The MQ-9 Reaper.U.S. Missile Strikes Said To Take Heavy Toll On Al Qaeda -- L.A. Times
Predator drone attacks in northwest Pakistan have increased sharply since Bush last year stopped seeking Pakistan's permission. Obama may keep pace as officials speak of confusion in Al Qaeda ranks.
Reporting from Washington -- An intense, six-month campaign of Predator strikes in Pakistan has taken such a toll on Al Qaeda that militants have begun turning violently on one another out of confusion and distrust, U.S. intelligence and counter-terrorism officials say.
The pace of the Predator attacks has accelerated dramatically since August, when the Bush administration made a previously undisclosed decision to abandon the practice of obtaining permission from the Pakistani government before launching missiles from the unmanned aircraft.
Read more ....
My Comment: Targeted killings can be very effective if the targets can be identified and painted for Predators and Reapers to lock on and fire their missiles.
This war is rapidly becoming a battle in which intelligence operatives and Afghan/Pakistani supporters are leading the fight against the Al Qaeda leadership .... and fortunately they are becoming very lethal in what they can do.
It should be no surprise that the Al Qaeda leadership is now in disarray, not trusting who their friends are and on who they can now rely on.