Obama's First Missile Strike

By Curt Wechsler, The World Can't Wait on January 23, 2009 11:07 AM |
18 Killed in Pakistan
CHRIS BRUMMITT | January 23, 2009 01:09 PM EST | AP 
Pakistani tribesmen pray along a street following a demonstration near the federal parliament in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, Jan. 23, 2009. Hundreds of protesters Friday demanded an end to Pakistan military operations and U.S. missile attacks against Taliban militants in lawless areas bordering Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Suspected U.S. missiles killed 18 people on the Pakistan side of the Afghan border Friday, security officials said, the first attacks on the al-Qaida stronghold since President Barack Obama took office.

At least five foreign militants were among those killed in the strikes by unmanned aircraft in two parts of the frontier region, an intelligence official said without naming them. There was no information on the identities of the others.

Pakistan's leaders had expressed hope Obama might halt the strikes, but few observers expected he would end a tactic that U.S. officials say has killed several top al-Qaida operatives and is denying the terrorist network a long-held safe haven.


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