Among those with some sense of humanity, some sense of the rule of law, some sense of the precious individual liberties terminally threatened by an ever-expanding government with ever-expanding powers to use force, today’s must-read Washington Post article by Greg Miller induces nausea and fear. The Post‘s article exposes many previously unknown details about the Obama administration’s drone war, describing the targeted killing program’s dramatic expansion, terrifying innovations in the presidential kill lists which inform the targeted program, and the unprecedented willingness to violate the law to kill people by kingly presidential decree.
The article describes how kill lists have evolved into something called a “disposition matrix” which secretly collects information on targeted individuals and the efforts to kill or capture them. “Among senior Obama administration officials,” Miller writes, “there is a broad consensus that such operations are likely to be extended at least another decade” which is a “timeline [that] suggests that the United States has reached only the midpoint of what was once known as the global war on terrorism.”
There are many aspects of the troubling exposé, but the one that sticks out is the Obama administration’s achievement of making targeted killing by drone – that is, extra-judicial assassinations by unchecked Executive decree – utterly normal and routine. Miller talks about “the extent to which Obama has institutionalized the highly classified practice of targeted killing, transforming ad-hoc elements into a counterterrorism infrastructure capable of sustaining a seemingly permanent war.”
Permanent war. Obama has institutionalized a system of permanent war in order to allow an ongoing, blatantly authoritarian ‘war power’ to kill anybody he wants, anywhere, anytime without any charges or trials ever being brought. Obama has made permanent what “were regarded as finite emergency measures after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,” Miller writes, establishing what “are now fixtures of the national security apparatus.”
What was once taboo, even for an outlaw government like the United States, is now ordinary, routine.
The creation of the matrix and the institutionalization of kill/capture lists reflect a shift that is as psychological as it is strategic.
Before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the United States recoiled at the idea of targeted killing. The Sept. 11 commission recounted how the Clinton administration had passed on a series of opportunities to target bin Laden in the years before the attacks — before armed drones existed. President Bill Clinton approved a set of cruise-missile strikes in 1998 after al-Qaeda bombed embassies in East Africa, but after extensive deliberation, and the group’s leader escaped harm.
Targeted killing is now so routine that the Obama administration has spent much of the past year codifying and streamlining the processes that sustain it.
As Micah Zenko at the Council on Foreign Relations writes today, “Miller’s report underscores the cementing of the mindset and apparent group-think among national security policymakers that the routine and indefinite killing of suspected terrorists and nearby military-age males is ethical, moral, legal, and effective (for now).” He says “it demonstrates the increasing institutionalization…of executive branch power to use lethal force without any meaningful checks and balances.”
To demonstrate how careless and inhuman the approach to killing people, both suspects and innocents suspected of nothing, Zenko recalls a conversation with “a military official with extensive and wide-ranging experience in the special operations world, and who has had direct exposure to the targeted killing program,” in which this official told him, “It really is like swatting flies. We can do it forever easily and you feel nothing. But how often do you really think about killing a fly?”
“After following this program closely for the past half-dozen years,” Zenko writes, “I have stopped being surprised by how far and how quickly the United States has moved from the international norm against assassinations or ‘extrajudicial killings.'” But, he insists, the normalcy that the drone wars is now infected with is a sharp break with the very recent past:
Assassinations ran counter to well-established international norms, and were prohibited under both treaty and customary international law. Third, weakening the international norm against assassinations could result in retaliatory killings of American leaders, who are more vulnerable as a consequence of living in a relatively open society. Fourth, the targeted killing of suspected terrorists or political leaders was generally considered an ineffective foreign policy tool. An assassination attempt that failed could be counterproductive, in that it would create more legal and diplomatic problems than it was worth. An attempt that succeeded, meanwhile, would likely do little to diminish the long-term threat from an enemy state or group. Finally, the secretive and treacherous aspect of targeted killings was considered antithetical to the moral and ethical precepts of the United States.
The Obama administration’s vulgar authoritarian proclivities in making murder by Executive decree a permanent fixture of the national security state apparatus, has made actions that were considered a mere ten years ago to be outrageous, lawless overreach into standard operating procedure. “Having spoken with dozens of officials across both administrations,” Zenko writes, “I am convinced that those serving under President Bush were actually much more conscious and thoughtful about the long-term implications of targeted killings than those serving under Obama.”
Obama, unbeknownst to his hordes of “liberal-minded” supporters, is more radically lawless in his exercise of permanent war powers than Bush.
