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- / AFP/Getty Images file
Al-Qaida official Abu Yahya al-Libi, who escaped from U.S. custody in Afghanistan in 2005, is shown in a screen grab from an al-Qaida propaganda videotape released in July 2008.
A Predator attack over the weekend targeted Abu Yahya al-Libi, a leading al-Qaida operative who was viewed as one of five candidates to succeed Osama bin Laden as leader of the terrorist group when he was killed last year. U.S. officials confirm that he was the target of the Sunday attacks and say they are awaiting word on his status.
In one of three strikes over the weekend, a U.S. drone struck a militant compound early Monday morning in North Waziristan, part of Pakistan’s northwestern tribal area. Pakistan security reports indicated the pre-dawn strike killed 15 insurgents, with a total of nearly 30 killed in total.
But. a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday that the reports on the number of dead were “exaggerated,” and described the death toll as “less than a handful."
The Agence France Presse news agency reported that in the attack that targeted Abuy Yahya, two missiles were fired on the compound in Mir Ali, 15 miles east of Miramshah, the capital of North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, in an area considered a hive of Taliban and al-Qaida activity.
A Pakistani official, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity, said the victims were mostly foreigners and Urdu-speaking Punjabi Taliban who had gathered with the intention of crossing into Afghanistan to fight with Afghan Taliban fighters against NATO forces.
Reuters, citing reports from the region, said nearly 30 people were killed during the sequence of strikes, including four suspected militants on Saturday, 10 suspected militants on Sunday, and 15 people in the strike in which Abu Yahya was targeted. Those numbers were challenged by U.S. officials.
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Monday it "strongly condemns" the US drone strikes, which it described as "illegal attacks" on Pakistani sovereignty.
The most-recent attack of the weekend was the eighth drone strike in Pakistan since a NATO conference on Afghanistan in Chicago last month. Since taking office in 2009, the Obama administration has carried out nearly 300 drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, the majority of them in Pakistan’s tribal areas, according to the New America Foundation, which keeps an unofficial count.
If Abu Yahya was indeed killed, it would be another blow to al-Qaida in Pakistan, the so-called al-Qaida Central. The Libyan, believed to be 39 years old, is one of the most influential propagandists in al-Qaida and one of its best known leaders.
Reuters
Click to view list of al-Qaida leaders killed or captured.
Abu Yahya draws much of his credibility from having escaped a U.S. military prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan on the night of July 10, 2005. He subsequently appeared in more than 30 videos produced by al Shahab, the al-Qaida media wing, and other militant sites. In December 2009, Pakistani officials erroneously reported he had been killed in a Predator strike, further enhancing his image.
U.S. officials say unlike many al-Qaida propagandists, Abu Yahya also is a seasoned fighter.
In May 2011, shortly after bin Laden was killed, U.S. officials identified Abu Yahya as one of five potential successors to the slain al-Qaida leaders. The leading candidate, Ayman al Zawahiri, ultimately did succeed bin Laden. If Abu Yahya was killed, he would be the fourth of the five to have been killed in drone strikes.
Ilyas Kashmiri, al-Qaida’s director of external operations, was killed on June 3. Abdul Rahman Atiya, bin Laden’s chief of staff, was killed Aug. 22. Both of those attacks took place in northwestern Pakistan. Anwar al Awlaki, a leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and an American citizen, was killed in Yemen, also in a drone strike, on Sept. 30.
Robert Windrem is a senior investigative producer for NBC News; NBC News' Mushtaq Yusufzai contributed reporting from Pakistan.
Leave a Comment:
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
Really stepping out on a limb there, aren't you?
Al Qaeda sets 'em up, Obama knocks 'em down.
So much for bin Laden being "of no concern".
I forget, how many did Bush get?
They launched at a house because they heard Lady Marmalade playing...
"Gitchi gitchi Yahya here"
Bossilimo, As I recall, Bush didn't get any (that's why people have a hard time remembering how many he got - LOL!).
If one is killed, another one eqaully or more dangerous will crop up.
Better carpet bomb the whole of Paki Islamic militant areas. If it was right in Iraq during 1991 Iraqi war, what is the problem here?
my sentiments exactly - carpet bomb the entire region.
I'm having a hard time differentiating between Obama's regime and Assad...both seem to be killing a lot of people many are innocent and getting no closer to ending the conflict...
If only life were as simple as youz guyz imply by your "if only a Dem. / if only a Rep." rhetoric.
Both make us warmongers. Shame.
@TJMo7: Are you just complaining or do you know anything they could be doing differently that the rest of us dont?
@Sil & Jonathan:
Carpet bomb the entire region? If you've been there and you've met the human beings living there, I don't think you would support that plan but at a distance it must look really good.
Give credit to Obama for killing this bad guy.
But if you do, you also have to give credit to Bush for toppling the entire fundamentalist theocracy of the Taliban in Afghanistan. Their iron grip on the country was brutal, especially against women. Bush changed that.
Changing the entire government of a country is, by any measure, a far more significant accomplishment than killing 15 people.
Waterboarding is torture and must be forbidden, but blastin people to bits (along with their wives, children and pets) is just fine.
Not sure how much intel that the US has gotten from the drone strikes; probably a bit less than from the waterboarding and Gitmo detainees.
Now don't get me wrong - any dead raghead is a good thing, but the hypocrisy is hard to take.
