This was inevitable. In jest, SkyNet launches. This does, however, introduce an interesting element where we eliminate the “human” factor of our weapons systems. Keep an eye out in the near future for reactions regardless.
Source: The New York Times
In summary- kill first; maybe answer questions after.
“President Barack Obama, who vastly expanded U.S. drone strikes against terrorism suspects overseas under the cloak of secrecy, is now openly seeking to influence global guidelines for their use as China and other countries pursue their own drone programs.”
Seems as though this road has been rode before. Re: The Acheson-Lilienthal Report and the Baruch Plan of the late 1940s. Nukes were all well and legit when we were the only ones dropping them on folks. A wee bit different tune when the Joe Stalin feigned interest. All of a sudden, the world needed to crack down. Later, of course, USSR popped off “First Lightning” in ‘49.
Like I’ve always said, even cursory knowledge of the past from those with so much power would be nice after all.
(via theamericanbear)
Source: fariyah
More infuriating nonsense from all camps overnight to this morning. Here’s an inescapable fact, folks. If our legislators gave one rat’s ass about the good of we the people, there wouldn’t have been a need for any filibuster. Much like the gun control debates, this is a symptom of a much larger problem. Quite frankly, who gives a shit whether or not Mr Obama “says” he’s not going kill US people in the US? [Remember when he “said” he would close Guantanamo?] This government “says” whatever will be popular at any given point. What happens in reality is key. Reality is, since 9/11 we have allowed an environment to grow where we are now asking the question of when it is permissible to assassinate US citizens. Does anyone see the problem here? The simple fact that this is even a question to be imagined is the problem. The bullshit q & a are just symptoms.
Now, to the charade of yesterday’s circus. As I’ve said before, I’m not a huge fan of him, but I certainly commend Dr Paul for having the bollocks to stand there, on principle, for >13 hours, even as futile as it was. Waste of time, absolutely not. Will the criminal Brennan still be appointed, absolutely yes. My problem isn’t with Paul and it isn’t with this filibuster. It’s with the Johnny-come-lately republican and fake-me-out libertarian “support”.
I follow a bunch of pundits on Twitter and much of this thought stems from reading the reactions, links, etc. Judge Napolitano tweeted a link of the senators who “stood with Paul” and those who did not. A lot of what the Judge says is agreeable, however, too many times he just toots the FoxNews/token republican horn. Take a look at the names on that list. They’re taking a stand for liberty! Commendable, right!?
Bullshit! Saxby Chambliss!? John Cornyn!? Mitch fucking McConnell!?!? Give me a break already. Here’s reality:
Patriot Act 2011 Yea Votes - Toomey, Thune, Barrasso, Moran, Johnson, Chambliss, McConnell
Patriot Act 2011 Nay Votes - Paul, Lee, Wyden
(DNV - Rubio, Flake, Scott, Cruz)
NDAA Yea Votes - Rubio, Toomey, Thune, Barrasso, Moran, Cornyn, Johnson, Chambliss, McConnell
NDAA Nay Votes - Paul, Lee, Wyden
(DNV - Cruz, Scott, Flake)
Two of the most egregious pieces of legislation in the past two years. Check out the SOPA/PIPA/CISPA votes as well. Where was the filibuster support then? Where were all these liberty-lovin’ folks then? The RNC chair #standswithpaul too! Yeah… Please, shovel your horseshit somewhere else.
I’m not sure why the democrat non-support/inaction is surprising to anyone. The majority of you have done nothing but prove to be gutless turds for as long as I can remember, time and time again. You were cowards before and you’ll continue to be cowards. Color me not surprised.
And you republicans out there all of a sudden claiming unwavering support, retweeting, blogging, bull-horning from box-top, go piss up a rope! Where were you assholes months and years ago leading up to this point? 16-year-old American kid with a funny name gets blown away in the desert? All good in the hood! Serfs and peons getting restless agains evil Obama? Time to mobilize!
All of you, go fuck off will you!?
Just in case you were wondering.
Here’s a link from NBC in case you’d like to cross-reference.
Right now the U.S. is the only nation that operates drones on a large scale, but that will change: flying drones is hard, but it’s not that hard. Singer estimates that there are 76 other countries either developing drones or shopping for them; both Hizballah and Hamas have flown drones already. In November, a Massachusetts man was sentenced to 17 years for plotting to attack the Pentagon and the Capitol with remote-controlled planes. (The drone equivalent of the Newtown, Conn., atrocity is simply beyond contemplation.) The moral ambiguity of covert drone strikes will clarify itself very quickly if another country claims the right under international law to strike its enemies in the U.S. There may come a day when the U.S. bitterly regrets the precedents it has set.
Americans are great and heedless adopters of new technologies, and few technologies are as seductive, promise so much at so little political and financial and human cost, as drones. They give us tremendous new powers, and they seem to ask very little of us in return. Obama captured the singular quality of drone warfare precisely in a remark that appears in Mark Bowden’s recent book The Finish. “There’s a remoteness to it,” he said, “that makes it tempting to think that somehow we can, without any mess on our hands, solve vexing security problems.” That illusion is just what makes drones such a challenge, especially as we introduce them into our own country. Drones don’t just give us power, they tempt us to use it.
I participated in two UNGAs. You want to talk about surveillance!?
1. My theory is once again confirmed that human beings are inherently stupid - Actually, I cannot claim this as original. Years ago, a guy I was in training with said his father used to say that 98% of human beings are inherently stupid. I’ve yet to forget that saying. This becomes abundantly clear during election season, which incidentally, is all of the time now. What I’ve witnessed from Americans following both sides has been nothing short of a complete mind-fuck. From someone on the outside looking in, I do not understand how nearsighted and forgetful, or careless rather, these people are. Have we been living in different worlds since 2001? Apparently so.
Wait, what? Buffalo? Buffalo, as in Western New York, Buffalo??? The first city?
One can hope, right? Even the fact that this story is out there is a promising note of sorts. If this were somewhere else, perhaps not a story, but Buffalo!? This is groundbreaking. Now a reality check. As great as it would be for local municipalities, cities, and states to ban the use of drones in their airspace, how would/could they enforce that. Regardless, it’s a good idea.
I love you, Buffalo!
I’ll ask you, whether it’s kids dying by gun to the head, axe murder, or bombs from the sky, what’s the goddamned difference? Oh yes, that’s right, one is a deplorable atrocity. The other, a celebrated victory for the spreading of freedom. “Collateral damage” as we like to put it. I’m so sick and fucking tired of hearing that term applied to presumably innocent human beings.
So ask yourself, as you go to your church, or other place of “redemption”, ask your god when enough is enough? Ask for forgiveness as you pray for the death of your enemies Monday to Saturday, then for world peace on Sunday. Kill or be killed, right? Just war? Kiss your babies goodnight and thank your god that he blessed you to live on the side where we spread peace through dropping bombs on their kids, and not the other way around.
Top
