Where ‘The Land Is on Fire’
The village of Damadola is caught between tribal loyalties and America's wrath.
Damadola used to be about as quiet as any place on earth. Roughly 2,000 people, subsistence farmers mostly, live in this tree-shaded village of terraced wheat fields and mud-brick houses in Pakistan's northwestern tribal agency of Bajaur. But it's anything but peaceful now. The Afghan border is only two miles away, via a network of unpoliced mountain trails that link the insurgent strongholds of Kunar province (rumored to be the refuge of Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman Al-Zawahiri) with Peshawar and other Pakistani towns.
The location helps explain why more than 100 people in and around Damadola have been killed by U.S. Predator strikes since 2006. While the dead have apparently included some who were committed enemies of America, locals claim others were no more than bystanders—children among them. U.S. operators take extraordinary care in picking targets for Predator strikes, which in the tribal areas are thought to be conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency. (The U.S. government does not comment on alleged operations in Pakistan.) But in practice their definition of a legitimate target includes those who make it possible for militants to thrive. "If people in those communities are truly concerned about their welfare, they should not harbor terrorists, and they should oppose those who do," says one U.S. official, asking not to be named when discussing sensitive material. "These terrorists—especially the foreigners—are a menace to Pakistan and to the world at large."
In the United States, few would question that brutal calculus—one thing that both presidential candidates and the vast majority of citizens would agree upon is the legitimacy of going after the Qaeda network in Pakistan's tribal badlands. But Pakistan's new civilian leadership complains that the U.S. strikes—and the collateral damage they've caused—are making the job of pacifying the area harder. At ground level, in mountain hamlets like Damadola, things aren't always as clear as they may seem through the viewfinder of a deadly, high-flying drone.
Villagers in Damadola say it's hard to say no to men with guns, especially when many of those men are your neighbors and relatives. It's even tougher in Pakistan's tribal areas, where the Pashtuns' ancient ethical code requires that every visitor be treated hospitably. "Even if a bloodthirsty enemy comes to your door you have to welcome him," says a gray-bearded villager named Bakhti Gul. He can't help adding: "Especially those who are chased by the U.S." His nephew was among the victims of the most recent Predator attack, early on the morning of May 14. The young man had joined the militants, Bakhti Gul admits, but only after an earlier Predator strike on a nearby madrassa had killed more than 80 of his schoolmates.
That attack, in October 2006, illustrates the murkiness of the conflict in the tribal areas. Pakistani officials claimed at the time that the school was a militant training camp. Locals claim that many of the dead were youngsters, although at least a few may have been valid targets—one in particular was a close associate of Maulana Faqir Mohammad, deputy head of the Pakistan Taliban Movement, under the notorious suicide-bomb trainer Baitullah Mehsud.
Getting firm intelligence on targets from afar is nearly impossible. Shah Khan, 45, a weathered subsistence farmer, saw the first Predator strike on Damadola, before dawn on Jan. 13, 2006. He was tending a newborn calf when he heard a buzzing in the sky near his sister's house, about 100 yards up the hill. He saw a flash of light and what looked like a rain of fire—and then the house exploded. "It looked like Judgment Day," he says. The concussion knocked him down, but he staggered to his feet and ran up the hill. Three of his sister's children lay dead in the rubble. U.S. officials later said the target was Zawahiri himself, who was thought to be meeting with fellow jihadists. Local officials said the attack killed 18 people, but Zawahiri wasn't there. U.S. officials remain convinced that they barely missed him. Khan insists there were no Qaeda members or insurgents in the house.
Even good intelligence can go bad. The May 14 strike targeted a guesthouse belonging to a local preacher, Maulvi Obaidullah. Men had gathered at the house the evening before. They were a diverse group: Gul's nephew, the young militant, was there, but so were the village shopkeeper Haji Omar Shah and a local journalist named Akhondzada. Obaidullah's 14-year-old nephew sat down with the men, as did the preacher's armed militant son, Azizullah, and several local boys who were just hanging out.
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Member Comments
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 07/14/2008 1:00:01 PM
Comment: In the present circumstances,
we are stronly expecting,
a war cycloon may have esclate Middle East states,
so M.D.should stand against it ,
having flages of peace in hand,
otherwise time will out.
