Missiles strike Taliban/AQ safe house, kill 16 Update: unmanned drone?
posted at 8:11 am on March 16, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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A volley of seven missiles destroyed what had been either a terrorist safe house or the home of a terrorist leader in South Waziristan, killing 16. The wire services only have very preliminary reports, and no one knows for sure who actually fired the missiles yet. It appears either Pakistan or the US have improved their intelligence of late, as this is the second such targeted attack on a safe house in the last few weeks:
At least 16 people have been killed in a missile strike near the border with Afghanistan that destroyed the house of a suspected militant leader, Pakistani state television said Sunday.
Seven missiles were involved in the strike in a tribal area of South Waziristan, the station said, but it did not indicate from where the missiles were believed to have originated.
If Pakistani television has reported this, one has to think that the Pakistanis may have initiated the attack, but that’s not a certainty. Also, the casualty total should be taken with a grain of salt at this point. AP has it at 16 dead, while Reuters has it as 10 wounded. Reuters also notes that some of the wounded were “Arab nationals”, which sounds as though whoever fired the missiles hit the intended target.
Keep an eye on the wires for updates. Success will eventually be measured by the martyrdom announcement on the jihad websites, as well as DNA matches on whatever’s left of the terrorists.
Update: According to an eyewitness in this CNN report, the missiles came from an unmanned drone. If true, that’s one mystery solved — the Pakistanis don’t have unmanned drones with missile-launch capacity. Looks like the US reached out and touched the Taliban and/or AQ. The home belonged to someone who only went by the name Noorullah, which doesn’t dig up much on Google, except for Noorullah Zadran, who used to act as a spokesman for the Taliban in the US. Zadran got convicted of tax evasion two years ago here, though. He also turned out to be an FBI informant, which means he wouldn’t be hanging out in Pakistan; in fact, he’s now selling real estate in Long Island.
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I am waiting for the perfunctory MSM reports that “women and children” were killed.
JonRoss on March 16, 2008 at 8:18 AM
If they were armed, as they usually are, then good. They should hit “women and children.”
emailnuevo on March 16, 2008 at 8:26 AM
16 down, 1.5 billion to go.
jimbo2008 on March 16, 2008 at 8:32 AM
They were having a wedding.
tlynch001 on March 16, 2008 at 8:34 AM
You’re “up & at it” early CE. Great job you’re doing here at HA; although, I must admit to missing CQ quite a bit.
This story is good news indeed, as the battle taking place in Afghanistan deserves our attention. Everyone of these evil creatures that reaches room temp. is a good thing. As civilians tire of living under the constant threat of evil & fear under the rule of radical Islamics, they continue to come forward with good intel. This dynamic could be the break the good guys need to squash these murderous thugs badly enough to allow for a much brighter future for millions of civilians to take hold.
Here’s hoping for many more of these success stories to surface in the days to come.
Keemo on March 16, 2008 at 8:34 AM
Looks like that safe haven in Waziristan is a lot less safe than it used to be. Be it Mecca, Moscow, or Minneapolis, don’t give them a square inch of safe ground.
trubble on March 16, 2008 at 8:39 AM
Ahhhhh! Way to make my Sunday morning Ed, nothing like the smell of burning jihadi’s in the morning.
conservnut on March 16, 2008 at 8:51 AM
Apparently this wasn’t the ideal safe house after all.
David in ATL on March 16, 2008 at 8:55 AM
No doubt the crys will come from AP and other far left reporting cesspools of the killing of innocents. Can you imagine these people reporting during the firebombings of Germany in WWII? Sorry folks but I’m in favor of a benevolent dictator who will squash this segment of the press.
wepeople on March 16, 2008 at 9:15 AM
Safe house = kill box. I’m good with that.
Kafir on March 16, 2008 at 9:18 AM
Another point. The article says: It was not clear who fired the missiles but villagers said they had heard the sound of a pilotless drone in the sky before the blasts.
wepeople on March 16, 2008 at 9:20 AM
This just in: the Great Satan dropped bombs on a children’s birthday party, killing 1nnocents in the flower of their youth.
Join AQ today and exact revenge!