Bosslimo...Bush didn't keep count on his fingers, or advertise it...this moron has to brag about kiling these guys just so he can look good when he looks at himself in the mirror.....Nobel peace prize, what a joke
The most-recent attack of the weekend was the eighth drone strike in Pakistan since a NATO conference on Afghanistan in Chicago last month. Since taking office in 2009, the Obama administration has carried out nearly 300 drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, the majority of them in Pakistan’s tribal areas, according to the New America Foundation, which keeps an unofficial count.
When did we go to war with Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia? I thought the liberals had a problem with Bush killing innocent bystanders. Sounds like Barry is a war monger, yet where is the liberal outcry?
If they were to bomb us, it would be an act of war!
I see Obama is out thumping his chest like an ape again for killing women and children. I am so impressed. Oh I know libs, you think it's all OK now that Obama has redefined what a civilian woman and child is so that he can kill them with impunity. It is kind of like that redefinition of "is" and "oral sex" from your last lib Messiah, Clinton, that you libs all swoon over. When Bush waterboarded the detainees, you excoriated him for his attempt to define torture but you turn a blind eye to your Messiah and present mass murderer in the White House, Obama. The level of your hypocracy is pathetic. In fact, there is nothing even close to the hypocracy of a liberal.
A post manifesting all the intelligence of Elmer Fudd hunting "wabbits": go ahead bomb and shoot everything around you. See where it gets you.
There's a billboard on Hwy 14 heading north to Mohave and Edwards Air Forces base her in California. It's an advertisement for Northrup Grumman, with a drone on it and it says "Securing the Globe 36 Hours at a Time" They got it wrong. It should read, "Murdering Women, Children and Young Men 36 Hours at a Time."
Obamas policies regarding attacking innocent people, which are NO different than Bushes, specifically state a"militant" is classified as any male of fighting age, regardless of whether they were associated with any group or not. The justification for this? If that young male was in the area we bombed, then he must have been up to no good. The Sec Def openly and defiantly admits this. And guess what folks, Obama signed the NDAA authorizing the use of drones against US citizens for whatever reason THEY think is needed. No proof is required, no due process, no defense, no opportunity to defend yourself. They have established the government to be judge, jury and executioner.
This is the next evolution of terrorism and everyone who is voting for Obama is voting for terrorism and murder hiding behind a flag. Our leaders are no different than Bin Laden. They operate at his level because the people are too afraid to deal with the world like adults.
War is the tool of the weak-minded.
Hey zathrose, I'm a liberal. Did you read my other comment?
Zathrose
Just add former President BUSH to this list as well. In fact, add every President in Modern US history and then we can assure that President Obama is acting int he same manner. Another whining and complaining republican with their head in the sand.
and when President Obama attempts to defend this nation, you righties 'waterboard' him for doing the right thing. If it was a GOP doing the same thing, you would be applauding. As for your comment about Clinton, how is this even releavant to the article.
The whining and complaining from some of you righties is astounding.
i dont see where any bush obama is relivant because no where in the story does it say that obama approved this. Oh and think about this obama sneaks to pakistan and signs a deal for aid and cash but three weeks later pakistan puts a guy in prison for helping with the finding of binladen for treason. Its only treason if you give away your countries secrets during a time of war. That being said the pakis knew they were hiding binladen and knew where he was at. thanks obama
The effort cannot be reduced, the terrorists will continue their little quest forever. Keep finding the head of the snake and keep lopping it off. Leave the rest of the snake unable to operate effectively as a result.
Other people in the world do not think like us, nor have our values. They will not hesitate to sacrifice anything or anyone in the quest for their goals. That is why we have war.
You seem to forget the deck of cards for both Al Quaida and Iraqi leadership.... I think Bush got plenty of them but you libs have to create your own fasad how sad you people are trying to prop up a failure even in an area where he has his best showing.... Doesn't say a lot about your leader.. I would chalk these up to Hilary.
"If they were to bomb us, it would be an act of war!"
Jesus, Mary, and Yousef, where you been?
Bush didn't get a single Al Quaida leader and neither did Obama. Our military did it all, with absolutely no help from our political leaders. All these bastards do is take credit, and all their supporters do is try to discredit the others. All of you are an embarassment and an insult to the country.
Baldman and dman: Were humans not living in Iraq while carpet bombings were done during 1991 Iraqi war?
In Vietnam it was worse. Even neighboring areas were bombed.
Are there different yardsticks depending upon regions?
Do we know that Obama killed anyone of importance or just Innocent bystanders? Obama is as bad or worse than Bush. Those people over there pose no danger to us in the US. Meanwhile, all this blind air strikes are costing us money that we need to save our nation. I think that what we should do is take Congress with their aides and Obama with his, and send them to Afghanistan to fight their stupid war personally.
Coyotehunter, if "Mission Accomplished" isn't considered advertising, I don't know what is. ;)
FedupwithFed- you are confused. We are NOT at war with Pakistan, Yemen, or Somalia but we ARE at war with terrorism which happens to take refuge in these countries. But, we should be at war with Pakistan. They've done nothing but lie to us about helping Al Quida and the Taliban. It's obvious they hid Osama Bil Laden all those years and now they're pissed off at us for killing 4 Taliban leaders that were hiding out in Pakistan's backyard. Time to declare war on the Pakistani government lest they step aside and stop condeming and hindering US actions agaist Al Quida.
spendthrift71
Who are you kidding? In case you missed it... Article II of the United States Constitution. The President (regardless of party affiliation) is the commander and chief of the United States Armed Forces. Those individuals DO NOT carry out orders of this complexity without the President's direct involvement. Additionally, they all take an oath to server, protect, and defend the US Constitution. That means they accept the ORDERS from the President of the United States. If they didn't, it would be called "Treason". So let's give credit to our military, but also recognize that the President plays a role here as well.
