Drone wars escalate

This week, the bloodiest drone attack took place in Pakistan. CNN reported at leas 55 casualties, while Al Jazeera upgraded it to 60 deaths. Reuters makes it up to 70, quotating Pakistan’s Intelligence services’ sources. The targets of the attack were attending a funeral.

Those numbers include three Taliban commanders, but the theorical top target, Baitullah Mehsud, the head of Pakistan’s Taliban, was missed. Associated Press says Mehsud left the village way before the missiles were fired.

However, as Nathan Hodge from Danger Room notes, the drone attack has attracted an unusual silence on Pakistani government. The drone wars have been in the center of a heated debate, both in Pakistan and the US, as a matter that could destabilize the central Asian country.

In fact, the new commander for Afghanistan forces, Gen. McChrystal, announced this week new rules of engagement for the deployment of drones and air supply, in order to avoid civilian casualties. It had became so easy to let the guys in the air get rid of the problems that the boots on the ground were starting to be too dependant on them. And quick triggers... of the radio.



Photo: US Army