Obama apologises for hostage deaths in Pak-Afghan border strike
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WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama on Thursday said he takes “full responsibility” for a counter-terrorism operation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that inadvertently killed an American and an Italian hostage held by Al Qaeda.
Obama said he profoundly regretted the deaths of Warren Weinstein, an American national, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national.
“As a husband and as a father, I cannot begin to imagine the anguish that the Weinstein and Lo Porto families are enduring today,” Obama told reporters, with a deep sigh, saying he took responsibility for the deaths and has ordered a full review.
The president said the men were killed during a mission that targeted an Al Qaeda compound in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
He said the January mission was “fully consistent” with guidelines for conducting counter-terrorism missions in the region, adding that there was no information showing the hostages were being held at the Al Qaeda compound.
Read: US citizen kidnapped from his Lahore residence
Weinstein, a 73-year-old development worker, was abducted in August 2011. His capture came four days before his seven-year stint with the US Agency for International Development was to end.
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| Warren Weinstein.- DawnNews screengrab |
In a message released previously in English and Arabic and addressed to Weinstein's family, Al Qaeda had said it was “not interested in keeping” Weinstein but wanted to exchange him for prisoners in US custody.
Lo Porto was an Italian aid worker who worked for the German aid group Welthungerhilfe. He went missing in Pakistan in January 2012.
A spokeswoman for the aid group said the organisation was shocked at the news of Lo Porto's death. “We're shattered by today's news,” Simone Pott told The Associated Press. “So much was done to try and get him released,” she said, without elaborating.
Lo Porto had joined the aid group in October 2011 and was working as a project manager in Pakistan's Multan region when he was kidnapped together with German national Bernd Muehlenbeck.
Muehlenbeck was freed last year under circumstances that Pott declined to comment on.
Also read: German aid worker kidnapped in Pakistan freed in Afghanistan
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi expressed his “profound pain” over Lo Porto's death, saying the aid worker had “dedicated his life to the service of others".
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On DawnNews
Comments (59) Closed
Apr 23, 2015 08:32pm
Seems only American life has value... what about the innocent civilian who are killed by Drone strike... BTW, am Indian
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Apr 23, 2015 08:33pm
So, you can apologize for two innocent non-Pakistanis killed by a drone strike, but what about the countless innocent Pakistanis killed by drones?
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Apr 23, 2015 08:33pm
America is paying for her misadventures, the super power has lost the war in Afghanistan and is now further humiliating herself by her inability to protect her nationals.
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Apr 23, 2015 08:38pm
This is exactly what Pakistan goes through every day. We know our government is not capable of fixing anything but the US should audit it's standard operating procedures for the region.
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Apr 23, 2015 08:48pm
You apologize for two deaths, Mr Obama !!! Hundreds of thousands of those killed by US on the basis of false evidence and false 9/11 were human too and they were also fathers, mothers, husbands, wifes, sons, and daughters of the survivors. All humans feel same pain from injuries and deaths. Please think other than capitalism too and stop killing humanity !!!!!!!!!! What will you say about deaths of so many innocents by your troops ?
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Apr 23, 2015 08:50pm
I remember the Weinstein case. Notable because ISI officials complained that they were working on rescuing him until the Lahore police chief publicly tipped off the kidnappers: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/08/25/uk-pakistan-usa-kidnapped-idUKTRE77O20T20110825.
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Apr 23, 2015 08:54pm
what about lives of millions pf Pakistanis???????
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Apr 23, 2015 08:55pm
Dear Mr. President so very good of you to apologise for these two innocent killing, please also become a husband a father a son for all those innocent who got killed by your drone attacks that may have killed one terrorists and 20 innocent along with.
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Apr 23, 2015 09:00pm
Mr Obama, you forgot to apologies for the deaths of 29 brave pakistani soldiers killed by US helicopters, without warning and callously. These brave Pakistani's were doing 'more' that you keep harping about. Have the character to say ' sorry' to them and the pakistani nation, as you are supreme commander of US forces. Shameless act happened on your watch. You had no problem apologizing for 1 American and 1 Italian.
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Apr 23, 2015 09:11pm
Trigger happy America did what it does best. China builds America bombs!
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Apr 23, 2015 09:29pm
Very interesting that Obama is sorry of killing an American and one Italian by the drone attack. But he is not sorry for the repeated drone attacks on the Pakistan. While our bogus rulers have no tongue to feel sorry for these attacks.
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Apr 23, 2015 09:44pm
Poetic justice indeed. Locals killed by the thousands are just
" collateral damage".
To this day I don't have an answer to one question. Will someone please give it? If our Air Force is incapable of knocking our drones from the sky, what good are they? And if the US has the Army's permission, they are all guilty of treason. No two ways to look at it.
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Apr 23, 2015 09:53pm
@abraKadabra There is always a collateral damage, as militants take cover themselves with civilians.