Your lack of education on the US Constitution is what is embarrassing.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/oathofenlist.htm
It seems every time we strike terrorists with drones, we end up killing members of the Pakistani Intelligence Agency. No wonder they are pissed!
Keep it up.
The drone attacks are about the only thing I'll give Obama positive credit for during his time in office. The number of high-ranking terrorists killed by these attacks under Bam's watch is impressive, and should be lauded no matter what your party affiliation or whether you're liberal or conservative. However, I can't help but wonder what the reaction of liberals, especially the liberal media, would be if such attacks were carried out under the Bush administration. I have the very strong suspicion that the media would be echoing the cries of the Pakistani foregin ministry that the US is attacking "Pakistani sovereignty." But hey, that's all conjecture on my part.
Yes I guess he should have put on a flight suit and got on an aircraft carrier with a giant banner saying "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED".
I am a liberal too. I am upset by these strikes. One problem is that we are being lied to by our media. They have begun to ignore civilian deaths and may even be covering them up. The rest of the world media - and I am talking BBC, not extreme mid-east outlets - have much higher death figures. Even here the "un-named US official" is poo-pooing the numbers to minimize casualty figures.
We risk repeating previous mistakes where we used feel-good strikes that really were counter productive. Making five terrorists for every one you kill does not make the odds better. Getting five people to like you by building a school is WAY more productive.
Us? That would mean who? Which group of this divided nation?
What thinking? What values? Walmart value? Value menu?
Our rulers, they with NO loyalty to their 'word' who will flip-flop and can never be trusted to keep to anything they say, will not hesitate to sacrifice anything or anyone in the quest for their goals!
I don't remember Congress authorizing the president to go to war in any of the countries we are video droning.
I notice though, that following the Constitution (whats left of it) is becoming something only crazy people, radicals, and extremists believe in.
It's About Time:
Stop boring me with your childish amateur civics lesson. I have forgotten more about history than you ever will know. The president does not give military orders, although he is commander in chief. The military does all the work and then, as a courtesy, they ask the commander in chief for his approval. Obama resisted as long as he could giving the order to take out Bin Laden. He fought it and stalled until he was embarassed into giving his unwilling consent. The military did it all, in spite of the assine protocols required by our pathetic command and control system. Everyone knows that the military gets credit for all failures and the banal president gets all credit for all successes. In spite of your theoretical discourse, all but morons know how the system really works.
Since obama took office in 2009 there has only been 300 drone strikes. That equates to 100 per year or 1 every 3+ days.
What a way to show that one deserves the noble peace prize.
NOVAROC
Us? That would mean who? Which group of this divided nation?
What thinking? What values? Walmart value? Value menu?
Our rulers, they with NO loyalty to their 'word' who will flip-flop and can never be trusted to keep to anything they say, will not hesitate to sacrifice anything or anyone in the quest for their goals!
I don't remember Congress authorizing the president to go to war in any of the countries we are video droning.
I notice though, that following the Constitution (whats left of it) is becoming something only crazy people, radicals, and extremists believe in.
Good point, that too! I am thinking of times past when there were actually solid values in people, now there are little to none, it's 'every man/woman/whatever for yourself' now....only the older generations still have a sense of morality and the consequences for acting selfish.
Spendthrift,
This President has made the rule that every missle attack has to be personally approved by him. He has taken the responsibility upon his own shoulders for orders he has given. I doubt you will believe this but it is true. He will give the credit to those who followed his orders, and take the responsibility himself. That's a leader, and what a leader is made of.
And the joker they went after they got.
spendthrift71
Umm... Yes he can and does. What part of Commander and Chief do you not understand? If the president gives an ORDER and the troops do NOT follow it, its called "Treason"
The military is PAID to do a job... Do you honestly think the military would act on something without the Presidents approval? Do the words international incident mean anything to you?
LOL Obama did not resist as long as he could. Were you in the situation room when this went down? The military carried out an ORDER from the President of the United States. I am ignoring the rest of your comment, as its quite clear you really do not know how this all works.
P.S. This is not high school civics, this is what children learn in elementary SCHOOL!
Obama - the best commander-in-chief.
Jonathan - We did not "carpet bomb" Iraq. We bombed military targets and Saddam's presidential palace in Baghdad.
I guess people remember what they wish to remember. Yes, we heavily bombed many areas of North Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, particularly Hanoi, and the ho chi minh trail. Yes, both regions are inhabited to this day.
The fact which seems to be eluding your razor-sharp intellect, is that this "carpet bombing" was ineffective. It did not disable North Vietnam's ability to conduct military operations all over South Vietnam, or to put in terms I'm sure you can understand, carpet bombing did not bring us victory.
You may also have noticed that Elmer Fudd never gets the "wabbit", either.
Similarly, we are not going to achieve anything by simply "carpet bombing" Pakistan. To do so would be just a stupid, emotional reaction to what admittedly is a frustrating situation.
Somebody has set some extremely low standards.
Themedia does not bring up the Bush speech,not concerned about bin ladenthing. If they did more would listen to the president
I think most people miss the point - It's pretty hard to effectively organize, plan, and execute when you're too busy looking over your shoulder. Knowing that as you rise in the food chain, it puts you higher on the target list for a Drone strike. There is both an intimidation factor as well as recognition factor to Drone strikes.
Conversely, is it perfect? Is it legal? There are many gray areas dependent on your point of view but bottom line is that as long as we continue eliminating these leaders, we ARE keeping the U.S. (and many other parts of the world) safer (not safe) - and while seems unrelated to us, it is benefitting us whether we recognize or not-
COYOTEHUNTER
Obama didn't write the article, Robert Windrem did.
