Wow: Drone strike on Taliban funeral kills 60 in Pakistan
posted at 10:01 pm on June 23, 2009 by Allahpundit
Major kudos to Barry O or whichever underling pulled the trigger on this one. I still remember when Bush’s Defense Department declined to fire three years ago at a Taliban funeral at which hundreds of jihadis were gathered. Who knows how many innocents died at the hands of those who were spared then. Sixty is an enormous number to be killed in a Predator attack, especially given the angst in Pakistan over America targeting its citizens. I can only assume that either the military had good reason to suspect some very big fish were there or else they felt it was critical to send a message to Baitullah Mehsud that his assassination of a rival jihadi this morning who was partnering with the Pakistani military wasn’t about to go unanswered.
An airstrike believed to be carried out by a United States drone killed at least 60 people at a funeral in South Waziristan on Tuesday, residents of the area and local news reports said.
Details of the attack, which occurred in Makeen, remained unclear, but the reported death toll was exceptionally high. If the reports are indeed accurate and if the attack was carried out by a drone, the strike would be perhaps the deadliest since the United States began using the aircraft to fire remotely guided missiles at members of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in the tribal areas of Pakistan…
Pakistani jets have aimed at Mr. Mehsud’s hide-outs in recent days, and the funeral in Makeen that was hit on Tuesday was being held for a Taliban commander killed that day.
While the strike on the funeral may have been conducted by the Pakistani Air Force, residents and local news reports uniformly attributed it to a United States drone.
The dead may have included top commanders for Mr. Mehsud. The Geo Television Network, quoting unnamed sources, said that the dead included a trainer of suicide bombers named Qari Hussain as well as a Taliban commander named Sangeen, though there was no way to immediately verify the report.
Honestly, to risk the uproar over killing 60 people, I suspect they had reason to believe that Mehsud himself was present. I have an e-mail out to Bill Roggio asking him what he knows about this but it’s worth flagging now. For what it’s worth, a Taliban official claims Mehsud was “in the area” but wasn’t hurt.
Update: Here’s Roggio’s report at Long War Journal. Big fish galore:
The attack took place in the town of Makeen, a stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, according to Geo News. The US has hit Taliban facilities in the Makeen region three times since June 14. The Pakistani Air Force has also launched several attacks in the region.
These attacks coincided with an important meeting between Baitullah and a senior delegation of Taliban and al Qaeda leaders to discuss the military’s operation in South Waziristan. Among those in attendance were Siraj Haqqani, Abu Yahya al Libi, Abdul Haq, and two senior deputies of Mullah Abdullah Zakir. The US appears to have targeted al Qaeda’s senior leadership as it met with Baitullah.
Today’s Predator strikes also take place as the Pakistani military is in the opening phase of its operation to destroy Baitullah’s network in South Waziristan.
Blowback
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Will code pink be calling for indictments and be chanting “war criminal” tomorrow?
RightWinged on June 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Only 60??!!…Is that a cost efficient total? Can we kill more with more practice?
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
BOOM!
Good shootin’ boys!
infidel4life on June 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Which gives us 60 more funerals to strike… This could work.
BDavis on June 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Wow – not even sure what to say about this. Need more info.
Dasher on June 23, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Well, not bad for a days work. It’s a good start! Keep it up!
GFW on June 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Barack Obama: war criminal. I expect angry Democrats to commence demands for his impeachment at any moment.
hicsuget on June 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Maybe that’s code for “We haven’t found all of his pieces yet”.
Guardian on June 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Heh, I can’t wait for Cheney & Bush talking about Obama air raiding villages & killing civilians?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrW4fOGIMVY
izoneguy on June 23, 2009 at 10:08 PM
Death From Above!
To send JIHADYS to the BEYOND!!
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
But didn’t you say it was pathetic to care about someone you don’t know? Or, am I confusing you with someone else?
Disturb the Universe on June 23, 2009 at 10:09 PM
Uh-oh… After he spit in the face of the fascist gay community and hasn’t forced everyone to slide to work on slug slime, I’m sure that the left’s had it! They’ll be putting their foot down any moment now…
Upstater85 on June 23, 2009 at 10:10 PM
I love a good military story before bedtime.
XWing5 on June 23, 2009 at 10:11 PM
Shocked this was approved. Score.
jjraines on June 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Were they mirandized beforehand?
BTW if they got Haqqani its worth killing 60 and even 600.
elduende on June 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM
I ain’t too proud to say it…
Thanks for killin’ killers.
Limerick on June 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM
I wonder if Obama felt it was necessary lest he look too weak because of North Korea and Iran.
Not that I care why though. I’m just glad he did it.
Esthier on June 23, 2009 at 10:13 PM
I think you’re thinking of Innocent Smith. Jeff was the one saying a good Iranian is a dead one.
Esthier on June 23, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Excellent job.
