Covert Drone War
Drone War Exposed – the complete picture of CIA strikes in Pakistan
by Chris Woods, The Bureau Investigative Journalism -- Aug 10, 2011
[...]
The Bureau’s key findings [Bureau Investigative Journalism]:
-- 291 CIA attacks have taken place in Pakistan -- 8% more than previously reported. Under President Obama alone there have been 236 strikes -- one every four days.
-- Between 2,292 and 2,863 people are reported to have died in the attacks -- most of them militants
-- The minimum number of reported deaths is far higher than previously believed -- with 40% more recorded casualties. Most of those killed are likely to be low-ranking militants.
-- 126 named militants have so far been killed.
-- The Bureau has collated credible news reports of 385-775 civilians being killed in the attacks.
-- The Bureau has identified credible reports of 164 children killed in the drone strikes. Under President Bush, one in three of all attacks is reported to have killed a child.
-- For the first time the Bureau has compiled accurate details of recorded injuries in drone strikes, revealing that at least 1,114 people have been wounded.
Listen to Dennis Blair, a retired Admiral:
Admiral Blair was President Obama's first Director of National Intelligence 2009-2010
In Pakistan, no issue is more controversial than American drone attacks in Pakistani territory along the Afghan border. The Obama administration contends that using drones to kill 10 or 20 more Qaeda leaders would eliminate the organization. This is wishful thinking.
Drone strikes are no longer the most effective strategy for eliminating Al Qaeda’s ability to attack us. Past American drone attacks did help reduce the Qaeda leadership in Pakistan to a fearful, hunted cadre that did not have the time or space to plan, train and coordinate major terrorist acts against the United States.
But the important question today is whether continued unilateral drone attacks will substantially reduce Al Qaeda’s capabilities. They will not.
[...]
If we are ever to reduce Al Qaeda from a threat to a nuisance, it will be by working with Pakistan, not by continuing unilateral drone attacks.
Drones Alone Are Not the Answer
by Dennis C. Blair, Op-Ed Contributor, NYTimes.com -- August 14, 2011
The Bush Years 2004 – 2009
Obama 2009 Strikes
Obama 2010 Strikes
Over 160 children reported among drone deaths
And they WE droned on, and on, and on ...
Under the illusion of being Exceptionally Preemptive.
Under the sterile safety of remote computer screens.
Under the excuse of "Well, THEY started it."
Question is, who will step up and dare to Stop It?
Until we do ... American will continue to toil,
under only the ILLUSION of being an "Exceptional" Nation.
War is NOT the answer ... America used to be BETTER than this.
Humanity is expecting us ... Humanity is dying for us, to be so, again ...
You know, aspire for true Exceptionalism.