Drones Vs. Waterboarding
Posted: February 14, 2013
We’re not sure we share the anxiety that bubbles over the targeting of native Americans who, essentially, have turned traitor and joined the other side. There’s a special place in hell for people who take up arms against their country of birth.
But there should be a broader discussion to settle what a person must do to establish himself an “imminent threat” to America’s interests. Perhaps Congress should get involved.
What prompts notice of this issue was White House spokesman Jay Carney’s contention that the administration ordered drone strikes “to mitigate ongoing actual threats, to stop plots, prevent future attacks and, again, save American lives.”
The same or at least similar words were used to justify waterboarding, which did not kill anyone, yet routinely incurred the wrath of many liberals who are now silent about drone strikes.
But there should be a broader discussion to settle what a person must do to establish himself an “imminent threat” to America’s interests. Perhaps Congress should get involved.
What prompts notice of this issue was White House spokesman Jay Carney’s contention that the administration ordered drone strikes “to mitigate ongoing actual threats, to stop plots, prevent future attacks and, again, save American lives.”
The same or at least similar words were used to justify waterboarding, which did not kill anyone, yet routinely incurred the wrath of many liberals who are now silent about drone strikes.