Posted on 01/15/2006 7:08:45 PM PST by indcons
KHAR, Bajaur Agency: The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States may not have achieved its prime target, the No 2 Al Qaeda leader Egyptian, Dr Aiman Al Zawahri, but the January 13 air attack on Damadola village in Bajaur Agency has certainly left a deep psychological impact on the tribesmen.
The tribesmen believe that the attack was a warning not to host ‘foreign guests’ in the future. “We spent the next day and night in fear and when we heard planes we run out of our homes to avoid a second tragedy,” 35-year-old Sadiqullah Khan, whose house was destroyed in the attack, told Daily Times.
Eighteen people, mostly women and children, were reportedly killed in the attack on three houses within a 200-metre radius in Damadola village, less than 20 kilometres from the Afghan border. The official death toll has been put at 16.A security official in Khar, the regional headquarters of Bajaur Agency that overlooks the Afghan province of Kunar, a hotbed of anti-US militants, said it seemed unlikely that the target was achieved.
“The CIA has sent a clear message to all tribesmen along the Pak-Afghan border that they are aware of all activities and can launch strikes as precise as the Friday attack,” he told Daily Times on condition of anonymity.
Precision-guided bombs and missiles targeted the houses where Al Qaeda’s no 2 leader was believed to be.
Sources said that the US had intelligence sources in almost every tribal region. The January 13 attack was based on ‘intelligence’ received from ground agents - both Afghans and Pakistanis.
However, the information seemed sketchy according to intelligence experts. “I think the the information about the alleged presence of the high value target was poor. He (the agent) was not sure in which house the Al Qaeda leader was present,” the security official said. Pakistani counter-intelligence was looking for ‘US agents’ in the area and tribal sources said that expulsion of Afghan refugees from tribal areas along the Afghan border was part of the ‘look-out’ for US-paid agents.
Damadola is regarded a stronghold of outlawed Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi (TNSM) that mobilised thousands of volunteers to fight with the Taliban against the Washington-backed Northern Alliance in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks in the US. Fahim Wazir, Bajaur Agency chief administrator, does not believe the banned TNSM has widespread support in the area. However TNSM leader Maulana Faqir Muhammad hails from the same village and local tribal leaders do not agree with Wazir’s views.
I am not buying this was just some kind of "warning" salvo. they could have inserted a sniper team in for that, to just take out the tribal elders/leaders of that particular town. much more discrete, no women and children, same effect.
I don't think it was intended as a warning, either. But it could very well serve as a warning, which would be all to the good.
bttt
Good! Let that be a lesson to ya Sadigullah Khan Mohammed Abed Hussein Mustafa, or what'er the rest of your'n name is.
I don't believe this for a second. They drag the bodies of the terrorists out and tell the MSM "only women and children were killed." It's a fairly effective strategy on their part, because they know the DNC and Sheehan will eat it up raw.
These kinds of strikes are confirmed in a variety of ways including on-the-ground reconnaissance before they're carried out. They may not know the exact identities of the targeted terrorists, but they know they're attacking terrorists and terrorist safe houses.
so long as they get the message... pass it on!!!
We're aiming to kill!
And we have every right to!
Not the same effect. Sometimes nothing says, "Cut the crap" like very large explosions.
We should spread it out to a square mile then to 100 sq miles etc until theu turn over the enemy. Mushroom clouds...they will understand that message
Yuk yuk yuk. You be getting the picture.
Damadola is regarded a stronghold of outlawed Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariah Muhammadi (TNSM) that mobilised thousands of volunteers to fight with the Taliban against the Washington-backed Northern Alliance in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks
Bring back Free Fire Zones....start with North Wazirastan
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!!
"Eighteen people [were killed], mostly women and children"
I saw One report and only one that mentioned the "five foreigners" that were removed, buried, etc. That makes the total killed about 23.
Every story i've seen has about 2/3 of the info in it.
None have it all in one place.
Peculiar statement. 'Bombs and missiles?' I thought it was a single specific strike from a drone predator from other news accounts.
It may have been a baby milk factory.(sarc)
Saw on another thread where the Paks were shelling the same village at the same time the Predator is supposed to have taken out one house. Looks like we are covering for the Paks on this one. Also, I called this response from the villagers. They may think twice before hosting terrorists now. I hope we keep up the surprise visits.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1558739/posts
Something strange is going on here,
The photos from the scene show artillery shells, not missle fragments.
The Paks were also shelling that same night nearby.
The freepers on this other thread are identifying the ammo and the other Pak Military action.
CIA Predators may not have been all that guilty after all.
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