Bush kept track of a 52 card deck of Iraqis. (I still have one of those decks of cards.)
____________________________________________________________________________________
FedupwithFed
We went to war with Pakistan when President Obama was a candidate. He told us that he would attack the enemy in Pakistan if they were unable or unwilling to.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Stop Funding Illegals
You are claiming Bush's success was in Iraq? We shouldn't have even been in Iraq. Unfunded and unfounded, Iraq killed more Americans than 9/11 yet the enemy of 9/11 was let go at Tora Bora to chase a squirrel named Saddam.
____________________________________________________________________________________
the thinker-318752
No mention of drone strikes saving American lives? No credit for Libya, helping solve a conflict without a single loss of American life? No cheer for bringing the troops home from Iraq? All you have is 300 drone strikes against our 9/11 enemies???
____________________________________________________________________________________
At least we focus on the right war now. Plans of withdrawl set. Loss of American lives cut.
I suspect it would be a different story had McCain been elected. His "bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" says it all.
Yet, for every positive there is an equal negative. One example: what to do with the returning vets? Do we really cut their V.A. benefits? How will returning vets affect unemployment and what plans do we have to place them in a weak work force?
Perhaps it will be as wars past. The industrial age was built by returning vets.
Boss... - You missed my point. Within days of taking office, obama launched drone strikes and has continued to launch at a high rate. As you pointed out - he launched an attack on Libya and caught $h!t for it from congress and the public. (He read that as a potential impact on his re-election). Despite the effectiveness or rationale, he promised while campaigning to pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan - yet he extended and increased our presence. The Nobel committee awarded him a "peace" prize for his stance on world peace while he was launching covert drone strikes.
No American lives were saved. Risks to American lives were reduced/minimized.
Ghadafi was not a threat to American lives - only to Libyans that opposed him.
I don't have a problem with drone strikes against enemies. I have a problem with the military and politicians painting a rosy picture by only presenting the positive points (propaganda). How about the drones that kill U.S. troops instead of or along with some enemy? Are those "acceptable" losses simply because the real target was achieved or are they "acceptable" losses because the military leaders expect (accept) a percentage of deaths/injuries in combat?
the thinker-318752
A thin argument at best. There are always friendly fire incidents. Can you think of a way to war without it? If so, I beg you to offer your proposals to the military.
He was a threat to our interests. No American lives were lost defending our interest.
Really? How many soldiers were held captive in Iraq alone? How many were executed?
Even saying "reduced/minimized" means lives were spared.
There is no rosy side to war (unless you count surrenders).
There is no argument against facts. Drones spare lives. You can drag in all the perils of war but reduction in loss of life is indisputable.
What are we still doing there?
On the ground? Your guess is as good as mine. The drones seem way more effective.
GTFO
Apparently killing terrorist that want to do harm to the U.S. would be my guess.
lfergie,
Did you vote for Obama? If you did, did you feel that way when Bush was the president? Or do you only like wars when it is run by a Democrat?
911
Actually, Road Warrior-252445, as much as we "libs" care as little for wars as any sane person would, we prefer to have a president who can prosecute a war successfully, as opposed to Mr. Obama's predecessor, who -- what's the military term I'm looking for? -- ah, yes. screwed the pooch.
gcooper8,
Oh yes, the pro-war liberals. Lyndon Johnson just kept fighting and fighting in Vietnam and had the sense to not run for re-election. I thought libs live by the philosophy that unless the enemy attacks us first, we don't go around the world occupying other countries without their permission all in the name of protecting ourselves. Bin Laden was killed over a year ago, and Obama is STILL prosecuting the war. He seems to like it. They all do. I recall a friend of Clinton saying he wished 9/11 had happened under his watch. Be careful guy. The war was very unpopular and Bush had a 22% approval rating. Many independents voted for Obama because he said all the right things about the war. He has been another Bush in their eyes.
"Bin Laden was killed over a year ago, and Obama is STILL prosecuting the war."
Here's a hint, Road Warrior-252445: The war ain't over!
Our current president does not consider this to be a "Mission Accomplished" moment, as did his predecessor. While Mr. Obama has had much greater success prosecuting a campaign against Al-Qaida than Mr. Bush ever remotely demonstrated, Mr. Obama, unlike many out there, apparently realizes that the fight against Al-Qaida is ongoing.
And at least Mr. Obama is in prosecuting the war the right country.
They did attack us first, RW, and killing OBL did not finish al-Queda completely, but you know all that. So what are you getting at - just another hypocritical criticism of Obama for doing the very thing you'd praise if a Republican president did it?
gcooper,
Continue to back your warmongering president. Independents didn't like it then and don't like it now, especially when Obama just projected the war to go all the way to 2014 and maybe beyond. Fortunately, he won't get the chance to be another LBJ after November. Bring the troops and stop rationalizing war just because the man happens to be a Democrat.
benji,
I did not vote for Bush, unlike mindless liberals who will vote for any person with a D after his or her name. If Bush is still in office today, you would be calling him a Hitler, warmonger, war criminal, and screaming for the world court to indict him. Obama got a Nobel Peace Prize in his first months in office. Is this what the committee was expecting from Obama?
Road Warrior-252445, Thanks! I will continue to back Mr. Obama, as will many others regardless of political affiliation, tho' not for your skewed suppositions about why nor your aspersions on Mr. Obama's character and legacy. I'll back him because he's doing the right things re the war.
