Al Qaeda Weapons Expert Killed In Airstrike

Once again, the US is walking the fine line of carrying out airstrikes against al Qaeda high value targets inside South Warizistan, Pakistan.

Al-Qaeda chemical weapons expert Midhat Mursi al-Sayid Umar was believed to have been killed Monday in a suspected US missile strike in Pakistan, security officials told AFP.

"We believe he was killed in this strike," a senior intelligence official based in the northwestern city of Peshawar told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"It was his hide-out and information that has been shared with us says he was targeted in this strike," the official said.

The Egyptian, 54, also known as Abu Khabab al-Masri, had a five-million-US-dollar bounty on his head and allegedly ran terrorist training camps in Afghanistan.

So, how will the media likely spin this? Well, they'll highlight the fact that three kids were killed in the airstrike along with the al Qaeda terrorists.

As usual, Long War Journal has more details, including reports that locals claim to have seen a Predator drone operating in the area and a Hellfire launch. It would also be the sixth such clandestine airstrike inside Pakistani territory since the beginning of the year.

Given that there are hundreds of terror camps and safe havens within Warizistan, this is a drop in the bucket. It also goes back to what I had been saying about any surge in Afghanistan proposed by both McCain and Obama having to take the situation in Pakistan into account (and which neither truly does).

UPDATE:
The Wall Street Journal was able to locate Taliban elements operating in Warizistan, which makes you wonder why it was so difficult for Musharraf's forces to do the same. Of course, the real issue with Musharraf was that he would alternate between appeasement and crackdown depending on how close the assassination attempts were.

Their day starts at 4 a.m. with prayers, followed by a six-mile run along the riverbed, swimming where some water remains, and weapons training. "One has to go through this rigor to prepare for the tough life as a fighter," said a 27-year-old who introduced himself as Omar Abdullah. He says he fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan before returning home to Pakistan a few weeks ago to organize training for new recruits.

The camp is just a few miles from Peshawar, the regional capital of Pakistan's conservative tribal belt. The existence of the camp and dozens like it is a major reason why the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan, just across the border, is foundering. Pakistan's military is struggling to locate the camps and eradicate them, in part because many locals are sympathetic to the jihadis.

Again, the problems in Afghanistan can be directly traced to the situation in the Pakistani border regions.

UPDATE:
Walking the tightrope.