by Ron Paul
Earlier this month, CIA-operated drones killed as many as 55 people in Yemen in several separate strikes. Although it was claimed that those killed were “militants,” according to press reports at least three civilians were killed and at least five others wounded. That makes at least 92 US drone attacks against Yemen during the Obama administration, which have killed nearly 1,000 people including many civilians.
The latest strikes seem to contradict President Obama’s revised guidelines for targeted killings, which he announced last May. At the time he claimed that drones would only be used against those who posed a “continuing and imminent threat to the American people,” that there must be a “near certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured,” and that safeguards to prevent civilian casualties were at “the highest standard we can set.”
None of these criteria seem to have been met. In fact, the threshold in Yemen is considerably lower than the president claims. In 2012 President Obama approved “signature strikes” in Yemen, a criteria for attack that is not based on actual or suspected wrongdoing, but rather on a vague set of behaviors that are said to be shared by militants.
This means that the individuals killed in the most recent drone attacks were not necessarily terrorists or even terrorist suspects. They were not proven to have committed any crime, nor were they proven to have been members of al-Qaeda or any terrorist organization. Yet they were nevertheless targeted for attack, and the sovereignty of Yemen was violated in the process.
Some may claim that we need to kill suspected terrorists overseas so that we can be safer at home. But do the drone attacks in places like Yemen really make us safer? Or are they actually counter-productive? One thing we do know is that one of the strongest recruiting tools for al-Qaeda is the US being over there using drones against people or occupying Muslim countries.
How can we get rid of all the people who may seek to do us harm if our drone and occupation policies continually create even more al-Qaeda members? Are we not just creating an endless supply of tomorrow’s terrorists with our foolish policies today? What example does it set for the rest of the world if the US acts as if it has the right to kill anyone, anywhere, based simply on that individual’s behavior?
We should keep all of this in mind when the US administration lectures world leaders about how they should act in the 21st century. Recently, the US administration admonished Russian president Vladimir Putin for his supposed interference in the affairs of Ukraine, saying that violating the sovereignty of another country is not the 21st century way of conducting international relations. I agree that sovereignty must be respected. But what about the US doing the same thing in places like Yemen? What about the hundreds and even thousands killed by US drones not because they were found guilty of a crime, but because they were exhibiting “behaviors” that led a CIA drone operator safely hidden in New Mexico or somewhere to pull the trigger and end their lives?
What about a president who regularly meets in secret with his advisors to determine who is to be placed on a “kill list” and who refuses to even discuss the criteria for placement on that list? Is this considered acceptable 21st century behavior?
The Obama Administration needs to rein in the CIA and its drone attacks overseas. They make a mockery of American values and they may well make us less safe.
RP, a lone voice in the wilderness.
Can’t tell you how many times I heard, “Ob ama is making the US the world’s pussy,” this weekend.
I just answer, sadly, “I’m sure a few million more of our youth dying, and a few trillion more in debt to suffocate our great-grandchildren, will fix the world.”
Most don’t get it, most don’t want to.
USA! USA! USA!
Our founders cry.
Zero. It’s really not a number. But, it tells us so much.
Number of people killed by Russian troops in Ukraine: ZERO
Number of people killed by American drones in just one month: 55+
Number of hours in the past month MSM whores criticized America: ZERO
Number of hours in the past month MSM whores criticized Russia: 300+
Number of Muslims who hate us for our freedom: ZERO
Number of Muslims who hate us because we’re murdering fuks who kill their children: About 1.5 billion
The “Real” American “values” (as seen by the rest of the World):
“Do as we say, not as we do”
“OUR Right is Might” so we do whatever we like, Worldwide.
“Freedom Fighters”: Those elements who the CIA covertly train / equip to disrupt the economies of Sovereign States who are perceived to post even a minor threat to “The American Way”.
“Terrorists”: Those groups attempting to reduce or eliminate American influence / covert asset confiscation in THEIR Sovereign States.
“War on Terror”: War on those who dare to think other than “The American Way”.
Many thought Obomber would bring change. The only change will be the change left in the pockets of the 5 middle class people left after his admin. & the RINOs tax everyone to death & the few jobs left went overseas. They’ll ban guns somehow & steal people’s retirement accounts too.
As Ron Paul & Paul Craig Roberts (real conservatives) said, the USA’s remaining power lies in the reserve currency. The Russians/Chinese will try to topple that advantage through Sun Tzu-like subterfuge while the 2 fascist parties flail about.
More debt, more war & when desperate, false flags, WW3, or some mysterious virus unleashed & blamed on ___.
Good luck to all in this Great Depression, even the 4 people I heckle because next up is Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton plus economic collapse & martial law. If zU think the racial tension is hot now, wait til both parties amnesty millions of illegals.
good idea you talked about virus.
Russians have a genetically created virus, in their military laboratory, that they call “judgement day”
they don’t know how to stop it, if it was to be released from the containement. end of humanity
have a good sleep
Thanks, Frenchie, my biggest fear.
The drone attacks are war crimes. The USA has not declared war on Yemen nor vice versa..
If the Rule of Law were followed, he’d be impeached and arrested along with anyone else involved.
Eventually, they will do this to Americans on US soil. There is some credible evidence it has happened, to the rogue cop Dorner in California.
Half way measures in war do create more enemies. War must be executed with great violence and you must kill the enemy until they are no longer a threat. Example : American Indians.
Islam is intrinsically the enemy of the west and libertarianism. We will not kill moslems to our regret. However if we do kill them we must kill a lot of them and leave no doubt about who won.