Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Warmonger Obama contemplating expanding predator strikes inside Pakistan

President Obama is contemplating expanding the Predator Drone attacks inside Pakistan to include more provinces including Baluchistan. Top taliban leaders are believed to be operating from Baluchistan.

Many of Obama's advisors have recommended to keep the option for ground assaults into Pakistan, like the one conducted in the summer of 08 in South Waziristan.

President Bush approved orders for limited commando raids inside Pakistan back in July of 08. Looks like Hope 'n Change is following in Bush's footsteps. New York Times


The extensive missile strikes being carried out by Central Intelligence Agency-operated drones have until now been limited to the tribal areas, and have never been extended into Baluchistan, a sprawling province that is under the authority of the central government, and which abuts the parts of southern Afghanistan where recent fighting has been the fiercest. Fear remains within the American government that extending the raids would worsen tensions. Pakistan complains that the strikes violate its sovereignty.

But some American officials say the missile strikes in the tribal areas have forced some leaders of the Taliban and Al Qaeda to flee south toward Quetta, making them more vulnerable. In separate reports, groups led by both Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of American forces in the region, and Lt. Gen. Douglas E. Lute, a top White House official on Afghanistan, have recommended expanding American operations outside the tribal areas if Pakistan cannot root out the strengthening insurgency.

Many of Mr. Obama’s advisers are also urging him to sustain orders issued last summer by President George W. Bush to continue Predator drone attacks against a wider range of targets in the tribal areas. They also are recommending preserving the option to conduct cross-border ground actions, using C.I.A. and Special Operations commandos, as was done in September. Mr. Bush’s orders also named as targets a wide variety of insurgents seeking to topple Pakistan’s government. Mr. Obama has said little in public about how broadly he wants to pursue those groups.

No comments: