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U.S. President Barak Obama is considering expanding the covert war, authorized by his predecessor, from the tribal areas along the Afghan border in Pakistan to the southern region of Baluchistan. The controversial missile strikes have forced insurgents from the tribal areas to flee to the city of Quetta, a terrorist safe haven and capital of the province of Baluchistan. Proponents of increasing the U.S.'s role in Pakistan claim that Mullah Muhammad Omar, leader of the Taliban government that the U.S. overthrew in 2001, operates in Quetta with impunity.
Predator and Reaper drone attacks have killed 9 of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders. Both the former and the current president expanded targets of missile strikes from mainly hunting down al Qaeda leaders to also including insurgents seeking to topple Pakistan's fragile government, such as the Taliban.
The U.S. military has increasingly relied on unmanned aerial drones to conduct surveillance and to hunt down and kill terrorists. Since August 2008, CIA-operated Predator drones have killed 340+ people in at least 35 strikes. In the two months that Obama has been in office, there has been six strikes. Only 10 recorded air strikes were conducted in Pakistan in 2006 and 2007 combined.
The military considers the drones effective because they can fly great distances over a long period time, are controlled from remote locations, and are quiet yet lethal. However, the surge in aerial drones has failed to prevent the spread of jihadist sympathies and to slow the stream of insurgents into Afghanistan.
Last month, information leaked out that U.S. aerial drones were taking off from and landing at two bases in Pakistan, the Shamsi Air Base and Shahbaz Air Field, both located in Baluchistan.
* Peter, Tom. "US Considers Broadening Drone Airstrikes in Pakistan" Christian Science Monitor 18 Mar 2009.
* Sanger, David and Eric Schmitt. "U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike into Pakistan" New York Times 17 Mar 2009.
* DeYoung, Karen and Joby Warrick"Drone Attacks Inside Pakistan Will Continue, CIA Chief Says" Washington Post 26 Feb 2009.
* Khan, Habibullah and Nick Schifrin. "Allegations That CIA Predator Drones Have Bases in Pakistan" ABC News 23 Feb 2009.
* Zenko, Micah. "Reassessing 'Af-Pak' Strategy" Boston Globe 17 Feb 2009.
* Schifrin, Nick. "Pakistan Urges Obama to Halt Drones" ABC News 24 Jan 2009.
Predator and Reaper drone attacks have killed 9 of al Qaeda's top 20 leaders. Both the former and the current president expanded targets of missile strikes from mainly hunting down al Qaeda leaders to also including insurgents seeking to topple Pakistan's fragile government, such as the Taliban.
The U.S. military has increasingly relied on unmanned aerial drones to conduct surveillance and to hunt down and kill terrorists. Since August 2008, CIA-operated Predator drones have killed 340+ people in at least 35 strikes. In the two months that Obama has been in office, there has been six strikes. Only 10 recorded air strikes were conducted in Pakistan in 2006 and 2007 combined.
The military considers the drones effective because they can fly great distances over a long period time, are controlled from remote locations, and are quiet yet lethal. However, the surge in aerial drones has failed to prevent the spread of jihadist sympathies and to slow the stream of insurgents into Afghanistan.
Last month, information leaked out that U.S. aerial drones were taking off from and landing at two bases in Pakistan, the Shamsi Air Base and Shahbaz Air Field, both located in Baluchistan.
* Peter, Tom. "US Considers Broadening Drone Airstrikes in Pakistan" Christian Science Monitor 18 Mar 2009.
* Sanger, David and Eric Schmitt. "U.S. Weighs Taliban Strike into Pakistan" New York Times 17 Mar 2009.
* DeYoung, Karen and Joby Warrick"Drone Attacks Inside Pakistan Will Continue, CIA Chief Says" Washington Post 26 Feb 2009.
* Khan, Habibullah and Nick Schifrin. "Allegations That CIA Predator Drones Have Bases in Pakistan" ABC News 23 Feb 2009.
* Zenko, Micah. "Reassessing 'Af-Pak' Strategy" Boston Globe 17 Feb 2009.
* Schifrin, Nick. "Pakistan Urges Obama to Halt Drones" ABC News 24 Jan 2009.