And please, lose the LBJ comparisons; they just don't wash. Other than inheriting a war from a Republican, in LBJ's case, President Eisenhower.
gcooper,
Interesting parallel. A Republican starting a war. A Democrat promises to end it, but instead escalated it, and it took another Republican to finally end it. I see your point. BTW, it was Ted Kennedy who initially compared this war to Vietnam.
One more thing. I wonder why Colin Powell refuses to endorse Obama this time after he had endorsed him in 2008. Can it be that Obama ignore his advice to not go ahead with the surge where Obama deployed another 10,000 troops?
I have my doubts that the Puppet Masters are going to have Romney pull the plug, if that is not unfair to point out. If you are an Independent, are you voting for Romney based on your assertions?
Just wondering, because you had me with the "I did not vote for Bush" line. So who did you vote for, since we are in anonymous world? I will be voting for Obama, though I find him only to be the lessor of the two evils by far. Much of the critiques against him are unfair from the point of the Republican Agenda to destroy all else at the cost of making the current President look bad, and nothing else.
But many are fair. I oftime point out his continuation of many of the W Policies and Wars as examples. Not as see through nor as willing/eager as W was, though. But just as much a Puppet. For a Puppet though, he at least was able to slow down the decline set up so deeply during the 1990's and 2000's.
Especially the 2000-2008 period. And Obama didn't even have to steal an election.
Yet.
I have voted Libertarian for the last twenty years. I even cancelled my NRA membership because they endorsed McCain. Yes, I will vote Republican this time. Once Obama is out, I will vote third party once again in 2016 if Romney doesn't deliver. And I do have to go to work tomorrow. Just got up to walk the crying dog. He had to go. Now I must go back to sleep. Good night.
@Road Warrior-252445
Romney will be exactly the same as Obama.
I believe we're still there so conservatives won't accuse Obama of failing to get Al Qaeda leaders like Clinton supposedly did.
Obama i no Bush:
Bush: "bin Laden is no concern"
Obama: "American forces have killed bin Laden"
Bush: "Mission Accomplished!"
Obama: We leave Iraq with "heads held high"
Bush: "Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun
that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."
Obama: Obama: Afghanistan, not Iraq, should be focus
As far as Obama's love of war is concerned, pirates lasted 4 days, bin Laden killed, top Al Qaeda leaders klled, Muammar Gaddafi gone, troops out of Iraq and scheduled to be out of Afghanistan.
You'll be hard pressed to take an opposing view on Obama's record of war.
Ask Bush what we did in Iraq and Afghanistan?
Bush can consult Saudis, oil companies and lobbyists for answers on Iraq and Paki Gen Mush on Afghanistan.
LOL, obama is good, bush2 was bad? Seems like their goals were the same, but obama has no problem with violating another sovereign nations borders. I guess when diplomacy fails in accomplishing cooperation from another sovereign nation attacks are justified. After all good enough for bush2 in iraq must be good enough for obama in pakistan.
Hmmmm, bush2 got congressional approval, did obama?
Bosslimo, isn't it great that the 2008 iraq-US SOFA agreement defined our iraq withdrawal. Oh shlt, that was on bush's watch. Good thing the iraqi PM told obama that he couldn't change that agreement to have our combat troops stay longer. Poor obama, he couldn't continue the conflict.
@american, no bush did not have congressional approval concerning Iraq. You need to take off that vail that keeps you so blind as to what your party has been doing.
Does this country know what I really want to see? I want to see a BLACK Woman running for president and I want her to be a REPUBLICAN!!! I also want to see LIVE Video of the Senate and the Repesenatives when they get the word. That, as we used to say, WOULD BE A KODAK MOMENT!!! really LOL!!!
Nobama is just warming up, next stop Syria....
6Dogs..I'd like to see Condi Rice as Romneys running mate. She's smart and knows the score and she has two qualities that Liberals find important. She's black and she's a woman.
That works for me.
Condilca Rice would be a amzeing vice president. Not because the colour of her skin but because she knows the whole story and is intelligent as all get out. With any luck we will be seeing her back in the office as the vice president.
Roadwarrior and all the other conservatives who keep saying "You libs cheer Obama but hate Bush for doing the same thing".Here's the difference.Obama wouldn't have STARTED the war in the first place.If I were you guys I would spend more time looking in the mirror and less time pointing fingers.
Repubs would not support Condi Rice because she is black, plain and simple. These posts show nothing but post after post repubs hating blacks. Palin dropped out of race because the news hit the fan that she used to have a black athelete lover years back. Her big bus folded up shop and they drove home. Condi knew and then supported Bush/Cheney lie going into Iraq with deliberate false intel to get war profits for big oil and Haliburton..................Funny how some righties are doing the old Donald Trump song...I like blacks routine.
i think the pakistanis are giving us intel. poor wretches do not know where to turn. hence china. great. let china deal with these islamic freaks.
I was going to say ... one kind of get's the feeling pakistan military intelligence is responsible for the intel we're getting. And given our relationship with pakistan, perhaps we're essentially killing the individuals Pakistan does not consider loyal or worth a damn. Or at best, we're doing Pakistan's dirty work. But, nobody at this point can convince me pakistan is even remotely an ally to the US or the UN which makes all of this potentially very unsettling.
STexan,
Could not agree more. This game is not fooling anyone other than those advocating the continuation of our involvement in hunting ghosts based on Paki Intel. Our own intel seems to be very advanced, precise and particular, for not being able to find Bin Laden for so many years...
It is an endless vicious cycle. And the damage the 'terrorists' will do to America will never equal the reasons for the degree in which we continue to build enemies with our Nation Building and Sovereign Country Invasions.
