On Friday, a US drone strike in NW Syria killed an unnamed “senior” al-Qaeda figure. At the time, the US conceded that it was possible civilians were wounded. By Sunday, the US admitted it was possible civilians were killed as well.
The Pentagon is making these concessions, but also being extremely evasive with details about the matter. There have been reports from local doctors that a family of six civilians were wounded, though the deaths aren’t clear yet. The drone strike hit a man on a motorcycle, and the US very much wants to avoid saying who that was beyond a senior figure.
Recent US strikes mostly ended with a single statement, and a claim that there was no immediate indication of civilian casualties. That was it, and evidence tended to be ignored because it contradicted the official account.
The whole reason the US is under pressure to take extra looks is a report last month about a 2019 incident in which US airstrikes killed scores of civilians. The post-attack report systematically covered up the toll in public reports, while suggesting the classified toll was “shockingly high.”
There are checks in place meant to ensure these things don’t avoid oversight. Those reports show that in practice, it just forced a more elaborate cover-up effort.
US Admits It May Have Been Occupying Syria
US admits its foreign policy might be run by Dr. Evil.
US drones – bringing death and destruction to a place near you.
Makes you wonder what would happen if Iran indulged in behaviour such as this?
I think the US slapped some sanctions on them recently specifically for their drone program. So, imagine is they actually used them as recklessly as the US does. Bombs away.
How can Iran be hit harder with sanctions?
https://news.antiwar.com/2021/10/29/biden-hits-iran-with-new-sanctions-ahead-of-nuclear-deal-talks/
https://news.antiwar.com/2021/12/02/house-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-expand-sanctions-on-iran-over-drones/
Iran can defend itself by destroying neighboring structures if attacked. It’s unclear what the response would be. Iran doesn’t want to be attacked, and others don’t want it to attack…
Are you familiar with the Millennium Challenge 2002 war game?
Confess to a smaller crime to hide the larger atrocities.
They’re only admitting to Trump’s crime to undermine him. But any admissions of guilt seem positive, whatever the motivation.
Biden’s crime in Afghanistan resulted in no punishments, that I’m aware of. And there were attempts at hiding it.
If you’re talking about the 2019 incident, they’re only admitting to it now because they got exposed. Nothing to do with Trump.
Exposed because Trump did it. Anyway, it’s good that Crimea be exposed. I don’t think we’d hear about Epstein if not for similar power struggles.
So, was Biden’s crime exposed because Biden did it? Maybe, for once, journalists had some balls and exposed the truth. But it seems that if that happens with anything Trump might have been involved in, it’s because the media is on a witch hunt or it’s fake news.
Biden might well have been punished for exiting Afghanistan, yes.
Journalists tend to support genocide. Their motto is similar to yours: “Genocide R U.S.” Not only does war, drama, atrocity, etc. sell news, it’s also supported by their owners and by parts of the US government.
That said, I want every single atrocity exposed. Full transparency. Such is within the true interest of American citizens. If we only get bits from these elite power struggles, bits of info are better than nothing.
You said Trump was exposed in the Syrian massacre only because Trump did it. And yet after Biden was exposed in the Afghanistan massacre I didn’t see you, or anyone else, saying he was exposed only because he is Biden. It’s similar to the TDS crap. Whenever Trump was called out for some idiotic thing he said, or did, the Trump supporters were screaming TDS. And yet I have yet to see one Biden supporter claim BDS at any time Biden has been chastised for doing something idiotic.
I’m not sure what you mean by “the Afghan massacre.” Biden finished withdrawing US forces from Afghanistan. He finished later than had been agreed on by the previous administration, but he did finish instead of reneging. That was a good thing. It looked like EVERY war in which the losing force withdraws. Nothing “idiotic” about it. I’m just glad he got it done.
The 10 people killed by our revenge drone. That was the “idiotic” part I was speaking of. I agree about Biden leaving Afghanistan and I too think it was a good thing. I anticipated deaths but Biden basically said we were going to kill SOMEONE after the Marines were killed so I do consider that to be idiotic.
Um, actually people did say it regarding Biden; but keep on going.
I posted here that it was good Biden was exiting. I didn’t say Biden should have done it more perfectly.
Anyway, Trump called for exiting NATO, condemned the Iraq War, met with North Korea. He broke many more rules than Biden. You seem to live in denial of that.