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Apr 23, 2015 09:55pm
Where was his conscience when innocent people were dying all this while? What had this world come down to.. :-(
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Apr 23, 2015 10:19pm
@abraKadabra @REDROCK
Guys!
Obama is only responsible and answerable to his people: The people of the USA. Therefore it is big for him to talk about the civilian hailing from the US.
The other innocent civilians who are either Pakistanis or Afghan nationals, he does not care, and why should he? It is the responsibility of the government and the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan respectively.
So if these governments were strong enough, they could have taken a stand and forced Obama to stop the collateral damage (read killing innocent citizens)
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Apr 23, 2015 10:35pm
People complain about the two hostages being killed. Does anyone complain about Qaeda kidnapping them and holding them for ransom in the first place?
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Apr 23, 2015 10:43pm
@Ahmed Shaikh, America did not lose in Afganistan. There is nothing to gain there. Only objective was to cripple Al Quaida and Taliban, which they have done. Now Afghans are killing each other so America actually won. Sad all the way around. Stop extremism!
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Apr 23, 2015 10:43pm
I feel so regretful that why world super power forces couldn't eliminate the terrorists from Afghanistan living 14 years and still now they are unable to avoid these atrocities....strange?
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Apr 23, 2015 11:01pm
Bush and Obama have to face trial for war crimes.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:05pm
@abraKadabra It is fashion to craft anti-American statements. American values life and that is why they are trying to help in every sector of life, It is too bad that biased media of Indian, Pakistan and China never highlights the great efforts of American in every field of life. Bill Gates is a prime example of how Americans are making positive changes in Indian and Africa. Many other Americans spent years in India and Pakistan trying to help ordinary people without any reward or promises. Lets' not forget to credit them.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:05pm
Warren Weinstein was a solid friend of Pakistani people who worked tirelessly in various projects helping Pakistan throughout his life. I pray for his soul. He was hijacked from the comfort of his home during Ramadan when his bodyguards were lured with food for keeping fast. Shamefully, he was abducted from Lahore, and we never heard of him. He was a guest and a humanitarian and a beloved friend of Pakistan. May his soul rest in peace! How many of us do really know that he spoke fluent Urdu?
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Apr 23, 2015 11:15pm
Drones are killing far less than terrorists. Worse thing is that terrorist alter way of thinking and living. Any decent man will say that death is better than living a coward's life where you are not free. Good job Obama.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:34pm
They are politicians and have to give these statements. They even don't care their own citizens. We are just statistics for them.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:38pm
Obama apologized for their own action? Thousands and thousands are killed since 9/11 as a result of middle-east muddle.
When there is a problem you need to solve by diplomatic means.
No war ever won is a simple truth. If developed country / countries can bully then there is no end for crisis.
It appears: create a war then sell the weapons and enjoy the fruits of its income.
The present wars in middle-east has not future and no direction to end it.
Man mad calamities appears on the verge of human catastrophe. Everyone is playing nuclear game now-a-days is not a good sign for the existence of earth and human race.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:51pm
They should learn something from Pakistan Army. Not a single innocent person killed by PAK ARMY. Only the terrorists .. always a perfect strike!
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Apr 23, 2015 11:56pm
See my dear Pakistanis, Obama refused to apologise when Drones killed 30 Pakistani soldiers.
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Apr 23, 2015 11:58pm
The strongest of evidence that drones also kills innocent civilians.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:03am
@redrock American lives matter very much to Americans. On the other hand, apparently Pakistani lives don't mean much to Pakistani leadership.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:23am
Thanks to the drone strikes and Pakistan army operations, there is peace in Pakistan. Innocent people die in war and this is a war.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:42am
What about innocent Pakistani lives of women,children,elders. These two old lives were important than thousands of those of pakistanis???
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Apr 24, 2015 12:50am
@Sandeep Singh now you know why we call China an all weather friend, who has not killed a single Pakistani soldier or civilian.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:59am
So sad! Sometimes, the price that one has to pay for the things that are your birth right e.g peace, freedom, is appalling.
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Apr 24, 2015 01:19am
@saam I don't think anyone said 'drones don't kill the innocent'.
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Apr 24, 2015 01:51am
@Blue Saffron
Go to America and arrest them.
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Apr 24, 2015 02:01am
@Sandeep Singh
They were killed by an air strike approved by Pakistan Central Command. They were a platoon in the mountains led by a rookie lieutenant. A token force out of communication with the army. The Americans and Pakistanis were exchanging fire. Each thought the other were Taliban fighters.
Soldiers are sometimes killed by friendly fire. When one is a soldier - that's what you sign up for. Singh you got your news headlines mixed up.
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Apr 24, 2015 02:13am
The moment they will start valuing the lives of human beings living in other parts of the world, the world will become more peaceful.
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Apr 24, 2015 04:16am
Awe, he is so ashamed, and he killed only two white people.
