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Angry Pakistan Tells America: 'Stop Launching Missile Strikes Over Our Territory' as 20 More Die
Frustrated Pakistani officials have ordered the U.S. to stop firing pilotless missiles over their territory.
U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson is seen in Islamabad, Pakistan in this Aug. 14, 2008. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry says on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008 it summoned the U.S. ambassador and called for a halt to missile strikes on militant targets in Pakistan's border region. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador early this morning to protest the missile strikes, led by pilotless U.S. aircraft on the Pakistani side of its border with Afghanistan.
America has increased the number of strikes into the country in an increasingly desperate attempt to halt the intensifying insurgency in Afghanistan. Hampered by a lack of cooperation and communication with locals, U.S. officials recently decided to resort to more missile attacks in the battle against the Taliban and al Qaeda.
There have been more than a dozen missile strikes and a commando raid since the beginning of September.
No senior al Qaeda or Taliban commanders have been reported killed in the attacks.
But with scores of civilians - many of them children - also dying in the attacks, as well as the damage done to property, Pakistan - once the U.S.'s strongest Middle Eastern ally in the war on terror - is demanding a halt.
Pakistan never gave the U.S. permission to carry out the attacks. Two days ago missiles fired by a suspected U.S. drone killed up to 20 militants in the lawless South Waziristan border region. Coming hard on the heels of repeated attacks with civilian casualties, the Pakistani government decided to reassert itself.
"It was underscored to the ambassador that the government of Pakistan strongly condemns the missile attacks which resulted in the loss of precious lives and property," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.
"It was emphasised that such attacks were violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and should be stopped immediately."
predator
U.S. ambassador Anne Patterson had previously been summoned to the Foreign Ministry last month after a cross-border ground assault by U.S. commandos on Sept. 3.
Senior U.S. officials have spoken of respect for Pakistani sovereignty but have declined to rule out more strikes.
Pakistan, an important ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, is also battling militants on its side of the border but it says cross-border U.S. strikes undermine its efforts to isolate the militants and build support for government policy against them.
The upper house Senate adopted a resolution this week condemning cross-border missile attacks by the U.S. drones.
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16 Comments so far
Show AllThis is why I am so ashamed of Obama supporters: they don't recognize or acknowledge that the Democrats are complicit in these murders. If in all honesty you don't care about these lives, say so. If you want to be a peace activist, then don't vote for these policies by not voting for candidates and parties that support this evil.
progressiveparty:
How right you are. I am so disgusted with people who say on the one hand that they are against war, but then vote for the party that expands war. Myself, I still haven’t forgiven the Democratic Party for expanding the Vietnam War. When I say this to my own family they respond with, “Yes, we know pa. Now go take your medicine.” Then they look at each other and roll their eyes suggesting that I’m out of touch. I could scream. They’re all going to vote for Obama. I’m ashamed of my own children.
Your only other realistic choice is to vote for McCain. I'd urge you to pick Obama over him. You know for sure McCain is going to follow Bush's path.
I believe we will be out soon enough with Obama.
Certainly faster than with McCain.
Obama? No way. I already voted - but neither for Obamam nor for McSame
Reuters - Ambassador Patterson swaggered out of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, her head wagging back and forth like a bobble head doll, her shoulders rolling, a sneer on her face, surrounded by black clad private security guards, drove back to the U.S. Emabassy and made a video call to President Bush who rolled his eyes and said, “‘Kick ass! If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell! This Vietnam stuff, this is not even close. It is a mind-set. We can’t send that message. It’s an excuse to prepare us for withdrawal.
There is a series of moments and this is one of them. Our will is being tested, but we are resolute. We have a better way. Stay strong! Stay the course! Kill them! Be confident! Prevail! We are going to wipe them out! We are not blinking!"
Is this sarcasm? If it is for real, can you provide a link.
Those ARE George Wanker Bush's exact words as recorded by General Ricardo Sanchez in his book.
PP-
Agreed. What we need are drones flown over the Capitol, White House, Pentagon, and State Department. This is nothing more than the latest in unprovoked criminal acts of aggression by the U. S. military. It's happening throughout the Middle East, in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Bolivia, and it's happening in the Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Congo. It may very well be coming to your neighborhood, regardless of which mainstream political killer wins next week, because the entire U. S. government is complicit in and responsible for war crimes. I condemn every single one of the sheep in this country who are too f_____g afraid, too much in denial, to vote with their consciences and really start the change that's needed.
"If we have actionable intelligence on al Qaeda operatives, including [Osama] bin Laden, and President Musharraf cannot act, then we should," Obama said. "That's just common sense."
