Noam Chomsky: Obama's drone campaign most extreme terrorism in recent history

[Gumboy]

"if not in all of history"-title got cut off, to long.

Comes in around 3:35 of this video:



During a talk about the movie "American Sniper", where he talks about their usage of the word "savages" to describe Iraqi's, he branched off into something I have felt quite strongly about (I made a post on these forums about the usage of drones in Pakistan a while back, and who was actually being killed). He talks about how the USA can decide that someone "might" be up to something, and essentially issue a death sentence for someone not involved in fighting, from across the entire world.

I don't agree with a LOT of what chomsky has to say; I think he is a bit extreme, but I do have some respect for him, and I believe he is right about this issue. (Though I wouldn't go so far as to say Obama's death campaign is the most extreme terrorism)

I can understand drones being used in the event something is actually going on, but their have been far to many "Mistakes" or calling of people "Combatants" when we have no idea what they are actually up to. I know that drones were used under bush as well, and I'm not excusing that, but the technology was not quite to where it is today.

He also mentions the transcripts of the drone operators, which ARE quite scary to read.


Drone interactive site about pakistan: http://drones.pitchinteractive.com/

[Reg]

So out of the two Presidents to have drones, one having them for a longer period of time, Obama is number 1 of 2. The next two term President will take the number 1 spot. And the trend will continue. Technology escalates destruction. It allows them to conduct attacks they wouldn't with manned aircraft and I don't expect it to change any time soon. And no act of Congress will even happen because each party wants to have it in their arsenal for when the presidency is theirs.

[Independent voter]

Noam Chomsky charges 20-30,000$ speaking fee for making appearances at colleges. The left wing has been very, very good for ol Noam.

It was a delight seeing him go after the French a while back. France had tried and convicted this college professor who denied the Holocaust happened, Noam when to his defense. You could literally see French people squirming in their seats as he spoke.

[Kathandira]

I have always felt that our campaign against terrorism is a bit hypocritical. Can't say I disagree with Mr. Chomsky's statement.

[Deleted]

So out of the two Presidents to have drones, one having them for a longer period of time, Obama is number 1 of 2. The next two term President will take the number 1 spot. And the trend will continue. Technology escalates destruction.

Yes, because its only not murder if you use drones instead of other weaponry.

[Gumboy]

So out of the two Presidents to have drones, one having them for a longer period of time, Obama is number 1 of 2. The next two term President will take the number 1 spot. And the trend will continue. Technology escalates destruction. It allows them to conduct attacks they wouldn't with manned aircraft and I don't expect it to change any time soon. And no act of Congress will even happen because each party wants to have it in their arsenal for when the presidency is theirs.

I can't really deny what you are saying here, no.

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Noam Chomsky charges 20-30,000$ speaking fee for making appearances at colleges. The left wing has been very, very good for ol Noam.

It was a delight seeing him go after the French a while back. France had tried and convicted this college professor who denied the Holocaust happened, Noam when to his defense. You could literally see French people squirming in their seats as he spoke.

Though true, not sure how it detracts from the truth of what he is saying (In my opinion)

[Reg]

Yes, because its only not murder if you use drones instead of other weaponry.

I never said it was a good thing. It's murder when civilians die by any means.

[arandomuser]

I find it ironic that people in the US "conservatives" accuse obama of being a terrorist muslim sympathizer, yet he approves drone strikes that kill many innocent (muslim) children and other civilans in some cases.

[Deleted]

Noam Chomsky charges 20-30,000$ speaking fee for making appearances at colleges. The left wing has been very, very good for ol Noam.

It was a delight seeing him go after the French a while back. France had tried and convicted this college professor who denied the Holocaust happened, Noam when to his defense. You could literally see French people squirming in their seats as he spoke.

Try to derail much?? That this guy gets lots of money for his appearance doesn't have anything to do with the topic discussed.

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I never said it was a good thing. It's murder when civilians die by any means.

I think you are totally missing the point here, they are all murders because they did not get any trail. It is not the means by with it is done that matter.

[Independent voter]

Try to derail much?? That this guy gets lots of money for his appearance doesn't have anything to do with the topic discussed.

Sure it does. What would you say for $30,000?

[Daez]

For starters, Obama does not just get a whim to send a drone and do so. The strikes are based on intelligence gathering and have a high degree of scrutiny. We should use whatever tools we have to protect this country or its citizens from those that would do it harm (even other citizens that would it harm).

[Gumboy]

I find it ironic that people in the US "conservatives" accuse obama of being a terrorist muslim sympathizer, yet he approves drone strikes that kill many innocent (muslim) children and other civilans in some cases.

Do you find it ironic that some of the same people that were against bush doing this are now fine with obama doing it?

[Rukh]

Are we just using the term terrorism to describe anything we don't like these days?

[Gumboy]

For starters, Obama does not just get a whim to send a drone and do so. The strikes are based on intelligence gathering and have a high degree of scrutiny. We should use whatever tools we have to protect this country or its citizens from those that would do it harm (even other citizens that would it harm).

No, nobody thinks obama just goes "Welp, lets kill some dudes today!", but to say that they have a high degree of scrutiny might be over exxagerating, how about that wedding that got bombed?

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Are we just using the term terrorism to describe anything we don't like these days?

Well, to the civilians on the ground, I'm sure they view it as terrorism.

[Deleted]

Sure it does. What would you say for $30,000?

The same things i have always said, because that is why they are paying me that much.

[Reg]

I think you are totally missing the point here, they are all murders because they did not get any trail. It is not the means by with it is done that matter.

I'm not missing the point at all. I am all for drone strikes on specific targets. Any non-American that threatens harm upon our people or country, or our alies, don't deserve a trial under American law. If sufficient evidence exists, blow them up. It's the "collateral damage" that is reprehensible.

[arandomuser]

Do you find it ironic that some of the same people that were against bush doing this are now fine with obama doing it?

liberals have always been staunchly against the wars in iraq and afghanistan in all respects. whether it was george bush or obama continuing it.

[Deleted]

Are we just using the term terrorism to describe anything we don't like these days?

How is a drone strike not an act of terror??

[Gumboy]

I'm not missing the point at all. I am all for drone strikes on specific targets. Any non-American that threatens harm upon our people or country, or our alies, don't deserve a trial under American law. If sufficient evidence exists, blow them up. It's the "collateral damage" that is reprehensible.

I agree almost entirely with you on that matter, I am not 100% anti-drone stop them instantly! or something like that; if you go to the infographic thing I linked as well, it details which of the deaths were actually confirmed to be in any way related to terrorism, and it is shockingly low.

[Deleted]

Better than open war inside Pakistan.