Predator Strikes Popular in Pakistan

Washington Times Editorial:

We have heard a lot over the past few years about the Pakistani public being outraged by America's use of Predators and other pilotless aircraft to strike al Qaeda terrorists inside Pakistan. Pundits have cited rising public resentment that threatens our relationship with Pakistan, where more al Qaeda operatives have been killed or captured than any other nation on earth. So the wisdom in Washington is that we should tread carefully.

Now a new poll conducted in the tribal lands of Western Pakistan reveals that the Predator strikes are popular.

The new opinion survey was conducted by the Aryana Institute for Regional Research and Advocacy and not funded by the U.S. government. A survey of 550 people in Predator-targeted areas of the North West Frontier Province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas found that 58 percent of respondents said that the drone attacks have not increased anti-American feelings. Fifty-five percent said they did not "create fear and terror in the common people," 60 percent said the strikes were effective in damaging terror organizations, and 70 percent would like to see the Pakistan army make its own strikes on the militants.

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There is much more on the details of the report and the hostility toward the foreign fighters who ae the primary targets. There has been another strong clue to the findings of this poll. It is the lack of demonstrations and tantrums that follow the strikes. Instead you usually see the Taliban seal off the area and pull out their dead comrades. That is pretty much a give away of their effectiveness. Normally the Taliban are quick to exploit dead civilians.