Pakistan: US drone kills 10 suspected militants

[IamK]

Source: Associated Press

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — An American drone strike in the frontier tribal areas of Pakistan killed 10 suspected militants Sunday, Pakistani officials said. It was sixth such strike in two weeks as the U.S. pushes ahead with its drone campaign in the face of Pakistani demands to stop.

The continued attacks emphasize the importance the U.S. government puts on the drone campaign, which it considers to be a vital tool in the war against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

Two Pakistani intelligence officials say four missiles were fired at targets in the village of Mana Raghzai in South Waziristan near the border with Afghanistan on Sunday morning.

At the time of the attack, suspected militants were gathered to offer condolences to the brother of a militant commander killed during another American unmanned drone attack on Saturday. The brother was one of those who died in the Sunday morning strike. The Pakistani officials said two of the dead were foreigners, and the rest were Pakistani.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/pakistan-us-drone-kills-10-suspected-militants-113143667.html

[IamK]

1. always nice to blow up people at a funeral... n/t

[may3rd]

2. An AQ kill list decision ?

Report: Obama personally oversees Al-Qaeda ‘kill list’


http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=130532

U.S. military trainers trickle back into Pakistan

http://news.yahoo.com/u-military-trainers-trickle-back-pakistan-215610120.html?fb_action_ids=2196528729230%2C2196525609152&fb_action_types=news.reads&fb_ref=type%3Aread%2Cuser%3AxNj2yvQss6cZuFq8jAB9J9R0YWk&fb_source=other_multiline&code=AQAOl7NyLTsoDmEV9eJbVKBYamByIcXspYOCNcppV6mTt7ufV3rZ0JHdzNaQsKyiFcJrHIWEhwFxfehbULd46UN59wI9CcE8PJ8DfuIzp9pwqzfz2Ogv5p3H8SpP8Vn5j1Jxmpcjrt3nrRFd40jF3wNyeM23urGS4UOUt0_1TC-8JIXMLjOjNxBxyG2KW9aC-7kSrwawk2IItC78MMz9HjoL#_=_

[liberalmike27]

29. Ten people killed by drone

We think maybe they were terrorists, hell, let's just call them terrorists.

[may3rd]

50. we don't have boots on that ground nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

37. The usa calls any adult male an insurgent over there

and with a drone attack, there are few body parts left to counter the claim.

[coalition_unwilling]

69. Some of them might even have been 'terrorists disguised as children' - Hope

I don't need the thingy.

[think]

3. I will never condone the killing of suspects. It smacks of the stench of unrighteous death

[SwissTony]

5. Even if the suspects are guiilty of their alleged crimes,

they are not the only ones being killed...innocents, including children.

[think]

6. Exactly. No rule of law. Just rule of force that kills without discretion

All these drone strikes do is breed contempt for AmerCIA. It creates ill will that provides the impetus for new people to become "militants" or whatever pet name we give those that oppose are military aggression in THEIR country.

The MIC must love it. It's like a never ending line of credit for their business.....

[dotymed]

16. I wonder:

since those drones are small, can't they enter our airspace undetected? "We" have had a few of them land on foreign soil (supposedly because the guidance signals are easy to hack) and I am sure that the drone specs are relatively easy for "terrorists(?)" to get. If this is the case, how long before these groups start attacking us with this technology? That is the perfect excuse for martial law and increasing fear in America. We all know that fear trumps reasoning, especially in rethugs. This sounds like the "perfect storm" for revoking what few rights Americans have left.
Any thoughts on this? Can drone technology be used rather easily against America?

[WriteWrong]

36. Give it ten years, until China or someone starts manufacturing them cheap in bulk.

It is their goal, after all. Unlimited permanent global war. They've been talking about it since Reagan.

[coalition_unwilling]

70. Um, you mean 'terrorists diguised as children,' I think. Hope

I don't need the thingy.

You never know, though, here in 'Extra-Judicial Executions-R-Us' Land.

[daaron]

4. IOW: US drone kills 10 suspected young men. nt

[cbrer]

7. Thank God Barak Obama frequently uses these weapons

Now when Al Qaeda or Taliban forces are planning their attacks to kill our people, they have an eye turned upwards. And are forced to plan and execute with reduced effectiveness. With the added benefit of not putting our guys further in harms way.

The people who are killed wrongly in these attacks are a horrible tragedy. However this has the collateral effect of making Al Qaeda and Taliban much less desirable neighbors.

