Firing by Pakistani troops forced two U.S. military helicopters to turn back to Afghanistan after they crossed into Pakistani territory early on Monday, Pakistani security officials said.

The incident took place near Angor Adda, a village in the tribal region of South Waziristan where U.S. commandos in helicopters raided a suspected al Qaeda and Taliban camp earlier this month.

“The U.S. choppers came into Pakistan by just 100 to 150 meters at Angor Adda. Even then our troops did not spare them, opened fire on them and they turned away,” said one security official.

The U.S. and Pakistani military both denied that account, but Angor Adda villagers and officials supported it…
But the official denials were contradicted by Pakistani civilian officials and villagers in Angor Adda…

Two Chinook helicopters appeared set to land when troops began shooting, alerting tribesmen who also opened fire on the intruders, said a senior government official in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province.

Statements by politicians and military officials both sides of the border are meaningless, of course. Denial, from the Pentagon to Peshawar, is now an automatic part of the public face of armies.




  1. bobbo says:

    You’d think Bush would follow the Bush doctrine? Just kidding.

  2. RTaylor says:

    What do you expect with a violation if sovereign airspace? How in the Hell are you going to advance diplomacy with hypocritical actions.

  3. JimD says:

    Did Congress DECLARE WAR ON PAKISTAN ??? If not, ***IMPEACH BUSH NOW*** !!!

  4. Springheel Jack says:

    You can’t ask for a bigger, slower, fatter targets than two Chinooks about to land. So why couldn’t they hit them? Man, either the Paks are terrible shots…or it never happened.

  5. Springheel Jack says:

    Yea, ferget Eitard and his stupid topic. Here is a nice Bob Dylan poem instead:

    Do not go gentle into that good night,
    Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
    Because their words had forked no lightning they
    Do not go gentle into that good night.

    Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
    Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
    And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
    Do not go gentle into that good night.

    Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
    Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

    And you, my father, there on that sad height,
    Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
    Do not go gentle into that good night.
    Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

  6. Matt Garrett says:

    Sorry, Jim D. War Powers Act is in full force. You really need to read the Constitution to understand what constitutes an impeachable offense.

    And besides, impeaching the President would only hand the election to McCain in a heartbeat.

  7. Pmitchell says:

    I say we overly the country with c130s full of pig lard and spray the country side with it.

    The Islamic fundies would have to leave and the problem is solved with out firing a shot

  8. Winston says:

    They’re trying to kill or capture Osama bin Laden as an “October Surprise.”

    Supporting evidence: even though my theory wasn’t explicitly covered, in an interview this morning of Steve Coll about his new book “The Bin Ladens,” Mr. Coll stated, with supporting evidence, that the new Paki government has _much_ more of an incentive to capture OBL than did the previous one. So, killing or capturing OBL before the new prez takes office, who may be a Democrat, is now a priority for the Bush regime. Success would serve two purposes: it would provide an October Surprise which would greatly benefit McCain and it would prevent a Democratic regime from gaining credit if the killing/capture instead ocured sometime in 2009.

  9. Springheel Jack says:

    No, he’s in the trunk of Dick Cheney’s car.

  10. sparky says:

    These Pakistan army guys that fired on the choppers didn’t get the memo.

    Also have you noticed all of the activity along the border recently? It’s obvious that Bush is pulling out all of the stops to try and get Bin Laden before he’s out of office or before the election.

  11. MikeN says:

    Who cares, when are you going to post another Seymour Hersh article about the coming war with Iran?

  12. MikeN says:

    Has Obama become President already?

  13. JimD says:

    #6, Springheel Jack, that’s Dylan Thomas, whoever he was !!!

    Perhaps you meant to recall Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War”:

    Come you masters of war
    You that build all the guns
    You that build the death planes
    You that build all the bombs
    You that hide behind walls
    You that hide behind desks
    I just want you to know
    I can see through your masks.

    You that never done nothin’
    But build to destroy
    You play with my world
    Like it’s your little toy
    You put a gun in my hand
    And you hide from my eyes
    And you turn and run farther
    When the fast bullets fly.

    Like Judas of old
    You lie and deceive
    A world war can be won
    You want me to believe
    But I see through your eyes
    And I see through your brain
    Like I see through the water
    That runs down my drain.

    You fasten all the triggers
    For the others to fire
    Then you set back and watch
    When the death count gets higher
    You hide in your mansion’
    As young people’s blood
    Flows out of their bodies
    And is buried in the mud.

    You’ve thrown the worst fear
    That can ever be hurled
    Fear to bring children
    Into the world
    For threatening my baby
    Unborn and unnamed
    You ain’t worth the blood
    That runs in your veins.

    How much do I know
    To talk out of turn
    You might say that I’m young
    You might say I’m unlearned
    But there’s one thing I know
    Though I’m younger than you
    That even Jesus would never
    Forgive what you do.

    Let me ask you one question
    Is your money that good
    Will it buy you forgiveness
    Do you think that it could
    I think you will find
    When your death takes it’s toll
    All the money you made
    Will never buy back your soul.