If the US tortures innocents, or indeed enemy combatants, it’s better it be open than hidden. Americans should have to face the crimes that are happening.
And it is well that Trump makes Germany and SK pay more, makes it more likely they throw the US out. And it’s positive that Trump called for taking Syria’s oil as opposed to “saving humanity” or whatever bs when mass murdering and starving Syrians. Americans again should have to face what they’re doing. No more pretty lies.
I’m not writing all this out, but until someone better than Trump comes along, he’s going to get defended.
And no, I’m not going to pretend that Biden and Obama are fighting the Klan or fighting capitalism, saving the Planet, when they drone strike and starve potentially huge numbers of people. I want Americans to face the reality, the undeniable truth, that America is terrorizing the world. I think we’re closer to ending it when Americans are made to face what’s happening.
You can’t seem to understand the difference I’m talking about. You said the reason the Syria attack was exposed was because IT WAS TRUMP that did it. But you, or seemingly no one else, are saying the reason the drone strike in Afghanistan was exposed was because it was Biden that did it. So your nonsensical excuse that Trump is just be signaled out because he is Trump doesn’t fly. He was signaled out because the Syrian attack happened on his watch and Biden was signaled out because the Afghanistan attack happened on his.
Yes, Trump called for exiting NATO if the other countries didn’t pony up and we’re still in NATO. And yes, he condemned the Iraq war way back when he was a candidate. When he was president he threatened them with sanctions much worse than Iran if they continued to demand that we leave. So that war he was so against, except when he was for it, was there for him to put an end to but he didn’t. North Korea was a photo op that went nowhere. Trump did manage to threaten them with annihilation like he did Iran and Venezuela.
I guess you brought up torture because Trump condoned it while he was a candidate. But sure, it’s better to say we should torture much worse than waterboarding and kill family members of terrorists than to keep that hidden. Talk about a warped way of looking at things.
And on that same vein, I guess in some sick minds, stealing another country’s oil(Syria)is a “positive”. But of course it’s much better than mass murdering or starving civilians. I guess you didn’t hear about Trump’s artillery barrage and two missile strikes on Syria OR the draconian sanctions he threw on them that could starve 12 million people. Quite the “positive”.
It matters nothing if “someone better comes along”. That doesn’t change anything about what Trump did. And it doesn’t matter if Obama and Biden suck just as much or even worse. Trump is/was/will be terrible.
I did say something like that here. There’s not a double standard. Trump also did more than Biden. I don’t know if Trump would be better in 2024. He disrupted the system, but that’s done with.
Trump and his supporters are also pushed to be more pro war by revealing Trump’s war crimes. They defend it. Hearts and minds.
Anyway, I asked Santa Claus for world peace again, but I doubt I’ll get it. If the Dems weren’t pushing open borders, I’d absolutely be voting Dem for Congress. They’re better on foreign policy. Regardless of what you and Mr Knapp think, the Dems are a bit antiwhite. If they dropped that, I’d enthusiastically be voting for them. I want conservative antiwar people, but lacking that I certainly don’t want conservative pro war politicians. The wars are the “losing side” eventually.
I don’t know how common my views are in the US, but it often seems that each side picks something insane to ensure Americans can’t end things like foreign policy. It doesn’t really matter if you understand my thinking exactly, but I’ve been honest about it.
“They’re only admitting to Trump’s crime to undermine him.”
“Exposed because Trump did it.”
This is what I responded to. I didn’t hear any Biden supporters saying anything of the sort when the Afghanistan attack was exposed. That’s all I was trying to say. And I don’t know why you think I’m a democrat. Believe me, I’m not. I vote for neither.
Most independents lean one way or another. It doesn’t matter. I’m grumpy and rude, but I really do value all the antiwar posters here.
When Biden exited Afghanistan, it was said here by many that his leaving things behind wasn’t so bad, that exiting is all that matters. And people at least that follow on Twitter did mention that Biden was being criticized for his exit, pondered whether Kamala might replace him, noted his sudden low popularity numbers.
Maybe I confused that with the drone strike. I don’t know. Biden was unfairly criticized at some point. I might have blurred some details. I’m a bit sleep deprived currently.
Yeah, I was only comparing the Syrian attack from 2019 to the Afghanistan drone strike.
Der? It’s SOP