U.S. Commanders Seeking to Widen Pakistan Attacks

[babylonsister]

U.S. Commanders Seeking to Widen Pakistan Attacks

By MARK MAZZETTI and ERIC SCHMITT
Published: April 20, 2008


WASHINGTON — American commanders in Afghanistan have in recent months urged a widening of the war that could include American attacks on indigenous Pakistani militants in the tribal areas inside Pakistan, according to United States officials.

The requests have been rebuffed for now, the officials said, after deliberations in Washington among senior Bush administration officials who fear that attacking Pakistani radicals may anger Pakistan’s new government, which is negotiating with the militants, and destabilize an already fragile security situation.

American commanders would prefer that Pakistani forces attack the militants, but Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas have slowed recently to avoid upsetting the negotiations.

Pakistan’s government has given the Central Intelligence Agency limited authority to kill Arab and other foreign operatives in the tribal areas, using remotely piloted Predator aircraft. But administration officials say the Pakistani government has put far greater restrictions on American operations against indigenous Pakistani militant groups, including one thought to have been behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

American intelligence officials say that the threat emanating from Pakistan’s tribal areas is growing, and that Pakistani networks there have taken on an increasingly important role as an ally of Al Qaeda in plotting attacks against American and other allied troops in Afghanistan, and in helping foreign operatives plan attacks on targets in the West. The officials said the American military’s proposals included options for limited cross-border artillery strikes into Pakistan, missile attacks by Predator aircraft or raids by small teams of C.I.A. paramilitary forces or Special Operations forces.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/world/asia/20pstan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Sweet Pea]

1. Cool!!!

Just what Obama wants to do! We're getting the jump!

What other sovereign nation can we attack???

[babylonsister]

2. Why don't you educate yourself before

making ignorant comments? If there was actionable info on (9/11) terrorists in Pakistan, he'd take action, unlike what the current admin has done. Do you have a problem with that? You sound like McCain.

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/367/

[Sweet Pea]

3. What part of...

engaging in military operations inside a sovereign nation that has not given us permission to conduct those military operations do you not understand, sister?

You seem to think attacking some other nation or country is ok, as long as its Barack who suggests it!

Is that the case? So, why don't YOU educate yourself before you go off making ignorant OPs?

[babylonsister]

4. If there's actionable intel that the AQ terrorists affiliated w/9-11

are anywhere, whomever is in charge will act. Bank on it. That's what should have been done in the first place.
And FTR, I didn't write the OP, the NYT's did.