The US government was careful to say that while the troops are pulling out of Afghanistan, the drone assassinations will continue. Because we respect their sovereignty or something. Or maybe we’re just really sore losers.
jrkrideausays
@ 2 sonofrojblake
Mostly this. There is no more talk in Washington about “out-of-the-horizon” attacks on Afghanistan. Locus has shifted to diplomacy. T Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-22
M. K. Bhadrakumar is a former Indian ambassador who seems to keep very up-to-date on things. I have been reading his blog for some time and he does not make too many bad calls.
Also, I suspect the drones would have to come from the US base in Qatar and it is a long way away and the Qataris might not like it.
@4 Marcus The US government was careful to say that while the troops are pulling out of Afghanistan, the drone assassinations will continue.
The entire area is in flux plus Russia and China are talking about aid/investment. I think the USA would be under a lot of diplomatic pressure not to use drones.
Heck if it does a few Buk missile units or the Iranian equivalent might even show up. Drones are only really useful if no one can shoot back.
One of the things that the people of Afghanistan may be appreciating is an absence of drones. I expect children’s mental health may improve.
@1: what on earth makes you think the drone strikes have stopped?
They happened in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia etc without any need for an invasion.
Who knew the creators of The Matrix or Terminator franchises could be so prescient?
The US government was careful to say that while the troops are pulling out of Afghanistan, the drone assassinations will continue. Because we respect their sovereignty or something. Or maybe we’re just really sore losers.
@ 2 sonofrojblake
Mostly this.
There is no more talk in Washington about “out-of-the-horizon” attacks on Afghanistan. Locus has shifted to diplomacy. T
Reflections on Events in Afghanistan-22
M. K. Bhadrakumar is a former Indian ambassador who seems to keep very up-to-date on things. I have been reading his blog for some time and he does not make too many bad calls.
Also, I suspect the drones would have to come from the US base in Qatar and it is a long way away and the Qataris might not like it.
@4 Marcus
The US government was careful to say that while the troops are pulling out of Afghanistan, the drone assassinations will continue.
The entire area is in flux plus Russia and China are talking about aid/investment. I think the USA would be under a lot of diplomatic pressure not to use drones.
Heck if it does a few Buk missile units or the Iranian equivalent might even show up. Drones are only really useful if no one can shoot back.
The thing I really can’t understand is, why are these things not just flat-out banned under the Geneva Conventions?