War on Terrorism - Articles - Zimbio

5 killed in Clashes Between Taliban and Pro-Govt tribesmen

Mon, 18 Nov 2008 08:48:03 GMT

posted by yours

Islamabad: Five people were killed in hours-long clashes between Taliban militants and pro-government tribesmen in north-western Pakistan’s restive tribal district of Bajaur, an official said Tuesday.

The firefight started Monday afternoon when the militants ambushed several tribal elders who were on their way to the district’s main town, Khar, to attend a meeting of a local jirga, or tribal council, against the Taliban.

“The exchange of fire that took place in Inayat Kalley continued late in the night,” said local government official Israr Khan. “Two tribal elders and three Taliban died in the fighting.”

According to the official, the Taliban abducted another tribal leader, Ismaeel Khan, who provided shelter to the tribesmen loyal to the government during the clashes. Three of his comrades were also seized.

Since early August, the local population in various areas of Bajaur has raised laskhars, or traditional armies, to assist Pakistani troops in fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgents.

The government claimed last month that more than 1,500 insurgents and 70 security personnel had died in the government offensive in Bajaur, from where militants launch crossborder attacks on international forces in the neighbouring Afghan province of Kunar. (dpa)

21 militants killed in operation, Bajaur Agency

Sun, 17 Nov 2008 07:35:03 GMT

posted by yours

KHAR: In the ongoing operation in Bajaur Agency, 21 militants were killed in copter shelling, several others were also injured.

In Shini Qilay of Dera Adam Khel security forces imposed curfew and started search operation, meanwhile deadline for militants to leave Koki Khel areas was over on Sunday.

Tribal leader informed government that in the area there are no militants present so government should not seek operation in the area.

Political administration said that government would provide list of militants to tribal elder so that Jirga would start operation against militants.

‘Capturing or killing Osama my top priority’

Sun, 17 Nov 2008 20:04:32 GMT

posted by yours

Stamping out al-Qaeda “once and for all” and capturing or killing its elusive leader Osama bin Laden would be a “top priority” for the next US government as it planned to redeploy its troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, President-elect Barack Obama has said.

“I think it is a top priority for us to stamp out al-Qaeda once and for all. And I think capturing or killing bin Laden is a critical aspect of stamping out al-Qaeda,” Obama said in his maiden interview since his historic win in the November 4 US presidential election. “He is not just a symbol, he’s also the operational leader of an organisation that is planning attacks against US targets,” Obama told CBS News.

Asked when he would start redeployment of US troops out of Iraq, Obama, who is scheduled to be sworn-in as the 44th US President, the first black-American, said it would happen soon. “Well, I’ve said during the campaign, and I’ve stuck to this commitment, that as soon as I take office, I will call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my national security apparatus, and we will start executing a plan that draws down our troops.”

Since US troops were having “problems” in Afghanistan, he said the government had to step up its efforts to contain the threat it faced from the al-Qaeda in the war-ravaged nation. “Particularly in light of the problems that we’re having in Afghanistan, which has continued to worsen. We’ve got to shore up those efforts,” he said.

Asked whether he would follow through his election promise to shut down the controversial Guantanamo Bay prison facility in Cuba, he said, “Yes. I have said repeatedly that I intend to close Guantanamo, and I will follow through on that.”

Obama also said he would change the interrogation methods that are currently used by US troops. “I have said repeatedly that America doesn’t torture. And I’m gonna make sure that we don’t torture. Those are part and parcel of an effort to regain America’s moral stature in the world.”

In the wide-ranging interview to ‘CBS 60 Minutes’, the 47-year-old leader said creating a focused programme to help troubled homeowners and providing assistance to auto industry to prevent its collapse were some of the tasks before him. He warned that the challenges confronted by the country are “enormous”.

“I think that part of this next two months is to really get a clear set of priorities, understanding we’re not going be able to do everything at once, making sure the team is in place, and moving forward in a very deliberate way and sending a clear signal to the American people that we’re going to be thinking about them and what they’re going through,” he said.