Nothing like breaking down the Power Block in Iraq and then acting like we had no idea it would make Iran stronger and more emboldened. All based on lies and misinformation which conveniently served the prior announced plans of Cheney/Bush even before 911 conveniently occurred.
And the Main Stream Media makes sure we stay just informed to the facts as presented by 'Officials'.
Great stuff, that. Better than episodic TV.
Baaaaa.
Sorry I meant unannounced. That came out later they planned on it all along.
Pakis gave intel on Osama and so they jailed the doctor who helped CIA.
Still Pakis are not giving intel on their "most dreaded" Haqqani network!!!!
When the NATO forces were entering Kandahar in 2001, Pakis airlifted key al-Qaida, Taliban, ISI and others militants by back door from Kandahar.
This includes Mullah Omar, Osama and many including Haqqani militant network leaders.
Still Bush & co went on assuming that Pakis are allies on war on terror and Gen Mush is the best pal!
The US and allies pumped in huge economic and military aids into Pakistan.
Still the US and NATO forces did not have a clue that Pakis are providing staging ground and diverting economic aids to militants fighting NATO forces!
What a way to fight wars and lose badly from all angles!
What ever happened to Obama's stance that these guys should be brought to civil court with all the rights and protections of our justice system? Now Obama plays judge and jury in his office ordering them to be killed. Anyone else see the issue with a leader who swings his opinions and actions so widely?
I am in favor of going after the terrorists and better yet to capture them and gain intelligence. My point is on the behaviors of leader who shifts his views to suit the polls and to remain in power. This is true with most in Washington but this latest flip flop is HUGE... (The last one was his 180 degree swing on gay unions).
YES TO PRESIDENT OBAMA to Killing terrorist leaders without committing large size of troops to any region,or killing a lot of innocent people accidently (the so called collateral damage)
And voodoo to anyone who says THE PRESIDENT OF THE STATES is Killing a lot of innocent people.
((((please read past administrations mistakes and judgement errors)))))
When Islamic terrorist blow up, do they worry about "innocent people", "children", "women",
When Islamic terrorists blow up, do they worry about "innocent people", "children", "women", "sovereignty" and other big words?
Take 9/11 as an example.
Magrabi, I don't see how you find a perpetual motion killing machine a thing of greatness.
Ex: kill a terrorist, make three more, kill one of them new ones, make four more.
But that's OK because it's been done before? When you go around shooting at people, don't be surprised when they shoot back. Maybe think first as to WHY they shoot back as opposed to calling them all terrorists.
A new day has dawned in the business of terrorist elimination and execution.. Without getting into a protracted discussion about the morality of summarily executing sworn enemies of our state, one must wonder, how much longer before this method of elimination of dissent is turned on our own.
Start arresting and killing them after you can't tax them anymore. The "dependants" will follow along gleefully.
I think the point people are missing is this is yet another IDENTIFIED terrorist hiding in Pakistan, where they "condemn" the strike as an attack on their sovereignty. What that means is they are harboring these people. IF Pakistan, whom we give billions of dollars a year in aid to, would have said, we acknowledge and accept the assistance the US has provided us in removing these threats to our internal and global security, it would paint a very different picture. But to say they condemn the removal of a terrorist threat, speaks volumes about our wasted money on a country that is too corrupt, too in bed with enemies of our nation. We shouldn't spend a dime more in supporting them, we should deliver the ultimatium, "Any country that harbors, provides aid and comfort to, or shelters known terrorists that threaten the security of the United States, or ANY Country, for that matter, WILL BE DEALT WITH AS ENEMIES of the State". That gets the message acrossed, and that is the message that should be sent. Not, hey, we know you are two faced jackals, jerking us off, and kissing the asses of terrorists, here have another 3 billion, in hopes to win the hearts and minds. The message should be delivered with here is a Tomahawk Cruise Missile, we are tired of playing with fire crackers...
Keep the drones flying! Keep after these low life scum bag muslims, and remember most of all, the pakis are nothing more than liars, cheats, muslim illiterates who only steal our foolishly given aid. Get out of all that worthless, failed arab-muslim part of the world now! Let all of them rot...
Pakistan like all Arab countries will smile at you while they stab you in the back so what makes you think they aren't giving information to the US in order to eliminate the threat to their own government. Sure Pakistan protest the attacks but that could be a front so as not to turn the Taliban attacks towards them. Some in the Pakistan government are most likely helping the enemy but others could be helping the US. Since their government is so unstable I believe they have to play both sides to survive.
Dear Mr. Nato, Attached is a map to where Mr. Yahya lives. As you know, he's the last remaining rival to the head of our little clambake here in Pakistan. Thanks for your help,
Sincerely, Your bud,
Ayman
nice ! its always enjoyable to read about another terrorist being vaporized : )
Just so long as he wasn't a major Obama campaign contributor.
Ooooooh, STexan, what hurts worse, shooting yourself in the foot with that comment, or getting it collapsed when there's only 32 active comments on the thread at the moment? Bummer for you, huh?
Yeah, it doesn't take too many comments for thin-skin liberals to get all upset and block out comments they don't want to read.
You know damned well that cuts both ways, Road Con Warrior. And I wanted to believe you were actually an Independent.
It never takes a Con very long to expose himself as a Con, be it in a bathroom at an airport or on these threads.
Foiled again! Now try being honest instead of hiding behind false pronouncements of your ideologies. At least from the middle ground I tread, I admit and point out that BOTH sides have their weak points.
