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stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

55. Yes, well said, and to extend your analogy, people here insist on superficial interpretations

Sun Feb 26, 2012, 06:43 PM

Feb 2012

just like in the I/P situation.

Drones = absolutely bad
Drones = absolutely good
US = automatically bad
US = automatically good
and on it goes.

Truth of the matter is, we have a bad situation and every action is both some parts bad and some parts good. I prefer the use of drones with their weaker munitions to airstrikes with conventional weapons or dropping squads of special forces. I know the drones kill less people than the other means, but it still is bad that we have to do anything. I also know that Pakistan is fighting a war with itself and some parts of the ISI and military and government side with us and some side with and fund the militants.

This is ugly. There is no perfect option. There does seem to be a plethora of people reducing this all to superficial arguments and positions though, both on the left and right.

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AP IMPACT: study suggests drones kill far fewer civilians than many Pakistanis believe [View all] limpyhobbler Feb 2012 OP

One civilian killed is one too many. Cali_Democrat Feb 2012 #1

Civilians always die in war WonderGrunion Feb 2012 #20

That's one dead civilian for every four dead militants. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2012 #2

In World War II the ratio was 1 civilian for every 2 dead soldiers for the Axis powers Johnny Rico Feb 2012 #12

the very serious problem wth your analogy is that most of the civilians that were truedelphi Feb 2012 #25

How does that affect kill ratios and whether they are bad or good? You dont really explain that. nt stevenleser Feb 2012 #53

What? What? What? truedelphi Feb 2012 #64

How do they differentiate between dead militants and dead civilians? Incitatus Feb 2012 #3

You are asking how the people who lived there knew who was who?Because that is who provided the info stevenleser Feb 2012 #51

Wow, they're really reaching now, aren't they? gratuitous Feb 2012 #4

I have long called the AP truedelphi Feb 2012 #24

Speaking to the villagers where the attacks happened is reaching? stevenleser Feb 2012 #52

Those darn treaties! gratuitous Feb 2012 #62

Phew! That's a relief!! RufusTFirefly Feb 2012 #5

Not sure why people have a hard time believing there are some hardcore terrorist groups limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #6

So we should just continue to kill people, MadHound Feb 2012 #7

We should defend our country from fascist terrorists who are plotting to kill us. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #10

fascist terrorists?! frylock Feb 2012 #13

You don't agree? limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #14

You're right - there's nothing funny about the Republican party. Nostradammit Feb 2012 #16

I do see the resemblance. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #22

Targeted assassinations that allow for the murder of innocents IS TERRORISM! Nostradammit Feb 2012 #33

OK so what would be a better way to approach the issue? limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #35

Well, if we are to stay true to the original intent of the people who started this country Nostradammit Feb 2012 #37

All due respect to you, there is no such thing as war without civilian deaths. stevenleser Feb 2012 #58

Did Congress declare war on Pakistan? Nostradammit Feb 2012 #61

No, actually, in wartime, it is neither murder, nor terrorism. stevenleser Feb 2012 #60

Yes, maybe we should stop combatting terrorist groups in the region. Comrade Grumpy Feb 2012 #36

Sounds like we should be sending drones to hit the Catholic Bishops, then. MNBrewer Feb 2012 #21

clearly, i don't.. frylock Feb 2012 #43

This thread limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #48

You are going to get a very simplistic and superficial response if at all. stevenleser Feb 2012 #56

thanks limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #59

you're right. let's just continue to utilize the same costly and ineffective methods.. frylock Feb 2012 #63

USA-USA-USA MadHound Feb 2012 #40

I think I disagree with your position on drone strikes. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #45

Geez, where to start MadHound Feb 2012 #49

ok so... limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #50

Why are they trying to kill us? Hugabear Feb 2012 #66

Here are some reasons why limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #67

I really don't get why otherwise sensible people believe this horseshit eridani Mar 2012 #69

It's easy to understand if you think those terrorist groups pose a real threat. limpyhobbler Mar 2012 #71

If they wanted to violently spread religion-- eridani Mar 2012 #72

That is what they want. That's what they say and I believe them. limpyhobbler Mar 2012 #73

Our own 1% is the real threat to us, not religious whackjobs. eridani Mar 2012 #74

In one word, yes. bluestate10 Feb 2012 #28

Who are the savages? MadHound Feb 2012 #42

killing for peace.. frylock Feb 2012 #44

I guess that is sarcasm? limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #46

Obama, Clinton, Panetta, and Petraeus? Aren't they the ones who escalated the war? Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2012 #9

It's always easy to think the way you do if you truedelphi Feb 2012 #27

I appreciate your thoughtful response. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #29

When we're attacked, then we should wage war. truedelphi Feb 2012 #31

Yes! Nostradammit Feb 2012 #34

I love your user id name. truedelphi Feb 2012 #65

I knew you were going to say that. Nostradammit Mar 2012 #68

We were attacked by a multistate terror group on 9-11 why did you choose not to address that? stevenleser Feb 2012 #57

They can tell they're "militants" because they're dead. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2012 #8

Apparently they asked the local people to find out. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #17

At that time, they also claimed to kill only insurgents. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2012 #18

Well, that's a good point. limpyhobbler Feb 2012 #26

It poses an insignifican "threat" to America, except that it's bankrupting us. Tierra_y_Libertad Feb 2012 #32

little evidence remains for this: quaker bill Mar 2012 #75

So it sounds like we need to take steps to change both reality and perception n/t DisgustipatedinCA Feb 2012 #11

Except we can't. Igel Feb 2012 #15

Good read. (nt) Robb Feb 2012 #38

Yes, well said, and to extend your analogy, people here insist on superficial interpretations stevenleser Feb 2012 #55

Spinning the death machine. marmar Feb 2012 #19

Authorized Propaganda, spinning? Don't be so cynical. EFerrari Feb 2012 #23

These numbers are worse than what the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found. joshcryer Feb 2012 #30

It's interesting that some are reflexively attacking the article with no backup whatsoever stevenleser Feb 2012 #54

The real problem here fujiyama Feb 2012 #39

... woo me with science Feb 2012 #41

Oh f*ck me with a spoon. GeorgeGist Feb 2012 #47

In every person advocating for the "war" on terror, by whatever means-- eridani Mar 2012 #70