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January 11, 2013

Report: 11 Pakistani Civilians Killed in Escalating U.S. Drone Strikes Since Jan. 1st 
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Thursday's bombings came hours after at least six people were killed in
the seventh publicly known U.S. drone strike inside Pakistan in less
than two weeks. The Obama administration has begun 2013 with a flurry of
Pakistan strikes, raising speculation it is accelerating the bombings
before its capacity to carry them out is diminished with the planned
withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of next year. According to a
tally by the website Long War Journal, U.S. drones have already killed
as many as 11 civilians and 30 suspected militants in the first 10 days
of the year. If confirmed, that would mean a death ratio of more than
one civilian for every three suspected militants. It also would already
exceed the official civilian death toll for 2012, though that number is
likely too small because U.S. policy deems all adult males as militants
unless contrary evidence emerges after their deaths.

 

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