“Kill enough of them and they stop fighting.”
– Gen. Curtis LeMay
progressoverpeace on June 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
the’ll be a news conference tomorrow @1230pm, in the rose garden, to announce the formal apology….the potus is just devastated over the lose of life…this is a terrible tragedy. sarc… but don’t count it out….
SHARPTOOTH on June 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
I think you’re on to something.
mikeyboss on June 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Where is the Liberal OUTRAGE,manufactured,or otherwise!!
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
The last of its kind probably; the next funerals will be sparsely attended, you can be sure of that.
The best part is the inevitable culling of the terrorist ranks as the remaining leaders get paranoid about who tipped off the Americans and start killing any suspects.
Bishop on June 23, 2009 at 10:14 PM
Sweet Baby Corn! An early 4th of July firework show.
Mr. Joe on June 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
HEH!!
Spread all over the area….
BigWyo on June 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
This is awesome, 60 terrorists die on the same day that my son is being born. That’s a net gain of 61!
Tony737 on June 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Esthier on June 23, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Thanks.
(Nevermind, Jeff. At least, you’re consistent.)
Disturb the Universe on June 23, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Whoop, I forgot:
Barack Ogabe is a war criminal.
Bishop on June 23, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Read that it was as high as 90 killed in several strike. And many were foreign fighters
90 killed in air strikes in Pak’s Waziristan
Over 90 people, most of them militants, were today killed in air strikes by Pakistani jet fighters and two missile attacks by US drones in the restive South Waziristan tribal agency, the stronghold of local Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.
Over 50 people, including foreign fighters, were killed when a US drone targeted a gathering offering funeral prayers for six militants who died earlier in the day in another attack by an unmanned spy plane.
The drone fired three missiles at the gathering, TV news channels quoted official sources as saying. Several others were injured in the attack. Militants cordoned off the area after the missile strike.
Some reports suggested key Taliban commanders, including Baitullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain, an alleged mastermind of suicide bombings, were present at the funeral prayers held at 3 pm. However, this could not be independently confirmed.
Earlier in the day, six militants were killed and seven injured when a US drone targeted a suspected Taliban training centre near Makeen, considered a stronghold of Mehsud. The compound and two vehicles were destroyed in that attack.
Reports said Taliban commander Sangeen Khan was among the six militants killed in first strike
William Amos on June 23, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Well, good news…Obama is given a pass on tactical strikes. But his strategy guarantees we lose the war on the strategic level…well, it’s such slim pickings these days, maybe we can enjoy a few more minor victories before we surrender completely.
AUINSC on June 23, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Saudi royal terrorism ?
William Amos on June 23, 2009 at 10:20 PM
Tony737 on June 23, 2009 at 10:15 PM
Congratulations on the birth of your son.
fourdeucer on June 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Hats off Mr. President. You did your job on this.
Ted Torgerson on June 23, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Sorry…I never said that…you MUST be confusing me with someone else.
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM
Congratulations on the baby!
elduende on June 23, 2009 at 10:25 PM
I bet we can double that total with some Napalm.
I love the smell of NAPALM in the morning.
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
61
Tony737 on June 23,2009 at 10:15PM.
Tony737: Congratulation Tony,life is beautiful!
But Dude,where have you been,shuttling in
and out of Timbucktoo!!:):):):)
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
It probably wasn’t set up this way, but letting on that funerals are off limits until you get a mass of targets together is pretty clever.
WisCon on June 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I think he was referring to this comment.
Upstater85 on June 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think the standard Predator A with only 2 Hellfire AGMs could take out a group of 60. I’m thinking it’s probably the Predator B, also known as the Reaper, dropping 500lb JDAMs. MQ-9 Reaper Anymore all drone attacks are being attributed to the Predator when in fact there are two very different models of the Predator, and many other drones too.
McBaine on June 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Gotta give credit where credit is due. The US military. But I’m sure in the pantywaist administration we have now the order to execute had to come from very near the top, so OK, good job for continuing the war against Man-Made Disasters.
That term makes me laugh every single time. What’s next, renaming being pregnant? Calling it the Bumping Nasty’s Plague…?
Hog Wild on June 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:24 PM
So I was told earlier. Thanks.
Disturb the Universe on June 23, 2009 at 10:27 PM
Why isn’t Obama worried about Meddling in Pokistan?
Upstater85 on June 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Doubtful we’ll hear too much about this on the dinosaur media. Too bad. Dead terrorists should always be the lead story. Thank you to our armed forces!
SouthernGent on June 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM
From article I posted earlier
William Amos on June 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Well, they can narrow that down to who didn’t attend from whom knew the burial site. I wish them well in their hunt, I think.
MarkABinVA on June 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
I bet we can double that total with some Napalm.
Jeff from WI on June 23,2009 at 10:26PM.
Jeff from WI: Excellent choice in ordanance!
