The Way of the Drone: Emblem for an Empire of Cowards

[The Northerner]

A few months back, I reposted here an article that I wrote 10 years ago, before the invasion of Iraq: a fictional scenario of how the Terror War would play out on the ground of the target nations -- and in the minds of those sent to wage these campaigns. I was reminded of that piece by a story in the latest Rolling Stone.

The RS story, by Michael Hastings, depicts the drone mentality now consuming the US military-security apparatus, a process which makes the endless slaughter of the endless Terror War cheaper, easier, quieter. I didn't anticipate the development in my proleptic piece; the first reported "kill" by American drones, in Yemen, had taken place just a few weeks before my article appeared in the Moscow Times.

(One of the victims of this historic first drawing of blood was an American citizen, by the way. Thus from the very beginning, the drone war -- presented as noble shield to defend American citizens from harm -- has been killing American citizens, along with the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of innocent men and women around the world being murdered without warning -- and without any chance to defend themselves or take shelter -- by cowards sitting in padded seats behind computer consoles thousands of miles away, following orders from the even greater cowards who strut around the Pentagon, CIA headquarters and the White House.)

But what brought my earlier piece to mind was a brief mention of the "military slang" now being used to designate the victims of the drones. Below are a few snippets from my 2002 post, a fictional email by an occupation soldier to a friend:

Read more: http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Way-of-the-Drone-Embl-by-Chris-Floyd-120418-503.html

[msongs]

1. the 10 commandments say "thou shalt not kill...except with drones" nt

[HereSince1628]

2. Government is frequently run, and usually influenced, by Chickenhawks

In a nation where Congress is too chicken-shit to vote to formally go to war, the drone is an icon of our empires political reality re modern conflict.

[gratuitous]

3. So much concern over "bug splatter"

Look, if the unfortunate victims would just choose their actions or their locales better, they wouldn't have anything to worry about. But they look suspicious to some guy at a computer console in Washington or Florida or somewhere else far away, so death must rain down from above without warning and without recourse. America, Fuck Yeah!

Besides, liberal Democrats approve of the Obama administration by something like 157% according to Gallup, so any carping from the left is just thinly-disguised Obama hatred.

We are incurring an enormous debt that no amount of tax reform will ever pay off.

[Locrian]

4. indeed....

"History affords few if any examples of a free people -- in such a powerful country, under no existential threat, undergoing no invasion, no armed insurrection, no natural disaster or epidemic or societal collapse -- giving up their own freedoms so meekly, so mutely. Most Americans like to boast of their love of freedom, their rock-ribbed independence and their fiercely-held moral principles: yet they are happy to see the government claim -- and use -- the power to murder innocent people whenever it pleases while imposing an ever-spreading police state regimen on their lives and liberties. Sheep doped with Rohypnol would put up a stronger fight than these doughty patriots."

"Hasting's story should be read in full. In its straightforward marshaling of facts and refusal to simply parrot the spin of the powerful (something we used to call "journalism," kids; ask your grandparents about it, they might remember), it lays out the hideous reality of our times. I am tempted to call it an important story -- but I know that it will sink with scarcely a ripple into the abyss of our toxic self-regard. A few will read it and be horrified; the rest will stay riveted on the oh-so-exciting and oh-so-important race to see who will get to perpetuate this vile and murderous system for the next four years."

[Speck Tater]

5. If you want to know where it's going...

watch the movie "Sleep Dealer" and find out what happens when even corporations have drones protecting their assets, and governments can cross borders with impunity to target "terrorist" civilians in a neighboring nation. It's a chilling indie film from Mexico.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804529/

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Another article by a drone who really has no clue about UAS

[quaker bill]

7. I got it

and without any chance to defend themselves or take shelter -- by cowards sitting in padded seats behind computer consoles thousands of miles away, following orders from the even greater cowards who strut around the Pentagon, CIA headquarters and the White House.)

It is cowardly and simply unsporting to kill people with drones and without warning. Being there in person makes killing people somehow better. The question remains, how close and how evenly matched does it take to make it "good"?

All the war video I have seen suggests we were pretty good at killing people "without any chance to defend themselves or take shelter" before drones were invented.

Why don't we focus on just not killing people, regardless of the method of delivery.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. War is not sport and there should be nothing fair about it

Overwhelming your enemies so completely that they can not respond is fine. Hitting them when they do not suspect is also fine. Nothing cowardly about making sure your side gets back to their loved ones. It WAR not some fucking cricket match or football game. People who talk about such tactics being cowardly are drones themselves.

The real issue is if it is legitimately war...and if not why are we killing people

[redgreenandblue]

9. And yet, Americans are pretty damn good at whining about alleged cowardism

when they are the targets.

By the way, there are plenty of warriors who disagree with your insights.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

10. Indeed some do

Last edited Thu Apr 19, 2012, 11:00 PM - Edit history (1)

No US military professional, be they solider, sailor, marine, or airman has the slightest interest in a fair fight.

The real issue is if we have any business being in at war/in combat in a location.

[Luminous Animal]

11. I posted this earlier with excerpts from Floyd, Greenwald and Morely

http://betterment.democraticunderground.com/1002584332

From the Floyd article.

History affords few if any examples of a free people -- in such a powerful country, under no existential threat, undergoing no invasion, no armed insurrection, no natural disaster or epidemic or societal collapse -- giving up their own freedoms so meekly, so mutely. Most Americans like to boast of their love of freedom, their rock-ribbed independence and their fiercely-held moral principles: yet they are happy to see the government claim -- and use -- the power to murder innocent people whenever it pleases while imposing an ever-spreading police state regimen on their lives and liberties. Sheep doped with Rohypnol would put up a stronger fight than these doughty patriots.

[kenny blankenship]

12. Obama's got a Posse

Brave Americans, all!