Free Republic

WASHINGTON – The White House is considering expanding counterterror operations in Pakistan to refocus on eliminating al-Qaida instead of mounting a major military escalation in Afghanistan. Two senior administration officials said Monday that the renewed fight against the terrorist organization could lead to more missile attacks on Pakistan terrorist havens by unmanned U.S. spy planes. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made. Top aides to President Barack Obama said he still has questions and wants more time to decide.

The United States cannot defend against every terrorist threat, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told a Philadelphia radio audience March 16. "The only way to deal with it is to go after the terrorist in the terrorists' havens where they exist," Rumsfeld said. It is better to deal with terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq than in the United States, he said. Rumsfeld spoke as part of Radio Day at the Pentagon. The event brought together civilian and military leaders with radio stations around the country. Rumsfeld said the United States is making great progress in the war on terror. U.S....