Pakistan Missile Attack

Interesting that the Observer/Guardian headline via Drudge is pronouncing it a botched attempt - which it could be. But if you examine the facts, it's impossible to conclude that for certain from their article.

The missiles were deadly accurate. In the pitch dark of a night in Pakistan's sparsely populated North West Frontier Province ... Four children were among the 18 villagers who died in the brutally sudden attack on their homes.

Even as American military and intelligence sources spoke of the possible death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-in-command of al-Qaeda and the man considered to be the brains behind the militant group's strategy, Pakistani officials said that there was no evidence any 'foreigners', shorthand locally for al-Qaeda fighters, were among the 18 victims, though they said that 'according to preliminary investigations there was foreign presence in the area'.

There are important items to take into account here, including one source who claimed to have seen some bodies removed immediately after the blast. And let's not forget initial reports of possible DNA testing. That does not jibe with other details from the article which suggest all bodies were buried immediately according to custom.

Pakistan is no more anxious to admit that there are al-Qaeda factions operating in an area they barely control, than they are anxious to admit co-operating with America in the war on terror, especially within Pakistan itself.

'A drone has been flying over the area for the last three, four days

Those drones do have cameras capable of seeing a great deal that is happening on the ground. Also, it's troubling that the following item gets buried down in the story.

One Pakistani official, speaking anonymously, told The Observer that hours before the strike some unidentified guests had arrived at one home and that some bodies had been removed quickly after the attack. This was denied by villagers.

There were eighteen people reported killed:

The dead were reported to include four children, aged between five and ten, and at least two women. According to Islamic tradition, they were buried almost immediately.

The report accounts for only six that we can tell. Finally, no one wants to see innocents die in war time. That's a fact. Well, no one in our CIA or military, anyway. Another fact is that this area is a hot bed of resistance not only as regards al-Qaeda, but also to Pakistan's own government.

There can be no doubt that there were individuals in these areas as well as others who will express their outrage at this attack, but who were also part and parcel of the same groups of individuals dancing in the street in celebration the day the World Trade Towers fell killing over 3,000 innocents, mostly Americans.

War is indeed hell and terrible things will happen. However, even at its worst, the Pakistan missile attack is far from the worst thing to happen in this one. And that, sadly, is also clearly a fact.

Comments

[mulder]

"There can be no doubt that there were individuals in these areas as well as others who will express their outrage at this attack, but who were also part and parcel of the same groups of individuals dancing in the street in celebration the day the World Trade Towers fell killing over 3,000 innocents, mostly Americans."

"War is indeed hell and terrible things will happen."
------------

So what does this mean? That they deserve to die? I'm sure Osama justified 9/11 by saying "There can be no doubt that most of the people in those towers were infidels" and "hey, jihad is hell and bad things have will happen".

[COLUMBO]

Not sure whether FISA issued a warrant for this attack (this should illustrate why some are not sought)...we'll only know for certain when al-Zawahiri does....or does not....issue another tape with the results of the Super Bowl whether the attack was successful.

[splashtc]

al-Zawahiri - the unwanted dinner guest. Too bad-play/eat with the devil you're gonna get hell.

[SallyVee]

Thank you for this post Dan. I saw the word "botched" on Drudge and nearly hurled my breakfast... now we're in for two straight weeks of kvetching because we turned some monsters hiding among innocents into greasespots. In our politically correct & suicidal mindset, that will translate into prostrating ourselves before the world. Perhaps if we offer up several hundred thousand of our own innocents to the god of Islam, we can make everything right. Looks like we're on track to give it a try.

[coconuttree]

Stupid!!

[raindrops]

"we offer up several hundred thousand of our own innocents to the god of Islam, we can make everything right."

You are aware, I hope, that the "god of Islam" is the same God that Jews and Christians worship? Allah, God, Jehovah - three names for the same God.

"There can be no doubt that there were individuals in these areas as well as others who will express their outrage at this attack, but who were also part and parcel of the same groups of individuals dancing in the street in celebration the day the World Trade Towers fell killing over 3,000 innocents, mostly Americans."

Sorry, Dan, maybe they were - maybe they weren't. But I agree with mulder. We can't assume they were, and we can't judge them worthy to die because we assume they did something we don't approve of. Do we become the bad guy to defeat him? We can't fight for higher principals if we are wallowing in their mud.

