Gates: Missile strikes in Pakistan to continue

[unhappycamper]

Gates: Missile strikes in Pakistan to continue
By Lara Jakes - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jan 27, 2009 18:53:05 EST

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is retaining a powerful but controversial weapon left over from the Bush administration’s war on terror: Predator missile strikes on Pakistan.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates signaled to senators Tuesday that missile strikes will continue. He did not directly refer to the Predator hunt-and-kill drone program but said the U.S. would continue to strike at al-Qaida inside Pakistan along its border with Afghanistan.

But senior Obama administration and Capitol Hill officials say the Predator strikes are effective, and there is no plan to discontinue the program.

The Predator attacks have strained U.S. relations with Pakistan, which has urged Obama to halt them.

Pakistan was struck last week by missiles that killed at least 22 people. The strike was part of a continuing wave of more than 30 missile attacks since August.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_gates_predator_012709/%2e



uhc comment: Be careful, Mr. Obama. Afghanistan is going to become your Vietnam.