Posted on 12/14/2009 11:50:38 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Senior US officials are pushing to expand CIA drone strikes beyond Pakistan's tribal region and into a major city in an attempt to pressure the Pakistani government to pursue Taliban leaders based in the city of Quetta, The Los Angeles Times reported late Sunday. The newspaper said the prospect of Predator aircraft strikes in Quetta signals a new US resolve to decapitate the Taliban. But it also risks rupturing Washington's relationship with Islamabad.
The concern has created tension among officials in the administration of President Barack Obama over whether unmanned aircraft strikes in a city of 850,000 are a realistic option, the paper said.
Proponents, including some military leaders, argue that attacking the Taliban in Quetta -- or at least threatening to do so -- is critical to the success of the revised war strategy President Obama unveiled last week, The Times said.
"If we don't do this -- at least have a real discussion of it -- Pakistan might not think we are serious," the paper quoted an unnamed senior US official as saying. "What the Pakistanis have to do is tell the Taliban that there is too much pressure from the US; we can't allow you to have sanctuary inside Pakistan anymore."
But others, including high-ranking US intelligence officials, have been more skeptical of employing drone attacks in a place that Pakistanis see as part of their country's core, the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacewar.com ...
get um!
I imagine old Osama is living in a comfortable apartment
in lovely downtown Quetta
No Sanctuaries
That would seem to be an overt act of War. Bombing major population centers. One could argue the legitimacy of it, but...
There is a gigantic risk of pissing off the Pakistani Government
look at Quetta with Google Earth
great rez
Where’s your flat Osama you bastard ?
It would be easier to infiltrate a few operators with guns and just take out the targets with bullets. Less collateral damage, easier to deny. If only we had some sort of government agency with that capability, or maybe the capability to contract it out. Too bad such a thing doesn’t exist.
Anyone involved in such a common sense and IMO necessary operation would be put on trial by this administration it would seem. Loud music is considered ‘torture’ in the persecution of our intelligence services these days. Not to mention how this bombing civilian targets concept flies directly in contradiction to the new suicidal rules of engagement.
It does exist. Blackwater. And they have been used, but its not enough.
We are talking startegic attack here on Qetta. It would be easier to gather the intel, insert laser designator teams and get the whole thing done on a day or two by air.Using predators draws it out to long.
If it goes ahead this will be the biggest recruiting tool for jihad imaginable. Collateral damage would be unavoidable and the shots of dead children and women would play well in terms of whipping up those who had not previously thought the US was being extreme.
The blowbhack would far outweigh the goals.
This is why this needs to be thought out carefully.
I seem to remember a good president that said you are either with us or the terrorists.
Do you suppose that the Quetta terrorists might find new digs after reading this? I’d think about moving once the lease is up.
The question should be do we want to lose an ally after an attack.
Considering the significant support within the ISI and general population it would be more likely that a deluge of false targets would be marked. Just my opinion.
RACISM!/s
On the other hand, the Saudis have no problem blowing up market places in Yemen to get at their enemies. Just a htought.
A car bomb planted by parties unknown?
Will never happen. 0bama doesn’t have the cojones to fire rockets into a Paki city and create collateral damage deaths
The question is, are they an ally? For 8 years now, they have hidden our enemies and refused to clean them out. If they are unable or unwilling to clean them out, then invite us in. They can’t continue to hide these people and refuse to allow us to kill them and remain our ally. I understand the risks involved, but they can’t sit on the fence much longer.
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