US Drone Strike Kills 20 in NW Pakistan (10th strike this year)

[tekisui]

Source: Brisbane Times

MIRANSHAH, Pakistan: A US drone attack has killed at least 20 militants in a restive Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, where Pakistani Taliban chief escaped an attack four days ago, officials say.

The attack took place on Sunday in Shaktoi area, 40km southeast of Miranshah, the main town in the rugged tribal region of North Waziristan, a senior military official said.

"The target was a militant compound," he said. "The toll has gone up and 20 militant deaths have been confirmed," he added.

The toll may go up, another official said, adding that militants were carrying out rescue work at the demolished compound.

"The drones are apparently tracking and targeting Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, whose presence is frequently reported in the area," one official said. The unmanned US drone fired at least three missiles, he said.

(snip)

Sunday's attack was the tenth missile strike by an unmanned US spy plane so far this year, as the administration of US President Barack Obama puts Pakistan at the heart of its fight against al-Qaeda and Islamist extremists.

The latest attack also brought to 46 the number of militants reported to have been killed in the three attacks since Thursday.

Missiles fired from an unmanned US aircraft killed at least 15 Islamist insurgents at a training camp in the lawless northwest tribal belt on Thursday, when security officials said Mehsud may have been among the dead.

The US drones kept up their bombardment on Friday, with at least 11 militants killed in two separate attacks in the same region.

more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/us-drone-strike-kills-20-in-nw-pakistan-officials-20100118-mens.html

[ShortnFiery]

1. Summary Executions: No charges, no trials: We KILL the ruling class's enemies of

whatever country (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen) has asked us to do "this HIT JOB" on.

It's vile and against the International Rule of Law.

We, the USA, and THE RULING THUGS of said countries get to PLAY GOD: Judge, Jury and Executioner.

May Our Higher Power have mercy on the USA's soul because the Blow-back is going to be HORRIFIC.

[Warren Stupidity]

2. Mehsud: dead again?

I denounce this f*kd war.

[peace13]

3. These announcements go with little or no notice from the American people.

Imagine one...just one of these drones flying over our country and dropping ordinance that accidentally killed civilians, burned homes and damaged a city. We would not hear the end of how awful that tragedy was. I am sick of it! Selfish, sickening *astards. That is what we have become.

[ixion]

5. exactly... the out-pouring of rage would be extreme

and there would be many calls for more 'war'. Yet when we do the very same thing to any number of other countries, well that's a-okay with these same folks.

The arrogance is breath-taking.

[Goldstein1984]

4. I'm reccing this OP, not because I support illegal assassination

of criminals without due process, but because I think the OP provides an opportunity for discussion.

In spite of any good this Administration is doing in other arenas, the self-appointed status of the U.S. as global assassin of "evil people" is repugnant to me. Not only because the evil people are being denied the opportunity to prove their innocence, or at least face their accusers, but because we're killing a lot of innocent people in the process.

I can't help but notice that the article mentions only "militants" killed. It leaves me wondering whether only militants were killed.

I will take no moral, ethical or legal preaching from any leader seriously when they simultaneously mock themselves with their actions.

With Bush/Cheney in charge, we lost a great deal of whatever moral high ground we occupied prior to 2000. Post-2008, we continue to lose whatever tiny piece of the moral high ground Bush/Cheney left us.

We may be torturing less, but it seems like we're assassinating more.

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

[spanone]

7. grrrrr