On April 23rd in the year of 2015, the President of the United states of America apologized for the death of Warren Weinstein. (Obama takes blame for strike that killed hostages-AFP http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-two-al-qaeda-hostages-killed-us-140915461.html)
This death was not perpetrated by terrorists, but by the United States drone program or what is officially called the Counter Terrorism Program. We can use aesthetically pleasing terms when referring to Warren Weinstein's death such as 'casualty of war', 'friendly fire', 'collateral damage' or 'mistake'. Which is the term President Obama adopted. "It is a cruel and bitter truth that in the fog of war generally and our fight against terrorists specifically, mistakes — sometimes deadly mistakes — can occur. "
President Obama also referred to the 'fog of war'. The biggest problem with this analgy is that we are not at war with Pakistan. So specifically what fog is obscuring our vision? President Obama and his apologists claim we are at 'War with Terror'. That certainly is a very broad statement. This is a Counter Terrorism Program that has no accountibility to anyone, that includes Congress, the American People, the UN or our Allies.
Let's look at the success of this 'Counter Terrorism Program' President Obama has embraced. He has implemented it in the countries of Afghanistan and Iraq and in counterterrorism efforts in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia. None of these countries are stable at this time in history, and indeed have become hot bed areas since the drone programs have been implemented.
Summing it all up, President Obama has the United States involved in a Counter Terrorism Program, which he refers to as a War, but has not been approved by congress as a War. He believes his Drone use is permitted by the September 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force Act, which empowered the president to “all necessary and appropriate force” against nations, organizations or persons who planned, committed or aided the Sept. 11 attacks. That generation of terrorists are quickly fading away. His drone use has also been highly unsuccessful. So why are Americans and their Representatives ignoring the failure of this Counter Terrorism program?
Fear. The Republican Congress fears the political backlash of another confrontation with President Obama. The Democratic Congress fears the stigma of fighting amongst themselves, even though they have conducted meetings with President Obama about their concerns. (Democrats Confront Obama On Drone Policy During Closed-Door Gathering With Senators- Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/democrats-drone-policy_n_2862544.html).
American Citizens just don't want to experience another 9/11 attack and are willing to turn their backs on the questionable 'targeted killings'. Even though they were very vocal on Enhanced Interrigation Techniques, which I find strange because I would certainly prefer to be waterboarded by President Bush than blown up in a drone strike by President Obama.
The United Nations after being silent on the issue during the first few years of President Obama's tenure have now stated that drone strikes may violate international humanitarian and human rights law and could constitute war crimes. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/14session/A.HRC.14.24.Add6.pdf
“Drone strikes have been sold to the American public on the claim that they’re ‘precise’. But they are only as precise as the intelligence that feeds them. There is nothing precise about intelligence that results in the deaths of 28 unknown people, including women and children, for every ‘bad guy’ the US goes after,” human rights group Reprieve shared with the Guardian. http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/nov/24/-sp-us-drone-strikes-kill-1147 That same 'intelligence' failed Warren Weinstein and his family.
Warren Weinstein's death should be a wake up call to Americans to examine President Obama's Counter Terrorism Program more closely and ask for a more comprehensive and humane tactic. Let's do more to hold this President accountable who is quoted as saying when referring to his drone attacks that he's "Really good at killing people" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/03/obama-drones-double-down_n_4208815.html ;
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I AM DISGUSTED! Defense Secretary Panetta is thinking of awarding medals to drone operators that would have a standing higher than even the bronze star with a 'V' awarded to combat veterans who risked their lives of which my husband was one (purple heart and 5 bronze stars, one with a 'V' as well as another with an arrowhead).
HOW DARE HE!
Why not just devalue the medals all those brave men were awarded and award a special medal to the president for all the risks he took on the golf course since we are talking about absurdity.
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WHAT NEXT: Maybe even turn this hallowed ground into a golf course.
No more privacy and no where you can go to enjoy your personal privacy. Now you know who's watching you and just how much they can see from a drone. The real question is who is watching the watchers to ensure they do not violate our rights.
We must take a stand against this invasion of privacy under the guise of Homeland Security. Contact your congressman and senator immediately to demand they take action against spying on US citizens now. The time to take a stand is now because our constitutional rights depend on our vigilance every day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od6kWBjh4Kc&feature=player_embedded
