveyed this strong condemnation to US ambassador Cameron Munter and has demanded an apology and explanation.

"This is not only unacceptable but also a flagrant violation of all humanitarian rules and norms."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/18/3167510.htm?section=justin

[pettypace]

7. You killed 80 of our citizens with an unmanned drone

We demand you tell us you're sorry! Please. Pretty please.


What a pathetic country, Pakistan.

[daleo]

4. The U.N. should declare a no-drone zone. n/t

[bemildred]

6. It's like having a drunk uncle, you want to do an intervention. nt

[OhioChick]

5. Making more friends again, I see n/t