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Title: Defense Secretary Gates: Killing Civilians is a "strategic problem"
Source:
Boston Libertarian Examiner
URL Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-3665-Bost ... vilians-is-a-strategic-problem
Published: Jun 19, 2009
Author: Christopher Dowd aka Burkeman1
Post Date: 2009-06-21 22:01:12 by F.A. Hayek Fan
Keywords: None
Views: 384
Comments: 14
One of the nation's highest officials reached a stunning conclusion yesterday that merited it's own AP news wire release. It seems our Defense Secretary believes that the killing of civilians in places like Afghanistan is a serious "strategic problem" in the War on Terror. Robert Gates is one of these life long Washington DC apparatchiks whose resume is richly padded with degrees and numerous government appointments, not to mention the usual litany of "service" on corporate boards in between government gigs. We are constantly being told, usually by government lovers on the right, that people like Gates know things, secret things, that we the citizenry don't know and that we should just shut up and let them "do their jobs". They have access to all sorts of "intelligence" and secrets that we don't know about and thus we should defer to their judgment and opinions like good little patriotic DC lovers. Being an unquestioning boob when it comes to anyone wearing a federal military uniform or who is in the "intelligence community" is a pre-requisite to being a "conservative" these days. So naturally I was stunned to learn from Gates that the civilians in Afghanistan don't like it when whole villages of their friends and families get blown up by an air-strike, or drone, or shot up by troops on the ground. Yes, it seems, that all that super secret info and years of experience in the "community" has led Gates to the amazing realization that killing civilians in Afghanistan is a "problem." Now this is remarkable! The Afghan species of man things doesn't seem to like it when they are slaughtered willy nilly by an occupying foreign military? Huh? Who but a well credentialed lifelong resident of the Beltway and government job hopper would have known that? I wonder how Gates reached this conclusion? Is it supported by field evidence? I wonder if he dawned a safari jacket and spent time among the Afghans to learn their strange ways, much like Dianne Fossey did in that movie "Gorillas in the Mist"? Gates was also reportedly fascinated to learn that the Afghans are capable of speech and even bury their dead- like real people do! Well there you have it! Another "expert" with access to all manner of "classified information" and who "knows things" that mere mortals like you and me don't- believes that the killing of innocent people in Afghanistan is a "strategic problem" (not a moral one mind you- oh no.) It is good to know that we have such people in government capable of such brilliant insights. This war is all but won now!
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#1. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
Wonder if he would think it was a "strategic problem " if it were his family blown to filth by foreigner's weapons?
"Satan / Cheney in "08" bam! burkeman hits it out of the park w this one. what sick f**ks control this country
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
To laugh, or to weep? What a joke it all is.
That's the problem with neocons. They are incapable of such empathy and introspection.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
ah, Chris is writing for the Examiner now, i see. good for him.
The smooth criminal transition from Bush/Cheney to Obama
Yes, I always liked his writing and his way with words.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
Evidentally we had to burn the village to save it. The royal we have learned NOTHING.
"Satan / Cheney in "08" "The only thing the natives understand is force". How many times has this been the mantra of colonizers?
"Satan / Cheney in "08" It is a difficult situation and often a dangerous world in which we find ourselves. The little people on all sides NEVER have a voice concerning death and destruction, they are however used to carry out the murder and mayhem.
i do have a criticism. he's labeling gates et al as conservatives/neocons. uh, has he ignored the fact that gates is now obama's secretary of defense? does that make this administration neocon? and, btw, who is escalating afghanistan and pakistan?
The smooth criminal transition from Bush/Cheney to Obama
Let me research that question for a day or two and will get back to you with an answer.
Well I can't speak for him but it does seem to fit into his overall view that both parties are really one and the same.
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media." ~ William Colby, Director, CIA 1973–1976 The purpose of the legal system is to protect the elites from the wrath of those they plunder.- Elliott Jackalope
The Gates crew may be saying that civilian casualties are a strategic problem but their actual reaction is probably more of "aw shucks" since they can theorize that civilians will get fed up with the war and turn against their militants. Gates' thinking is already warped beyond repair by having to kill Afghanis who posed no threat to any American but only to Israelis because Zionist terrorists stole the land of Palestinians. A warped mind can rationalize strategic aspects of civilian casualties or anything else as obscene.
I disagree. The way I see it, it is a tactical problem. They are using tactics that result in the murders of civilians. The strategic problems will have only just begun when we lose in Afghanistan, like every other invader since Alexander. .
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#2. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
(Edited)
#3. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
It is good to know that we have such people in government capable of such brilliant insights. This war is all but won now!
#4. To: tom007 (#1)
Wonder if he would think it was a "strategic problem " if it were his family blown to filth by foreigner's weapons?
#5. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
#6. To: christine (#5)
ah, Chris is writing for the Examiner now, i see. good for him.
#7. To: Hayek Fan (#4)
#8. To: Hayek Fan (#4)
That's the problem with neocons. They are incapable of such empathy and introspection.
#9. To: tom007 (#8)
(Edited)
How many times has this been the mantra of colonizers?
#10. To: Hayek Fan (#6)
#11. To: christine (#10)
btw, who is escalating afghanistan and pakistan?
#12. To: christine (#10)
i do have a criticism. he's labeling gates et al as conservatives/neocons. uh, has he ignored the fact that gates is now obama's secretary of defense? does that make this administration neocon? and, btw, who is escalating afghanistan and pakistan?
#13. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
#14. To: Hayek Fan (#0)
Defense Secretary Gates: Killing Civilians is a "strategic problem"
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