Obama's Winning!

Obama is winning the hearts and minds of the once-hostile natives.  Here is NPR:

CIA-directed airstrikes against al-Qaida leaders and facilities in Pakistan over the past six to nine months have been so successful, according to senior U.S. officials, that it is now possible to foresee a "complete al-Qaida defeat" in the mountainous region along the border with Afghanistan.

The officials say the terrorist network's leadership cadre has been "decimated," with up to a dozen senior and midlevel operatives killed as a result of the strikes and the remaining leaders reeling from the repeated attacks.

Why am I reading this now, when the key events and decisions took place over the last several months?  Gee, a toughie...

We do get an unexpected mention of George Bush, as well as a caveat:

The CIA has been using drone aircraft to carry out attacks on suspected al-Qaida and Taliban targets in Pakistan for several years, but such attacks were significantly expanded last summer under orders from President George W. Bush. They also became more lethal, with the CIA for the first time using Reaper drones, an enhanced version of the Predator model used previously. The Reaper is capable of carrying two Hellfire missiles, as well as precision-guided bombs.

'Too Early To Declare Victory'

The officials interviewed by NPR asked not to be identified because of sensitivities surrounding the CIA campaign. They also insist it is too early to declare victory in the struggle against al-Qaida in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, and they caution that a number of the factors that explain the recent successes could yet be reversed.

The truly paranoid will wonder about the motivation of the "senior US officials" offering this info.  Maybe they are Obama-boosters trying to talk up the prospects of success in Afghanistan.  Maybe it is tied to this report saying the Pentagon wants to switch the goal in Afghanistan from naion-building to defeating Al Qaeda.  Or maybe this is the Old Switcheroo, with sources laying the groundwork for an extended commitment to Iraq predicated on the notion that Afghanistan is going swimmingly.

Time will tell!  But at least with Bush out of the way we can start seeing good news about the wars in unexpected places.

FOR THE PEDANTS:  Back in the day when men were men, "decimating" a unit meant killing every tenth man.  By that usage "decimating" Al Qaeda would hardly represent a, hmm, quantum leap to victory.  Hardly.

UPDATE:  Newsweek will have a similar story soon:

Daily Times Monitor

LAHORE: Strikes by unmanned US Predators on targets in Pakistan’s Tribal Areas have ‘stunned’ local Al Qaeda commanders, according to a report in the coming issue of Newsweek.

“Al Qaeda’s hideouts in Pakistan’s tribal areas aren’t quite as safe as they used to be,” it says, citing the example of a recent strike in North Waziristan that killed Al Qaeda commander Musataf Al Misri.

“We are stunned” by such precision,” a local sub-commander told the magazine.

“He’s seen the results of many airstrikes over the past year or two, but this one really impressed him,” Newsweek said. “The missile didn’t just hit the right house; it scored a direct hit on the very room where Mustafa Al Misri and several other Qaeda operatives were holed up.”

The unnamed sub-commander said the hit was so accurate that “it’s as if someone had tossed a GPS device against the wall”.

According to the article, Pakistan’s intelligence services have started to “help the Americans track and kill fugitive terrorists”, “after years in which they were suspected of shielding Osama Bin Laden’s lieutenants—or, at least, not pursuing them very vigorously”.

Quoting the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, the magazine says 11 of the top 20 ‘high-value’ Al Qaeda operatives have been killed in US drone strikes in six months.

It's a press offensive by someone.

[END OF THREAD]

Comments

[peter]

I don't know much but at least I am first.

[Don't Lookup]

Apparently, obama has been talking to AQ BEFORE he was elected. Isn't that treason?

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/feb/03/s-u-b-m-i-s-s-i-o-n/

[matt]

we'll soon hear that Obama is personally selecting targets and directing air strikes, just like Johnson....

[Crunchy Frog]

When men were men, and sheep were nervous.

[clarice]

Maybe he'll farm that task out to his new so-president Michelle. Come to think of it. that's not a bad idea.

[Thomas Collins]

Apparently Zerodust is not yet enchanting the NoKos. see LUN.

[clarice]

Yup--Obama says he's confident in his vetting process..expect the entire transition team to be under the bus in days. (Is there even any room there any more?)

[Barbara]

OT (sort of), but has anyone heard about this bill -
H. R. 645 introduced by Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, D-Fla.

"A BILL to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national emergency centers on military installations."

This expands the executive orders / directives Bush signed in 2007 (NSPD-51 and HSPD-20)

According to the bill, the Sec of Defense is instructed to hand over jurisdiction of the facilities to Homeland Security after 180 days.

Could this be for Obambi's Civilian Defense Corps?

[matt]

wasn't Alcee Hastings indicted for corruption?

[noname]

Maybe Soros and Emanuel and the other people who are in charge don't mind if Obama is replaced. They already have people in the administration so if he isn't there it doesn't matter.

Also some people claim Clinton believe there was someone in his administration trying to sabotage him, possibly an Israeli but he never followed up on it. Then the "intern" suddenly shows up.

