David Sirota: Blowback: Why They Try to Bomb Us

[marmar]

from truthdig:



Blowback: Why They Try to Bomb Us

Posted on May 14, 2010
By David Sirota


Imagine, if you can, an alternate universe.

Imagine that in this alternate universe, a foreign military power begins flying remote-controlled warplanes over your town, using onboard missiles to kill hundreds of your innocent neighbors.

Now imagine that when you read the newspaper about this ongoing bloodbath, you learn that the foreign nation’s top general is nonchalantly telling reporters that his troops are also killing “an amazing number” of your cultural brethren in an adjacent country. Imagine further learning that this foreign power is expanding the drone attacks on your community despite the attacks’ well-known record of killing innocents. And finally, imagine that when you turn on your television, you see the perpetrator nation’s tuxedo-clad leader cracking stand-up comedy jokes about drone strikes—jokes that prompt guffaws from an audience of that nation’s elite.

Ask yourself: How would you and your fellow citizens respond? Would you call homegrown militias mounting a defense “patriots” or would you call them “terrorists”? Would you agree with your leaders when they angrily tell reporters that violent defiance should be expected?

Fortunately, most Americans don’t have to worry about these queries in their own lives. But how we answer them in a hypothetical thought experiment provides us insight into how Pakistanis are likely to be feeling right now. Why? Because thanks to our continued drone assaults on their country, Pakistanis now confront these issues every day. And if they answer these questions as many of us undoubtedly would in a similar situation—well, that should trouble every American in this age of asymmetrical warfare. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/blowback_why_they_try_to_bomb_us_20100513/

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. This will become a death spiral

More enraged Pakistanis will attempt strikes on US and the US will continue to take away our civil liberties to allegedly prevent attacks and step up attacks in Pakistan which will generate more strikes etc.

[Orrex]

2. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

[MisterP]

3. imagine if BP had taken over Texas's economy in the 40s,

scorned the locals, called them "boy," kept most all of the profits for several decades, and propped up a few families--and that's Saudi Arabia

now add interventions in Lebanon, Kuwait, and Iran, wars in Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan, dictators in Pakistan (though Zia was Islamist, helping push the greater Mideast in this direction), Kuwait, and Egypt (and the Shah before 1979 and Hussein before 1990), and an often-frothing regime based on expulsions and discrimination, and you have a region that feels pretty kicked-around for the benefit of a foreign power; add Qutb and US Mujahedeen and ibn Ladin funding to the resentment that, like, 60, nations feel against the US's wars and economic or military colonialism, and you have al Qaeda; add PNAC, and you have a strong chance of a MIHOP

[Douglas Carpenter]

4. kick and recommend!! VERY IMPORTANT!!!

[Jefferson23]

5. Scott Horton among others have written about this too. One would

hope since Obama recently stated these innocent deaths are his responsibility, that he and or the Democratic lawmakers
would be holding hearings on the use and unintended consequences of the drone attacks.

I haven't heard any such conversation about that possibility, not at all.

[KoKo]

6. K&R

[Jefferson23]

7. Kick. n/t

[paparush]

8. Kick! nt