US Drone Attacks In Pakistan Have More Than Tripled Under Obama

BBC News :

Missile attacks by US drones in Pakistan's tribal areas have more than trebled under the Obama administration, research by the BBC Urdu service shows

Read the whole story: BBC News

Comments

[fauker1923]

12:03 PM on 07/26/2010

Drones save US soldiers lives. Drones are our enemies nightmare...

Good hunting boys... give 'em the good news!

[eaglewing]

08:18 PM on 07/25/2010

Obama worse than W. Bush?

[3dtrix]

12:58 AM on 07/26/2010

He'd have to try a LOT harder...

[hidenout]

08:13 AM on 07/26/2010

Three times harder? Seems he's done that.

[fishingriver]

08:11 PM on 07/25/2010

Pakistan is aiding the insurgency. Further evidence that Pakistani intelligence is in cahoots with the Taliban and extremists. Bhutto was assassinated by extremists and it was covered up by Pakistani intelligence. Why are we funding an enemies military? Is this why we are still in Afghanistan? What is our purpose in being there?

[SouthSideHooligan]

02:04 PM on 07/25/2010

Good.

[Izomagritte369]

01:16 PM on 07/25/2010

And on another front:
Resolution Green-Lighting Israeli Strikes on Iran Introduced by House Republican

Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a measure that would green-light an Israeli bombing campaign against Iran.Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a measure that would green-light an Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. The resolution, H.Res. 1553, provides explicit support for military strikes against Iran, stating that Congress supports Israel's use of "all means necessary" against Iran "including the use of military force". US military leaders have warned that strikes could be catastrophic to US national security interests and could engulf the Middle East in a "calamitous" regional war. Nearly a third of House Republicans have signed onto the resolution, which has been publicly discussed and circulated by its lead sponsor, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)...
http://www.niacouncil.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6644&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=-1

The Bill:
H. RES. 1553
Expressing support for the State of Israel’s right to defend Israeli sovereignty, to protect the lives and safety of the Israeli people, and to use all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the use of military force if no other peaceful solution can be found within reasonable time to protect against such an immediate and existential threat to the State of Israe
l.http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:hr1553ih.txt.pdf

[TYRANNASAURUS]

11:23 AM on 07/25/2010

US Drone Attacks In Pakistan Have More Than Tripled.... GOOD...ONE MUST REMEMBER FOR MUSLIMS, NATIONAL BOUNDARIES MEAN NOTHING..... ALL MUSLIMS ARE UNITED AND CROSS BORDERS AS IF THEY'RE NOT THERE......I THINK WE SHOULD STEP UP DRONES ON ANY COUNTRY HARBORING EXTREMEST...THOSE COUNTRIES ARE NOT INNOCENT....THEY KNOW THEY HARBOR EXTREMIST.

[KIVPossum]

06:51 AM on 07/25/2010

How can Obama look at his Peace Prize hanging on the wall without feeling shame for continuing and expanding the war and for his affection for killing innocents with drones?

[SouthSideHooligan]

02:05 PM on 07/25/2010

Riiiiight, we just kill 'innocents'. Yes, we waste millions of dollars killing 'innocents'. You are correct.

Or not so much, genius.

[KIVPossum]

02:37 PM on 07/25/2010

The drones seem to be running about 12 civilians to 1 '''terrorist''''. So what's your justification for that, genius

[Steelsil]

02:03 AM on 07/25/2010

Now there's a military program I'm happy to pay for. Here's a proposal - put a check box on the tax form if you want to kick in a little something extra to pay for expanding the Predator program.

[Dick Home]

05:24 PM on 07/24/2010

Don't cry to much for the 'innocent' killed in these strikes. Most are enablers of the same people who attacked us first. If they don't like the air strikes, they can kick out the Terrorists and problem solved.

[Amazone]

08:44 AM on 07/25/2010

when Bush attacked Iraq, we were his enablers too...do you agree?

[SouthSideHooligan]

02:06 PM on 07/25/2010

You realize that when your first reaction is to defend the Taliban and condemn President Obama, you out yourself as a complete irrational freak, right?

[Choi Yung Il]

05:36 PM on 07/25/2010

If the U.S. had relied on L'il Georgie to lead the initial attack on Iraq, Americans would be sipping Margaritas on Maui--not begging their lender for a few more months on their overdue mortgage payment.......

[cplKlyde]

05:51 PM on 07/25/2010

Damn 5 year old enablers.

