US homes in on militants in Pakistan (US base just across the border now operational)

Asia Times ^ | 01/30/08 | Syed Saleem Shahzad

[TigerLikesRooster]

US homes in on militants in Pakistan

By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - Another piece of the United States' regional jigsaw is in place with the completion of a military base in Afghanistan's Kunar province, just three kilometers from Bajaur Agency in Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Pakistani intelligence quarters have confirmed to Asia Times Online that the base, on a mountain top in Ghakhi Pass overlooking Pakistan, is now operational. (This correspondent visited the area last July and could clearly see construction underway. See A fight to the death on Pakistan's border Asia Times Online, July 17, 2007.)

The new US base is expected to serve as the center of clandestine special forces' operations in the border region. The George W Bush administration is itching to take more positive action - including inside Pakistan - against Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda militants increasingly active in the area and bolstering the insurgency in Afghanistan.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Didn’t know it’s that bad.:-)

[Tennessean4Bush]

Apparently I was mistaken. “Home in on” is actually okay. The grammar police (including me) apparently were a little too quick to pounce!

[printhead]

IIRC, in all the spy-themed tv shows I watched when I was a kid, when they wanted to track somebody they would attach a “homing device” to their car.

[rsflynn]

All your base are belong to us.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Blam, your threads rock!

[blam]

Thanks.

[angkor]

Map of area from previous AT story:

[USMCPOP]

More on the “hone” vs. “home”:

http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/000378.html

[Constitution Day]

Very interesting! I’ll check that out further tonight. Thanks!

[rfp1234]

There are homing pigeons, but no “honing” pigeons.

[G8 Diplomat]

Pakistan ۋﮧ۱م

FReepmail if you want on or off

[tet68]

A homing pidgeon ‘homes’ in doesn’t he?

Actually the correct term is “ homs “ in.

[spokeshave]

Would they be foreclosed homes?

I guess this will solve the mortgage meltdown.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Does this base have a name?

[Chgogal]

I don’t know, I imagine so. Just the building of it really ticked off the terrorists!

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IG17Df03.html

BTW, I pinged you to the “other” later post, same article.