From: "Robert G Lewis" 


"Adam" <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the
field.near the bridge"> wrote in message
news:43c96cbe{at}w3.nls.net...
> Oh &
>
> http://www.forbes.com/entrepreneurs/feeds/ap/2006/01/14/ap2450129.html
>
> "Pakistani officials on Saturday angrily condemned a purported CIA
> airstrike meant to target al-Qaida's No. 2 man, saying he wasn't there
> and "innocent civilians" were among at least 17 men, women
and children
> killed in a village near the Afghan border.
>
> Thousands of tribesmen staged protests and a mob set fire to the office
> of a U.S.-backed aid agency as Pakistan's people and government showed
> increasing frustration over a recent series of suspected U.S. attacks
> along the frontier that appear aimed at Islamic militants."
>
> "In Pakistan's strongest reaction, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid
> Ahmed called the attack "highly condemnable" and said the government
> wanted "to assure the people we will not allow such incidents to
reoccur."
>
> The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it protested to U.S.
> Ambassador Ryan Crocker over the "loss of innocent civilian lives."
>
> Neither addressed the target of the airstrike. But two senior Pakistani
> security officials confirmed to AP that al-Zawahri was the intended
> victim and said Pakistan's assessment was that the CIA acted on
> incorrect information.
>
> Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they didn't want to
> publicly comment about such a sensitive matter.
>
> Many in this nation of 150 million people object to President Gen.
> Pervez Musharraf's alliance with Washington in the war on international
> terror groups, seeing it as a veiled campaign against Muslims.
>
> More than 8,000 tribesmen chanting "God is great!" took to the streets
> of a town near Damadola to castigate the attack. Sahibzada Haroon ur
> Rashid, a local lawmaker from a hardline Islamic party, called it "open
> terrorism."
>
> Elsewhere in the area, a mob burned the office of a U.S.-supported aid
> group near Damadola and police used tear gas to disperse a small
> demonstration in another town, residents said.
> "
>
> "The strike left three homes hundreds of yards apart in ruins. People in
> the area said the blasts could be felt miles away.
>
> Doctors told AP at least 17 people died, including women and children,
> but residents put the death toll at more than 30."
>
> "Last Saturday, U.S. helicopters reportedly attacked a house in the
> North Waziristan tribal region, killing eight people. Two days later,
> Pakistan lodged a protest with the U.S. military in Afghanistan."
>
>
> So at least 25 people killed in the last week or so. All "illegally".
> Remind me again what the definition of murder is?
>
> Adam

I'm wondering if the US did this with a wink and a nod from Pakistan or
just did it without any consultation etc. If we just did it I would find it
interesting if the Pakistani Government opened a criminal investigation.
Not a real bright thing to do on our part as it could cost us the support
of Pakistan ( and possibly get a new government there). If you are going to
take such actions make damn sure you get the targets you plan on getting
and not innocent bystanders. Also make sure it can't be traced back to you.

Bob Lewis

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