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In reply to the discussion: A Note On 'Drone Strikes', Ladies And Gentlemen [View all]OnyxCollie
(9,958 posts)327. Great analogy.
I've used a neighborhood setting to describe our invasion of Iraq. It lends itself well to explanation.
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You do realize that the problem that arises from treating terrorism as warfare...
redgreenandblue
Feb 2013
#3
To emphasize your point, how many Americans either travel or live overseas vs how many
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#11
Yes we do, from simple mathematics. How many Americans have traveled abroad
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#16
What Obama has done and what the powers enable any future president to do
redgreenandblue
Feb 2013
#21
It's really not. There is nothing expansive about this power unless you believe that
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#27
Stateless combatant groups have existed off and on for very, very, very, very long.
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#108
They have existed for a long time. I think in some respects, drones and the corresponding AUMF
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#124
I Will Happily Repeat It Again, Sir: No One Will Strike Mr. Assange With A Hell-Fire Missile
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#178
"Which is all very well if your wish is only to thunder in rhetorical periods..."
cleanhippie
Feb 2013
#298
There are a lot of questionable assumptions in your argument, The Magistrate.
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#113
Thank you for saying this, redgreen. Practically everyone who supports the drone strikes
truth2power
Feb 2013
#69
Well put. At the risk of triggering Godwin's Law, I would note that Nazi Germany
coalition_unwilling
Feb 2013
#253
I'm well aware of the PNAC. I can't believe that anyone posting here would not be.
amandabeech
Feb 2013
#297
What you write is probably true for military drones as used in Iraq and Afghanistan
Democracyinkind
Feb 2013
#63
We are not in any valid sense of the phrase, restricting drone strikes to
Warren Stupidity
Feb 2013
#123
"You know perfectly well these decisions are not made on a whim;" But they are made
Vincardog
Feb 2013
#101
You limit the discussion to your specific situation. In reality the argument is against a
Vincardog
Feb 2013
#126
There is always recourse. Congress can impeach him. That is the Constitutional recourse. nt
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#135
I prefer an easier means of correction. Checks and Balances. The American way.
Vincardog
Feb 2013
#143
That IS the check and balance on the Presidency. And it is the American and Constitutional way. nt
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#146
My argument is that the power to kill without notice review or oversight is unconstitutional. We
Vincardog
Feb 2013
#148
I argue we are talking combatants in a war, as does the Magistrate and many others.
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#150
Did you read my post? Can you defend your position? Or are you saying I agree with the
Vincardog
Feb 2013
#156
I'm saying I agree with the magistrate's OP. In fact, in a rather long OP, I cannot find anything on
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#158
Obama Equals Stalin, Sir: Got It --- Points For Mention Of Felix, Though....
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#208
I think your 'straw man' is a bit unfair. The person to whom you are
coalition_unwilling
Feb 2013
#256
Actually there is as defined in their rules. It would not be permitted on us soil
still_one
Feb 2013
#203
Because the U.S. has done some evil things, but that does not mean that everyone who
patrice
Feb 2013
#109
What's the difference between a drone strike and a firefight that kills the suspect?
randome
Feb 2013
#14
The troubling drone attacks are not the ones that target enemies during fighting.
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#117
Our government is ALWAYS constrained by the constitution, it is the source of
TheKentuckian
Feb 2013
#201
Why do you jump to the conclusion that a suspected terrorist will engage in a firefight?
Luminous Animal
Feb 2013
#28
I agree, within the United States, when possible, use of lethal force should be avoided.
randome
Feb 2013
#32
Your scenario is conjecture. Conjecture doesn't cut it for me particularly
Luminous Animal
Feb 2013
#48
Of course it's conjecture. So is the idea that Obama is planning to assassinate political enemies.
randome
Feb 2013
#66
Then there are those who participate in firefights by building bombs in a basement.
randome
Feb 2013
#132
If you have evidence that someone is building a bomb somewhere out of your jurisdiction,
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#140
IEDs are only useful locally. If they are a danger to our troops engaged in war, then drones
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#159
Last night I woke up with the horrible question as to whether we are capable of stopping foreign
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#280
Our first drone kill of an american citizen was against a person who ran a web site.
Warren Stupidity
Feb 2013
#177
If I Am Solipsistic, Sir, You Would Have a Hard Time Proving To Me You Exist....
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#219
I would suggest that you do a little more reading up on Mr. Awlaki's involvement
msanthrope
Feb 2013
#357
"A louse is a louse...." All this handwringing over a man who would kill every one of us, without
msanthrope
Feb 2013
#362
I am a criminal defense attorney. I am far more cynical than that--people adopt the stance of
msanthrope
Feb 2013
#382
That isn't the issue though. There doesn't have to be a clear and present threat.
TheKentuckian
Feb 2013
#206
Face it. The type of governance you are advocating is authoritarianism.
redgreenandblue
Feb 2013
#36
Indeed Sir, and drones will be misused, and for expediency's sake, and that is the problem.
bemildred
Feb 2013
#37
Who would you like to suggest as the provider of "better, independent oversight"?....
OldDem2012
Feb 2013
#34
It's not really a tricky question unless you are worried about avoiding oversight.
bemildred
Feb 2013
#40
Possibly....but would they be ready to make decisions involving life and death....
