Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Moyers: America's Outrageous Imperial Drone Warfare
BillMoyers.com / By Bill Moyers, Michael Winship
America's Outrageous Imperial Drone Warfare
Each innocent killed by drone attacks is a victim of hubris.
February 13, 2013 |
Last week, The New York Times published a chilling account of how indiscriminate killing in war remains bad policy even today. This time, its done not by young GIs in the field but by anonymous puppeteers guiding drones that hover and attack by remote control against targets thousands of miles away, often killing the innocent and driving their enraged and grieving families and friends straight into the arms of the very terrorists were trying to eradicate.
The Times told of a Muslim cleric in Yemen named Salem Ahmed bin Ali Jaber, standing in a village mosque denouncing al Qaeda. It was a brave thing to do a respected tribal figure, arguing against terrorism. But two days later, when he and a police officer cousin agreed to meet with three al Qaeda members to continue the argument, all five men friend and foe were incinerated by an American drone attack. The killings infuriated the village and prompted rumors of an upwelling of support in the town for al Qaeda, because, the Times reported, such a move is seen as the only way to retaliate against the United States.
Our blind faith in technology combined with a false sense of infallible righteousness continues unabated. Reuters correspondent David Rohde recently wrote:
The Obama administrations covert drone program is on the wrong side of history. With each strike, Washington presents itself as an opponent of the rule of law, not a supporter. Not surprisingly, a foreign power killing people with no public discussion, or review of who died and why, promotes anger among Pakistanis, Yemenis and many others.
Rohde has firsthand knowledge of what a drone strike can do. He was kidnapped by the Taliban in 2008 and held for seven months. During his captivity, a drone struck nearby. It was so close that shrapnel and mud showered down into the courtyard, he told the BBC last year. Just the force and size of the explosion amazed me. It comes with no warning and tremendous force Theres sense that your sovereignty is being violated Its a serious military action. It is not this light precise pinprick that many Americans believe. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/americas-outrageous-imperial-drone-warfare
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 803 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (9)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bill Moyers: America's Outrageous Imperial Drone Warfare (Original Post)
marmar
Feb 2013
OP
WCGreen
(45,558 posts)1. I am so proud to be an American...
Jesus H Christ, we have become what we are fighting.
Terror is terror.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,641 posts)2. Horrifying, disgusting, WRONG.
marmar
(77,084 posts)3. Yep. There's no justifying or rationalizing this.
nt
leftstreet
(36,109 posts)4. DURec
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)5. knr