Monday, January 16, 2006
US violates international law—again
So the United States has the right to go bomb one of its allies? Excuse me? This is a clear violation of territory that has the right not to be bombed. Isn’t that clear? Pakistan is a reasonably sovereign nation.
If an extremely wanted Mexican guerilla, say, was thought to be hiding in some little town in southern New Mexico, and the Mexican air force bombed the village, what would the US do? Right, the nation would throw a fit. What the hell right would Mexico have to bomb US land? We did the same thing to Pakistan. It’s a violation of international law.
Senators Defend Air strikes in Pakistan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5547813,00.html
Sunday January 15, 2006 7:02 PM
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators defended on Sunday a purported CIA airstrike that Pakistani officials said killed at least 17 people in a village near the border with Afghanistan but not the intended target, al-Qaida's No. 2 leader.
``We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again'' in going after Ayman al-Zawahri, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
McCain said it is a ``cautionary tale'' about the fate of the terrorist network's leaders that the U.S. ``didn't take them out year ago.'' He said the United States must hunt them down wherever they are hiding.
``We have to do what we think is necessary to take out al-Qaida, particularly the top operatives. This guy has been more visible than Osama bin Laden lately,'' McCain said on CBS' ``Face the Nation.''
A U.S. counterterrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity, said it's still unclear if al-Zawahri was killed in the attack.
Pakistani officials have strongly condemned the strike. The White House declined to comment on the attacks on Sunday, except to praise President Gen. Pervez Musharraf as well as Pakistan as ``a valued ally on the war on terror.'' Officials at several U.S. agencies have not immediately provided details about the attack.
The FBI anticipates performing DNA tests on the victims, a law enforcement official said Saturday.
Islamic groups staged demonstrations across Pakistan on Sunday to denounce the attack. A protest in Karachi drew 10,000 people, and chants of ``Death to America'' were heard.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., said the real problem is that the U.S.-allied Pakistani government does not control the region along the mountainous border with Afghanistan, where the attack occurred. Many al-Qaida and Taliban combatants are believed to have taken refuge there.
If an extremely wanted Mexican guerilla, say, was thought to be hiding in some little town in southern New Mexico, and the Mexican air force bombed the village, what would the US do? Right, the nation would throw a fit. What the hell right would Mexico have to bomb US land? We did the same thing to Pakistan. It’s a violation of international law.
Senators Defend Air strikes in Pakistan
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-5547813,00.html
Sunday January 15, 2006 7:02 PM
By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Senators defended on Sunday a purported CIA airstrike that Pakistani officials said killed at least 17 people in a village near the border with Afghanistan but not the intended target, al-Qaida's No. 2 leader.
``We apologize, but I can't tell you that we wouldn't do the same thing again'' in going after Ayman al-Zawahri, said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
McCain said it is a ``cautionary tale'' about the fate of the terrorist network's leaders that the U.S. ``didn't take them out year ago.'' He said the United States must hunt them down wherever they are hiding.
``We have to do what we think is necessary to take out al-Qaida, particularly the top operatives. This guy has been more visible than Osama bin Laden lately,'' McCain said on CBS' ``Face the Nation.''
A U.S. counterterrorism official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the information's sensitivity, said it's still unclear if al-Zawahri was killed in the attack.
Pakistani officials have strongly condemned the strike. The White House declined to comment on the attacks on Sunday, except to praise President Gen. Pervez Musharraf as well as Pakistan as ``a valued ally on the war on terror.'' Officials at several U.S. agencies have not immediately provided details about the attack.
The FBI anticipates performing DNA tests on the victims, a law enforcement official said Saturday.
Islamic groups staged demonstrations across Pakistan on Sunday to denounce the attack. A protest in Karachi drew 10,000 people, and chants of ``Death to America'' were heard.
Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., said the real problem is that the U.S.-allied Pakistani government does not control the region along the mountainous border with Afghanistan, where the attack occurred. Many al-Qaida and Taliban combatants are believed to have taken refuge there.
