Taliban Leader Killed by U.S. Airstrike in Pakistan

Baitullah Mehsud, believed to be 39, is considered to be the most notorious Taliban commander in Pakistan, even more so than Osama Bin Laden.

Washington has recently put a $5 million bounty on Mehsud's head and labeled him as a key Al-Queda facilitator and believed to be the mastermind behind the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

Baitullah Mehsud's death would represent a huge step forward in the war against the Taliban in Pakistan.

White House officials are saying there are "strong indications" Mehsud was dead. Pakistan is equally cautious in their confirmation of the Taliban commander's death. Pakistani interior minister, Rehman Malik, told reporters that "a lot of information is pouring in from that area but I'm unable to confirm unless I have solid evidence that he is dead".

Not surprisingly, reports that the Taliban leader is still alive have surfaced leading to a search for more conclusive proof that Baitullah Mehsud is, in fact, dead. The best evidence of Mehsud's death would be DNA evidence which is hard to obtain as Taliban officials are preventing anyone from sifting through the missile strike site.

Source: Guardian

Written by Gabriel Dorman
gabedorman@gmail.com
www.criminaldefenseduilawyer.com/blog/