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Apr 24, 2015 04:17am
US has lost all moral grounds
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Apr 24, 2015 04:47am
@Sandeep Singh it was not drone. military copters like apache.
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Apr 24, 2015 05:05am
@Sandeep Singh
Exactly. They didn't apologize when they killed our soldiers... and now they are warming up to you. Best of luck!
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Apr 24, 2015 05:07am
American president's statement proves how barbaric and wrongful their drone operation guide lines are. Clear case for crime against humanity.
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Apr 24, 2015 05:16am
the real questions here is why are these drone strikes necessary? How can Pakistan allow Al Qaeda to have safe heavens in the region and use it to harbor international victims of kidnapping. Both men kidnapped were in Pakistan at the time of kindnap. The Pakistani war against terrorists (good and bad) is going for for 7-8 months or more, still there are militant safe houses which are targeted by drones? Hope Dawn publishes this comment.
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Apr 24, 2015 05:18am
@abraKadabra
"Seems only American life has value... what about the innocent civilian who are killed by Drone strike... BTW, am Indian"
Pakistan and India may be bitter rivals, but they have one real big problem in common. That is the British Raj, which still plagues the region using this headless monster called America. Who doesn't know Obama like any other American president since 1930s or so, has been a British puppet. So are Pakistan's rulers. We don't even get to the real puppeteers directly, we been handed to Saudi royal family. You have to be blind not to see, how our PM and army chief are made to act like chaprassis at buzzers.
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Apr 24, 2015 06:20am
These are American citizens held hostage that were killed. That is why he is apologizing to americans.
People in Fata should stop giving refuge to the terrorists. If they don't sell their souls by taking money and giving them refuge---these probems won't come up.
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Apr 24, 2015 06:30am
American lives are valued so much that American troops don't risk battling it out boots on the ground with Taliban. US don't seem to give a damn site about Afghan civillian, Example: This so called Superpower Air-strike 1 taliban and alongside kill 10 civillian lives.
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Apr 24, 2015 06:38am
@Sandeep Singh
For the first time, I absolutely agree with a comment from across.
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Apr 24, 2015 07:13am
Warren Weinstein, an American and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian were aid workers to better the lives of Pakistanis. Mr Weisstein was kidnapped from Lahore in 2011 and Mr. Lo Porto was abducted in 2012 from Multan. Our police and security agencies did not do anything to track them and it appeared now that they were taken to the lawless area of Waziristan. If our security forces had set up check points on the roads leading to tribal areas, they would have found them but no such operations were conducted. After the military operation against Taliban started, the group took the victims to the North Waziristan in Pakistan , few miles away from the military occupied areas. According to reports, convoy of jeeps used to visit the compound every now and then. It appears when the military operation starts, the Taliban/ Al Qaeda move to the border areas and after n the military withdraws, they come back. Now who is going to help us after these kidnappings when their lives at danger.
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Apr 24, 2015 10:34am
What type of counter terrorism operation it was and on what kind of intelligence was it based when they failed to know that the target compound contained hostages including one US citizen.
Killing human beings like a video game is unacceptable and should be stopped altogether.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:12pm
I wish our leaders must learn from Obama how to apologize for untoward incidents in our country.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:39pm
@Sunil Yea Sunil I understand that.. but that doesn't mean innocent people who have been killed don't owe any apology...
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Apr 24, 2015 12:42pm
@mehkan I totally agree on that.. but life of a human being is worth for an apology atleast.. .
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Apr 24, 2015 12:44pm
@Why always sad news Dude.. I am have worked all over the world with fortune 100 companies.. and I know the contribution of US to the world... I just feel that an innocent human life has an equal value all around the world.
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Apr 24, 2015 12:46pm
@A Kashifi I echo your sentiments.. we south Asian countries are hard working people but when it comes to respecting our life.. there seems a totally different attitude... Our leaders should be strong to fight for our respect and dignity
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Apr 24, 2015 01:30pm
Mr. Obama, Sir,
All I can say that there can be no better proof of moral bankruptcy of a large and powerful country than this one.
I am not sure whether you and your U.S. government and media even considers Pakistanis as humans, whether alive or dead.
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Apr 24, 2015 01:59pm
Stop blaming america. Every country puts its citizens and interests first.
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Apr 24, 2015 04:08pm
Why these people are going to help these barberic people instead of living their own country.
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Apr 26, 2015 06:16am
@Sandeep Singh That's because Pakistani soldiers were facilitating cross border attacks by the Taliban on US troops by not securing Pakistans border crossings, and also allowed Taliban to fire on US troops from the relative safety behind Pak checkpoints. Pak troops got caught in the crossfire.
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Apr 26, 2015 06:55am
Where is the apology for numerous Pakistani deaths at your hands, shame Obama shame!
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Apr 27, 2015 11:59pm
you know guys... Obama is smart enough to personally realize he is being a complete hypocrite.... only if some brave leader had the courage to point this out loud to the whole world.
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