Photo is from Defense-UpdateThe Weapon That Could Backfire -- The Times Online
The pattern has now become familiar. Unseen above Pakistan’s lawless tribal territories, an unmanned US Predator drone fires Hellfire missiles at a suspected al-Qaeda target below. A few hours later news filters out of the attack and the latest names of the dead and wounded. Washington refuses to comment, Pakistan denounces the action and Britain sits uncomfortably somewhere between the two.
Yet behind this well-rehearsed public routine, a far more cosy arrangement is in place. So long as America avoids sending ground forces into Pakistan, Islamabad does not object to the unmanned airstrikes, which mainly target foreign fighters. London might normally take issue with what should be regarded as an act of war against an ally. But as long as terrorist suspects, some of them possibly planning operations in Britain, are being killed or live in fear or being killed, it is quite happy to see the policy continue.
Welcome to the front line of America’s War on Terror, now in its eighth year. For the CIA, US Special Forces and Pentagon commanders, the use of modern remote weapons is a giant leap forward in counter-insurgency operations.
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My Comment: The alternative of doing nothing is not acceptable .... we all know that such a strategy did not work in the past. For the moment senior Al Qaeda and Taliban officers are being killed .... that does have a big impact on the enemy. As for civilians, they now know that if Al Qaeda is next door .... there is now a chance of becoming a collateral casualty. i am sure that many civilians know this, and are making a point of being out of the line of fire. I know that I would.
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