Petraeus gets message in Pakistan: End airstrikes

[struggle4progress]

Source: New York Times News Service

By Jane Perlez

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — In his new position as head of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. David Petraeus met top Pakistani officials for the first time Monday and heard one message wherever he turned: American airstrikes against militants in the tribal areas are unhelpful.

Petraeus, the former commander of American forces in Iraq, arrived in Pakistan as missile strikes from drone aircraft against the Taliban and al-Qaida in Pakistan's tribal areas have escalated. After two missile attacks by American drones Saturday, a suicide bomber in South Waziristan retaliated by killing eight Pakistani paramilitary soldiers.

After the meeting with Petraeus, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan said in a statement, "Continuing drone attacks on our territory, which result in loss of precious lives and property, are counterproductive and difficult to explain by a democratically elected government. It is creating a credibility gap."

There was no comment or public appearance by Petraeus, and it was not clear how he responded to the complaints. Messages left with his press aides were not immediately returned ...

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/267/story/579647.html

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Why Syzygy]

2. They must be thrilled

to be helping us out.

[machI]

3. President Asif Ali Zardari must understand the Bush Doctrine

Bush believes the method of saving people in foreign lands is to kill them

[acmavm]

4. So, taking out little bunches of civilians here and there is 'unhelpful'?

Now whoever wrote that is a master if understatement.

[Joe Chi Minh]

5. Apparently, the Afghans leadership were confident they could get Osama Bin Laden,

but to their dismay and fury, the US chose to carpet-bomb the country, "because they wanted to show their muscle", Chomsky wrote in WHAT WE SAY GOES. Also, I dare say, for the benefit of the output/sales of the US bomb manufacturers.

Shades of that in Pakistan, it seems.