Obama's "secret" wars - More dangerous than terrorism

[Ocean Breeze]

Obama's Secret Wars: How Our Shady Counter-Terrorism Policies Are More Dangerous Than Terrorism



Obama should be held accountable for vastly expanding the military establishment's worldwide license to kill.

July 11, 2011 |

Although President's Obama's partial Afghan troop withdrawal announcement has received more attention, his June 29 "National Strategy for Counterterrorism" is of far greater long-term significance. This remarkable document states that the U.S. government intends to "disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents," in the following "areas of focus": "The Homeland, South Asia, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa,Europe, Iraq, Maghreb and Sahel, Southeast Asia (and) Central Asia."

Obama's Secret Wars: How Our Shady Counter-Terrorism Policies Are More Dangerous Than Terrorism | | AlterNet


this is not about "terrorism". Terrorism is the cloak / excuse used for other motives.

 

[damngrumpy]

I don't care where the terrorists are or who they are, if we get a chance to take them out
anywhere go for it Terrorists seem to think they can attack any nation or any group of
people and the world should stand for it because they are so hard done by.
It is time those opposed to them stood up and developed a backbone. Go after them,
with drones or anything else that is at hand.
If the people in the Middle East decided to chase them out of their neighbourhoods it
would also help. The problem is many citizens in the Middle East approve of their actions
at least enough to keep them active. On the other hand we in the west supply aid to these
people, who dislike us and side with our enemies.
Make No Mistake, we have been at war with radical Islam for nearly a decade and it won't
end any time soon. People keep saying oh that's not true, its just the terrorists that are bad.
The terror movement could not have survived this long without the support of citizens in the
Middle East and many of their governments
Make it tough, hit them with cut off slips for foreign aid and at the same time reign drones
from the sky onto their ever more frightened leaders. This contributor has no sympathy for
terrorists no matter who they are claiming to represent or where they may be hiding.
(end of rant)

 

[Fingertrouble]

I don't care where the terrorists are or who they are, if we get a chance to take them out
anywhere go for it Terrorists seem to think they can attack any nation or any group of
people and the world should stand for it because they are so hard done by.
It is time those opposed to them stood up and developed a backbone. Go after them,
with drones or anything else that is at hand.
If the people in the Middle East decided to chase them out of their neighbourhoods it
would also help. The problem is many citizens in the Middle East approve of their actions
at least enough to keep them active. On the other hand we in the west supply aid to these
people, who dislike us and side with our enemies.
Make No Mistake, we have been at war with radical Islam for nearly a decade and it won't
end any time soon. People keep saying oh that's not true, its just the terrorists that are bad.
The terror movement could not have survived this long without the support of citizens in the
Middle East and many of their governments
Make it tough, hit them with cut off slips for foreign aid and at the same time reign drones
from the sky onto their ever more frightened leaders. This contributor has no sympathy for
terrorists no matter who they are claiming to represent or where they may be hiding.
(end of rant)

That is not a rant Damn Grumpy!! You spoke the truth and you said what many in private feel, but wont say outloud!
Bravo for all you comments. I for one wish for the continuance of such a policy until we rid the earth of these radicals. I only wish this type of operation was ramped up 10 years ago! Maybe then many, many brave servicemen and women from many nations would not have lost their lives in the 2 wars since 911. Who knows, maybe these types of operations could also have meant that the US wouldnt have run up such massive war debt, if they had gone after these terrorists where they slept, ate or sheltered with these UAV's. I am sure that Maverick missiles arent cheap, but I am doubly certain that the costs of these missiles is miniscule when compared to the Iraq war for example...

I truly hope that this policy ensures that these cowards are constantly looking over their shoulders and scanning the skies. I hope that they are never again blessed with a truly peaceful sleep and I hope that we can keep the fight in their neighbourhood and keep them constantly on the defensive until such time as they are wiped from the Earth or they realise the error of their radicalism and renounce all violence. Unfortunately I think there's more chance they are wiped from this world before they stop terrorizing and killing.

Obama's Secret Wars: How Our Shady Counter-Terrorism Policies Are More Dangerous Than Terrorism



Obama should be held accountable for vastly expanding the military establishment's worldwide license to kill.

July 11, 2011 |

Although President's Obama's partial Afghan troop withdrawal announcement has received more attention, his June 29 "National Strategy for Counterterrorism" is of far greater long-term significance. This remarkable document states that the U.S. government intends to "disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al-Qa'ida and its affiliates and adherents," in the following "areas of focus": "The Homeland, South Asia, Arabian Peninsula, East Africa,Europe, Iraq, Maghreb and Sahel, Southeast Asia (and) Central Asia."

Obama's Secret Wars: How Our Shady Counter-Terrorism Policies Are More Dangerous Than Terrorism | | AlterNet


this is not about "terrorism". Terrorism is the cloak / excuse used for other motives.

