WASHINGTON: The United States is poised to bring in changes in its counter terrorism operations against al-Qaida and its extremist affiliates by saying that instead of the "hammer" they will now be relying on the "scalpel" to dismantle terrorist groups.

"Instead of the hammer, America will rely on the scalpel," the New York Times quoted John Brennan, President Obama’s top counter-terrorism adviser, as saying. Brennan, an architect of the White House strategy, used this analogy while pledging a "multigenerational" campaign against al-Qaida and its extremist affiliates.

The US intensified the CIA’s drone missile campaign in Pakistan and elsewhere against al-Qaida as part of its shadow war against the outfit and its allies, the report said. The US is pursuing Qaida militants with robotic drones and commando teams, paying contractors to spy and training local operatives to chase terrorists, the New York Times said.

The Pentagon is tapping a network of private contractors to gather intelligence about things like militant hide-outs in Pakistan. "Where we want to get is to much more small scale, preferably locally driven operations," said Representative Adam Smith who serves on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6316635.cms?prtpage=1

2. Intelligence reports claim hardliners gathering across provincial capital

By Shahnawaz Khan in the Daily Times, Aug 16

LAHORE: More than 300 hardliners and their mentors from various parts of the country have gathered across the provincial metropolis, acquiring houses in Afghan and Pakhtun populated localities, sources told Daily Times, adding that several high-profile hardliners are also hiding in posh localities across the city.

According to sources, more than 100 individuals belonging to six different terrorist groups, had entered the city and set up their residences in the past few months. “Due to the floods, a large number of hardliners had also migrated to the provincial metropolis from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and from southern Punjab,” the sources said.

The sources said there are several “terrorist hideouts” situated along the outer boundary of the Lahore city.

The intelligence reports said that there are numerous Afghan nationals living across the provincial capital, posing themselves as “Pakistani Pukhtuns” and “surprisingly” most of them also have Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). “These Afghan nationals facilitate terrorists through their contacts and widespread business, and allow no one except Afghans to enter their inner circle,” the intelligence reports added.

he intelligence reports declared the scrap market in Misri Shah as the safest hub for hardliners across the provincial metropolis. This market was once called the “grave of Russian weapons” including tanks, used in the Russian-Afghanistan war zone.  http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010816story_16-8-2010_pg13_2

3. ‘TTP, Jandullah plan to target embassies, Shia clerics’

By Asad Kharal in the Daily Times, Aug 16

LAHORE: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Jandullah group and banned local militant outfits plan to target foreigners, embassies, Shia clerics and imambargahs in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Okara and Karachi, daily Aaj Kal learned on Sunday.

According to sources, the intelligence agencies warned of attacks on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders at the party’s public meetings, district police lines, office of the divisional police officer (DPO). The TTP has tasked Abu Adil Mujahid to carry out the potential attacks, they added.

Another intelligence report revealed that extremists have trained a suicide bomber identified as Khayal Shah to carry out attacks on high-value targets and a vehicle has been rigged with 80 kilogrammes of explosives to be used in an attack. The report goes on to warn that a motorcycle owned by the Punjab Police Special Branch has also been stolen and it is feared that it might be used in a terrorist attack.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010816story_16-8-2010_pg7_23

4. Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents: The NY Times, Aug 15

By Scott Shane, Mark Mazzetti and Robert F. Worth.

WASHINGTON —In roughly a dozen countries — from the deserts of North Africa, to the mountains of Pakistan, to former Soviet republics crippled by ethnic and religious strife — the United States has significantly increased military and intelligence operations, pursuing the enemy using robotic drones and commando teams, paying contractors to spy and training local operatives to chase terrorists.

The White House has intensified the Central Intelligence Agency’s drone missile campaign in Pakistan, approved raids against Qaeda operatives in Somalia and launched clandestine operations from Kenya. The administration has worked with European allies to dismantle terrorist groups in North Africa, efforts that include a recent French strike in Algeria. And the Pentagon tapped a network of private contractors to gather intelligence about things like militant hide-outs in Pakistan and the location of an American soldier currently in Taliban hands.

While the stealth war began in the Bush administration, it has expanded under President Obama, who rose to prominence in part for his early opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Virtually none of the newly aggressive steps undertaken by the United States government have been publicly acknowledged.

In contrast with the troop buildup in Afghanistan, which came after months of robust debate, for example, the American military campaign in Yemen began without notice in December and has never been officially confirmed.

Instead of “the hammer,” in the words of John O. Brennan, President Obama’s top counterterrorism adviser, America will rely on the “scalpel.” In a speech in May, Mr. Brennan, an architect of the White House strategy, used this analogy while pledging a “multigenerational” campaign against Al Qaeda and its extremist affiliates. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/world/15shadowwar.html?_r=1&ref=world&pagewanted=print

5. Alleged US missiles kill 12 in Pakistan, while 16 die in ethnic-based attacks: LA Times

MIR ALI — Suspected U.S. missiles killed 12 people Saturday in a Pakistani tribal region filled with Islamist insurgents bent on pushing Western troops out of neighboring Afghanistan, intelligence officials said.

The airstrike in Issori village of North Waziristan was the first such attack since intense floods hit Pakistan in late July. The U.S. has tried to improve its public image in Pakistan by sending flood aid, but the missile strike showed Washington was not willing to stop using a tactic that has fed its unpopularity here. www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-as-pakistan,0,2377135,print.story

6. 16 settlers shot dead in Balochistan

QUETTA, Aug 14: At least 16 people were gunned down in two incidents of target killing in Quetta and Bolan district on Saturday, police said. All those killed belonged to Punjab.

Gunmen intercepted a Quetta-bound coach coming from Lahore in Aab-i-Gum area of Bolan district in the early hours of Saturday and forced 11 passengers to leave the vehicle and accompany them.

They took the 11 men to an open place and sprayed them with bullets.

In Quetta, six people were going home from work in Khilji Colony when three gunmen riding motorcycles attacked them.

Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the killings. www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/front-page/16-settlers-shot-dead-in-balochistan-580