Jeff Danziger for June 22, 2012

Drones are more accurate than cannon or bombs. So we should go back to a less precise method of warfare and kill MORE civilians? Great logic!

russel5419: Yep, nothing creates that feeling like having some bully kill your baby. The answer is to stop invading just any old place with resources the multinational corporations want to steal.

I’m not sure I see the moral or practical difference between killing somebody with a drone and killing them with a bomb dropped from a plane. Except that drones have less collateral damage. Is that what people are objecting to?

War is nasty. If you don’t like it, don’t fight it.

Well put Gary. Unfortunately, it will just bounce off the thick, carapace like, bubble that protects Ima and others like him/her from facts.

Its war – shit happens. As long as they werent actually targeted in the first place its just though luck. Pakistan doesn´t want the drones – they should actively do something about the terrorists hiding there.

Again, I would like to point out that we had a reason to go into Afghanistan, How short some memories are! The thing that our Commander in Chief didn’t consider is that you finish what you start before starting something else. Too many military leaders have learned this the hard way, Of course there was no reason to start the second war except for encouragement from his big oil supporters and a desire to avenge his father.

The truly dangerous drones are the one’s supporting the “queen bees” cry for more senseless wars.

If you want a dedicated enemy, kill their kids, invade THEIR lands, and demand THEY let YOU rule!

You’re right "they " want to kill us. Do you think that may be because we

A) occupy their countryB) strong hand their government into submissivenessC) kill their citizens on a frequent basisD) All of the above

To put in perspective how would you feel if the US government cleared China to put military bases and armed soldiers in your state of residence for “security”

“We have met the enemy and he is us!” We have become the terrorists.

you forgot F) because they’re shooting rockets at our bases, while using civilians as shields.

I guess those who never served in harms way wouldn’t understand. You’re forgiven.

the u.s. military is a terrorist weapon in the hands of our class enemies! we will abolish it during the coming revolution!

Problem is, we’re often not killing the enemy – we’re killing civilians. Quite often children. Better than drones would be pulling out of that region. I have never bought the garbage about “better to fight them there than here.” We’ve jumped into too many unnecessary conflicts.

I’m in the process of reading all National Geographic Magazine articles about Afghanistan, I have them on CD, and they are now available on DVD, also. The article from 1921 could almost completely pertain to Afghanistan today. Did anybody planning the invasion 10 years ago take the trouble to do as I’m doing? If so, they might have seen right away the futility of it all.

Did anyone in government or the military ever hear of “Superiority,” by Arthur C. Clarke? What’s next after drones, enhanced combat suits? Numerous classic works of speculative fiction, thoughtfully consulted, might have helped prevent a lot of mistakes.

It’s said God in his infinite wisdom takes care of drunks, little children, and the United States of America. Considering the Sandusky case, and our recent military ventures, is that still true?

OK, how many of you would like to go home to good paying jobs? Sorry, the Reeps have destroyed the unions while you were gone. Enjoy flipping those burgers, boys!

If you haven’t served in the military, or have a family member serving, you have no right to comment on this. You have no skin in the game. So shut up! Or enlist.

I guess I can understand their viewpoint, but they did volunteer. Nevertheless they should be thanked for what they feel like is an important job.

You beat me to a reply to Theo Poser.

Many people wrongly believe Afghanistan is a worthless piece of real estate. Google “Natural Resources in Afghanistan” and one will found several articles about purported vast mineral wealth predicted by geologists. Including rare earths necessary to our communication and military interests.

Mongolia, for example, is said to contain such elements also, and China is showing intense interest in the entire region.

How ironic if years from now the tribes of Afghanistan exceed the Saudis in wealth.

Have any of you read a book called Bugles and a Tiger by John Masters? It is an autobiographical piece, and parts of it are about his service in a British unit in what I believe is now the tribal area of Pakistan. He was there in the 1930’s, and some of the details are eerily similar to the fighting going on in Afghanistan today.

The people of Afghanistan and neighboring areas have been fighting invaders for thousands of years. It is their national sport / pastime / mode of existence. They are really good at it.

They fight each other when they can’t fight invaders, to keep in practice.

What would we do if we were invaded? Sit back, smile, do nothing? I believe, I hope, many of us, of whatever political persuasion, would do what we could to convince the invaders to leave, including sacrificing our lives in battle if needed. Should we expect less from others?

Yup. If it’s them or us, I vote for us. How long were you in uniform, Gary? Any of your children serve in the military? If the answer to those questions were both negative, you don’t get a say. Come back once you’ve actually put your life on the line. Ever watch a friend die a painful death at the hands of ‘innocent people’? You ever watch the news, waiting to hear of NATO deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan and wonder if they were talking about your son? If you haven’t done any of these, you don’t have the RIGHT. And if you have done any of these things I doubt you’d be making such an ignorant comment.

Now, if you want to say we’re fighting a senseless, stupid war, oh man, am I with you. But as long as we are fighting it, I want us to use every means available to protect the lives of our American troops.

Poser: It has a long-planned pipeline route to get Caspian Sea oil to close enough our former allies in Pakistan could carry it the rest of the way. Now all it offers is an outlet for our habit of following orders from the “awl bidness”.

what a sick planet

Sad to see Danzinger prop up the killing of civilians. There was no al-Qaida to speak of in Yemen until a drone strike in March 2009 killed fifteen women and children; now the anti-US forces control considerable territory.

I vote for going back to requiring Congress to authorize all military force before using it.

So then, how does Danziger feel about the Syrians using human shields for their tanks? I mean, we’re talking about killing innocent people to protect the troops, right?