It's hardly a secret when they tell you they are going to come after you with any and all means open to them now is it???? That is far more warning than any of these scumbags give the troops on the ground in Afghanistan or the civilians buying food or coming out of their mosque or trying to sign up for the police or army to protect their fellow Afghans. Goodbye to bad rubbish is all I can say.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

truly hope that this policy ensures that these cowards are constantly looking over their shoulders and scanning the skies

anyone that is prone to terrorism has nothing to lose. If they are prepared to die for their "cause" ......whatever it is , they could care less about looking over their shoulders or being afraid. THEY are the ones using FEAR and TERROR and VIOLENCE in their tactics.

What we need to consider is : how much are we conributing to their rage and how much are we perpetuating the cycle of violence?? Violence countering violence is a dead end tactic. It is a lose -lose proposition at best.

The war response to terrorist crimes only inflamed the cycle of violence and mutual hatred, and has bled the US dry. financially, ethically, and even legally. Terrorism has existed since man began walking upright. fear tactics have been used by terror prone gangs and leaders to get what they want........be it power, control. revenge , or just making a desperate statement of futility.

The problem of course is that the whole terrorism issue plays well for political reasons. Or has until the US started running out of money due to over reaching its war spending. Smarter tactics are desperately needed.

WE seem to have forgotten.......... the various terror groups have indicated their objectives. and they are to financally ruin the US and the west . It seems that they have an endless supply of people committed to their cause who readily give up their life for it.

In the meantime....... the numerous wars have hardly made a dent in the terrorism phenomena ......except to potentiate it.

Assassinations of key figures continue. upheaval is the "norm" now in the war torn regions. Nations are going from crisis to crisis.... but one thing has not changed. Terrorists have nothing to lose..while the cycle of violence continues .

There is no way in hell.......that the US and all its so called military might can kill every terrorist on the planet . New ones are born every day. This problem requires an entirely different approach and thinking. But that won't happen. Sadly, along the way, there is someone that benefits from this dynamic. and it is not the western population.

 

[Cliffy]

British, US and French foreign policies and interventionist and imperialist attitudes have created the situation and they are directly responsible for creating the mess in the Middle East, thus they have created the terrorist activity. It is their actions that have terrorized the people of the Middle East for almost 100 years. What do people expect would happen. These people have been brutalized and their lives held to be valueless for so long that they have nothing left to lose. The fact is that if people bothered to look at the history of the region since oil has become a valuable commodity, they would realize that the real terrorist are our own governments. Nothing is going to change until people wake up and demand that our governments stop this war on the people of the ME.

 

[EagleSmack]

British, US and French foreign policies and interventionist and imperialist attitudes have created the situation and they are directly responsible for creating the mess in the Middle East, thus they have created the terrorist activity. It is their actions that have terrorized the people of the Middle East for almost 100 years. What do people expect would happen. These people have been brutalized and their lives held to be valueless for so long that they have nothing left to lose. The fact is that if people bothered to look at the history of the region since oil has become a valuable commodity, they would realize that the real terrorist are our own governments. Nothing is going to change until people wake up and demand that our governments stop this war on the people of the ME.

Meanwhile at the NATO Libyan Command post....

 

[Ocean Breeze]

British, US and French foreign policies and interventionist and imperialist attitudes have created the situation and they are directly responsible for creating the mess in the Middle East, thus they have created the terrorist activity. It is their actions that have terrorized the people of the Middle East for almost 100 years. What do people expect would happen. These people have been brutalized and their lives held to be valueless for so long that they have nothing left to lose. The fact is that if people bothered to look at the history of the region since oil has become a valuable commodity, they would realize that the real terrorist are our own governments. Nothing is going to change until people wake up and demand that our governments stop this war on the people of the ME.

Very valid points. (tragic as the truth is ) The despair they collectively must endure , and then it is compounded by the constant warring for THEIR resources. Is it any wonder they are enraged and act out their anger in the only way they know how??

then you get some narrow minded jerks.......making comments like "with us or with the terrorists"...... which is too stupid for words......as it implies no third option. NEITHER......because the bottom line is that both contribute to the cycle of violence and continuing horror. Picking sides..........or implying that one should is nohing more than kindergarden bully mentality.

 

[EagleSmack]

Yaaaaaaaawn

 

[DurkaDurka]

Very valid points. (tragic as the truth is ) The despair they collectively must endure , and then it is compounded by the constant warring for THEIR resources. Is it any wonder they are enraged and act out their anger in the only way they know how??

then you get some narrow minded jerks.......making comments like "with us or with the terrorists"...... which is too stupid for words......as it implies no third option. NEITHER......because the bottom line is that both contribute to the cycle of violence and continuing horror. Picking sides..........or implying that one should is nohing more than kindergarden bully mentality.

You seem to be generalizing the population of the middle east and dumbing them down in the process. Are you telling me that the people of the middle east only act out against imagined US/Israeli aggression and that the only way they know how to respond is by blowing them selves up or planting IED's?

