U.S. Launches Another Deadly Drone Strike in Pakistan

A report in Pakistan indicates top civil and military leadership will shoot down any drone entering into Pakistani airspace.

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(SALEM) - The U.S. has renewed a series of deadly drone attacks in Pakistan, a former ally of the U.S. in its so-called 'War on Terror'. Sources in Pakistan report at least nine dead, and four of those nine are described as 'innocents'.

It was barely six weeks ago, that the United States military attacked two separate Pakistani Army military outposts in what became known as the 'Salala incident', killing 24 Pakistani soldiers, while injuring 13 others^[1].

It cost the U.S., bitterly embroiled in a war in Afghanistan, the ability to transport supplies across this traditional ally's historic Khyber Pass^[1][2].

Indiscriminate attacks from an unseen enemy in the sky do not make friends, but they do change friends into foes. The U.S. used drones to kill 30 people in Pakistan in February 2009. The population of this country, which has backed the United States for a long time, was angry that more strident action was not taken against the U.S. after the 2009 attack.

Now it seems abundantly clear that the United States is either calling Pakistan's bluff, or launching missions approved by Pakistani leaders in back room, non-disclosed negotiations.

The Nation in Pakistan reports:

After a gap of nearly two months, American CIA drones have resumed operations in Pakistan and during the past 72 hours, two such attacks in North Waziristan have claimed nine lives.

The Thursday raid in Dogga area of NWA claimed five lives, while earlier on Tuesday, a similar attack had killed four innocent civilians. The general understanding was that following the vacation of the Shamsi Airbase and discontinuation of NATO supplies to Afghanistan, drones would never again enter Pakistani airspace.

It may be recalled that the American television channel MSNBC aired a report saying that on December 12 last year, Prime Minister Gilani and COAS Gen Kayani resolved, at a meeting, that any further drone attack would be considered an act of aggression. ^[4]

The report further indicates that top civil and military leadership decided to shoot down any drone entering into Pakistani airspace.

However there is another emerging scenario, that is one of secret, undisclosed agreements between Pakistani officials and Americans. The Nation cites a US newspaper report that Pakistan has agreed to selective drone strikes.

These fresh attacks have once again caused the nation utter disappointment and despair. Does this silence mean that both our civilian and military leadership has been overstating their promises to take action against drone attacks?

If our national leadership is convinced that drone attacks are against territorial integrity and national sovereignty why is action not taken to stop them? Why has Pakistan Air Force not been directed to shoot them down? The government must honour its pledges, made with much fanfare. During the suspension of these raids, there has also been a lull in suicide bombing incidents across the country.

The civil and military leadership will have to put their heads together and decide once and for all whether they are going to continue making empty promises to Pakistanis or whether they will finally put their money where their mouth is. People are no longer willing to be hoodwinked about the clarity of the policy on this issue.

Writers with this popular Pakistan newspaper make a strong point in suggesting that if there is some renewed understanding with the Americans, that it must be clearly stated and fully disclosed. If not, the government may face a strong spate of protest demonstrations. People in Pakistan are not inundated with bogus FOX news reports, they are not sold into mental slavery the way Americans are.

The worst thing, is that with U.S. drones having crashed and been recovered by government forces in both Somalia and Iran, the day that Americans have similar things to fear is all the closer.

^[1] U.S. Drone Reportedly Kills Thirty People In Pakistan Salem-News.com

^[2] Salala incident - Wikipedia

^[3] Undisciplined U.S. Military Attack in Pakistan?

^[4] Drone attacks again The Nation

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Tim King, summer 2008, covering the Iraq War

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Tim King has more than twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim is a former U.S. Marine.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

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Toni February 10, 2012 1:49 pm (Pacific time)

I have a friend on Facebook. He is from Yemen. I suggested that he read the salem-news.com for non-propagandized news. He read this article and sent me this message after he read it. "amazing.thanks for for your sincerity thoughts towards us. its very right we not terrorism as the media pictruring us we never would kill anybody .the war on terriorism is invented story for making money and exploiting the nations .america draining much money here for this purposes, we draining more casualities.fatals ,deads .I don't know when this dilemma would be ended up and we becoming real friend with america and all western countries.our leaders are corrupt also america govt leaders.God bless ameirca and help them to cast away the corrupt regime .."

Thank you Salem-news.com. Your paper does a terrific job in reaching people of all nations and letting them know we Americans are not their enemy. None of us will tolerate viscious extremism but in general most people throughout the globe want peace. Thank you!

Editor: The thanks go to you Toni!

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