Baitullah Mehsud likely killed: Rehman Malik (Shura target on Friday)

dawn ^ | 8/6/2009 | dawn

[milwguy]

There is a strong likelihood that Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed along with his wife and bodyguards in a missile attack two days ago, Interior Minister Rehman Malik told Reuters.

‘We suspect he was killed in the missile strike,’ Malik said on Friday. ‘We have some information, but we don't have material evidence to confirm it.’

A senior Pakistani security official said that aside from Mehsud's wife, one of Mehsud's brothers and seven of his bodyguards perished in the attack.

The official said intelligence services were trying to discover the identity of another victim, and there was a good chance it was Mehsud.

Intelligence agents had also picked up signs that leaders of various Taliban factions planned to gather for a shura, or council meeting, somewhere in Waziristan later on Friday.—

[milwguy]

I hope we have the drones rearmed, gassed up, and ready to fly. Sounds like a lot of HVT's going to be meeting to draw straws on who gets Mehsud's job. If we can figure out where they are meeting, might be able to take out a bunch more of the Jihadi's. Allah better be stocking up on virgins, the attack of the drones is on!

[NormsRevenge]

Here's to many more Bull'sEyes!
File photo shows a US "Predator" drone passing overhead at a forward operating base near Kandahar, Afghanistan. The Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud may be dead after a reported drone strike, a US official said on Thursday. (AFP/File/Joel Saget)

[mazda77]

“Intelligence agents had also picked up signs that leaders of various Taliban factions planned to gather for a shura, or council meeting, somewhere in Waziristan later on Friday.—Reuters”

I should have guessed, warn the rest of them that we know their plans.

[Eccl 10:2]

Now can we start a few of these missions over Tehran, and Caracas, and Pyongyang, and the Mexico border, and Cuba...

[utax]

May they rest in pieces!!!!!!!!!

[dog breath]

I am not sure what others think of, Dawn, as a English language newspaper in Pakistan but I like browsing their articles on occasion. While these attacks seem to spark outrage in that country, my guess is that many there want these guys gone also. The drones should keep on keeping on, a truly excellent weapon.

[milwguy]

I find DAWN very informative, especially the articles written by their own reporters. They have a couple who get into waziristan, peshawar, Balochistan, etc and do some excellent reporting on things you do not see in our news.

[ozzymandus]

How many “leaders” do these terrorists have?

[gandalftb]

ABC News cited a senior U.S. official as saying there was a 95 percent chance that Mehsud was among those killed in the missile strike. U.S. officials have visual and other indicators it was Mehsud.

[gandalftb]

Pretty well covered here with background:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2309121/posts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I just posted this:

Baitullah: Dead or Alive? ( Now appears he may still be alive )