dagblog - Comments for "Dissonant Thoughts about Banks and Drones"

I needed a laugh and I do not

Richard Day — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 02:10:50 +0000

In reply to o.k., then, stand corrected.

I needed a laugh and I do not know whether to thank you or Peracles.

hahahahahah

I take your point that

moat — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 22:43:28 +0000

In reply to Most big wars begin with the

I take your point that Congress is supposed to be involved with authorizing acts of war. Drone attacks certainly fall under that category. In terms of our global society, I was thinking more about the practice in the context of the international order of States.

Hannah Arendt spoke clearly about the problem of stateless people in a system where they have no status by definition. Ben Reynolds cast doubts that international laws can overcome the problems the system creates:

The fundamental solution to the problem of refugees cannot be found within the current confines of the international legal order. The basic components of statehood – including the right to grant and deny citizenship – are responsible for the existence of stateless persons.

The practice of drone warfare circumvents the restraints of state sovereignty. No matter how "legitimate" it is made out to be by international agreements or resolutions in our system, the method creates more stateless people. The demonstration of power from outside shows of how little local authority the State built from within borders really has. To save the village, we had to destroy it.

The above is not a demand that this or that policy be pursued. It is a reminder that the tactic has a hefty price tag when it is generally regarded as an item on the take-it-or-leave-it table. Global citizens should pay for what they buy.

Are you serious? Congress

CVille Dem — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 21:42:03 +0000

In reply to Most big wars begin with the

Are you serious? Congress won't "endorse" one single thing that the President puts forth, or haven't you noticed? Despite the fact that they disparage him for not saying that we are at war with "Islamic Extremism" they won't support his request to go after ISIS. They tried desperately to "tear him a new one" for not rushing back from Cuba (where they are scandalized that he went in the first place). Like he could do more on Air Force One or in DC than he could do in Cuba about Belgium?!?!?! (I think he has a pretty good communications system, no?)

So, seriously, your question seems a little petty and unrealistic.

Most big wars begin with the

Flavius — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 04:18:56 +0000

In reply to Dissonant Thoughts about Banks and Drones

Most big wars begin with the sort of massive support that exists for droning Isis targetsl Which right now includes me. But....

The question behind the question is not whether it's correct to drone Isisland. It's whether it's correct for Obama to do that without endorsement from Congress.

No, they are not equivalent.

Oxy Mora — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:23:46 +0000

In reply to An ideology 'spawned them'.

No, they are not equivalent. Thanks.

o.k., then, stand corrected.

Oxy Mora — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:21:31 +0000

In reply to These are spoiled European

o.k., then, stand corrected.

An ideology 'spawned them'.

NCD — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:19:13 +0000

In reply to Now we have the bombings in

An ideology 'spawned them'. It's an ideology that totally destroyed the beautiful Shia Awis al-Qarni mosque in Raqqa, Syria (below). Those that did it were not natives of Brussels neighborhoods. That ideology also sanctions a theology of rape of Yadzi sex slaves. And execution of Shia, Christians and others.

If you believe drone attacks on the leaders and purveyors of this ideology are like airport bombings, I would disagree.

These are spoiled European

PeraclesPlease — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 16:19:01 +0000

In reply to Now we have the bombings in

These are spoiled European brats, not the poor and disaffected. It's ideology/shit self-serving philosophy, not seeking sustenance. Salah Abdeslam was born in Belgium, a gay hooker and ran a dope bar, along with various robberies. Not sure Europe has to shift to accomodate him or discuss Clash Of Civilizations.

Now we have the bombings in

Oxy Mora — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 15:58:20 +0000

In reply to Dissonant Thoughts about Banks and Drones

Now we have the bombings in Brussels, in the very shadow of the EU., a tragic contrast between the successful for whom the global economy is essentially working, and the world of the poor and disaffected, as represented by the bombers and the neighborhoods which spawned them. I think we can look at the bombers as employing a form of direct and indiscriminate "drone". Their's are rogue, ours are sanctioned.

There is a connection between banks and drones, but I don't think this election process is going to address it.

Thank you, Richard.

moat — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:37:46 +0000

In reply to Moat, you kill me sometimes;

Thank you, Richard.

Speaking of the Tax man, ranting season is now open for the American version: