US Drone Strike Kills Seven in North Waziristan
Attack Destroys House, Kills 'Suspects'
US drones attacked a house in the town of Miramshah in North Waziristan overnight, destroying the home and killing seven people inside. Two others were reported wounded in the attack, and are recovering at a nearby hospital.
The identities of the slain are unclear, but they were all termed “suspects” by officials. Some suggested they might be linked to the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), though this would be unusual as the group is not generally active in North Waziristan.
The attack comes as tribesmen are increasingly petitioning the Zardari government to do something about the constant drone strikes, and as the Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI), an opposition party led by Imran Khan, is organizing a general strike in the region to protest the lack of action against the attacks.
The strikes have become an increasing issue as the Zardari government, though claiming it is opposed to them continues to seek US support and has bragged about its own launching of air strikes across the region.
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Tom Mauel
November 15th, 2011 at 11:00 pm
There should be a Margaret Griffis for Afghanistan casualties.
curmudgeonvt
November 16th, 2011 at 7:04 am
It used to be that before we bombed someone or something we had to know who was there and took care to avoid collateral damage. Nowadays, "The identities of the slain are unclear, but they were all termed “suspects” by officials…" is considered acceptable. I wonder if the thousands of miles between the targets and the drone "drivers" is far enough to assuage their consciences – assuming they have consciences.
liveload
November 16th, 2011 at 7:12 am
If we weren't there kicking in their doors and dragging them out into the streets, indefinitely detaining them, blowing them up with bombs and missiles, desecrating their dead, desecrating their religion, raping their women and children, and forcing the entire country to endure our puppet regime; you might not have anything to complain about. Get your priorities straight and quit feeling sorry for the jackboots that commit these atrocities.
Tom Mauel
November 16th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
How is listing US combat casualties in any way positive? To me it represents the ultimate failure of US policy when in five days, in four separate attacks four US soldiers are killed in Kandahar by an IED. The proof positive that reporting US casualties is a negative for US policy is the fact that the pro war corporate media never reports any US combat deaths only exaggerated claims of Taliban dead.
thedissenter
November 16th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
I'm sure they were all militants, insurgents, terrorists…under the age of 7.