Turning to the issue of homeowners, he said, “we have not focused on foreclosures and what’s happening to homeowners as much as I would like… We’ve got to… set up a negotiation between banks and borrowers so that people can stay in their homes.” “One thing I’m determined is that if we don’t have a clear focused programme for homeowners by the time I take office, we will after I take office,” Obama said.

He also said it would be a “disaster” if the auto industry completely collapses. “So it’s my belief that we need to provide assistance to the auto industry. But I think that it can’t be a blank check… “My hope is that over the course of the next week, between the White House and Congress, the discussions are shaped around providing assistance but making sure that that assistance is conditioned on labour, management, suppliers, lenders, all of the stakeholders coming together with a plan.”

(Agencies)

Osama Bin Ladan still greatest threat: Hayden

Thu, 14 Nov 2008 06:38:13 GMT

posted by yours

WASHINGTON: Osama bin Laden is isolated from the day-to-day operations of al-Qaida but the terrorist organization he built is spreading its influence in Africa and the Middle East, CIA director Michael Hayden said Thursday.

Al-Qaida remains the single greatest threat to the United States, Hayden said in remarks prepared for delivery at the Atlantic Council.

“If there is a major strike on this country, it will bear the fingerprints of al-Qaida,” the CIA director said.

But Hayden said that bin Laden, hiding in the lawless tribal border area of Pakistan, “appears to be largely isolated from the day-to-day operations of the organization he leads.”

The hunt for bin Laden remains at the top of the CIA’s priority list.

“His death or capture clearly would have a significant impact on the confidence of his followers-both core al-Qaida and unaffiliated extremists throughout the world,” Hayden said.

Al-Qaida-affiliated groups in the Philippines and Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Iraq have been degraded, but al-Qaida cells are surfacing elsewhere, Hayden said.

“In East Africa, al-Qaida is engaging Somali extremists to revitalize operations,” Hayden said. “The recent bombings in Somalia may have been meant, at least in part, to strengthen bona fides with al-Qaida’s senior leaders. A merger between al-Shabaab and al-Qaida could give Somali extremists much-needed funding, while al-Qaida could claim to be reestablishing its operations base in East Africa.”

Recent attacks of Algerian-based al-Qaida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb are bigger and more deadly than at any time since the group merged with al-Qaida two years ago, he said.

Al-Qaida is also strengthening in Yemen with an “unprecedented number of attacks” in 2008 and is likely to be a launching pad for attacks against Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, Al-Qaida’s safe harbor in Pakistan’s has allowed it to train a “bench of skilled operatives” that can carry out attacks when other cells are disrupted, he said.

Iraq also remains a terrorist staging ground. Al-Qaida fighters honed in the Iraq war but now leaving for other countries pose a continuing concern, Hayden warned.

I'll pull troops out of Iraq, crush Al-Qaeda and close Guantanamo Bay: Obama - GEO.tv

Sun, 17 Nov 2008 13:45:08 GMT

posted by newsdaily

Posted by god 9 hours ago (http://geo.tv)
Category: World

Updated at: 0724 PST, Monday, November 17, 2008
I’ll pull troops out of Iraq, crush Al-Qaeda and close Guantanamo Bay: Obama WASHINGTON: President-elect Barack Obama vowed to pull troops out of Iraq, crush Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and shut down the Guantanamo Bay camp as part of a dramatic foreign policy break with George W. Bush.

In his first major post-election interview, with a broadcasting organization, the Democrat signaled no retreat from expansive campaign promises that have pleased US allies, even while adding little detail to how he will fulfill them.

Repairing the stricken US economy will be priority number one, and at least one Republican will fill his cabinet, Obama said in the broad-ranging interview taped Friday and broadcast Sunday.

As soon as he succeeds Bush on January 20, Obama said, "I will call in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, my national security apparatus, and we will start executing a plan that draws down our troops" from Iraq.
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