Another reason for the rise in Predator strikes, according to a current U.S. official: Washington fears that any newly formed civilian government in Pakistan will be more hostile to U.S. operations there than Musharraf's current regime. Time to act, in other words, may be running out.

At least one top Al Qaeda operative has been killed in the Predator strikes.

After a missile hit a home in North Waziristan in late January, reportedly killing 10 militants, US officials confirmed that among the dead was Abu Laith al-Libi, a top field commander who was believed to be a liaison between Al Qaeda's fugitive leaders and Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

Since then there have been reports that more attacks are being carried out.

The CIA declined to confirm or comment on any of the reported attacks, but three current and former US officials, who also asked for anonymity, said that the one-per-month strike rate is definitely higher than in previous years.