=====
Sorry, somehow this story reminded me instantly of the ‘wedding party’ that was bombed a few years back.
Midas on March 16, 2008 at 9:33 AM
That was sarcasm, btw – just in case someone thought I was serious.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see it reported that way, regardless of who was actually killed in the bombing.
Midas on March 16, 2008 at 9:33 AM
The wires still report 16-20 killed…but I’m working under the impression that these reports still originate with Pakistan TV. Still….the numbers are holding up. Nice way to start a Sunday!
DngrMse on March 16, 2008 at 9:40 AM
No single drone carries 7 missiles.
It might have bird-dogged the quarry until the heavyweights got there…..
Never-the-less, excellent news and hopefully we had some ground operatives to stick a lb. of bacon in each ones carcass.
Sonosam on March 16, 2008 at 9:52 AM
Bill Roggio has provided great information over at The Long War Journal. What is clear is there is a continuing escalation of Pakistan’s internal war between the govt/military and terrorists who are increasingly targeting civillians.
We seem to be getting very good intel on the opposition. These are not areas which are easily accessible. Moreover, these are frequently time sensitive opportunities.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/
moxie_neanderthal on March 16, 2008 at 10:03 AM
I LOVE wakin’ up to this kinda good news! It’s almost as good as morning sex! … Ok, well it’s not THAT good, but it’s up there!
Sonosam, ya beat me to it, a Predator only carrie two Hellfires, it coulda been a Strike Eagle droppin’ JDAMs from the other side of the boarder. I doubt the locals know the difference between bombs, missiles and rockets. (Although they’re prolly experts on the AK, RPG and IEDs).
Tony737 on March 16, 2008 at 10:05 AM
mmmmmmm….might this be the source of the intel?
I hope he didn’t get his hair wet
____________
US captures senior al Qaeda leader Mohammad Rahim
By Bill RoggioMarch 14, 2008 7:29 PM
Al Qaeda’s banner.
The US has captured a senior al Qaeda leader with close links to Osama bin Laden and has transferred him to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Department of Defense reported today. Muhammad Rahim al Afghani, a senior aide to bin Laden, was captured in August 2007.
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/03/us_captures_senior_a.php
moxie_neanderthal on March 16, 2008 at 10:06 AM
I tend to agree that “No single drone carries 7 missiles.” but now days,we dont know what is there. The places are not the model planes anymore, they are getting pretty big, besides, 747’s were remote controlled that hit the Pentagon and WTC.
OK, that last part was meant to be funny, but the planes are getting bigger and carry more than one now days.
WoosterOh on March 16, 2008 at 10:14 AM
You just have to wonder if Bush shot up an aspirin factory and left Iraq in 03 instead of showing resolve and taking the fight to the crazies, whether we would be getting the kind of cooperation in this part of the world that we do.
JAW on March 16, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Sonosam,
Try a Google of the Predator B (MQ-9 Reaper)
swabbie
SwabJockey on March 16, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I have always loved how its been described that these scum hiding in N. Pakistan are untouchable….
Ive always felt we were just herding them until the right moment appears.
Last thing they dont want while trying to thwart our glorious efforts is finding out they arent safe in N. Pakistan.
Its going to take time, but we are methodically hunting our grotesque quarry down.
Sonosam on March 16, 2008 at 10:18 AM
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/__qsqJ1Wq-9g/RzRgHT-5FxI/AAAAAAAAAKg/V4p9Zj3ynH8/s800/Reaper-2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XSha9LauB7kLVu_7FUm0Kg&h=167&w=300&sz=12&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=hXeDgjQJd9NEPM:&tbnh=65&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmq%2B9%2Breaper%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4HPIA_en___US262
Ooooooh, six munitions, not quibbling though.
I do remember the news of this fine machines deployment and knew it was up-armed. I love America!
Sonosam on March 16, 2008 at 10:22 AM
For those who still think Obama would be “just as good” as McCain, please consider the danger this Predator pilot would face under an Obama presidency. If there were any human shields in that house, we’re talking Haditha X 200. Don’t think the enemy doesn’t know that.
funky chicken on March 16, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Ah, the Reaper. same thing goes for the rest of my comment.
funky chicken on March 16, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Absolutely awesome; thanks for the link Sonosam…
Top of the morning to ya Swabbie.