Habeus Corpus is a childish notion in war. As much as I would like to see our people make fewer enemies, the ones we have are bent on our destruction. It is naive and dangerous to pretend otherwise.

On a side note, I'd like to know who's being paid off in the Pakistani government to continue allowing these attacks.

[rug]

8. Is a declaration of war on Pakistan also a childish notion?

"Horrible tragedy" and "collateral effect" shouldnever be placed side by side.

[cbrer]

12. Your qualifications for language

May be admirable in a high moral sense. But bear little relevance in terms of the tragedy that is the Afghanistan war.

These discussions are important, and (I hope) at least partially illustrate the horrible malfeasance, and tragic reality that we are perpetrating on the innocent victims of this action.

I have a deep abiding self interest in the use of drones, as I sit here in Kabul typing this. But I wish at least as strongly as you, that the world was a different place.

I'm up for suggestions...

[rug]

15. Here's one.

Assuming you are not Afghani and are there at the behest of a government or corporation, close your laptop and leave.

[cbrer]

19. Which accomplishes zero

In terms of stopping war.

And if it's not obvious, employment statistics affect me too. But I said "up for suggestions", and I meant it. But lots must change before I'd be willing to sacrifice mine and my families economic well being for this cause.

[rug]

23. It won't stop it but it will stop supporting it.

The fact is the entire war is over economic issues and drone warfare is killing people to advance those economic issues.

Stay safe in the meantime.

[cbrer]

33. Roger That!

I can't disagree with you (and remain honest). And drones are scary shit for sure. Especially if one can project their use beyond the current paradigm, and envision them being used in America.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

42. Are you an American?

Who is your employer?

[cbrer]

47. I am

an American contractor.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

51. Interesting.

Are you working the night shift? How dangerous is it working there?

[cbrer]

63. "Interest" is relative

I'm 8 1/2 hours off of EST. We don't work shifts. Our mission entails different parameters than shift work. Danger waxes and wanes.

For the most part, people here want the same things Americans want. In a much less advanced society, that has religion as a guiding force of 99% of their life's functions. Seriously, if so called Christian-Americans were to live their lives by true Christian principle, our nation would be a very different place. Not saying whether that would be better or worse, just quite different.

[coalition_unwilling]

72. IOW, a mercenary - n/t

[Enrique]

10. "in war"

in other words, "forever."

[cbrer]

14. It is my fervent wish

That you are wrong, and we can change this aspect of human behavior. But for now. I'm glad they're over my head killing bad guys.

[Enrique]

20. I'm not talking about human behavior

I'm talking about what my country is doing, the decisions my leaders are making. Wars used to end, but not anymore. The war on terror is never going to end, no one's even talking about it ending. So all talk about "we have to do such and such because we're at war" becomes bullshit.

[cbrer]

27. I believe that in the final analysis

You ARE talking about human behavior. Our survival mechanism, and the hate and mistrust that it employs are primary factors for war. Of course technology and paranoia can amplify violence to become a wholesale, global terrorism.

And the probable reality of "The war on Terror never ending" is a manipulation from our masters. That will continue exactly how long we, the citizens, allow it to.

But hey...if there is a revolt in America, at least I'll have useful skills!

[woo me with science]

66. [phone] Well said. nt

[cbrer]

30. I agree with every word you wrote

which changes my reality not one iota.

"Bad guys' is certainly perspective related. You know... like the difference between "terrorists" and "patriots".

[coalition_unwilling]

73. Or the difference between 'contractor' and 'mercenary' - n/t

[cbrer]

76. Or outright whore

We all have our justifications and qualifications

[Arctic Dave]

40. I would interested to see your response if a military

funeral were bombed here. By your account it is a legitimate target since most likely other military targets would be there. As for the family of said person, who cares?

[cbrer]

44. By "here"

I'm guessing you mean somewhere in the US. Because it happens "here" infrequently, but regularly. Last one I'm aware of "here", was by Taliban. And certainly not by drone attacks. Based on my experiences overseas, many Americans have a somewhat insulated view of the sanctity of life, and the day to day value system of local society in general.

It's very easy to ask academicly posed questions when one has 3 meals a day, and no local mine fields. As for any claim of legitimacy, it's all relative my friend. If I killed someone who had damaged your family I might be a hero, or a patriot, or a savior, or whatever. The other side of that coin can be revealed with lightning swiftness, and deadly accuracy.

The rifts that exist between men are deep and severe. There are no simple solutions, unless one decides on violence. Which happens with sad but predictable regularity.

