|
Pakistan has evidence that al-Qaeda's second-in-command was in ahouse destroyed by a U.S. drone strike in the country's northwesttribal region, but it is unclear whether he was killed,intelligence officials said Tuesday. More Related to this Story Defence MacKay defends drone attacks, says technology reduces civiliancausalities NATO kills senior al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan Hours after CIA drone strike, al-Qaeda attacks Yemeni base, kills22 U.S. officials have said they were targeting Abu Yahya al-Libi inMonday's strike in Khassu Khel village in the North Waziristantribal area and were optimistic he was among those killed. Theyspoke on condition of anonymity because of the classified nature ofthe drone program. If Mr. al-Libi is confirmed killed, he would be the latest in thedozen-plus senior commanders removed in the clandestine U.S. waragainst al-Qaeda since Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden last year. Militants and residents in the area told Pakistani agents that Mr.al-Libi was in the house when it was hit, Pakistani intelligenceofficials said. They said the mud and brick house was completelydestroyed in the attack. A vehicle used by Mr. al-Libi was destroyed during the strike, saidone of the officials. Agents intercepted a militant phone callindicating an Arab was killed in the attack, but it is unclear ifthey were talking about Mr. al-Libi, who was born in Libya, saidthe official. A local Taliban chief said Mr. al-Libi's guard and driver werekilled in the strike, but the al-Qaeda commander was not there. Mr.al-Libi did survive a previous strike, said the Taliban chief. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity becausethey were not authorized to talk to the media. The Taliban spoke oncondition of anonymity for fear of being targeted by the Pakistaniarmy. The White House maintains a list of terrorist targets to be killedor captured, compiled by the military and the CIA and ultimatelyapproved by the president. The U.S. has stepped up drone strikes in Pakistan recently,carrying out seven in less than two weeks. The flurry follows arelative lull driven by tensions between Washington and Islamabadover American airstrikes last year that killed 24 Pakistanisoldiers. Pakistan seized the opportunity to renegotiate its relationshipwith the U.S. and demanded Washington stop drone strikes in thecountry a demand the U.S. has ignored. The attacks are unpopularin Pakistan because many people believe they mostly kill civilians,an allegation disputed by the U.S. Pakistan called Deputy U.S. Ambassador Richard Hoagland to theForeign Ministry on Tuesday to protest the drone strikes. He was informed that the drone strikes were unlawful, againstinternational law and a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty, saida statement sent by the Foreign Ministry to reporters. Members of the Pakistani government and military have supported thestrikes in the past, but that cooperation has come under strain asthe relationship between the two countries has deteriorated. The State Department's Rewards for Justice program had set a $1million reward for information leading to Mr. al-Libi, who hadfilmed numerous propaganda videos urging attacks on U.S. targetsafter he escaped a prison at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in2005. Mr. al-Libi took the second-in-command spot when Egyptian-bornAyman al-Zawahri took charge of al-Qaeda after Mr. bin Laden'sdeath. As al-Qaeda's de facto general manager, Mr. al-Libi isresponsible for running the group's day-to-day operations inPakistan's tribal areas and manages outreach to al-Qaeda's regionalaffiliates. This is one of the more prominent names among the targets ofdrone strikes in Pakistan, added former CIA officer Paul Pillar. He said Mr. al-Libi's death would help bolster the CIA's push tocontinue the drone program despite the continued politicalresistance from Pakistan and collateral damage. Mr. al-Libi's death would be another reason not to acceptPakistan's demand for an end to drone wars, added BrookingsInstitute's Bruce Riedel, a former CIA officer and adviser to theWhite House on Afghanistan and Pakistan policy. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Scroll Tablet PC , Pico Mini Projector, and more. For more , please visit Scroll Tablet PC today!
Related Articles -
China Scroll Tablet PC, Pico Mini Projector,
| 