[martintillier]

03:52 PM on 07/24/2010

I'm pretty sure of two things in this,Obama has been guaranteed by his military "advisers" that these strikes would be more accurate that they have turned out to be,and, If he had said no,we'll use soldiers and manned aircraft tanks etc. He would be blamed for any subsequent deaths of US service personnel, this already happens with all the Obama haters on here and other sites,"news"papers and through any other media you can think of.Damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.not very fair and not very representative of the truth of his situation.War is hell,and this one is certainly no exception,though to try to lay it all at the feet of the current President is just ridiculous and obviously unfair,as well as not being the true picture of how much he has to rely on military advice for the prosecution of the war,whether or not we think its unjust. I imagine his choices are far more limited than most people think.

[Amazone]

08:47 AM on 07/25/2010

"He would be blamed for any subsequent deaths of US service personnel,..."

I see, as long as those drones are only killing the local civilians and almost no US soldier, we are good!...yeah!...thanks for reminding me it is again about US but not other people.

[martintillier]

10:04 AM on 07/25/2010

That is not what I meant at all,please do not think that I am insensitive to ANY "collateral damage" style murder of civilians, all I was trying to point out is that the presidents ability to affect outcomes is not as some would have us all believe. Any inference that you may have taken says more about the tragedy of the situation as you see it with all its attendant misery and death, these inferences were not intentional on my part.I hope that I can better express myself as I learn more about the situation as Americans see it, and I hope that enables me to comment without leaving myself vulnerable to having people put words in my mouth that were not there.

[3dtrix]

02:20 PM on 07/24/2010

We have seen that highly-motivated, well-trained and financed operatives intend to attack the US and US interests wherever they can - I keep in mind that the only reason I'm alive at any given moment is because I wasn't in the twin towers when they were hit by those operatives. An unfortunate frame of reference - but indisputable.

When shrub dropped the ball it became ever more difficult to address the above problem - but then, that's WHY he dropped the ball - he never tackled anything truly difficult in his sorry life. It has been left to others to deal with - and others are attempting to do so, by all available means. Drones are one of those means, and their use presents several dilemmas, militarily and ethically.

The American public, typically, wants it both ways - they want to be safe from attack - but they have no stomach for a high-casualty-count war against local guerillas or insurgents - both our leaders and our enemies have learned this well. Ergo the drone campaign. The gov't of Pakistan supports the campaign because its targets also want to topple THEM - and since their nukes in the hands of Bin Laden and his merry men is less than desirable to all - the present situation arose.

It is the INTENTIONAL strategy of the drones' targets to constantly be among innocent civilians - revulsion to their slaughter is a defensive weapon of choice for them.

So - how to proceed?

[martintillier]

11:12 PM on 07/25/2010

The surveillance of assets and subjects continues apace, this is a multi-level style of warfare, there are an unknown percentage of high-altitude,camera-drones with links to tag-tracking satellites that keep tabs on witting and unwitting assets and subjects.The e-comms between these surveillance technologies is constant and very much part of an ongoing strategy of information gathering by the clandestine opps sections.As you say, the targets are quite smart and shelter among civilians when and where possible.this tactic does not protect them from attack however, as we have seen. How to proceed ? Honesty of intent and declaration of goals for the future prosperity of civilian populations caught in the crossfire would be a start.This is unlikely to happen though, vested interests are generally in a position of necessarily being strangers to truth.

[davidwayneosedach]

01:41 PM on 07/24/2010

We continue to re-invent and perfect our drone technology. This is good!

[Cipo]

02:11 PM on 07/24/2010

Sure it is! It's just wonderful that your govt can develop, on your dime; a way to off people by remote control! It's good to know that they would never consider putting them above the skies domestically. Oh, wait................
http://news.cnet.com/Drone-aircraft-may-prowl-U.S.-skies/2100-11746_3-6055658.html

You better wake up, chief.

[oxygen]

02:55 AM on 07/25/2010

emulation yes, people should think about when not if an enemy of the u.s. decides what's good for the goose is good for the gander and seeing things the way I do I think this drone crap will just inspire many terrorists to take up with the same idea

the cia should be planning and working on how to make peace but they don't because they will work themselves out of a job isn't it great? all this death so government workers can have jobs

[ectoendomezo]

01:23 PM on 07/24/2010

Hey..I thought killing innocent civilians with explosives was "Terrorism"..isn't that the definition.."We're" using?

If thats "Not Terrorism"..then..why are "we"..there?

"Drones"..are...dispiccable!

War Crimes Weapons!

If Drones Cause Terror..and Obama Is Using Drones..Then Obama Is Using Terror!

The Innocent Civilians..now killed..as a result of "Accidental" drone attacks..is..of course.."Classified"!

