Pakistani Taliban Leader Killed In U.S. Drone Strike
The leader of the Pakistani Taliban has been killed in a U.S. drone strike:
DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan — The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the death of their leader in a U.S. drone strike Saturday, a day after he was killed, as the group’s leadership council met to begin the process of choosing a successor.
The death of Hakimullah Mehsud, a ruthless leader known for attacking a CIA base in Afghanistan and a bloody campaign that killed thousands of Pakistani civilians and members of the security forces, is a heavy blow for the militant group.
The drone strike came as the Pakistan government tries to negotiate a peace agreement with the Tehreek-e-Taliban, as the militant group Mehsud headed was formally called. Already the strike threatened to worsen U.S.-Pakistan relations as some Pakistani politicians called the strike an attempt to sabotage the peace talks.
“We are proud of the martyrdom of Hakimullah Mehsud,” Azam Tariq, the Pakistani Taliban spokesman in the South Waziristan tribal area, said in the first official confirmation of the leader’s death. “We will continue our activities.”
The Taliban’s Shura Council, a group of commanders representing various wings of the group, gathered at an undisclosed location Saturday in the North Waziristan tribal area, intelligence officials and militant commander said. That’s the same region where a U.S. drone strike killed Mehsud on Friday.
The Shura will continue to meet for a few days before it makes a decision, Tariq, the Taliban spokesman, told The Associated Press by telephone from an undisclosed location.
Two candidates to succeed Mehsud are Mullah Fazlullah, the Pakistani Taliban chief for the northwest Swat Valley, and Khan Sayed, the leader in the South Waziristan tribal area. The information came from three Pakistani intelligence officials and five Taliban commanders interviewed by phone.
Given the frequency with which leaders such as these seem to be knocked off by drone strikes, I don’t imagine that there are a lot of volunteers for the position.
From a story on CNN:
I think if you want to be the next Boss, the best bet is to play dead.
Might be tough with the “peace talks” going on, though.
If the Taliban ever encounters a money shortage, here’s what they should do:
1. Appoint goat herder as the next Taliban leader
2. Inform the US government about his position.
3. Collect reward == Profit!
Rinse and repeat.
Republican congresscritters responded, as they did when Osama bin Laden was killed, with strong praise for the president’s military leadership, accomplishing a major military priority with no American loss of life.
….then I woke up…..