Image: Ethan Bloch

Obama’s chief adviser for counterterrorism explained the approach of the administration. Brennan defended the president against his critics, who argued that the administration was “soft on terror.” He clarified that President Obama realises the fact that terrorists from al-Qaida are still committed to accomplishing a deadly assault on American soil.

“President Obama has articulated a clear policy to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida and its allies. That is our mission,” said Brennan. “And the president described it in no uncertain terms in his inaugural [address] when he said, ‘Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.’ And to win this war against al-Qaida, the administration continues to be unrelenting, using every tool in its toolbox and every arrow in its quiver,” he added.

Brennan assured that the US will be maintaining pressure on havens of terrorists worldwide, such as those located near the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, he emphasised that the US will use its military strength, which has successfully fought against al-Qaida over the past year, together with its other tools, which include development aid and diplomacy.

In what Brennan described as a deviation from the Bush administration, he said that President Obama thinks that the US cannot allow the “war on terror” to determine its international agenda anymore.

In a statement, Malik encouraged Mehsud’s associates to leave their leader and to “serve Islam in true meaning and serve Pakistan, as this country has given them refuge.” ”I have already said that it is a targeted operation, it is a targeted law enforcement action against Baitullah Mehsud’s group and it will continue till Baitullah Mehsud’s group is eliminated forever,” Malik added. If confirmed, the death of the major Taliban leader would be an important step in U.S. and Pakistani government efforts to eradicate al-Qaida and the Taliban. Mehsud was accused of having connections with al-Qaida, which was accused of killing the former Pakistani prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. A U.S. counterterrorism official said the U.S. government is still looking for evidence of Mehsud’s death. He added that there are ways of finding who was killed in the missile attack.