General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Drones: Do I have a line in the sand? [View all]davidpdx
(22,000 posts)I agree with you on some areas and disagree on some.
I agree that American has been dumbed down over the last dozen years or so. I have friends who I've know for years who don't give a shit about anything but their TV programs and their books (which is sad because they are the Harry Potter and Twilight series. Ok, Ok don't hate me for saying I think they are dumb, I'm just trying to make a point. I know for some people that's there thing).
I don't consider myself ordinary as I try to read about different subjects especially having to do with culture, politics, economics, etc. Currently I'm working on a doctoral degree and just finished a course on international law in which I read quite a bit about Sharia law and found it very eye opening (in a good way)
I have lived in a foreign country for 9 years and seen how the US is perceived from the outside. It is often uncomfortable especially during the first couple of years of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as there were massive protests. The year before I got here there was an incident (I don't think I want to call it an accident) where two girls got ran over by a US Army tank. All of these things caused Koreans to generally dislike Americans.
From the moment it began I was against the war in Iraq and I have always hated Bush. I believe his incompetence was one of the reasons the attacks happened. The people of the US were duped at a time of crisis.
With those tangential thoughts being said, I also believe the wars we are fighting aren't against nations but against extremists. The people are from many different countries, not just one.
It is very hard to justify killing people without charges, a trial or a judge. At the same time, the question is how do you set the limits (or the line in the sand) with the pursuit and killing of those who are dangerous? Would making the criteria public be enough? Does a system need to be in place where consent must be obtained from a judge? These are all questions that need to be asked.
Now from the last three paragraphs it's probably easy to tell I lean toward allowing drone attacks. The question is how do you put checks in the system that will prevent abuse. I don't have an answer to that.