[Peace-discuss] Obama bombs Pakistan

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Actualizing the more-of-the-same policy announced yesterday at the State Dept. 
--CGE]

	Suspected US missile strike kills 10 in Pakistan
	Officials: Suspected US missile strike
	kills at least 10 in northwest Pakistan
	MUNIR AHMAD
	AP News
	Jan 23, 2009 09:34 EST

Missiles fired from a suspected U.S. spy plane killed 10 people Friday in 
Pakistan just east of the Afghan border, a lawless region where al-Qaida 
militants are known to hide out, security officials said.

At least five of the dead were identified as foreign militants, an intelligence 
officer said.

The strike was the first on Pakistani territory since the inauguration of 
President Barrack Obama, but the latest in a barrage of more than 30 since the 
middle of last year.

Pakistan's pro-U.S. leaders had expressed hope Obama would halt the attacks, 
which have reportedly killed several top al-Qaida operatives but triggered anger 
at the government by nationalist and Muslim critics.

Islamabad routinely protests the strikes in the northwest as a violation of the 
country's sovereignty, but most observers speculate it has an unwritten 
agreement allowing them to take place, noting it would be highly damaging to be 
seen as colluding with Washington in attacks on its people.

One drone fired three missiles into the village of Zharki in North Waziristan, 
hitting two buildings over the space of 10 minutes, the security officials said. 
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak 
to the media.

At least 10 people were killed, they said. Their names were not released.

The United States rarely acknowledges firing the missiles, which are mostly 
fired from drones believed launched from neighboring Afghanistan, but there is 
little doubt it is responsible.

Washington is pressing Pakistan to crackdown on militants in the border, which 
it blames for rising attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan as well as 
violence within Pakistan.

Earlier Friday, a suicide attack and a roadside bomb killed two soldiers and 
three civilians in the Swat Valley, a one-time tourist destination close to the 
border region, officials said.

Pakistan has launched military offensives in parts of the northwest , but 
insurgents are making inroads Swat, blowing up schools, killing police and 
soldiers and calling for the imposition of a hardline interpretation of Islamic law.

Militancy in Swat is seen as especially dangerous for Pakistan because the 
valley lies away from the areas where al-Qaida and the Taliban have 
traditionally operated.

An indication of the difficulties facing the government, more than 1,000 
hard-liners demonstrated in the capital, saying there would only be peace in 
Swat and other frontier regions if the government severs its ties with the 
United States.

"The lawlessness cannot end until the end of the pro-America policy," one 
speaker told the crowd gathered close to the Parliament building in Islamabad.

Source: AP News