Pakistan Taliban head cracks jokes, vows vengeance (Hakimullah Mehsud)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 10/5/09 | Ishtiaq Mahsud - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SARAROGHA, Pakistan – Flanked by heavily armed fighters, the new leader of the Pakistani Taliban sat on a blue blanket, amiable and relaxed as he cracked jokes and mixed in threats of vengeance for deadly U.S. airstrikes.

One day later, a suicide bomber attacked a U.N. office in Islamabad.

Hakimullah Mehsud met with reporters Sunday for the first time since winning control of the militant group, quashing speculation that he had been slain in a succession struggle following the killing of his predecessor in a U.S. drone attack.

He also described his group's relationship to al-Qaida as one of "love and affection." Osama bin Laden and other top al-Qaida leaders are believed to be hiding out in the remote border region with Afghanistan, possibly in territory controlled by Hakimullah.

[NormsRevenge]

closet ZZ Top fans?

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Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud (C) sits with other millitants in South Waziristan October 4, 2009 in this video grab taken from footage released October 5, 2009. Hakimullah, the new chief of Pakistani Taliban militants who U.S. and Pakistani officials said might be dead, has surfaced to meet journalists in his stronghold of South Waziristan. Hakimullah, who became Pakistani Taliban chief after his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in a U.S. missile strike in early August, looked healthy in pictures broadcast by Pakistan's Dawn Television on October 5, 2009. REUTERS/Reuters TV (PAKISTAN CONFLICT POLITICS)

[Cindy]

Additional link:

Note: Photo included.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/threat-matrix/archives/2009/10/hakeemullah_is_alive.php

“Hakeemullah is alive”
By BILL ROGGIO
October 5, 2009 7:55 AM

[C210N]

At one point, he pulled out a laptop to show his guests an Afghan comedian's standup routine about jihadi

He cracks jokes? If he's got good stuff, next step is Letterman.

[a fool in paradise]

Taliban head: "Take my wives... PLEASE!"

[jessduntno]

That isn’t...John Belushi?

[NormsRevenge]

10-3-09 .. he had been rumored to have 'demised' recently.

Newly anointed Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud may have been killed recently during clashes with a rival faction, according to a senior US counter-terrorism official. (AFP Graphics)

[NormsRevenge]

lol. thus proving there is always room for new ‘talent’ in TV. :-) .. there could be an opening real soon..

[Zeppo]

He also described his group's relationship to al-Qaida as one of "love and affection."

I understand that that's exactly how he describes his relationship with his goats...

[Red Badger]

TWO TALIBAN WALK INTO A BAR...............

[Slings and Arrows]

"Where is my Floppy Flyer? Abdullah, have you seen my Floppy Flyer?"

[mcshot]

What a drone picture that would have made - hopefully followed by an explosion with limbs everywhere.
I’m still really bothered by the attacks on our isolated Afghan outposts and the loss of our warriors. Glass making temps seem to be the answer most often or at least full blown war.

[a fool in paradise]

A man walks into a bar with pita bread on his head...

[swarthyguy]

Talib jokes? well, the punchline’s easy....

...And then we hacked his head off! harharahr

[reagan_fanatic]

"I have joke - What is difference between 2 year old baby and muslim terrorist ? The diaper is on the other end! Thank You, Thank You! I be here all week!"

[dr_who]

Hey, can I join the Taliban? I dig y'alls hats.