Julian Assange and Wikileaks..have promised to deliver footage of a Mass Murder..the result of a "Drone" attack!

Allowing "Drone Pilots" to kill innocent people with total immunity..and in secret...is simply not "Justice".

This is War in Pakistan!

Nixon was impeached..partly..due to outrage at his "Undeclared War" in Cambodia..where's the outrage now?

Obama..is a Deception!

He is a War Mongering "Smarter NeoCon"..who knows enough to pretend to be "Progressive".

Obama..is using Terror..in an Undeclared War..with an "Ally".

If this is savage...stunning..jaw-dropping hypocrisy..is allowed to continue.."We"..will pay the price!

Its..garsh..almost as if Obama and the MIC is..Trying to provoke a response!

I mean..y'know..if yuo kill enough innocent people...you're going to make someone real angry..

Hey..you mean to tell me..if it was "Your Wedding" that had been bombed..70 of Your Friends and Family..yuo'd..what? "Seek Peace"?

Okay..sure..whatever!

"Drones"..are designed to Prolong..not "Shorten"..These(Plural).."Wars"!

Prosecute Drone Pilots for War Crimes..Impeach Obama Now!

[MMRDO]

01:25 PM on 07/24/2010

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/18/2331.html

[3dtrix]

01:34 PM on 07/24/2010

ALL war is terrorism. Isn't it? No? Perhaps you could enumerate which isn't...

[ontariogirl]

01:14 PM on 07/24/2010

This is so wrong.

[MMRDO]

01:18 PM on 07/24/2010

Why? These are military targets, we bombed Tokyo and killed a lot of civilians but it was necessary to defeat the Japanese, America needs to commit to winning through force or pull out.

[spytheweb]

01:21 PM on 07/24/2010

The US is not at war with Pakistan.

[ontariogirl]

01:37 PM on 07/24/2010

How do you get they are military targets when the article clearly states.....
"While more than 700 people have died in these attacks, positive identification of the victims, either by Pakistani or US authorities, has been made in fewer than a dozen instances."

[ectoendomezo]

01:11 PM on 07/24/2010

"Drones"..are War Crimes Weapons!

"Drone Pilots"..Are War Criminals!

Obama..is Ordering the Commission of War Crimes!

Obama..is a Deception!

Obama Is A Threat to Progressives and World Peace!

Obama is a Corporate Shill Engaged Fully..and against the wishes of those who voted for him..and yet another reversal of his "Campiagn" platform!

"Drones" are amongst the primary Ev1ls currently in existance!

Actual.."Commuters"..living in Suburbs of Las Vegas and Reno...commute to Creech Airbase..and commit Serial Murder..then go home for 'Miller Time'!

That..is literally..the epitome..of Corporate Ev1L..the Zenith..the Acme..the Pinnacle!

That Obama..or anyone..can Pretend..for one minute..that "Drones" are not in fact.."Terrorism"..is simply..in Denial..rationalizing their own sociopathic tendencies! Or worse..just don't care..or worse still.."Buy The Lie"..And.."Don't Care"!

Or..does anyone..really.."Believe"..that Civilians..innocent Farmers..and their entire Villages.."Aren't Terrified" of the.."Intentionally Accidental Murders Of Entire Villages"!

What? You.."Wouldn't" be terrified if you..knew..for a fact..that at any moment...completely innocent people Are..not "Might"..but Are..going to die at the hands of some Suburbanite 10,000 miles away?

Really?

Okay..whatever!

Obama..is a Terrorist!

The 'men' who 'pilot' the weapons..are serial killers!

Hey..I thought killing innocent civilians with explosives was "Terrorism"..isn't that the definition.."We're" using?

If thats "Not Terrorism"..then..why are "we"..there?

[MMRDO]

01:20 PM on 07/24/2010

So why is a drone different from an airplane? You sound like a madman, he is the President of the United State's I don't even like him nor would I vote for him but do not slander him as a murderer. Terrorism is the intentional targeting of civilians, not collateral damage.

[Steelsil]

02:17 AM on 07/25/2010

No you do not understand the definition of terrorism. Terrorism is when yo blow up a market full of civilians to terrify and demoralize the enemy. War is when you attack armed enemies and military assets such as military bases or supply depots. Civilians who are accidently killed in that process are collateral damage. Collateral damage is tragic, but it is not terrorism, nor is it criminal, under the laws of war. Surely you could have figured this out for yourself, if you weren't hysterical. If you wish to be a pacifist I do not object to your views, but don't confuse honorable warfare with terrorism.