Notsojingo, making an observation doesn't necessarily defines anyone's political orientation. It also means that declaring to be an independent doesn't preclude one from supporting a candidate they best think can lead.
notsojingo,
Never said I am an independent. I have made reference to independents whom I think are changing their minds about Obama, but my feelings on the amateur has never changed. Didn't I tell you in one of my post that I have voted Libertarian the last twenty years? Libertarians are very, very conservative on fiscal issues and very specific on national defense issues. On social issues, you can do whatever the hell you want to do.
Good, I hope they killed him and 25 of his cohorts.
Now for Ayman.
Let's make Pakistan our new testing grounds for our nuclear weapons .
Romney is still fighting the "Soviet Union" and the Cold War. If any one candiate for prez. had a mushroom clould as a backdrop, he's the one.
Anybody but Romney..
Dear Al-Qaida,
Make all you want, we'll crunch more.
Sincerely,
Uncle Sam
PS DUCK! LOL!
Why don't any of these terrorists have normal names and titles like, Fred Smith, Director of Terror in the 'Stans? I do not think that we are getting any intel from the Paks at this point. It is likely all US developed.
Bob, we are not getting HUMINT from anyone anymore...no one trusts this Administration to keep the information secret...between Wikileaks and blabbers in the White House, lots of key iformation has been made public putting lots of people in jeopardy. Without feet on the ground, the drones will continue to target innocent people and random strikes will occassionally produce a hit and hope result (hit it then hope you got a valuable asset)
@ TJM07 -
I don't buy the argument about 'not getting human intelligence' anymore from the terrorists due to these drone strikes. This is a GOP talking point in an election year, and apparently has been successful since folks like you are now parrot-talking this theme on small blogs, but close examination reveals this talking point to be pure BS.
It's quite clear to me (without having any evidence other than press releases) that a lot of terrorists and low-level militant supporters are being killed by these drone attacks. This is occurring in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and I believe Somalia (to a lesser extent). By the very nature of the targeting, this implies HUMINT is being acquired. Don't think about it any further if it makes your head hurt.
Anyway, keep reciting the talking points that you've been instructed via AM talk radio and the other conservative outlets that provide your thought instructions. I understand, it's all that you have. It's ok. I have a good sense of empathy and I suppose if I were in opposition to the president and I was faced with the reality of the prosecution of a truly effective national counter-terrorism strategy; then I would probably be resorting to goofy cynical talking points with no value as well.
Hey, it's 6AM EST - Fox-n-Friends has just started so you can now pick up on the correct talking points for the day on this subject or anything else that matters in your world. Time to take your country back!
@TMJ07, The leaks in this administration? Leaks have come out of every administration that I can remember. Even bush had leaks. I question the loyalty of any person or organization that gets classified imformation and than releases it publicly, knowing that it pertains to this countries security and the security of our military.
It was a known fact that German spies existed in this country in WWII, and a saying of the days was,"loose lips sink ships." The spies were known to tap phone lines and talking about where your son or husband were going to and when, could have gotten them killed. This was all the info a spy needed.
With todays tech. it is more imparetive than before to say less.
As for Wikileaks, I question their loyalities at a time like this. I realize that we have questions but some answers should not be said.
More awesome intel down the drain! Those drones are doing more to blind us than anyone knows.
Was Barack at the controls of the drone like he was the on the ground leader of seal team six? Of course the wimp was. Please spank me Michelle. A little bit harder now.
Obama is a Muslim killing machine!
A senior al-Qaida leader was targeted in Pakistan? Lmao...only if a high level CIA or Mossad official was in Pakistan could this be true. It is amazing that some of you still believe these propaganda bull**** stories.
Al-Qaida and the completely B.S. 'war on terror' are nothing but creations of the powers of the west and Israel to justify the theft of resources and political/economic power around the world.
muslim!
That must explain the very low gas prices here on the west coast. Thanks W,and your right wing think-tank,you really scored us some gas!
You play too much X-Box and have lost all sence of reality.
Talk is cheap,it takes money to buy whiskey. The democrats always deliver and the republicans wave their arms in the air.
Unless you make your own whiskey
Propaganda article pure and simple. The White House directed NBC to put up this story since Barack has absolutely nothing to make him look good and Romney is gaining or surpassing him at an astounding rate.
I'm willing to bet that the sucessor to Bin Laden will be killed every two weeks from now until election night.
but if a republican did the same,you'de be having parades. Give credit where credit is due,if you are a terrorist,or pirate,Obama is gonna kill you. No talk.just action. We'll talk about it after the mission is truly accomplished
Romney is much too easily swayed to be a good President. He can't even stay on one side of any issue. He'd be a big mistake as President. His indecision on issues show weakness in leadership which would put the US in danger.
It's not just about the economy, it's also about how our enemies perceive us. Why do you think they chose to wait for Bush to take office before attacking us? Because he was perceived as being dim witted. Sorry, but that's the impression of Gerorge W.
Romney is not viewed as being tough by any stretch of the imagination - that is very dangerous for the US.
You must be talking about Fox News fantasy stories.
President Obama--2012
Obama is real tough. Chris Matthews just said the President "lacks cojones" in the weeks leading up to the critical Scott Walker recall. He flew right over Wisconsin last week on his way to Illinois from Minnesota and did not even stop. The Democrats could have used his inspiration since only 37% of the Democrats voted in 2010.
Damned if did, damned if he didn't. We all know that by now.
I feel as though this conversation can best be duplicated by me bashing two sock puppets together and yelling. Honestly, we're screwed no matter who gets elected.
