Progress on the Southeastern Front

Is Pakistan really, finally, truly getting serious about fighting al Qaeda? Maybe:

In Pakistan, fighting along the Afghan border (South Waziristan), have left over 70 dead (17 soldiers, the rest tribesmen and foreign fighters). The Pakistani army, aided by American photo satellites, radio interception facilities and UAVs, has located the villages and compounds where the al Qaeda activity has been taking place. Now that al Qaeda has declared war on the Pakistani leadership (via several recent assassination attempts), the Pakistani army is striking back. The last offensive, in March, was halted because the tribes said they were willing to give up the al Qaeda members and wanted to negotiate terms. The tribal leaders either lied, or couldn’t deliver. This time, there is little or no room for delay and negotiation.

More here.