Pakistan Leaders Vow ‘Revenge’ for Drone Strikes

After 40 people were allegedly killed in a U.S. drone strike in the Pakistani region of North Waziristan, many of whom were thought to be tribal elders or police, Pakistani tribal leaders have vowed revenge. “We are a people who wait 100 years to exact revenge. We never forgive our enemy,” said the elders in a statement. The area is an al Qaeda and Taliban stronghold, and a launch pad for frequent attacks on U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan. The botched drone strike may not only help the Pakistani military delay an assault on the Taliban in the region, but also add pressure on the U.S. to scale back attacks in Waziristan. The two drones that struck Thursday are thought to have killed more civilians than any such attacks since 2006.