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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan Taliban chief dodged missile: officials |
| 2009-06-24 |
| The head of Pakistan's Taliban attended a funeral shortly before a suspected U.S. missile struck, killing about 80 people, two intelligence officials said Wednesday, but a top Taliban aide denied that the leader had a close call. Should have used cluster bombs. Or a MOAB. We only have to be lucky once ... Intelligence officials had said Tuesday night that Mehsud was at the funeral and that militants lost contact with him for a while. Media reports suggested he had a very close call. Two intelligence officials said Wednesday that although Mehsud had visited the village where the funeral took place, he left before the drone-fired missiles killed 80 people -- reportedly including several senior Taliban leaders -- and wounded dozens more. The two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media, said it was unclear how long before the attack Mehsud left. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #9 need an infrared target painted on Pie-head's crust |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-06-24 20:59 |
| #8 Not saying it couldn't be done mind you, but conducting a low-level loiter with a satellite is a bit of a challenge Bright Pebbles. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-06-24 19:09 |
| #7 You don't need monitor drones when you have satellites. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2009-06-24 19:06 |
| #6 But-but-but how many fluffy kittens and bunnies were Enquiring minds, etc.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-06-24 18:21 |
| #5 The reason this funeral was targeted is because so many big taliwhackers (and I suspect, AQ) were there. There was a big powwow taking place and this funeral was for a chief who just got Predatored. The body count could have really been run up if a few six packs of MLRS were used gravesite in addition to the drones. For this aircraft and SF should have crossed the border. In the following day, we'll find out just how big a hit this really was. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-06-24 17:27 |
| #4 I'm sure that the Talib chiefs will soon learn that it is unhealthy to go to funerals - they turnout to be your own. Like Lumpy, I haven't seen much that was obvious followup targeting. I doubt that it is because our military has suddenly gotten smarter. They're smart enough already. Rather, it looks like this may be the result of having a bigger inventory of drone capable of watching and booming. I don't know how many drones and crews it took to keep watch on this village for the last few days, but it probably took several. The capabilities of these crews continues to grow and to astound. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-06-24 16:14 |
| #3 I was surprised also - but also hope for many happy returns. Just think, 80 more funerals, this thing is going to go exponential. |
| Posted by: Unique Battle 2009-06-24 14:58 |
| #2 Sounds like the coffin making business is booming there. |
| Posted by: Richard of Oregon 2009-06-24 11:41 |
| #1 This is the first time I've heard of the US bombing a funeral, I hope they bomb the next 80. |
| Posted by: Lumpy Angaith3743 2009-06-24 10:51 |