It seems to be a good day for dead tangos. PARACHINAR, Pakistan – Helicopter gunships pummeled a key Taliban commander's bases in Pakistan's northwest, killing at least 12 insurgents Thursday as government forces ratcheted up pressure on the militants following their top leader's reported death, officials said. Military helicopters destroyed several bases and hide-outs Thursday morning near the Kurram and Aurakzai tribal regions run by militant commander Hakimullah Mehsud, three intelligence officials said. Hakimullah Mehsud is a clansman and potential successor to Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was reported killed in a CIA missile strike on Aug. 5. Since we introduced Baitullah Mehsud to the warhead of a Hellfire missile, things have been in flux for the Talibs and al Qaeda in their not-quite-so-safe havens in Pakistan. The wild card affecting any chance for us to succeed in Afghanistan has always been the opportunity for the bad guys to rest and refit in the tribal regions of Pakistan. The constant attrition to their leadership and now a decapitation strike (literally) of their top dog has severely disrupted their operations and will make it more difficult for them to cause problems back across the border. Added to that, our team and the Brits are killing their fighters in bunches as we push into areas they had controlled in Afghanistan. This double whammy is exactly what the doctor ordered and offers the opportunity to push them out and keep them out, with nowhere to run to and nowhere to hide. Let's hope the Pakistanis seize the day and keep pushing from their side.
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Posted
Aug 13 2009, 12:54 AM
by
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