I am not convinced that He is Dead as I am almost positive that this is the Fellow that runs the BONFARE MART in Fairfield, California. He opened up a convenience Store, right next to the Scenario's Pizza Place.
+1 for the drones, good thing I work 40 hrs + to pay for this, now maybe they could fly one over houston traffic to pick out the idiots that swerve in and out and cause accidents on the highway in houston.
OzarkDaredevil your funny, try houston
Well another terrorist bites the missile! I imagine nobody wants the top spot now. (lol) The benefits suck!
Candidate Obama promised to end the war on terror overseas. Democrats led by Pelosi in 2010 promised to defund the war on terror overseas if Bush did not stop it. Four years later and a Nobel Peace Prize, we are not only still bringing the body bags home, but Obama is starting another war on terror overseas in Pakistan over a year after Bin Laden was killed, killing civilians with drones without the permission of the country. Is this the arrogance Obama was apologizing for in 2009? You libs must be proud of your man.
Very-very-very proud of President Obama.
as long as he helps kill muslims who cares?
deb,
The parents of dead Americans would rather be proud of a live son or daughter, especially after Bin Laden was killed over a year ago which was Obama's Mission Accomplished moment.
Alex,
Parents of dead American soldiers care. You don't care because you are sitting in front a computer and not facing bullets and bombs.
@ Road Warrior -
What exactly is your point? It's clear that you have the NOBAMA agenda, that's cool. But all of this stuff about nobel peace prizes and mission accomplished, etc... You seem focused on finding hypocrisy rather than focusing on national realities.
We are a nation at war. Candidate Obama realized that and he persecuted the war in Afghanistan per his campaign rhetoric. The counter-terrorism policy as pursued in the greater region is per campaign rhetoric. The exiting of all combat forces and all forces in general from Iraq (other than Embassy marines) is per campaign rhetoric.
The involvement of US forces in Libya was absolutely phenomenal and a true testament to the possibilities of what the US can achieve with allied support in conjunction with UN Security Council approval. The use of special forces in the hunt for Joseph Kony is another example of good foreign policy to the region of central Africa that has been plagued for decades now by warlordism by this freak and many others. The central Africa story is different than the the greater mid-east. I only address it since it is a part of the first-term legacy, but this subject requires an entire essay in itself to explain the importance of this mission. I can do that of course, just don't have the time.
I support the president and I support all of the military actions to date as taken during this first-term. The second-term will certainly yield more successes on all fronts.
I like an admire GW as a man. He is a good man, good father and overall was an ok president. But he F-uped bad by going into Iraq. This is the key to the entire liberal-left-democratic opposition to his presidency. Many on Right simply accuse Obama supporters (myself included) as hypocrites due the current military actions. This is just not the case. Those that were avid anti-war people during 2001-2008 are still that way. Their minds have not changed. They'll probably vote for Obama since he is more closely aligned with things like gay marriage and environmental issues, but there is no changing their attitudes. People like me supported the war in Afghanistan and many other actions taken by GW. The defining red-line was the invasion of Iraq. Republicans supported this, democrats don't. At the time of the 2003 invasion, I sat on the sidelines and simply watched the news streaming in from CNN. I knew better, but did nothing to protest that war.
To summarize, many of us were and are against the Iraq War II. This was a disaster for national policy and prestige. Regardless, we are a nation at war. The war must be prosecuted in the best and most efficient manner possible. From my perspective based upon cost-benefit analysis and qualitative comparisons, Mr. Obama has been far more successful in terms of results and the use of the military instrument of power than was his predecessor. This is my subjective point of view.
So please, enough with the faux guilt trip that you keep rambling on about. After all, these men that are being killed in this tribal province between Afghanistan and Pakistan have it coming. I say drone 'em, and git-r-done!
@roadwarrior, Yes I am proud of Obama. He doesn't whine and cry or through a temper tantrum when the going get tuff. He doesn't point a finger at a situation or people when something isn't going as predictions would have indicated. he just rolls up his shirt sleeves and works harder. He doesn't make excusses.
I have just recently rethought a lot of things: We are in a world market situation.
1. We produce Items for sale over seas. If the overseas market falls off for any reason our market falls short of PREDICTIONS. What is going on in EU is not helping our job issues. This throws the GNP export part out of sinc, this adds to the countries deficet problem.
2. We import by request and import also on agreements of international trade. We have to take in what the agreement says. This situation also adds to the deficit reduction or gain. In other words National Debt. Sometimes we borrow money from another country and the agreemant is we take in a very large amount of their produced product to repay the debt. This an agreemant which GWB made with China for 1.3 tril.
We really can produce products in this country that are manufactured economicly. As a truck Driver I picked up clothing in Manhatten, NY. As my truck was being loaded with clothing in boxes that said Made in China. I asked the Dock Foreman about coming frem China to Manhatten and I'm taking them to Az. seams like a lot of extra expense. He told me the clothing is made in USA and the boxes came from China. He told me they just buy whatever is cheep for shipment as none of it is breakable. I took this clothing to a warehouse that is national across this country.
Anthony,
No, we are not at war. 9/11 happened 11 years ago. Bin Laden is dead. We have not been attacked since 9/11. This preemptive stuff gotta stop. Most liberals used to agree with that notion until Obama got elected. Now they are all cheering drone strikes. How hypocritical.
No, most are smart enough to realize that the Pakistanis are in cahoots with Al Qaeda and the Taliban hedging their bets hiding our enemies. Being Liberal doesn't mean being stupid does it?
Ole Abu Yaya was found dead with 28 bullet holes in him. The local Constibul said "It was the worse case of suicide I ever seen".
lololololol That was funny!!