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But the U.S. is at war with ISIL, as part of a joint task force involving the Pakistan armed forces. It's not total war, so the real issue is whether or not th
by bduerst 10y ago
But the U.S. is at war with ISIL, as part of a joint task force involving the Pakistan armed forces.
It's not total war, so the real issue is whether or not the CIA drone assassinations killed innocent civilians. The article mentions how drone attacks have killed civilians, but it doesn't specify if those are the CIA requested attacks or if they were approved by Clinton.
- chopin 10y agoBy the same logic, China could declare war at certain dissident groups, say Tibet activists (which I think China assumes to be terrorists) and then drone strike their members in the US, if the US refuses to act against those. I don't think this is the standard a civilized nation should hold. EDIT: spelling
- bduerst 10y agoAssuming that the U.S. Military is allied with China against (and at war with) the Tibeten activists, and the drone assassination was of a leader in that group - then yes, your hypothetical slippery slope is analogous.
- awesomerobot 10y agoI too, believe that war should not exist.
- nikdaheratik 10y agoIt's not really a good analogy simply because, in many cases the U.S. strikes, while not always condoned by the governments controlling the land, they are at least not unwelcome. If China pulled that same thing on the U.S., or vice-versa, it would likely start a war. But if they pulled that in Mongolia or Nepal, and those governments were willing to turn a blind eye, it wouldn't. This kind of situation isn't good, but it's why the State department has the lead instead of Defense.
- dragonwriter 10y ago> By the same logic, China could declare war at certain dissident groups, say Tibet activists (which I think China assumes to be terrorists) and then drone strike their members in the US, if the US refuses to act against those. China obviously could do that, though they equally obviously would be unlikely to because of the likely consequences of doing so.
- runjake 10y agoISIL isn't acting active in Pakistan. The US is at war with several Taliban factions and what's left of Al Qaeda and its support groups in Pakistan. ISIL and Al Qaeda are more enemies than friends at this point in their histories.