Keemo on March 16, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Good point Swabbie, I forgot about the Reaper. Who knows, they might evenm be arming the Global Hawk now too? As big as that thing is, it could prolly carry seven Hellfires. Either way, I’d love buy a few beers for the crew!
Tony737 on March 16, 2008 at 10:38 AM
Back at ya, Keemo.
SwabJockey on March 16, 2008 at 10:44 AM
SonSam,
Don’t know how many missles were shot…this swabbie doesn’t usually believe the first counts “reported” in the MSM (come to think of it…not the second or third either).
Some of the capabilities are classified…did you take a look at the number of “hard points”?
OBTW, I liked your recommendation as to where someone should stow the slabs of bacon…
SwabJockey on March 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I’m now working double-time to get my 1040 in before the April 15th deadline.
Deadline??? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
Shy Guy on March 16, 2008 at 11:03 AM
One of the side benefits is the jihadi leadership is going to decide that congregating in once place, say, for strategy meetings, isn’t a healthy thing to do. I assume they are also leary of our ability to intercept electronic communication, so planning is disrupted. Pretty hard to have a teleconference using couriers on donkeys. There is also the paranoia factor,..if they suspect spies within their midst, they’ll start killing people, invariably they’ll overdo it, as they always do, and create local PR problems.
a capella on March 16, 2008 at 11:35 AM
If you all remember the Somali strike about two weeks ago it was reported as an airstrike. Ended up being a sub-launched cruise missle.
Doesn’t matter. Someone put holes where holes belong.
Limerick on March 16, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Al Jazeera is reporting 12 dead. 8 foriegners (Arabs) and 4 of their supporters
William Amos on March 16, 2008 at 11:58 AM
“Ended up being a sub-launched cruise missle.” – Lim
Sweet. We have so many ways to nail these guys. I can’t wait for the space-borne laser. Someday we’ll have satellites that can see a target in real time and shoot a laser right through the top of his turban. Imagine the effect on jihadi morale when the man next to him suddenly bursts into flames.
Tony737 on March 16, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Paraphrasing the old line about USMC Scout/Snipers;
cheers
eon
eon on March 16, 2008 at 12:12 PM
Are you sure? The “B” version of the Predator can carry 16 (Sixteen) Hellfire missiles. And, it can loiter for up to 24 hours.
traderdfw on March 16, 2008 at 12:25 PM
Congratulations to the best military/intel the world has ever seen. I hope there are many, many more of these news stories. Nothing better than a terrified, snot bubble blowing, panicked Islamic, radical, terrorist hiding from world who are no more useful than a cockaroach hding in a hole. Oops! I take that back, even a cockaroach doesn’t coerce their women and children to commit suicide.
De Oppresso Liber,
surfergod on March 16, 2008 at 12:37 PM
My Imam says this was a baby formula factory.
Little Boomer on March 16, 2008 at 12:42 PM
Looks like the assumptions that the Pakistanis would be outraged over violating their sovereignty were a little overblown. No pun intended. Too bad OBL is and has been in IRAN.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 12:44 PM
That sounds a tad genocidal.
Do you suppose that would mean the end of the “Obama wants to attack Pakistan” spin?
I doubt it.
ChenZhen on March 16, 2008 at 12:59 PM
So, about 16 AL Qaeda and/or Taliban terrorists (hopefully including leadership cadre) killed! Al Jazeera, Al Beeb, Al-CBC, et. al. are all in mourning.
.
(BTW, reading about the Predator, seven missiles are more than it’s capacity, so this is a co-ordinated multiple Predator or Reaper attack. Warfare by drone aircraft is getting more and more effective and deadlier. Well done to whoever did this attack!)
DavePa on March 16, 2008 at 1:12 PM
I’ll bet the family farm that we get Al-Zawahiri before Bush leaves office.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Some updates: Reports have it at 12 Arabs, 4 followers. At my place I speculate that this could be payback for the blast that put our embassey workers in the hospital yesterday in Islamabad.