Now there is another "intern" who happens to have an office in the WH - maybe they want there to be a scandal so he will be replaced. If he does have information that he doesn't want released including where he was born, it must cost them lots of money to keep people quiet - maybe they don't want to keep paying it.

[PaulL]

The extension of the meaning of "decimate" bothers me.

[Amused bystander]

Well Mossad has to be scurrying to save Israel from this mess. One expects some mayhem. They might just strike at the puppet masters, and sooner than later. Eyes open.

[Try Hang Gliding]

"But at least with Bush out of the way we can start seeing good news about the wars in unexpected places."

Including, ahem, here. Well, at least perhaps no more pot shots.

[Neo]

Why does this sound like some sort of CIA "rope-a-dope" plan concocted to make Obama look like either a idiot or a war-monger ?

[Neo]

wasn't Alcee Hastings indicted for corruption?

He was impeached as a federal judge and removed.
Then he ran for the US House.

Some how this reminds me of a Bob Dole story ..
Bob Dole joined the Army, sustained a head injury, then ran for Congress.

[kim]

Meaning 3 in my 1956 WNCD is 'to destroy a large part of'.
=================================

[BobS]

troll, troll, troll your boat......

[Vinman]

the main point is--why send more troops to Afghanistan?

[ropope]

rope-a-dope vapours(ya, like in British medicine)

[Barney Frank]

He was impeached as a federal judge and removed.

Well technically he was impeached and then convicted of the charges of perjury and corruption wherupon he was removed.
In his criminal trial he was brought to trial but acquitted when his co conspirator decided to go to prison rather than testify.
And guess who pardoned Alcee's fall guy in 2000.

[rooe]

NASA is giving away cash like hilly' university and Congress' USIP on the mall. The stimulus funds other agencies like the Smithsonian and this is HOBO's 21st century infrastructure. Set up private orgs, get lobby jobs there and retire there. Hilly's going to work at USIP for a few years until she does all the hiring for Hilly diplomat school as the new dean.

So, like none of this has anything to do with the HOBO's dad CIA and Harvard and Afghanistan? Cash for Obama.

[Soylent Red]

All:

My father got this email today, and it seemed like it had some potential...

With President Obama's inauguration now in the history books, it's time to get to work immediately to deliver the bold change that America needs.

On February 5th, all of the Members of our Democratic Majority will join President Obama for our annual issues conference to set our policy priorities for the year – and we want to hear from you.

That's why I'm inviting you to participate in our Ideas for Change Forum. This online gathering will give you the opportunity to make your voices heard as House Democrats and President Obama gather to set our agenda for change.

Sign up today to join the Ideas for Change Interactive Conference Call

Just as President Obama has called on every American to join together in renewing America's promise, Speaker Pelosi and our Democratic Majority in Congress can't create the change we need without you.

We want to hear your thoughts as we discuss ways to create millions of new jobs, make health care more affordable, and declare America's energy independence.

Sign up today to join the Ideas for Change Interactive Conference Call

Unlike the Republicans who only invited high-powered lobbyists paying $25,000 or more to participate in their issues conference, we want our grassroots supporters like you to give us your ideas for change.

Just as we did last year, let's prove again that real change happens from the bottom up.

Brian Wolff
Executive Director, DCCC

Have fun.

[ropope]

lu

[NuclerFreePlanet]

Hilly met with the British. USIP is going up on the mall and soon we'll have Hilly U and NASA U and probably a HOBO U.

HOBO's dad never worked for CIA.

LUColdBalls

[Pal2Pal (Sara)]

That's why I'm inviting you to participate in our Ideas for Change Forum.

I only have one idea for change - Get all the Dems in Congress to resign, starting with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.

[Antimedia]

He was impeached as a federal judge and removed.

Well technically he was impeached and then convicted of the charges of perjury and corruption wherupon he was removed.
In his criminal trial he was brought to trial but acquitted when his co conspirator decided to go to prison rather than testify.
And guess who pardoned Alcee's fall guy in 2000.

Which clearly qualifies him to serve as a Democrat Congressman.

[po]

The One stated in a debate in 2007 that attacking AQ in Pakistan was the proper strategy. This of course was viewed as silly by conventional wisdom. Seems W tired it out, saw that it worked and now Obama carries on. Least W eventually learned from his mistakes.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Sigh. Tried to answer the HR645 question and got spam filtered, so I'll just point you to the corresponding entry on Explorations.

[matt]

Wired magazine is reporting that Kyrghistan is going to boot us out of their Manas airbase. This is one of the key support bases for US forces in Afghanistan. The Russians have been pushing them on this for the past year or so. This is shaping up to be a very bad year.

[Charlie (Colorado)]

The One stated in a debate in 2007 that attacking AQ in Pakistan was the proper strategy. This of course was viewed as silly by conventional wisdom. Seems W tired it out, saw that it worked and now Obama carries on. Least W eventually learned from his mistakes.

Sorry, Poopsie, the Bush Administration was using Predators in Pakistan when Obama was still insisting he was far too inexperienced to run for President.

