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Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Pakistan: have I seen this movie?

When I read the beginning of the lead story on Dawn’s website yesterday, I felt like it came from the classic movie The Battle of Algiers: MINGORA / TIMERGARA, May 12: The military operation in Swat entered a crucial stage on Tuesday when commando units were dropped by helicopters on mountains around the Taliban headquarters ...

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When I read the beginning of the lead story on Dawn’s website yesterday, I felt like it came from the classic movie The Battle of Algiers:

MINGORA / TIMERGARA, May 12: The military operation in Swat entered a crucial stage on Tuesday when commando units were dropped by helicopters on mountains around the Taliban headquarters in Peochar, said to be the hideout of the chieftain of militants in the region, Maulana Fazlullah.

Official sources said that a fleet of at least 13 helicopters flew over the Peochar valley and dropped commandos on mountains as the army intensified its offensive in the region….”

PeeUbu/Flickr

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1
Tags: Afghanistan, Military, Pakistan

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