Posted on 01/22/2006 8:01:13 AM PST by Dark Skies
INAYAT QALA, Pakistan - Thousands of angry Pakistanis protested Sunday against a U.S. airstrike that killed civilians, chanting "Long live Osama bin Laden!" as anti-American rallies in the country entered their second week.
Pakistani authorities, meanwhile arrested a relative of a man suspected of hiding the bodies of four suspected al-Qaida operatives believed killed in the Jan. 13 attack, said a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The man, who was not identified, was arrested in Damadola, the remote hamlet near the Afghan border where U.S. missiles struck Jan. 13, the official said. The suspect was related to Faqir Mohammed, a pro-Taliban cleric who intelligence officials believe was responsible for hiding the bodies.
"We are investigating his links" to the extremists targeted in the airstrike, the official said, adding that authorities were also seeking Mohammed and another cleric believed to have helped hide the bodies.
Pakistani officials say 13 other civilians were also killed in the attack, including women and children. The attack reportedly targeted al-Qaida's No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri, who was not there.
About 5,000 demonstrators assembled on a dry riverbed in a mountain market town near the site of strike, shouting "Long live Osama bin Laden!" and "Death to America!" They also burned effigies of President Bush.
"America is the biggest terrorist in the world," said Maulana Mohammed Sadiq, a lawmaker of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party that helped organize the protest. "America bombed innocent people inside their homes."
The rally was the latest in a string of protests over the missile strike.
The assault has sparked friction between Islamabad and Washington and widespread outrage in the Islamic nation of 150 million. Thousands have taken to the street in protest over the past week in Pakistan's biggest cities.
On Saturday, Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf told visiting U.S Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns that the United States cannot repeat such attacks, a Foreign Ministry official said. Foreign Minister Khursheed Kasuri called the assault "counterproductive" given the "prevailing public sentiment."
They were Musharraf's first publicized comments on the attack, as the leader tried to soothe mounting disapproval of his backing of the U.S.-led war on terror.
The attack was believed to have been launched by a predator drone based in Afghanistan, where the U.S. has about 20,000 troops. Pakistan does not allow U.S. forces to pursue militants across the border or launch strikes without permission.
Shahid Shamsi, a spokesman for the opposition Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, or United Action Forum, said Musharraf's comments came "too late."
"He made the statement under the pressure that has been building up in the country," Shamsi said.
Pakistan officials those killed in the strike may have included Egyptian master bomb maker Midhat Mursi, who has a $5 million bounty on his head by the U.S. government.
Hundreds of al-Qaida and Taliban militants, including bin Laden and al-Zawahri, are believed to be hiding in the rugged mountains along the porous Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Pakistan authorities suspect al-Qaida operatives gathered at a dinner last week in Damadola to plan attacks for early this year in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Who cares. I care about these maggots as much as I care about who Brad Pitt is adopting.
Anti-American sentiment in the Islamic World. What a surprise.
You may not care but there are plenty of folks that take the "know thy enemy" adage seriously.
And of course, all those blood-thirsty inhuman thugs with towels on their heads would never do such a thing.
And you should know your enemy. But, has there ever been any doubt that Pakistanis in the outlying areas hate our guts? It was the Pakistanis who created the Taliban and gave comfort and support to UBL. If we know an important target is present we should blow it up regardless of what these people say or do.
Barf alert! Paki Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, just on CNN just said they had no idea the strike was coming, no coordination with US, claims that no bodies were recovered, that Pakistan did not agree in any way to the strike.
Actually, that is my point in posting this. To show that the outlying tribes are not to be taken seriously when they whine about our effective airstrikes. We kill al-qaida and they hide the bodies.
"Death to America! Death to America!" These clowns are acting like the stereotypical raghead. It's too bad their "protest organizers" can't come up with something more original that doesn't make them look so much like just another fanatical, Arab mob.
From the Daily Times:
PESHAWAR: Ayman Al-Zawahri met his deputy, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, last year at a house hit in a recent US missile strike in Damadola village of Bajaur Agency, Pakistani intelligence officials said on Saturday.
Libbi told Pakistani interrogators of the meeting after his capture in May 2005. US and Pakistani intelligence began monitoring Bakhtpur Khan ’s home after the Libbi confession.
And we will. We're okay with Musharraf chastising us for the strike, because we know it's for domestic consumption.
That missile attack was approved in advance by Pakistani officials, within the ISI, most likely, and probably within the military.
Musharraf governs a country that is not pro-American, and everyone knows it. While he is a firm ally in the WOT (after all, he's been a target of al-Qaida himself on several occasions), remaining in power is essential to both himself and to us.
Thus the slow and delayed criticism.
Very true, and I am sure we knew going in that Musharaf was going to criticize us after the fact.
Wish the Predators could hover over these demonstrations. Save a lot of misery later.
"America is the biggest terrorist in the world," said Maulana Mohammed Sadiq. "Harry Belafonte would not lie to me!"
All fixed. ;)
And, put me in the "I don't care if they hate us" camp. They're signing their own death warrants with every terrorist safehouse they provide, as far as I'm concerned.
5,000 demonstrators? Given the total population of Pakistan, this is a tiny, tiny squeak.
The man arrested was a relative of Faqir Mohammed, the pro-Taliban cleric that intelligence officials believe is responsible for removing _ and concealing _ the bodies of the extremists following the airstrike, the official said.
The locals dug up the bodies they buried and removed them to prevent DNA analysis. Al Qaeda is learning. There is considerable disagreement over whether bodies were recovered. Locals however claimed that Paki forces arrived by helicopter at daylight and dug out some bodies from the rubble.
Regardless, we have intercept intel that confirms at least four high level al Qaeda were killed, including Zawahiri's brother-in-law. They are definately not sleeping good at night.
Regardless, we have intercept intel that confirms at least four high level al Qaeda were killed, including Zawahiri's brother-in-law. They are definately not sleeping good at night.
Excellent news...thx, gandalftb.
Ah yes...another "Target-Rich" environment!
These sand-fleas can't even spell "protest", so how did this "flash-mob" get their marching orders? Enquiring Military Minds wan't to know!
Oh for another "Predator" over this scene!
If you can't tell, I'm sick of the Islamazi world. They want war, I say we wage it on OUR terms...no more pussy-footing! And thell the Rag-Ring-Headed morons in the Middle East that they are next!
Why NOT have a war for Oil! Wasn't that what WWII was about with Japan?
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