[po]

sorry charlie, this wasn't in any great numbers for fear of offending our "friends" int he GWOT, the Pakistanis. The change didn't happen until the Ds started talking about it in debates and someone pulled his head out . . . but you go on believing what you want. Least the focus is now on AQ.

[glenda]

Charlie, again; you bring reason..even to the poopsie's of the world!
I wonder what tomorrow will bring, after all the dow rose today while Obama's nose got bloodied.

[Jane]

Hey Po, don't let the facts slow you down!

[Nut]

The plan for Afghanistan was always to invade Pakistan. We have been bombing them for over a year now and it's not a war. Russia shot down a predator to explain to these idiots that that is the only way to get them to leave. So, now we see CIA's genius in it's Kennedy PC and Green Beret strategy. Give CIA NGOs money to give the the warlords. Invade pakistan cause they were always hated by CIA and their Pashtu speaking Russians.

Obama is Harvard and the NGO money. This war was planned by his pals and CIA. It's a successful war. Lots of cash, but we haven't invaded Pakistan and that's what the CIA wants. It's obvious from the hires.

'The Stans' are part of the Afghanistan strategy. The CIA coups went pretty well except for a moron running around saying kill the leaders. Georgia should have made obvious how stupid CIA was with their strategy. The bases are going to get more expensive. Working with CIA is a mistake.

Jimmy 'the peanut' never killed anybody. It was his nuts. LU#

[narciso]

Abu Hamza Al Rabia, one of the Al Libi's (which just means the Libyans)at least two midlevel AQ commanders splashed in Pakistan in 2005, no comment there, from the incoming Senator from Illinois.

[clarice]

Nut(and a well- named poster for sure):"The plan for Afghanistan was always to invade Pakistan"

I take this super secret but certainly ingenuous plan involved serried ranks of Kansan volunteers marching thru Quetta to Islamabad.

[closed video feed]

Oh ya, Soros and Georgia is pretty obvious. Jimmy's nuts don't like no FOX.

Palin's back after trading volcanoes. Japanese really hate quakes and stuff. We need to investigate those helikopters..........Jimmy's nuts don't like no helicopter.

[Que ab ad]

'...abductors from fleeing to Afghanistan.'

The border................L

[Rick Ballard]

I wish I had the net and Thorazine concession for that one. It's gotta be worth a mint.

[Nuleat]

'Thorazine would send a drug user crashing immediately, leading to long-term psychological problems.'LU}

Singularity University = Joint Quantum Institute

[bad]

"Joint Institute"

Wasn't that Obama's alma mater?

[Pal2Pal (Sara)]

Now this is funny.

Blogger Gets Emanuel Tossed From Home

[bad]

Lack of property rights are a bitch.

[Barbara]

Re: H. R. 645, here's a link to the text of the proposed legislation:

H. R. 645 - to establish national emergency centers on military installations

[skylights]

Whoa, what a bunch of whack-a-doos. Better double up the foil on your hats.

[Soylent Red]

I don't know much Clarice, but I do know this:

When all those Kansans invade Pakistan, they'd damn well be able to count on Luciferian air support.

[Topsecretk9]

Soylent

Cryptic said he would reveal all for something like $80 grand...do you think we could get a congress critter to drop this pettily winks amount into the crap sandwich just so we can find out what the heck Luciferians, HOBO, Spain, 501 law, OOP Plame, "the Vanity Fair the movie" and about 80 other kooky references are?

I mean, it sounds like it could be viewed to a Pink Floyd song or something and really cool.

-- also, the 80 grand slipped in seems like a whiz with a Dem...

::wink::

[Daddy]

Man, I thought Michael Phelp's hash pipe was on the other thread.

[MayBee]

Tops- that Conyers info is fantastic. What a pair.

[ashok]

Came in via Instapundit. Very much enjoyed this post, esp. since most of the reports I've been hearing about Afghanistan have been bad news regarding the Taliban.

Was curious on what your take is more specifically regarding Afghanistan policy. Something's funny about increasing the number of troops while "narrowing" the goal, no?

[Letalis Maximus, Esq.]

Bless your heart! The modern mis-use of "decimate" is one of my biggest language pet peeves. That, and the apparent confusion regarding whether to use "further" or "farther."

[cathyf]

Hmmm... So, Letalis, did you mean "bless your heart" in the common meaning of "you hopeless idiot you really screwed that up" or something else?

[Thomas Collins]

Wait a minute. I thought the reason the Persians were undertaking a nuclear program was because of the hegemonic, militaristic policies of Bushhitler, and that once Mr. Transcendence became Prez, the attitude of the Persians would change. Have the Persians not heard that Mr. Transcendence is now Prez? See LUN.

[Pedant 2.0]

The mention of "decimating" was a good catch. One could also note the phrase "a... quantum leap to victory," correctly used, means nearly no progress at all, not a huge advance. A quantum, in the physics from which the term originates, represents the smallest possible change of state.