IMHO, the odds of humanity reaching a level of enlightenment that brings us to understand that this tiny speck in the universe is a singular organism are somewhere between extinction, and laughability.

Peace out

[Arctic Dave]

49. "infrequently, but regularly"?

You must eloborate more on this. I am unawre of any reports of an attack on a funeral in the US. Other then the religous nuts with the signs.

You seem to cavalier attitude in your sentiment that, if you beat the child hard and frequent enough, they will behave. That may work to an extent but I would say that it is a short sighted view and very likely to backfire on the abuser.

I think you are more interested in revenge then agreement, which if it the case, prepare yourself and your kids for a lifetime of misery.

[cbrer]

61. Perhaps I was unclear

I'm not in the US. The attacks I was mentioning weren't in the US.

People who choose violence as a solution to their problems are, in the long run, short sighted. As well as fostering an environment of hate and retribution. Far from any ideal I seek.

But acknowledging the reality of our governments policies is essential to a discussion about changing them. Keeping it real as it were. The sentiment I was expressing dealt more with the fact of the protective nature of drone attacks here. Killing bad guys. That doesn't change the fact that war is hell. There's nothing cavalier about my attitudes. I'm in survival mode, and despite any moral qualms about my situation here, or my country's imperialistic policies, I have to face essentially the same reality that the indigenous population faces. It ain't pretty.

PS- For what it's worth, CNN or FOX may report attacks in Afghanistan, but the only station I've seen delve with any depth into the reasons and purposes behind those attacks is Al Jazeera. Unless it's another American GI gone nuts.

[JonLP24]

59. Childish notion in war

These are being used in places where there are no official wars. That brings in Habeus Corpus since the whole world is being treated as a battlefield and would like something to sort out if they're guilty or not.

Obama won't be in charge forever, you feel comfortable w/ any President having this kind of unchecked authority?

[cbrer]

64. Hell no

My comfort does NOT enter into the equation. Legality went out the window a looooong time ago.

NO man can be responsible with that kind of power. Not even beginning to discuss the moral objections. Please remember, one of the first briefings a new American President gets is that he has his own private army, VERY well equipped, VERY responsive, VERY loyal, at his disposal. Congressional approval be damned (not that THAT would change anything).

One must consider at least 2 primary forces at work here:

1.The domino effect. All these actions precede the next level of acceptance of the horrors we (as a nation) inflict on the third world.

2.The paradigm of devoting our lifes forces, on technical, financial, emotional levels to these activities and policies.

We lost any moral high ground a while back. If we don't physically force change, I fear the path is quite clear.

[boppers]

62. Well executed.

The horrified responses make it even more hilarious.

[cbrer]

65. Lost in translation?

Sorry... You lost me. I have no idea what you mean. Well executed mission? People? Debate?

Are the horrified responses you refer to concerning the apparent ignorance of some folks here that don't acknowledge long term American policy? Or am I missing another point?

[boppers]

67. Wit is often easily lost.

[coalition_unwilling]

71. If you're going to dismiss "Habeus (sic) Corpus" as a 'childish notion,' you could at least have

the decency to spell it correctly.

[cbrer]

77. Spelling aside...

The issue of determining guilt of combatants during combat was settled long ago.

This in no way addresses the issue of the legality of the operation itself. Simply the actions of soldiers during its' execution.

Thank you for the correction.

[ArnoldLayne]

9. Well they must have ties to al-Qaida. Why else would they be offering condolences to an Al-Qaida

commander. Now on to The Taliban when they were in power and still do it, throw acid in the faces of girls, rape them. Kill by beheading young girls all because they wanted to go to school and learn. I mean come on!! They actually deserve what Kadaffi or however you spell his pocket faced name got before he was shot, a bayonette or broken bottle up their dirty, sorry, cowardly asses.

[rug]

17. All mourners at a terrorist's funeral are thereby terrorists themselves, warranting death.

It's not as catchy as The only good Red is a dead Red, but it's just as irrational.

[ArnoldLayne]

26. Maybe it is they shouldn't go to it. By the way I like Your Marx pics. I've been trying to find one

of Leon Trotsky, who was one of the greatest, in my opinion, Revolutionists for the average people. He should have taken over after Lenin died. But that shithead Stalin purged, exiled and finally had him murdered in Mexico City with an icepick to the back of his head in 1940.

[dixiegrrrrl]

38. or.."the only good VC is a dead Vc".

Or.." the good injun is a dead injun".

It never stops.