May I suggest the Air/Fuel Device,
it’ll also sterilize the area as well!:)
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Congrats!!! But, not so sure your math’s right, your little one’s worth waaaaaay more than one lousy terrorist.
And a big congrats, to the U.S. military! Doing the right thing before your hands get tied by new rules from POTUS.
red winger on June 23, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Time to go sniff the Hoppes #9. Goodnight folks.
fourdeucer on June 23, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Congrats! :)
upinak on June 23, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Meddling in Pokistan!
Upstater85 on June 23,2009 at 10:28PM.
Upstater85: Thats Puck e Stan!:)(I’m kidding).
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Hopey/Changey did state he would bomb Packistan!
Now thats one campaign promise,he has honoured!!
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 10:35 PM
Thats 4320 less virgins available for OBL when we finally toast him.
csdeven on June 23, 2009 at 10:39 PM
Congratulations Papa!
Like others have said: Where the hell have you been?
Now I know!
“Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be pilots”
Limerick on June 23, 2009 at 10:43 PM
Killing 60 Saudi princess would probably do at least a thousand times more on the “overseas contingencies” or “man made disasters” front, or whatever we are suppose to be calling it these days, than killing 60 Taliban funeral attendees.
MB4 on June 23, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I just love the smell of burning jihadies in the morning.
faol on June 23, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Pock–eee-Stahn. Say it right. LOL.
60 down. 50,000 to go. Its gonna be a long night boys.
johnnyU on June 23, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Why isn’t Obama worried about Meddling in Pokistan?
Upstater85 on June 23, 2009 at 10:28 PM
Think of all the muslims who have now turned to terrorism because of what we did.
Bishop on June 23, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Thank God we didn’t waterboard them. Then we’d be in real trouble because waterboarding is the worst thing you can do to someone.
Kafir on June 23, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Will someone from the DOJ please arrest the POTUS. Those poor bastar*s didn’t have their rights read to them prior to being sentenced to death. By the way Allah is out of virgins.
0321_GUY on June 23, 2009 at 10:48 PM
:) First?
As to the drone strike, Yippee! Or should we worry whether one of Nedas brothers bought it too?
BL@KBIRD on June 23, 2009 at 10:49 PM
A hellfire missile is not capable of killing 60 people unless they’re inside and you’re VERY lucky. I would guess the number closer to 6. Now, if it was a 500 lb bomb or bigger and the drone was just designating the target, then I could believe it. I’m a former artillery officer with a nodding acquaintance of ordinance.
Mojave Mark on June 23, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Reading them the Miranda rights = 0
Not shooting them around houses = 0
Bombing them at funerals = 1
Schadenfreude on June 23, 2009 at 10:50 PM
ROFLMAO
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:53 PM
Excellent idea…now we’re cookin’ with gas!
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:54 PM
The next best thing to a nuke. Definitely will do the trick.
chemman on June 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Oh that..well at one time I would of said that, but not now. It was a typo. I did correct it in my next post to a Good IRANIAN…and still believe it.
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 10:58 PM
The good thing about a successful strike like this is that it provides further opportunities for similar strikes in the future.
Dreadnought223 on June 23, 2009 at 10:58 PM
I’d of thought an AC-130 would be a perfect funeral guest. Or perhaps a Warthog.
Jeff from WI on June 23, 2009 at 11:03 PM
After Barry’s disgraceful performance at his presser today, I would lean heavily towards the theory that it was someone in the military.
And I bet there are squirming at the WH tonight (you know “meddling” and all that sh*t)
dave c on June 23, 2009 at 11:03 PM
BBC says hold yur hosses!
Only 10 dead (two seperate strikes)
Limerick on June 23, 2009 at 11:05 PM
The lesson:
Never go to a taliban funeral when you know predators carry hellfire missiles and the American president aches for credibility.
It’s a recipe for a cremation.
Spiritk9 on June 23, 2009 at 11:05 PM
On January 19 they would have been civilians. Now they’re Taliban.
exhelodrvr on June 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Think about it…………
……… President Bush was brow beaten into fighting a ‘politically correct’ war, with a daily flogging in the press and Democrats on the hill to what he should do, what he shouldn’t do, dragging the war on for years when events like this should have extinguished the threat in a few months.
Now that Obama has his name on it, well………….
………. the voices of dissent have fallen silent, haven’t they?
Fricken cowards, political hacks and whores………
…….. Hat’s off to the men and women in the field who probably have orders to finally kill these bastards.
Seven Percent Solution on June 23, 2009 at 11:07 PM
Thanks everybody! The contractions are about 3 mins apart and she’s at 2 CMs … and she’s crushing my fingers!
Tony737 on June 23, 2009 at 11:10 PM
On January 19 they would have been civilians. Now they’re Taliban.
exhelodrvr on June 23, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Totally agree with your thinking only on Jan 19 they were victim’s today they are opportunity.
heshtesh on June 23, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, the fasten seat belt and no smoking signs are lit.
