[Al-Arabiya] Pakistan's new Taliban leader vowed to avenge a United States missile strike that killed his predecessor Baitullah Mehsud, but analysts said Wednesday the extremist outfit has been greatly weakened. Baitullah was a good commander in that he held the reins tightly and brooked no opposition. Hakimullah doesn't appear to have the same talents at this stage, though that's not to say he won't have things under control in six months or a year.
Pakistani and U.S. officials have been saying for weeks that Mehsud was killed when a missile from a U.S. drone aircraft hit his father-in-law's home on Aug. 5, but Taliban officials insisted the feared warlord was simply ill.
"He's fine. He's just pinin' for the fjords!"
According to media reports Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, both Taliban commanders, called news agencies Tuesday evening on the same phone to make the announcement.