Anger in Pakistan at US plan to expand drone attacks

[Bozita]

Source: Guardian UK

Anger in Pakistan at US plan to expand drone attacks
• Pentagon urges Obama to widen reach of strikes
• Islamabad warns of public backlash against move

Saeed Shah in Islamabad and Ewen MacAskill in Washington
The Guardian, Thursday 19 March 2009
Article history


Pakistan reacted with anger yesterday to an American proposal to expand its drone missile strikes inside the country against Taliban and al-Qaida targets.

Pakistani politicians and officials described the idea of extending military operations into the vast, south-west province of Baluchistan as provocative and counterproductive, and warned of a severe backlash if the US went ahead.

Sources in the US administration confirmed that the White House has received recommendations from the military about an escalation in the use of the CIA's unmanned drones to launch missile attacks. At present, attacks are confined to the tribal areas in the north-west of the country.

The recommendation calls for a renewed focus on targets in the economically backward province which has provided a stronghold for the Afghan Taliban and a sanctuary for al-Qaida elements. A source cautioned that Obama has not made a decision and could decide any military gains from expansion into Baluchistan may be outweighed by the public backlash, putting at risk the Pakistan government.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/19/pakistan-us-national-security

[daninthemoon]

1. pakistan is less a country than afghanistan today. we are not engaged with

any sovereign governments, and we need to let our military do and go wherever they need to be to fight al quaida. sooner rather than later, we will inherit pakistan.

[ixion]

2. they're called war crimes, and we need to stop them

sooner rather than later.

[ConcernedCanuk]

3. USA,- messing around in other people's nations, sooner or later someone is gonna strike back

.
.
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Pakistan has got nukes - probably none that can hit the USA mainland,

but they can sure as hell hit some of the USA bases nearby

Is the USA bent on creating a global nuclear war?

Frigadee, I was hoping for better from Obama

I'm waiting, but I'm not really too hopeful

I think the USA is still bent on it's global domination thing

And that's a lose-lose for everyone IMO

[Bonobo]

4. Critical reading skills required...

How does "Sources in the US administration confirmed that the White House has received recommendations from the military about an escalation in the use of the CIA's unmanned drones to launch missile attacks."

lead to "US Plan to Expand"????

[dcindian]

5. It is probably more then that since also written in the article is.

"Islamabad warns of public backlash against move"

[Bonobo]

6. That makes no sense. In fact it is close to being a non sequitor. nt