Good luck Tony. Good luck Mrs Tony!
Limerick on June 23, 2009 at 11:13 PM
That is one (very welcome) inconsistency in the Liberal “lawfare” strategy.
sanantonian on June 23, 2009 at 11:16 PM
To quote ‘Panky: “Not enough, call later.”
E T Cartman on June 23, 2009 at 11:18 PM
The Six Degrees of Funeral Separation effect. ;o)
infidel4life on June 23, 2009 at 11:18 PM
Amen: I remember it, as well — and my juices STILL eat at my stomach lining when I do.
sanantonian on June 23, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Fricken cowards,political hacks and whores……..
Seven Percent Solution on June 23,2009 at 11:07PM.
Seven Percent Solution:
Thats exactly what the Liberal Party is,playing politics,
and endangering US Military personnel,when there is a
Republican President!
Now that the Left is in charge,ITS THEIR MILITARY!
I agree SPS,its APPALLING,and SICKENING!!!!!!!!!:)
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Even though it was probably the military commander on the scene that made the decision to take these guys out as with past events I’m sure the administration wont hesitate in the slightest to claim credit for this.
Just like they did when the US Navy rescued Captain Phillips from the Somali Pirates and administration officials claiming that the protesters in Iran demanding freedom and democracy are doing so in part because of Obama’s Cairo speech.
Dreadnought223 on June 23, 2009 at 11:25 PM
Barry will claim credit right up until people start shrieking that 58 of them were actually civilians, and 25 of them kids. Then there will be a commander in the brig.
He should just stick to asprin factories…worked for Bill…
Spiritk9 on June 23, 2009 at 11:27 PM
He should just stick to aspirin factories…worked for Bill..
Spiritk9 on June 23,2009 at 11:27PM.
Spiritk9: Good point! I remaked on H/A thread,way back,
that with the attack of said factory,it would
be the Liberals who are at fault of causing
more terrorists!
But,in the same breath,I do not buy into the non
sense that American is causing terrorists!:)
canopfor on June 23, 2009 at 11:32 PM
It’s odd that all this drone killings aren’t “generating more hate and discontent against the US”. Guess it was just “a Bush thing”.
GarandFan on June 23, 2009 at 11:39 PM
I love it!
SlimyBill on June 23, 2009 at 11:42 PM
Where the hell have you been? – Limey
Flyin’ my butt off. And on my few days off, workin’ on my YouTube page (TonyN737) puttin’ up videos of TeeTee :-)
Agree with McBain, sounds like it was a Reaper!
Tony737 on June 23, 2009 at 11:42 PM
I think the difference between Bush and Obama on how we fought inside of Pakistan is that under Bush we had Mushy. Now we don’t and the current government in Pakistan is as threatened by the Taliban as we and the Afghanis are.
And even though Rice and Bush took so much grief about bringing back Benazir Bhutto and pushing Mushy out. That was the right thing to do in the long run. Now the government of Pakistan and the USA have a common enemy.. Taliban and AQ.
I would also note that Bush is the one that forced Mushy to choose between being President or military General and by doing that Mushy had to give up his military role. Now the one who heads the Pakistan military is aligned 100% with the USA.
Texas Gal on June 23, 2009 at 11:46 PM
This is all well and good, but did the strike kill any flies?
Maquis on June 23, 2009 at 11:53 PM
Additional targets cordoned off the area.
And it’s rather nice that the terrorists now have to spread the demoralizing news among their own in order to keep the rest away from tomorrow’s batch of funerals.
HotWeaver on June 23, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Oblahma is pro choice. Let’s call this abortion. We all know these people were unwanted and destined for a miserable life in poverty. run along now. Nothing more to discuss.
Want some ice cream?
seven on June 23, 2009 at 11:58 PM
I was nervous. Did someone say waterboarding? Now that is terrorism in action.
seven on June 24, 2009 at 12:00 AM
“Getcha a case of beer for that one.”
- Col. Kilgore
Cicero43 on June 24, 2009 at 12:17 AM
maybe that’s why we gave Pakistan drones. . . so that we could say that Pakistan was doing the killing when it is always us.
ThackerAgency on June 24, 2009 at 12:28 AM
Yeah, there he is, over there and over there and over there.
Johan Klaus on June 24, 2009 at 12:31 AM
That would be my bet as well. While I admittedly wouldn’t want to be anywhere near a Hellfire going off, I doubt it has quite that kind of broad anti-personnel capability.
Blacklake on June 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Too bad Al Jazeera wasn’t there to cover the funeral…or ABC.
Dr. ZhivBlago on June 24, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Flash: Predators over Bermuda
/
faraway on June 24, 2009 at 12:38 AM
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