- Barack Obama gave the go-ahead for his first military action yesterday, missile strikes against suspected militants in Pakistan which killed at least 18 people.
- Four days after assuming the presidency, he was consulted by US commanders before they launched the two attacks. Although Obama has abandoned many of the "war on terror" policies of George Bush while he was president, he is not retreating from the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other al-Qaida leaders.
- The US believes they are hiding in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan, and made 30 strikes last year in which more than 200 people were killed. In the election, Obama hinted at increased operations in Pakistan, saying he thought Bush had made a mistake in switching to Iraq before completing the job against al-Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan
President Obama 'orders Pakistan drone attacks'
(US Air Force/EPA)
A Predator drone
- Missiles fired from suspected US drones killed at least 15 people inside Pakistan today, the first such strikes since Barack Obama became president and a clear sign that the controversial military policy begun by George W Bush has not changed.
- Security officials said the strikes, which saw up to five missiles slam into houses in separate villages, killed seven "foreigners" - a term that usually means al-Qaeda - but locals also said that three children lost their lives.
Text: Obama's Plan For Afghanistan And Pakistan
(CBS)
- President Obama today announced his new plans for Afghanistan and Pakistan. They include an increase of both U.S. military and civilian forces in Afghanistan and an increase of aid to Pakistan in return for help stopping militants in the border region.
- As for the reasons for this plan, Mr. Obama said this: "Let me be clear: al Qaeda and its allies – the terrorists who planned and supported the 9/11 attacks – are in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Multiple intelligence estimates have warned that al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the U.S. homeland from its safe-haven in Pakistan. And if the Afghan government falls to the Taliban – or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged – that country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can."
- Click here for more on this story. You can also watch part of the address below.
- With Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at his side, President Obama unveiled a new strategy for fighting terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- President Obama says the new strategy, which “marks the conclusion of a careful policy review” with top military and diplomatic officials, includes plans for increased funding and an additional 4,000 troops above the 17,000 increase he previously authorized. These 4,000 troops will train Afghan security forces
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