[coalition_unwilling]

75. Which invariably leads to "Kill a Commie for Christ" and its

cousin "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"

[coalition_unwilling]

74. +1,000,000,000 x 1,000,000,000

[Enrique]

22. great parody

you almost had me.

[ArnoldLayne]

28. No parody.. I meant it

[woo me with science]

11. Obviously they were militants.

They were exactly where the drone struck.

[hobbit709]

13. A dead body is a "suspected militant" because it can't deny the charge

[ArnoldLayne]

18. They shouldn't have been hangin with that crowd. I wouldn't hang around members of Organised Crime,

Street Gang members or White Supremists without knowing I risk being shot in the crossfire or arrested.

[RC]

24. The problem is that every male between the ages of 16 and 60 or so is a suspected militant.

When you are a male, how do you not hang with that crowd?
The more militants and terrorists we say there are , the more we can justify using drones to blow shit up.

[ArnoldLayne]

39. If they are know they are members of al-Qaida, Talaban or whatever they are called stay away from

them, they know.

[RC]

41. Yeah, like we check their ID cards before we send the drones after them.

[tabasco]

43. Good work, Droney!

The world is a better place without the 10 murdering, acid-throwing, school-poisoning assholes.

[dixiegrrrrl]

45. Oh, I missed that bit about all 10 of the dead people being

acid throwing, school poisoning assholes...
gimme a link to that fact, will ya?

[tabasco]

46. Provide a link

that they were Paki Peace Corps cadets, roasting marshmallows and singing kumbaya.

[woo me with science]

48. An excellent example of The Authoritarian Mind

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002760904

[may3rd]

52. You know the strike was signed off a the highest level

Pakistan has to provide a ground route so we can withdraw the troops. They are in on the air strike also unless someone has reporters on the ground willing to share what they know about who was killed in the alleged strike on civilians.
We all know the first causality of war is the truth.
If you don't like what the leadership is doing, you can request a change and full accountability of why the strikes are going to continue

[woo me with science]

54. I can request a change?

You mean if I contact Obama, he won't blow up families anymore?

He must not have opened my letter yet, but it's good to know that this shit will be stopping soon.

And, yes, the first casualty of war is the truth. Changing the rules about who is classified as a militant in order to avoid reporting civilian casualties is an excellent example.

"The strike was signed off at the highest level." Sheesh.

[dixiegrrrrl]

56. I never said they were Paki Peace Corps cadets, etc.

Therefore I have no need to privide a link.
I was addressing your matter of fact statement and inquiring as to your source, how you came to the conclusion.

[JonLP24]

60. Not required

In arguments like that you have to prove guilt. Are justice system would be even more of a failure if we had to prove innocence.

[rusty fender]

53. No Problem!

If they are Pakistanis, of course they are terrorists.

[hughee99]

55. What the fuck is a "suspected militant".

We bombed a funeral, but that's okay because they COULD have possibly been people who have fought against us in the past or might in the future? How many were killed that weren't "suspected militants"?

[dixiegrrrrl]

78. ALL killed were "suspected militants"

Blowing up funerals is something we seem to be getting very good at.
But we never wipe out "innocent parties", "suspected militants" achieve the label the moment they die.

Remember how many times the headlines proclaimed that the USA had killed #2 Al-quada leader?
For some reason, #1 was never identified, but #2 got blown up LOTS of times, and in many different countries!

May 29, 2012 5:48 PM

NATO: Al Qaeda #2 in Afghanistan killed....
Sakhr al-Taifi, also known as Mushtaq and Nasim, was responsible for commanding foreign insurgents in Afghanistan and directing attacks against NATO and Afghan forces, the alliance said. He frequently traveled between Afghanistan and Pakistan, carrying out commands from senior al Qaeda leadership and ferrying in weapons and fighters.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57443204/nato-al-qaeda-2-in-afghanistan-killed/

This is one year after Bin Laden was reported to have been killed, SO.....
al-Taifi is supposedly #2 under the command of "senior Al-Quada " leadership.
How come #1/senior leadership is never identified????????

[lib2DaBone]

57. Not AGAIN? This is a weekly occurance....

[msanthrope]

58. I hope Pakistan refuses aid from us, in disgust!!! Oh, wait.....

Why do the drone strikes continue? Because the Pakistani military wants us to clean up the militants while keeping their hands clean.

[coalition_unwilling]

68. Well, if only 1 was a 'militant' and the other 9 were

civilians, I guess God will sort them out.

(in case it's needed in the land of extra-judicial executions-r-us)