I can't end this discussion without bringing up two recent developments with regard to the immoral use of drones. In addition to the standard Reaper and Raptor drones being used in Afghanistan and Pakistan by the Air Force and the CIA, there is a much larger stealth-type drone being developed, aptly nicknamed, the "Beast of Kandahar."
Bigger, better, more deadly drones. What other means of destruction is next? Well, the latest word is that U.S. counter-terrorism officials feel that the drone attacks have been so successful in killing terrorists (and, of course they never mention the killing of innocent civilians) that they have asked for the authority to expand the program by targeting them in more densely populated areas of Pakistan.
What creative, innovative, and unconscionable thinking on their part. Is there anyone left in our military, our Congress, or in the White House that might possibly conclude that the indiscriminate use of these drones in populated areas would clearly amount to an inhuman military action? Oh well, who cares about questions of morality. That is so passà ©.
Back to the promotion of the just war concept which, in theory, has some merit in certain situations, but does not, in my judgment, fit our military objectives and actions in Afghanistan/Pakistan. After once again reviewing Professor Obama's dissertation that tries to convince America and the entire world that War is actually Peace, using the language of Doublespeak, Doublethink, and Newspeak, he better save the just war theory for another day, some other future war.
In the aftermath of Mr. Obama's acceptance speech, has anyone been truly been convinced that War is actually Peace? Well, the majority of the mainstream media and its pseudo-journalists were ecstatic over it. Many of the right-wing war hawks of the GOP found it much to their liking. But I think it fell flat within the liberal and progressive wing of the Democratic Party, but, as usual, there was barely a sound or even a whimper of dissent or disagreement.
Had George Orwell been a greater visionary he would have named his novel, "2009".
Michael Payne
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