[mulder]

"we turned some monsters hiding among innocents into greasespots"

Posted by: SallyVee | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:30 AM

So its ok to kill a few innocent children in order to grease a few bad guys? I'm guessing there were some pretty crooked business men up in those twin towers. So by your logic, Osama was justified in whacking both buildings?

Or do you see that situation differently? I mean they were just Pakistani children after all. They probably would have grown up to be terrorists right?

Some kid from a neighboring village has just had his best friends entire family turned into "greasespots". When he turns into an angry and bitter terrorist-in-training will you say "why did he do that, what did the USA ever do to him? Must be that darn Islam thing.

[SINcerely]

Oh come on. Nobody is trying to justify the death of children. If I took a wanted criminal into my home, knowing full well they were being hunted, I would also have to assume my children could be in danger. Did the death of so many Jewish parents during the holocaust produce murderers?

[SallyVee]

>

No, I will say: he needs to flee the evil cult which enslaves his mind and endangers his body... or he needs to meet the business end of a bullet. Either outcome is acceptable to me.

On a more upbeat & entertaining note, we just finished watching the season opener of "24." I counted 3 kills for Jack so far. Best line of the night was Jack saying to the kid: 'The only reason you're still conscious is because I don't feel like carrying you.'

[SallyVee]

[QUOTE] When he turns into an angry and bitter terrorist-in-training will you say "why did he do that, what did the USA ever do to him? [UNQUOTE]

No, I will say: he needs to flee the evil cult which enslaves his mind and endangers his body... or he needs to meet the business end of a bullet. Either outcome is acceptable to me.

On a more upbeat & entertaining note, we just finished watching the season opener of "24." I counted 3 kills for Jack so far. Best line of the night was Jack saying to the kid: 'The only reason you're still conscious is because I don't feel like carrying you.'

[Mulder]

Oh come on. Nobody is trying to justify the death of children. If I took a wanted criminal into my home, knowing full well they were being hunted, I would also have to assume my children could be in danger?

Posted by: SINcerely | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 08:21 PM

Well, the post didn't specifically say "its ok to kill kids". However, I took the main point to be that most of the people in that area are bad (or at least bad-ish) and wiping them out is something that should be acceptable because "war is hell and shit happens". I think that is an attempt at justification. I also think a lot of people take this stand because it is easier to deal with than the possibility that it just might be flat out wrong.

As for the holocaust. You make an excellent point. I think the reason we don't have a lot of jewish terrorists running around is because there is less poverty and more education in the jewish communities around the world than there is in the muslim ones. But, I'm open to other theories ...

[*flo*]

You are aware, I hope, that the "god of Islam" is the same God that Jews and Christians worship? Allah, God, Jehovah - three names for the same God.
Posted by: raindrops | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 02:53 PM

raindrops, its not practice as the same religion...this is what most of us realize here, war is hell and the innocent do die, I'm afraid our days in Afghan region will intensify, Pakistan does not allow American forces on its soil to attack or hunt militants, as we know this is a haven for terrorist...however Pakistan supports the war on terror by turning militants/prisoners over to the US...we could say the protest are based from the Islamic leadership, however I believe the protest are legit considering the current policies...agreeing with Sen McCain, war on terror regarding "no boundaries." Policies with war on terror should not differ with Pakistan and need to change, that's it...the change may change the way of thinking of many in the region.

[mulder]

No, I will say: he needs to flee the evil cult which enslaves his mind and endangers his body... or he needs to meet the business end of a bullet. Either outcome is acceptable to me.

Posted by: SallyVee | Sunday, January 15, 2006 at 11:13 PM

Don't you mean:

"All infidels must denounce their zionist regime or Allah will burn their cities".

.. or was it someone else who said that? - I always forget who's who.

[coconuttree]

I often wonder what happens after these attacks. Does someone get punished for this?. Or get court-marshalled. Is there an investigation by a judge. Does people get compensated for there loss?. Or do we act like we just killed some animals? without any human rights.

[*flo*]

Posted by: coconuttree | Monday, January 16, 2006 at 08:16 AM

coconuttree, its all of the above, this stuff is never ignored...people are compensated, we're rebuilding Iraq...billons are spent in a time of war, there are policies/laws engaged during wartime, tribunal courts for warcrimes...then alot of this stuff is swept under the carpet...hush money, ect..Sounds like politics in the US...

[mulder]

coconuttree, its all of the above, this stuff is never ignored...people are compensated, we're rebuilding Iraq

-flo

Yay - lets all stay fat and ignorant!!!