Gitmo Shutdown Means More Drone Strikes, Officials Claim -- The Danger Room
The White House has essentially forced the Pentagon and the CIA to fire off more and more drone strikes in Pakistan, because of “executive orders to ban secret CIA detention centers and close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp.”
It’s one of a number of remarkable assertions military and intelligence officials make to Reuters’ Adam Entous in this monster of an article.
Some current and former counterterrorism officials say an unintended consequence of these decisions may be that capturing wanted militants has become a less viable option. As one official said: “There is nowhere to put them.”
A former U.S. intelligence official, who was involved in the process until recently, said: “I got the sense: ‘What the hell do we do with this guy if we get him?’ It’s not the primary consideration but it has to be a consideration.”
My Comment: I am skeptical with the assertion that the White House has essentially forced the Pentagon and the CIA to fire off more and more drone strikes in Pakistan .... it is more like they have been ordered by the White house to increase strikes against suspected Al Qaeda/Taliban targets by changing the rules of engagement. Instead of sending in troops .... which is what the military should do .... the White House is taking the "political" easy way out.
What I am concerned about is that I know that there will be blow back from this policy. Flying in and killing hundreds of innocent civilians will create resentment and bitterness that will take years to overcome .... if ever.
Update: Richard Fernandez at Pajamas Media nails this discussion in his analysis. It is a must read. The link is here.
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