17 Americans Shot dead in New York

[mikelewis]

Who is responsible for the 17 Deaths in Pakistan? Newsweek, Our Government, or the Government of Pakistan?

If 17 Americans were shot dead on the streets of New York by our military, would we give a shit what magazine article sent them to protest? Would we care what policy they were protesting? Or would we be enraged by the fact that 17 Americans were shot dead by our military?

The ironic thing about this whole Newsweek "scandal" is that no one seems to care that 17 people were shot down in cold blood in the street in Pakistan. The right to assembly is one of our most fundamental rights. The stated goal of this campaign against terror is to "spread democracy and freedom". Well, one of the tenets of freedom is the right to assemble and speak your mind to others. It seems irrelevant to me what the reason was that made these people congregate on the streets. The fact of the matter is one of our allies in this war of terror has just shot 17 of its citizens and the only thing people are talking about is Newsweek's or our governments supposed responsiblity. Newsweek did not shoot those people. As crappy as our government and it's fucked up policies are, they did not shoot those people. The Pakistani Government shot those people and somehow Newsweek or the U.S. government is responsible. A crime against humanity has occured and the finger of responsibility should lie where it is most deserved, on the head of those who pulled the trigger.

[htuttle]

1. Pakistan is a dictatorship

There is also considerable evidence that elements of their secret service were involved in facilitating the attacks on 9/11.

They are Bush's ally -- not mine.

[LSparkle]

7. OMG I love your "crawl"

I had to back up and confirm my suspicion that it came from "Blade Runner".

[Frederik]

10. Newsweek was behind 9/11

Didn't you know?

You're right, Pakistan's security service was probably deeply involved. But they're America's ally in the War on Terror, so it's ok.

[mikelewis]

11. There is no credible evidence that exists to support this theory...

Could Pakistan force our Air Force to stand down?

Could Pakistan bring down 4 buildings at near free-fall speed and actually only hit 3 of the buildings with planes?

Could Pakistan have traded millions of dollars in put options prior to 9/11 without some eyebrows raising?

Could Pakistan have carted off the rubble from the collapse of the buildings before an investigation could be conducted?

Could Pakistan make 9 of the alledged suicide hijackers miraculously turn up alive?

I think not... this could only have been done by an international super terrorist and his band of evil rogues hell bent on the destruction of the great Satan.

[LSparkle]

2. I second that!

It's specifically our hypocritical support of Musharraf, the Saudi royal family, et al. -- while claiming to "spread democracy" around the world -- that provokes such violence. Why don't we practice what we preach??????

[LiberalNerd]

3. Not "we"

why don't "they" practice what the preach. This isn't the democratic party, its those thugs who don't practice what they preach.

[LSparkle]

6. I sit corrected -- you're absolutely right ... NOT IN MY NAME!

[hippiechick]

4. Isn't it odd ...

... in the campaign prior to the 2000 election, about the only foreign leader Bush COULD name was Musharraf ?

Wonder why he was so familiar with him - and so proud of his ability to remember and pronounce his name ??

[mikelewis]

13. Bush Sr. and Musharaff were pretty tight because of the role...

Pakistan played in propping up the Mujahadeen and running the covert ops at the behest of the CIA. Mushareff is a key player in running terrorist cells for the U.S.

[joneschick]

5. Thank you!

I am so glad someone has articulated this. It's been bouncing around in my head, but I had failed to pull the thoughts together so coherently. The story should be talking about our "democratic" allies. Mr. Bush, your choice of friends sucks. You should find better friends to hang out with, you won't learn anything good for leading a democratic nation from them. You're grounded!

[Noneoftheabove]

8. "17 Americans Shot Dead.. ." reframes the story as it should be told

Mike Lewis,

Your response to the Newsweek story would make a superb rejoinder in the op-ed letters section of Newsweek, the NYT, and other corporate media who are running scared and making themselves willing accomplices of the Rove media management strategy.

[mikelewis]

9. Welcome to DU!

The corporate media isn't running scared however, they are running to the bank to cash in on yet another scandal. These people are cannibals and are more than willing to eat of their own tribe, which is unusual among such groups. The only society in history that was similar was the Aztecs and they were much more civilized about who they ate.

[VoiceOfFreedom]

12. preach to that choir!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The way things are may be the way things are............ but I still think it's a crappy deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Viva La resistance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!