Obviously, there is no animosity between Shia/Sunni, Christians/Muslims, People/Dictators... blaming everything on the US is lazy at best but an all too easy answer for some.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

You seem to be generalizing the population of the middle east and dumbing them down in the process. Are you telling me that the people of the middle east only act out against imagined US/Israeli aggression and that the only way they know how to respond is by blowing them selves up or planting IED's?

Obviously, there is no animosity between Shia/Sunni, Christians/Muslims, People/Dictators... blaming everything on the US is lazy at best but an all too easy answer for some.

Of course the ME is a hot bed with its own internal aggressons and hatreds. All the more reason to stop meddling and stirring them up even more.

and yes, it seems that terrorism , self destruction is what works for them. They don't have the kind of military that the US has to counter the US interference, and occupations.

what are they supposed to do?? Just roll over and let the US trample all over them -while taking control of THEIR resources -and cry victory??

Both contribute to the ongoing cycle of violence and neither shows any intentions of changing ..

 

[EagleSmack]

what are they supposed to do?? Just roll over and let the US trample all over them -while taking control of THEIR resources -and cry victory??

Meanwhile at the NATO/Canadian Command Post...

Hypocrite

 

[petros]

Thank goodness BP is footing the bill. This could expensive.

 

[EagleSmack]

And you may finally get your warm climate province!

 

[Ocean Breeze]

Thank goodness BP is footing the bill. This could expensive.

(EXELLENT !!!!)

 

[Fingertrouble]

Of course the ME is a hot bed with its own internal aggressons and hatreds. All the more reason to stop meddling and stirring them up even more..

Are you serious? It is not just internal aggressions and hatreds that the ME is a hotbed for. Many of these Muslim states hate anything that isnt of their faith or way of life, but that is more pronounced in the more radical states.

It is ridiculous to say "stop meddling and stirring them up even more" firstly while the do have certain grievences that many western nations should heed, that doesnt give the radicals the right to kill and wage war on innocent civilian or free societies just because they dont like many of the things that freedom gives people.

They brought carnage to many western cities (New York, London, Madrid to name a few) and you want free societies to leave them alone? If you have a bunch of wasps nests in your backyard you dont just leave them alone. If you do those nests will just get bigger, become more active, attract more wasps and eventually someone in your family is going to get hurt. You take care of those nests and each time they start to rebuild, you take care of them again and you continually do this until either there arent any wasps (extremists) left or they get the message that you will not back down and you will continue to defend your society and the freedoms of innocent peoples.

Hopefully at some point while western nations continue to defend our freedoms, the moderate muslim nations and moderate muslim citizens will rout out the extremists from their societies on their own, they can join the rest of the civilised world and we can hopefully EVENTUALLY all get along!

 

[Cliffy]

Meanwhile at the NATO Libyan Command post....

"The fact is that if people bothered to look at the history of the region since oil has become a valuable commodity, they would realize that the real terrorist are our own governments. Nothing is going to change until people wake up and demand that our governments stop this war on the people of the ME."
What part of "our" don't you understand? Yes Canada is in Libya and has been for how many months? Is that equal to 100 years of interference and bombing and shooting people? Your lame attempt at deflection is pathetic. And Canada's involvement is the product of the people here who voted in a military/industrial complex ass kisser.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

"The fact is that if people bothered to look at the history of the region since oil has become a valuable commodity, they would realize that the real terrorist are our own governments. Nothing is going to change until people wake up and demand that our governments stop this war on the people of the ME."
What part of "our" don't you understand? Yes Canada is in Libya and has been for how many months? Is that equal to 100 years of interference and bombing and shooting people? Your lame attempt at deflection is pathetic. And Canada's involvement is the product of the people here who voted in a military/industrial complex ass kisser.

Well said.

 

[Ocean Breeze]

US Commando War in 120 Countries:
Uncovering the Military's Secret Operations In the Obama Era

By Nick Turse

August 04, 2011 --- Somewhere on this planet an American commando is carrying out a mission. Now, say that 70 times and you’re done... for the day. Without the knowledge of the American public, a secret force within the U.S. military is undertaking operations in a majority of the world’s countries. This new Pentagon power elite is waging a global war whose size and scope has never been revealed, until now.

After a U.S. Navy SEAL put a bullet in Osama bin Laden’s chest and another in his head, one of the most secretive black-ops units in the American military suddenly found its mission in the public spotlight. It was atypical. While it’s well known that U.S. Special Operations forces are deployed in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq, and it’s increasingly apparent that such units operate in murkier conflict zones like Yemen and Somalia, the full extent of their worldwide war has remained deeply in the shadows

 US Commando War in 120 Countries:  : Information Clearing House News

....8O

 

[Cliffy]

This is not news nor is it Obama's. It has been going on for decades.

 

[dumpthemonarchy]

The last 100 years? The jihadists talk about crusades, which occurred before Canada existed. Bin laden wants Spain back. 9/11 brought this conflict to a whole new level that we can't ignore. One day we will get along, but not in the next few weeks. Reminds me of the expression, paraphrased, dragging them kicking and screaming, into the modern age.