The Taliban can't fight back against the threat that drones pose to activities. They know the only way that they can defeat drones is by waging a campaign in the western media. Knowing this, it's hard to take him seriously.

Stop doing Islamic terrorism and you might be removed from this list; with an apology note to the White House.

Jesus. @1-4 It's almost like you assholes up there didn't read the article.

@1- If only you'd read another sentence or two.

The drone war has done nothing to make the USA safer. Having an executive branch that kills at will and without oversight is a terrible threat to democracy, unlike Islamic Fundamentalism.

The government - no, the MILITARY - making a mistake? I'm sorry, but that's impossible, the guy must be lying.

Speaking of our military evidently, Pres. Obama is still waging war in Iraq. William McGurn of the WSJ nails it:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-hides-…

"Americans are still killing and dying in Iraq."

I'm not a fan of drone strikes in general. But I can't generate a great deal of sympathy for this dude. Sorry.

RTFA, even if you agree with drone strikes he is NOT a legitimate target
"I am from Waziristan, the border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. I am one of the leaders of the North Waziristan Peace Committee (NWPC), which is a body of local Maliks (or community leaders) that is devoted to trying to keep the peace in our region. We are sanctioned by the Pakistan government, and our main mission is to try to prevent violence between the local Taliban and the authorities."

I could be wrong, but at the time I first read this post the Independent article was not linked.

@12 I know ten guys who told me he isn't making it all up. MY ANECDOTE WINS!

Well, he's not on a no-fly list.

@5: yeah, i read it - i don't see how my bad joke means i didn't, or that i'm an asshole.

Check out this link:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/134864/north…

"Malik Jalal Sarhadi Qatkhel, head of the North Waziristan Peace Committee, told reporters at the Peshawar Press Club that the tribes would wage a jihad against the US as well as Pakistanis who are helping them carry out the Predator drone strikes. He said that they had allowed their youths to carry out suicide attacks against the Americans."

So much for his "peace" committee...

This is basically why I don't declare war on the US and Pakistan, as well as admit to sending kids wrapped in bomb vests to commit suicide bombings against those nations, both of which this charming jihadist has admitted to doing.

Because sometimes when you play war, the other side fires back. How lovely that he cares about the safety of his children, maybe he should start caring about the safety of the kids he is strapping bombs to.

It's incredible! He claims he's been on the kill list since at least 2010, drones making indiscriminate hits around him. Him making public appearances announced in advance, even using his passport to travel to the UK, and yet he still lives, he's like Jason Bourne. Or, an alternative is that he's a politician from a place where he gains considerable street cred by claiming to be on the US kill list. Hard to imagine that someone on the kill list wouldn't also be on the no fly list.

I would be more interested in asking a politician from that area why women are not allowed to vote or even collect food aide:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakist…

@16 he's talking about the tribes that he's in negotiation with... not his personal opinion. But tell me if your country was invaded by outsiders who bombed the fuck out of weddings and shit on a regular basis how would you feel?

@17 Jesus. RTFA. He's not Taliban and he's not a terrorist. He's an activist trying to get the Taliban to negotiate with local governments.

@16, read more carefully please. He's an informant working *against* those tribes. But thanks for the reference that pretty much proves his innocence.

Given that neither the US nor the UK has commented on it, it's not exactly confirmed that he's on the kill list. A lot of drone strikes aren't targeted at specific people, but rather at suspicious activity that intelligence services think mean terrorists are at work. If his name was on a list of targets, I doubt (like #18 said) that he would travel to and from the UK and survive unarrested.

Of course we all know, by this point, about Ansel Herz and his tendency to choose one side of a story and consider it God's own truth. How's that conspiracy to cover up the cold-blooded murder of Che Taylor coming along?

@19: Look at the byline, this article was written by Ansel Herz. This means that if you actually want to be informed about it, you need to do your own research, because Herz will either not do any research himself, or will lie right to your face.

Go read about this guy's actions and what he is on record talking about to reporters and what him and his associates have been doing since 2010. He does try to forge peace with the Taliban and local tribes. He also has a history of strapping bomb vests on kids and sending them to die and take both Pakistani and American lives with them. He has declared Jihad on both the US and Pakistan.

We can argue about drone strikes and the problems associated with a "kill list" all day, but this guy is no peace loving diplomat trying to stop the violence. He stokes violence and death when it suits him and pretends to be a diplomatic lover of peace when it does not.

@22 Gee it would be terrific if you could post a cite or something to back up your claims, Mr. Bullshit-artist-who-didn't read-the-linked-articles.

Looks like some innocent trees are now in mortal danger.

@23: Ok, I guess Google is too hard for you, but here are a few:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world…

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2…

http://tribune.com.pk/story/134864/north…

Look, I am just quoting the guy. He told journalists way back then that he was sending youths out to blow themselves up and declaring a Jihad against the west. I don't know why you don't believe the man's own words.

You may have sympathy for a man who sent kids off to die for his bullshit war and is now using his own family as human shields, but that does not mean everyone has to.

Lastly, you should do some research of your own before you call other people stupid or "bullshit artists." It makes you look less foolish that way, and it is not like Google is hard to use.

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