Predator Drones Flown From Base In Pakistan, U.S. Lawmaker Says -- Chicago Tribune
Sen. Feinstein's surprise disclosure likely to complicate joint campaign against Taliban militants.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - A senior U.S. lawmaker said Thursday that unmanned CIA Predator aircraft operating in Pakistan are flown from an airbase inside that country, a revelation likely to embarrass the Pakistani government and complicate its counterterrorism collaboration with the United States.
The disclosure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, marked the first time a U.S. official had publicly commented on where the Predator aircraft patrolling Pakistan take off and land.
At a hearing, Feinstein expressed surprise at Pakistani opposition to the ongoing campaign of Predator-launched CIA missile strikes against Al Qaeda targets along Pakistan's northwest border.
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My Comment: What is Sen. Dianne Feinstein thinking? Why disclose such information? This puts numerous Americans, Afghans, Pakistanis, and Nato allies at risk. This even threatens the stability of the Pakistan Government itself.
If the story is true, the Pakistani Government would obviously have wanted guarantees of secrecy and confidentiality. Sen. Feinstein has compromised these agreements. There are going to be consequences.
Update: Upon reflection, I believe the story is true. Over the past year I have read numerous comments made by American Generals .... collaborated by other news sources .... that Predator strikes in Pakistan are coordinated through the CIA and not the U.S. military. But in Afghanistan, the Predator strikes are coordinated through the military.
While the air bases in Afghanistan are big, an ops involving the CIA and their Reaper UAV fleet would be noticeable. They would never be able to operate freely in such an environment.
They would have to operate somewhere else. A Pakistani Airbase would be perfect for them.