3. Nature of the Issue Today Series of attacks in Northwest Pakistan using drones since 2004 Approved and increased by President Obama when he took office Drone attacks used against Pakistani Taliban and other alleged militants which secretly earned favor and approval from the Pakistani government and intelligence – although publically condemning them as well Many in Pakistan, including military personnel, protest drone attacks since at times, civilians are killed and its an infringement of its sovereignty, i.e. US military intervention Controversial since attacks are in a nation that has never attacked the US
4. First used in 2004 and currently being used today Attacks increased over the years killing between 1200 and 2000 people with approximately 200 drone strikes in all – supposedly mostly alleged terrorists or militants but civilians have been killed as well Bush administration used them as a weapon of choice for the War on Terror and they’ve continued under Obama’s administration Pakistani government has not only secretly shared information with the US but has also opened up some of its air force bases for drone use Drone attacks thought to be extremely successful – according to the US – against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda Past Developments
5. October 2, 2010: US drones launch two separate strikes killing 17 militants. In the first attack drones fired two missiles at a house in DattaKhel killing 9 militants including 4 foreigners. The dead were members of the Badar Mansur group, which is closely affiliated with Al Qaeda. Four hours later another strike occurred in the same area on a convoy of vehicles and a house killing another 8 militants. October 4, 2010: US drones strike a mosque in Mirali, North Waziristan, reportedly killing 8 suspected militants of German nationality. October 6, 2010: Two US drone strikes by Miran Shah, North Waziristan, kill a total of 11 militants. October 7, 2010: A US drone strike on a compound in North Waziristan kills 5 militants, included one of the Al Qaeda leaders Atiyah Abd al-Rahman. October 8, 2010: US drone strikes by Miran Shah, North Waziristan, kill a total of 6 militants according to an unnamed intelligence official, who was not authorized to speak to the media. October 10, 2010: Drones fire 4 missiles on 2 vehicles and kill at least 8 suspected militants in the Shewa District of North Waziristan. October 13, 2010: Drone attacks kill 11 militants in the DattaKhel area of North Waziristan. October 15, 2010: Two US drone strikes kill 13 suspected militants. The first drone strike killed six suspected militants in North Waziristan's MachiKhel area. Officials said two missiles hit an alleged militant vehicle. Later this day the second drone strike killed 7 suspected militants in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan. October 18, 2010: A drone strike in the DattaKhel area of North Waziristan kills 6 militants. October 27, 2010: Two US drone strikes 12 hours apart killed 7 militants. The first strike was on a house of militant Nasimullah Khan which killed 4 militants. The second strike was on a vehicle in DattaKhel kill which killed 3 militants. October 28, 2010: A US drone strike in the DattaKhel area kills 7 militants.
6. November 1, 2010: US-operated drones fired four missiles at a house in the Mir Ali District of North Wazaristan, killing five or six suspected militants. November 3, 2010: US drones launch three separate attacks killing 13 militants. In the first attack, drones fired two missiles at a vehicle in the QutabKhel area of Miran Shah killing 5 Uzbek militants. In the second attack, missiles struck a house and a vehicle in KhasoKhel village, near Mir Ali, killing 4 militants. In the third attack, four missiles were fired hitting a vehicle in PaiKhel village in DattaKhel town, killing 4 militants. November 7, 2010: Two US drone strikes kill a total 13 or 14 militants in the Miran Shah area of North Waziristan. In the first attack, drones struck a house and a vehicle in the town of Ghulam Khan, north of Miran Shah killing 9 militants. The second attack occurred an hour later in which drones stuck several vehicles in the neighboring town of DattaKhel, killing 4 militants. November 11, 2010: A US drone strike kills 6 suspected militants in North Waziristan. The militants were reportedly Haqqani Network fighters returning from operations in Khost Province, Afghanistan. November 13, 2010: A US drone strike kills five people in the village of Ahmad Khel in the Mir Ali area in North Waziristan. A Geo News correspondent reported from the attack site that the deceased seemed to be ordinary citizens, not terrorists. November 16, 2010: Four drone-fired missiles hit a house and vehicle in Bangi Dar village of North Waziristan, killing 15 to 20 people, possibly including civilians. November 19, 2010: One US drone strike kills 3 suspected militants in the region of North Waziristan. November 21, 2010: A US drone strike near Miran Shah, North Waziristan, kills 6 suspected militants. November 22, 2010: A US drone strike fired missiles at a car and a motorcycle in North Waziristan killing 5 alleged militants. November 26, 2010: A US drone strike fired missiles at a vehicle in North Waziristan killing 4 alleged militants. November 28, 2010: US drone missiles strike a vehicle in HasanKhel village, around 30 kilometers east of Miranshah. Initial reports indicated the strike killed 3 or 4 militants. Local officials, however, later reported that the suspected militants had survived the strike by fleeing the targeted vehicle after the first missile missed.
7. This would be a continuation of an already set pattern in US drone attacks in Pakistan Exponential increases of drone attacks in Pakistan over the past 6 years Cripple Taliban and Al-Qaeda outposts, hideouts, etc. The enemy is still strong and still uses its tactics to harm innocents, the only way to fight in an asymmetric war such as this is with these drones The Pakistani government supports us Solution 1 – Increased Drone Attacks
8. Attacks should be more strategic and pinpointed We should research the areas of potential strikes to make sure the dangerous, alleged terrorists and civilian militants are the only ones who would be harmed We would still be able to decimate many strongholds of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda without getting out of hand Drone attacks have been increasing year to year, slippery slope Solution 2 – Decreased Drone Attacks
9. We should indefinitely suspend drone attacks in Pakistan Different statistics on civilians killed coming from Pakistan than from the US – much higher in statistics from Pakistan Pakistan sovereign nation and an ally of the US yet we continue to attack its territory, not cool Not our war Solution 3 – Suspend Drone Attacks
10. Decreased drone attacks would allow us to not only continue facilitating the Pakistani government’s war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, but would allow the US to strike more strategic and important territories Pakistani government supports the attacks We’ve already begun to help and some positive outcomes have transpired Solution 2 Most Viable Option