OldDem2012
Feb 2013
#83
al'Alawi, Sir, Did Adhere To A Body Engaged In Hostilities Against The United States
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#49
Persons Willing To Abuse This, Sir, Would Act As They Will, Precedent Or No
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#45
Your problem is you are blindly accepting YOUR definition of drone strike as justifiction
rustydog
Feb 2013
#58
Just curious, but how many Confederate soldiers were afforded the protections of Amendment 6.....
OldDem2012
Feb 2013
#165
I don't think all your words trump the simplicity of the Constitution on the matter.
xtraxritical
Feb 2013
#67
Did the Confederates in the Civil War receive this "due process" ?
ConservativeDemocrat
Feb 2013
#282
I do not consider preserving the Union and breaking the back of slavery to be a "wrong"...
ConservativeDemocrat
Feb 2013
#329
I don't necessarily agree with categorizing these people as belligerent parties
alcibiades_mystery
Feb 2013
#92
Expecting Obama or anyone else to adhere to the Golden Rule or the Categorical Imperative of Kant...
randome
Feb 2013
#149
How do you know whether someone is a part of the Taliban? That is part of the problem.
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#160
When we are invited by other countries to use them? I don't see that happening.
randome
Feb 2013
#103
Pakistan also provided intelligence about OBL's whereabouts then denied to their people they did so.
randome
Feb 2013
#115
You realize that we did have drones operating out of Pakistan with permission at one time
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#162
If one engages in violence against civilization, no matter the cause, then civilization has the
Yavin4
Feb 2013
#118
No problem with using drones against people engaged in violence against civilization.
JDPriestly
Feb 2013
#127
Nor can that person point to anyone who said it sucked that Bush did it and now is in favor nt
stevenleser
Feb 2013
#142
So you do support the right of other countries to attack within our country with drones
Flying Squirrel
Feb 2013
#193
John Bolton said about the same with much less verbiage. That's got to make you feel good.
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#196
If He Agrees With Me, Sir, Then For Once In His Wretched Life He Has Stumbled Into A Correct View
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#197
So basically, any abuse by any authority can be justified if you make up situations. I get it. n-t
Logical
Feb 2013
#211
A good summation followed by a dereliction of responsibility to the precedent being set.
Bonobo
Feb 2013
#214
That is a very good point. However there is an argument to be made that by codifying it into law,
Bonobo
Feb 2013
#221
So you would do away with all constitutional provisions to rights guaranteed by same to Americans
lonestarnot
Feb 2013
#217
We Are Getting Deep Into 'Say Something Once, Why Say It Again?' Territory, Sir
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#236
Worth Re-Reading,Sir: People Forget Just How Sweeping That Language Is....
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#310
For the record, I thought it was a bad road to go down, and a bad way to do it
bhikkhu
Feb 2013
#324
For the record, you lack the conviction of your initial impression on just how bad this would get.
westerebus
Feb 2013
#326
Does this include people in another country riding in a vehicle on the way to the store?
The Straight Story
Feb 2013
#239
Often Combatants Are Killed, Sir, Whilst Doing Nothing Particularly Combative At The Moment
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#241
A willing ally indeed, when we kill innocents there they claim it is their airplanes doing it
The Straight Story
Feb 2013
#266
Your Use Of 'Suspects', Sir, Points Up The Problem With This Discussion
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#267
These Apply To Persons Captured, Sir, Not To Engagement With Combatant Persons
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#270
So I guess things like this are ok as well (I don't see much difference in drones and this:)
The Straight Story
Feb 2013
#321
In essence, you think a moderate degree of "martial law" is an appropriate response
redgreenandblue
Feb 2013
#242
Good, thoughtful piece. It does seem to me that the U.S. government seeks to have its cake and
coalition_unwilling
Feb 2013
#247
I Agree, Sir, We Are In Grave Breach Of Geneva Conventions On Treatment Of Prisoners
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#250
I Expect The Drill, Sir, Would Be The Old 'Bend Over And Kiss Your Ass Good-Bye' Routine
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#275
Again, Sir: Slippery Slope Is Not Solid Ground on Which To Take A Stand
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#311
The Mathematical Correlation, Sir, Is With the Degree Of Precision In Communication Desired
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#317
But Precise Execution, Sir, Is Necessary To Accuracy, Certainly To Accuracy Sustained Over Time...
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#319
The message is inherent in your posting style, "sir". We all knew you'd find some excuse.
Romulox
Feb 2013
#336
People will draw the line differently no doubt - but there is something to remember
jpgray
Feb 2013
#365
Bit Late, Sir, For That Attempt At Snappy Rejoinder To Have Any Sting....
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#374
While You Say You 'Get It', Ma'am, You Show Remarkably Few Signs Of Having Done So
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#340
Our foreign policy mainly serves imperial bullying, and is mostly untrustworthy for that reason
eridani
Feb 2013
#363
Given that most data used is suspect, the policy is wrong, and will likely backfire
eridani
Feb 2013
#368
I Think That Here, Ma'am, You Are Getting Out a Bit Ahead Of What Can Be Taken As Fact
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#375
I saw the OP's name, and KNEW this was going to be a huge excuse/justification.
Romulox
Feb 2013
#335
If A Workable Arrangement Can Be Made, Sir, I Certainly Would Not Object
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#354
Excellent post. I think you explain the situation very well, and I think you would
msanthrope
Feb 2013
#355
All I see are people who sacrifice long term solutions for short term satisfaction...
Humanist_Activist
Feb 2013
#383
Deliberate Misunderstandings, Sir, Help Make The Point: Thank You For Your Assistance
The Magistrate
Feb 2013
#373