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Stepping beyond War on Terrorism and those who safe harbor
terrorists: "The Hellfire missile strike would signal a new U.S.
tactic in embattled Afghanistan and a sign of the Bush
administration's determination to support the interim government of
leader Hamid Karzai."
CIA Missile Misses Afghan Warlord - U.S. Official
Thu May 9, 2:01 PM ET
By Charles Aldinger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Central Intelligence Agency (news - web
sites) fired a missile at an Afghan warlord from an unmanned spy
aircraft this week but missed the target, who was plotting to bring
down the country's interim government, a senior U.S. official said on
Thursday.
"I believe some others were killed in the strike, but the target
escaped," the official told Reuters, confirming a New York Times
report of Monday's attack by a Predator drone against Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar, head of a hardline Islamic group.
The official, who asked not to be identified, said Hekmatyar, a
former Afghan prime minister and veteran of the war against Soviet
occupation, was also plotting to launch attacks on U.S. and coalition
military forces in Afghanistan (news - web sites).
The Hellfire missile strike would signal a new U.S. tactic in
embattled Afghanistan and a sign of the Bush administration's
determination to support the interim government of leader Hamid
Karzai.
The CIA (news - web sites) and the Pentagon (news - web sites)
refused to comment on the report, but a Bush administration official
told Reuters the United States was especially concerned about
possible attacks sparked by Hekmatyar against American troops.
"We do have concerns about Hekmatyar and possible plans against U.S.
forces and his contacts with elements inside and outside Afghanistan -
- Taliban and al Qaeda -- that would pose a threat to U.S. forces,"
the official said. "So there are some serious concerns regarding
Hekmatyar, both his associations as well as possible threats to U.S.
forces."
Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1992, Hekmatyar turned on rival
Mujahideen leaders in the civil war that erupted for control of the
country. His bombardment of Kabul destroyed large parts of the city
center, which had survived almost intact during the 10-year Soviet
war, and killed thousands.
NO DETAILS OF ATTACK
Asked if the United States was concerned about any threat Hekmatyar
might pose to the Karzai government, the official replied: "That's
not our focus."
The senior U.S. official refused to discuss any details of the
attack. The New York Times cited reports that said Hekmatyar could
have been traveling in a convoy or standing with a group of people
when the missile was fired.
But the official told Reuters that the United States had gathered
strong intelligence that Hekmatyar was pushing efforts both to try
and bring down the Karzai government and to organize attacks against
American and Western coalition troops hunting al Qaeda and Taliban
fighters in Afghanistan.
The U.S. spy agency has played a central role in the seven-month old
Afghan war, including several times launching Hellfire missiles from
unmanned Predators at targets on the ground. Dozens of clandestine
CIA agents have also entered the rugged country to work with tribal
leaders in opposition to al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Hekmatyar has claimed he still has U.S.-made Stinger missiles
supplied to his forces by Washington when they drove Soviet troops
from the country. He also has a large militia following in
Afghanistan.
In a February interview with Reuters, Hekmatyar accused Karzai of
being a puppet leader under control of foreigners.
"While foreign troops are present, the interim government does not
have any value or meaning," he said. "We prefer involvement in
internal war rather than occupation by foreigners and foreign
troops."
While refusing to comment on any attack against Hekmatyar, one
Pentagon official noted his hardline party said two months ago that
it was prepared to cooperate with the new government and even sent
representatives to meet Karzai in Kabul.
"But last month, large numbers of people linked to him were arrested
(in Kabul) in an apparent plot to overthrow Karzai," the official
said. "They were preparing to launch a bombing campaign in the
capital."
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?
tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=1&cid=578&u=/nm/20020509/ts_nm/afghan_usa_cia_dc
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