    And I hope that you die
    And your death’ll come soon
    I will follow your casket
    In the pale afternoon
    And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
    Down to your deathbed
    And I’ll stand over your grave
    ‘Til I’m sure that you’re dead.

  14. edwinrogers says:

    #16. Way, too long.

  15. edwinrogers says:

    The Pakistan army is an old and honorable force, it’s officers are among the most professionally trained in the World, it’s NCOs are brutal and war hardened, it’s troops are drawn from local tribes.

  16. brendal says:

    By definition, one can only declare war on another country. Pakistan is not a country. It is a cesspool.

  17. RSweeney says:

    Reuters Aug 1 2007
    “Obama said if elected in November 2008 he would be willing to attack inside Pakistan with or without approval from the Pakistani government, a move that would likely cause anxiety in the already troubled region.

    “If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will,” Obama said”

    http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0132206420070801

  18. Greg Allen says:

    >> brendal said,
    >> Pakistan is not a country. It is a cesspool.

    And that is how much of the world now view American, thanks to conservative rule.

    No kidding — if America is so stupid as to elect another conservative to the Whitehouse, the world will NOT be very sympathetic if we are hit again by terrorists.

    They will think we deserved it for being so aggressive, stubborn, self-centered and damn ignorant.

  19. Paddy-O says:

    #18 “And that is how much of the world now view American, thanks to conservative rule.”

    Apparently not enough view us this way. Still WAY too many people sneaking in to live here. Another 8 years is needed…

  20. zorkor says:

    Pakistan can handle any army in the world. Bring in the USA, we can handle these Sassy assed ‘mericans with ease. Just leash the talibs on them and see the blood curdling screams of these belony army. Dont forget, China, Russia , Iran will also join the fight to mince more american meat and have them for Ramadan dinner party. Yum!

  21. Greg Allen says:

    >> Paddy-O said,
    >> Apparently not enough view us this way. Still WAY too many people sneaking in to live here. Another 8 years is needed…

    Just because they want to work here, doesn’t mean they don’t loath our foreign policies.

  22. Greg Allen says:

    >> zorkor said,
    >> Dont forget, China, Russia , Iran will also join the fight to mince more american meat and have them for Ramadan dinner party. Yum!

    In your dreams.

    Iran would love to see Pakistan bogged down in a fight with the Americans.

    Afghanistan and India hate Pakistan even more.

    Russia and China don’t give a rip about Pakistan — and certainly not enough to tangle with America.

    Face it, Pakistan would be alone, as a nation. It’s kind of sad, really, but hardly any countries like Pakistan.

    As a MUSLIMS, however, it’s a different story. Lots of Jihadis, including Al Qaeda, would flock to Pakistan in order to get a close-up shot at American troops. Funding, as well, would flow in to Pakistan from all over the Muslim world.

    The Bush administration, it’s save to presume, really has not idea how much more difficult Pakistan will be than Afghanistan and Iraq.

    Heck, Pakistan would even be harder to “win” in than Iran, which would be a mess far worse than anything we’ve fought in since WWII.

  23. Colorado says:

    Ref #17
    The quote is from Slate: “many people are reluctant to employ truthful descriptions for the emerging Afghan-Pakistan confrontation: American liberals can’t quite face the fact that if their man does win in November, and if he has meant a single serious word he’s ever said, it means more war, and more bitter and protracted war at that—not less.”

  24. Paddy-O says:

    #21 “Just because they want to work here, doesn’t mean they don’t loath our foreign policies.”

    Correction, if they live here it is their foreign policies…

  25. Greg Allen says:

    >> Paddy-O said,
    >> Correction, if they live here it is their foreign policies…

    I’m sure the illegal workers will be glad to hear that!

  26. Greg Allen says:

    >> Colorado said,
    >> American liberals can’t quite face the fact that if their man does win in November, and if he has meant a single serious word he’s ever said, it means more war, and more bitter and protracted war at that—not less.”

    Alas, maybe so.

    But I’d rather have a hecka smart guy, like Obama, in there than a CLUELESS BUNGLING WAR MONGER like McCain.

  27. Rick Cain says:

    You gotta admire Bush’s Moxie….3 months left in his presidency and he’s already trying to start more conflicts.

    1) Bolivia, where US intelligence agents are stirring up a rebellion
    2) Georgia, where Bush seems to think starting a war with Russia is a good idea.
    3) Pakistan, a country full of people who would volunteer to strap on a bomb and blow up a mall, yes lets irritate them by killing their women and children!

  28. SPC mxpwr03 says:

    Yea cause Evo Morales’ douche bag domestic policy initiatives have nothing to do with the growing discontent among Bolivians – It’s the CIA.

  29. Paddy-O says:

    #28 “Pakistan, a country full of people who would volunteer to strap on a bomb and blow up a mall,”

    Just don’t let them come to America. Problem solved.

  30. zorkor says:

    You losers should be happy that Pakistan saved your asses from another 911. And what Pakistan gets in return? War threats! Typical America. The most dumbest nation with the dumbest people on Earth. Period!


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