Thursday, June 10, 2010

The Afghan-Pak War Is Now A War Of Assassinations -- A Commentary

Drone technology is already reportedly available to nearly 40 countries. Photo by Reuters

Between War And Peace -- Rafia Zakaria, Dawn

Imagine if in the follow-up to the Mumbai attacks, the Indian government had credible intelligence that the perpetrator was hiding somewhere in a remote area of Pakistan.

Could the Indian government use covert force to conduct a targeted killing of this suspect inside Pakistani territory? It is this thorny question that the United Nations Special Representative Philip Alston attempts to address in the UN’s latest report on the legality of targeted killings.

Read more ....

My Comment: CIA Director Panetta mentioned a few months ago that targeted killings through the use of drones was the best option for the moment in the Afghan/Pak war zone. If there was a better option, I am sure that it would be employed right now .... but no other options are being used for the simple reason that there are none. Drone strikes are the best and most effective way to target the commanders and leadership of the Taliban and Al Qaeda ... and I expect this policy to continue in the future.

What is my opinion .... my #1 concern from such a policy is that it will eventually result in blow back against our own commanders and leaders. The Middle East/Central and South Western Asia have a long cultural tradition of revenge and "getting even" .... considering the bloodshed and destruction that has occurred in the past few years, I suspect that we have built up a lot of negative Karma among many in this part of the world .... and the war of assassinations will probably eventually end up in our own backyard.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You bet that there will be blow-back for all these CIA/MOSSAD assassinations.... for decades... why do they hate us so much....do you get it yet?