I’ve seen other confirms on drone, however in the past Musharraf has stated that they have capability to launch combined “drone surveil / helicopter launch” attacks. Pakistan Army is officially denying, and we are pretending that we know nothing as well.
Like the last strike, militants immediately surrounded the compound and retrieved the bodies, so we probably won’t get a confirm on who we hit other than rumors.
Tark on March 16, 2008 at 1:49 PM
Also note there are conflicting reports on numbers of missiles: some say seven, others say three. If it were seven that would mean combined attack – helo/drone, either from US or Pakistan forces.
Tark on March 16, 2008 at 1:54 PM
Dang, buy that unmanned drone a beer!
second digit on March 16, 2008 at 2:14 PM
“Smells like Victory” as Robert Duvall’s character said.
The Reaper can carry quite a bit of ordinance including laser guided GBU-12s. We also have at least one Ohio Class SSGN that carry 154 land attack cruise missiles…
Zorro on March 16, 2008 at 2:22 PM
The single best decision President Bush has made, terrorism attacks are no longer considered a crime but now are an act of war and will be responded to as such.
Update from FoxNews, 9 dead, 12 wounded. Missiles fired from U.S. war plane. The drone was probably doing the recon since they fly so low and slow.
Hog Wild on March 16, 2008 at 2:24 PM
Dang, buy that unmanned drone a beer!
second digit on March 16, 2008 at 2:14 PM
Maybe since Spitzer’s unemployed, he can take that drone out for night on the town!!!
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 2:33 PM
Let’s see, 16 dead, HMMM? If only 1/2 of 1% of Muslims were radical, that’s only 74,986 to go. And if 1% were rad, OHHH NEVER MIND…
pueblo1032 on March 16, 2008 at 2:42 PM
One of the most perceptive things I’ve heard said in a while. Very well put. It changes the whole dynamic.
moxie_neanderthal on March 16, 2008 at 3:02 PM
They
wereare having aweddingfuneral.There, fixed it for ya……..
Seven Percent Solution on March 16, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Hmmm, In either case, looks like the Paki leadership finally found the backbone needed to chase down the Islamofascists amongst their midst. I seriously doubt it had anything to do with Obambi’s threat to invade Pakistan, rather the changed political climate after the elections.
AH_C on March 17, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Hog Wild, Right on. This is a war and it should be treated as such.
Johan Klaus on March 17, 2008 at 1:17 AM
You. Are. Wrong!
I present the Predator B varient A.K.A. MQ-9 Reaper
Excerpted from: Defense Update
The Reaper is capable of carrying maximum internal payload of 800 lbs, it will carry more advanced sensors at weight almost twice as the MQ-1. Furthermore, The Reaper can carry much more external stores, up to 3,000 pounds total – 1,500 on each of its two inboard weapons stations, or 500-600 lb. on the two middle stations and 150-200 lbs. on the outboard stations. In total, the aircraft can carry up to 14 Hellfire missiles, compared with two carried on the Predator. The Reaper can stay airborne for up to 14 hours fully loaded.
traderdfw on March 17, 2008 at 6:27 AM
Hey, whatever it takes. If they ALL want Jihad then I AM WILLING TO GIVE THEM ALL THEY CAN STAND!!!!
jimbo2008 on March 17, 2008 at 7:14 AM
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!
jimbo2008 on March 17, 2008 at 7:17 AM
Looks like those safe houses in Waziristan aren’t as safe as they’re cracked up to be. Where ever the jihadis go, they live under an American sky where sudden death can drop on their heads at any moment. I imagine that’s rather unsettling for them.
Tantor on March 17, 2008 at 10:08 AM
My thoughts as well, a threat to invade Pak from the Obamasiah is as empty as his suit. Moosh is in a tight spot and he knows it, this is why we are seeing greater cooperation from him.
Also, it takes time (several years) to cultivate intelligence assets within organization such as the Taliban and AQ, perhaps that labor is finally bearing fruit…I too look forward to many more reports like this until that one fateful day when we learn OBL and his butt-buddy Zawahiri are taking their well deserved and overdue dirt nap!
God speed to our troops and keep sending our enemies to Allah!!
Liberty or Death on March 17, 2008 at 12:36 PM
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