The United States slapped Pakistani Taliban chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, with terrorism charges on Wednesday for his alleged role in the murder of seven Americans at a CIA base in Afghanistan.
The Justice Department move came as the State Department added the Tehreek-e-Taliban to a blacklist of foreign terrorist organizations, which means members face asset freezes and travel bans.
| Ah. So this wasn't about prosecuting the man in a United States civil court, but about finally admitting the group is a terrorist organization. Long past bloody time, that. |
The State Department also offered rewards of up to five million dollars each for information leading to Mehsud's location and the location of Wali ur-Rehman, who is reportedly Mehsud's current second-in-command.
| I can't imagine they're feeling pleased in ISI headquarters. Could that be the real reason why the Military Nine left us in a huff? |
"Hakimullah Mehsud, the self-proclaimed emir of the Pakistani Taliban, has been charged by criminal complaint for his alleged involvement in the murder of seven American citizens on December 30, 2009 at a US military base in Afghanistan," the Justice Department said in a statement.
In a two-count complaint filed in US District Court in Washington, Mehsud was charged with conspiracy to murder Americans abroad and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction against US citizens abroad.
Daniel Benjamin, the ambassador at large for counter-terrorism, said Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), often made up of fertilizer and diesel fuel, fall into the category of weapons of mass destruction.
| I thought nuclear bombs, which can kill 100,000 at a time, were weapons of mass destruction. An IED generally won't harm more than a dozen at best. |
Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal al-Balawi, a Jordanian of Palestinian origin who is said to have been a triple agent, blew himself up at the base in Khost, near the Pakistani border in the deadliest attack against the CIA since 1983.
| Seven isn't anything like 100,000. |
In addition to the agents, Balawi also killed his Jordanian handler -- a top intelligence officer and member of the royal family.
| Neither is eight. This is like those who call everyone they don't like "Nazi". |
In addition to the Khost bombing, the United States has linked the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) to a botched car bomb plot in New York's Times Square in May and a deadly attack at the US consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan in April.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton designated the TTP as a foreign terrorist organization on August 12, and it was formally added to the list when it was published Wednesday in the Federal Register. |