Monday, January 23, 2017

Will The U.S. Drone War In Pakistan Resume?

An MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) sits in a shelter at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, after a mission on November 10, 2008. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the Reaper can carry up to 3,750 pounds of laser-guided bombs and missiles.

Peter Bergen and David Sterman, CNN: Will President Trump restart the drone war in Pakistan?

(CNN)The American drone war in Pakistan effectively ended nearly eight months ago when the US conducted its last drone strike, killing the Taliban's leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour.

After using CIA drones regularly for 7 years in Pakistan -- a country where the United States is not waging a traditional war, such as in Iraq -- the Obama administration has now presided over the longest cessation of strikes since President Obama took office, according to data collected by New America.

It is in Pakistan where the majority of CIA drone strikes have occurred under Obama, resulting in the death of a minimum of 1,904 people and perhaps as many as 3,114, according to New America's research.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: If there is a high priority target spotted in Pakistan ..... like Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri .... I will not be surprised if a drone strike (or more) will be ordered. On a side note, it looks like the first drone strikes under the Trump administration have occurred .... Yemen reports first drone strike under Trump (The Hill). More here .... Three suspected al Qaeda members killed in drone strikes in Yemen: officials (Reuters).

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