Barack Obama, Democratic debate, Aug 7, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/07/obama.pakistan/index.html
If you like this. If you like violating the soveriegnity of another country. If you like having blood on your hands, the vote Obama.
If you want this to stop. Vote for someone else.
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"To know, and not to do, is not to know"
This is why interventionism has got to come to an end. I would move that every national holiday in America that's usually celebrated as a nationalist, militarist pageant (like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Armed Forces Day, Veteran's Day, etc.) be treated instead as a day of fasting and prayer. I would also move that every effort should be made to prevent young people from joining the military, since, after all, they're not "defending the country", but instead are used to expand the empire, like Britain's forces in the 19th Century. Every intervention overseas is a rich man's war and a poor man's fight, friends -- let's bring this madness to an end.
Any other ideas?
Well, maybe if the Pakistan Government does its job and find bin Laden, Zawahiri, or whoever the hell al-qaeda members live in Waziristan, the USA would not have to do this. This action is unfortunate but, it seems that Pakistan is reluctant to wage military campaigns to uproot al-qaeda. Granted, Waziristan is one of the most remote areas on Earth but where there is a will there is a way.
Osama bin Laden has more than likely been dead for 5 or 6 years. Al Queda was a creation of the CIA and is now the bogeyman engine for the bogus "War on Terror". As usual with mafia groups, the U.S. mafia government will stab the Pakistani mafia government (until recently partners-in-crime w/U.S.) in the back and try to trash yet another country in the U.S. move on Russia and China. 911 was an inside job.
Am I the only one to think that Anne W. Patterson looks like a witch? I didn't know that Pakistanis have Halloween!!!
"citizen3 October 29th, 2008 7:28 pm
Am I the only one to think that Anne W. Patterson looks like a witch?"
I DON'T think good natured witches and wiccans would appreciate your asinine, derogatory, ... stereotyping. Your discriminatory manners are ... bs. I'm not involved in wicca or anything of the like, but treat them with all due respect.
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"braithwa842 October 29th, 2008 7:42 pm
Is this sarcasm? If it is for real, can you provide a link."
IS THAT in response to a reader post, or something about the article, and if the latter, then what part of the article? I wonder.
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"Thomas More October 29th, 2008 5:31 pm
Your only other realistic choice is to vote for McCain. I'd urge you to pick Obama over him."
Personally, I disagree and believe no one should vote for either McCain or Obama, but won't tell people what to do; except to tell people to please NOT neglect to carefully learn about and pay attention to Obama's foreign policy team. Otherwise, people shouldn't be telling others who to vote for, imo; to strongly warn about dangers, like Obama's FP team, is not quite the same thing as saying to not vote for him, it's not giving orders, for it's giving warnings and they are important, very, very important.
Pakistan is one the countries Obama has specifically threatened to escalate GWoT against, TOO!
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"havenofearjason... October 29th, 2008 4:04 pm
Well, maybe if the Pakistan Government does its job and find bin Laden, Zawahiri, or whoever the hell al-qaeda members live in Waziristan, the USA would not have to do this."
KEEP ON DREAMING; you've clearly done no value-able reading over the past seven years! And I suppose you are, besides for much else, not aware that the U.S. govt has placed NO charges whatsoever against Osama Bin Ladin for the 9-11 attacks, which means that the Cheney-Bush cabal and the U.S. DoJ don't want to treat him as guilty, or else know that he's not.
There's a whole hell of a lot you clearly are not aware of, yet there's been plenty of reporting, from alternative sources anyway, for many years now on all of ... what I'm referring to. Talk about being TARDY.
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"Samson October 29th, 2008 12:51 pm
"If we have actionable intelligence on al Qaeda operatives, including [Osama] bin Laden, and President Musharraf cannot act, then we should," Obama said. "That's just common sense."
Barack Obama, Democratic debate, Aug 7, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/07/obama.pakistan/index.html"
SO, IT SEEMS THAT Obama's not only tardy, extremely, but mentally retarded to boot. There's certainly no acceptable reason for him to not be aware of the U.S. govt having NO charges placed against Osama Bin Ladin for 9-11; NO WAY can such ignorance on a presidential candidate's part be treated as acceptable by any [responsible] population!
The guy doesn't understand the ABC's about LAW!
But U.S. voters are not [responsible] people. But that's not acceptable, either!
I understand what you are saying, but we only have two realistic choices till a viable third party is formed (if it is formed) so I did have the temerity to suggest someone not vote for McCain. Something I usually don't do.
Obama is simply better than McCain and there is no doubt in my mind.
"sand flea October 29th, 2008 12:41 pm"
Oh, I see sand fleas can have quite a real bite, eh.
Good post! It says plenty and concisely so.
Keep up such biting.