In the first phase of strike,
on the Iranian nuclear site,there is chances of ten thousand untimely death,
may be,thereafter,spreade to millions.
By Iranian millitary action on ,
the whole oil tarfic,
passing through the sea ways,
may converted into smoke,
and in this way the whol world,
including west will have face untolrable oil crisis.
Delay in negotiation is more dengrous than war,
issue can be resolved,
it is not too complicated,
which require unique wisdom,
that parties concerned have not,imposible.
There are powerfull personalties in the Middle East,
can play a crucial role,
and saved Iran,Israel,and the United States from expected destruction.
Silence,
this time their silence is absolutely not understandable,
they should move forward for conciliation.
Air exercize,
missile test,
seaship,
everything is moving toward fleshpoint,
at this time,
silence is not favourable,
silence at this time is a great crime and sin.
United States,
and its allies believe ,
Iran approaching to nuclear success,
but
Iran,considering it a allegation,
and continuously denied.
What is the reallity,
should see,and decide,
who is wrong who is right.
The parties concerned shoud,under international obligation,be carefull,
because there is question million human lives.
Posted By: Sultan Ahmed @ 07/04/2008 7:49:01 AM
Comment: This a ground reality,
every one living in this world and have a little knowledge know that trible area is kissing both side borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan,called lawless trible land.
Hard core fighter,having believe in Allah Almight,religion and martyrdom when fight forget one inch slipping back.
This is their real history. as you have also seen they are in combat with supper powers of the world since 2001.without modern weapons as have opposit side.
Now the question is that, who is aggressor,who is terrorist,
It is an admitted fact that an occurence had been taken place on 9/11.
It would be unjust if i say that it was a right action,no it was wrong,crime ,hienous crime was really committted,resposible desrved no sympathy.
What occured thereafter,
an old friend,American ,s true friend Usama Bin Laden was blamed ignoring all activists strugling for independence of Palestine and other groups have enmity with the united states.
Afghanistan was invaded,you know mr Troperioist how much power were involved in the aggression?
Large number of people,absolutely innocent were killed,the present bloodletting is the result of that action hurriedly taken against poor and innocent me, women ,and childern.
Mr.Trooperioist,please tell me where are weapons of Mass destruction claimed the united states that were in the Iraqi stockpile,can you tell me?wrong,absolutely wrong,baseless allegations were levelled inspite it Iraq was attacked by United States with other war partners.
How much killied?according to a carefull estimate six lacs.80% were innocent among them..
Killing campaign is still going on .
What they should do in such circumstances,They have weapons,no dron air crafts,no other meterial essential for modern war.
There is darkness,there is no way to go out,In such a helpless condition they saw the way of Jihad,they took and moving.
This is a ground reality you will have agree with it.
we are not in favour of such bloodshed being done on wide range.
It must be stoped,just stoped.
why are you saying we are habor,itis baseless charges has been levelled gainst us(Pakistan)
Becoming partner of you in war of terrore we have created a horrible tention inside our homeland,sacrificing life and property but calling HARBOR.
Now perhaps,will have to reconsider the partnership with you on the war of terror.
It has been lawless since long.They have their own custom.law and culture.Their way of life is different absolutely different.They are brave,high like mountains,and can not rule any forieners.
These hard core fighter strictly believe in Allah Almighty and martyrdom when fight for their country,religion
Posted By: Trooper101st @ 06/28/2008 9:28:24 AM
Comment: You harbor terrorists, there will be consequences. These "innocents" aren't all that innocent either. They KNOW wat they are doing, who they are hiding. You sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind. This is Taliban central, and the more madrosses that get obliterated, the better. And wat do you know "Sultan" Ahmed about US counter-insurgency? I bet in more than half of these strikes there were boots on the ground directing the air-strikes. P-stan is a 2 faced unreliable ally who cedes territory to terrorists. A-stan CANNOT have peace coz of the militants being harbored in PAKISTAN. The day is near for a massive airstrike in Waziristan and along the border, and P-stan does NOT govern these territories. Bombs Away!!!!