Glenn Greenwald boils this all down:
The core guarantee of western justice since the Magna Carta was codified in the US by the fifth amendment to the constitution: “No person shall . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” You simply cannot have a free society, a worthwhile political system, without that guarantee, that constraint on the ultimate abusive state power, being honored.
And yet what the Post is describing, what we have had for years, is a system of government that – without hyperbole – is the very antithesis of that liberty. It is literally impossible to imagine a more violent repudiation of the basic blueprint of the republic than the development of a secretive, totally unaccountable executive branch agency that simultaneously collects information about all citizens and then applies a “disposition matrix” to determine what punishment should be meted out.
“As the Founders all recognized,” Greenwald writes, “nothing vests elites with power – and profit – more than a state of war.” A more apt summation of the fundamental recognition of this site could hardly be uttered by Randolph Bourne himself. War truly is the health of the state, and the Obama administration epitomizes what can happen when the power-hungry grab hold the reins of government and make war on individuals, war on civil liberties, a perpetual feature of the state.
Excellent piece – thanks for tying the ideas and facts together and highlighting the outrage.
You know – it's funny to me that so many hard-line Christians support this stuff. I mean when you imagine what kind of system/framework that the Anti-Christ represents; does your mind think of barely-literate rabbles with adhoc and aging weapons or does it conjure up an all-pervasive system that can see everywhere with a global eye, rain hell upon people that go counter to it and kills efficiently, without thought with the use of algorithms and matrices…
Wake up guys – you must have missed that note…
I am a Christian & find it absolutely despicable.
In fact, to think of someone as a Christian in the same context of what this evil represents to all of humanity as a nation who has already died a spiritual death is the antithesis of same.
I am actually shocked that these American patriots the militias haven't already began developing their own domestic target lists to go after those who work in these programs & put the fear of God into them for what they do.
Its nothing more than institutionalized cod blooded murder on its face & by definition.
The very fact there is not 300 million Americans down at the WH right now demanding his impeachment is testimony of that spiritual death of America Martin Luther King talked about when we spent $320,000 dollars to kill every north Vietnamese soldier while spending $50 desperado person who are poor.
We have become a nation of animal who operate on the reptilian brain of an imperial consciousness & not the neocortical brain of the spiritually enlightened. We know that much from cutting edge neuro-science..
Excellent piece. Part of the ongoing shredding of the constitution.
These are interesting –
Why Is Perpetual War So Important to Today´s Pharisees? I http://euro-med.dk/?p=28103
Why Is Perpetual War So Important to Today´s Pharisees? II http://euro-med.dk/?p=28257
Constitution never stopped it because it's powerless to do so. Otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Correction: reins of government. (A king reigns by controlling the reins of power.)
Thank you. It's been fixed.
DISPOSITION MATRIX! Doesn't matter if you eat the Propagandal red pill, doesn't matter if you eat the Propagandal blue pill, you are trapped inside the 'disposition matrix' and the only way out is death.
The Obamney rules all. That last great act of defiance is about to unfold.
God help us when a power hungry madman takes this power and turns it loose on the American people…. Americans will have only themselves to blame.
Shot clock is almost out on the good ole US of A
The shot-cock already ran out on November 22 1963 when the military industrial complex & national security state Eisenhower warned us of took JFK out when he wanted to dismantle it seeing where it would lead to where we are now.
No President since or before had more beach-balls the size of Jupiter to oppose them.
Not even real Americans.
Go read your Declaration of Independence and tell me if we haven't already far exceeded the same criteria Jefferson enumerated as justification to abolish this outlaw terrorists nation state.
The time is coming where no one (black or white) will be able to depend on the government of the united states. We are all ready in a deep-recession, and we are in a police state all over the country.
Joe X
Anybody else seen this video about the Mormon religion http://youtu.be/3HSlbuli7HM
If this is what Romney believe I am not voting for him or Obama!
I am a true blue republican for 20 years…BUT I just found out
what this Mormon religion is all about and it is WEIRD STUFF
The official Mormon site scriptures say the Mormon religion was started by some
guy name Joe Smith in Vermont in 1831 after an angel told him to dig up some buried gold
plates… and ALSO that they dont belive in the virgin Mary. Please tell me this aint true.
If it is… I ain't voting for Romney
Yeah, it's true – I mean, it's like "Jesus II: Jesus in America". But – so what. Islam is "Jesus II: Jesus in Arabia". This is not a scientific endeavour, people can make stuff up as they go along.
The question is – what do you think will happen with Romney as prez?
Then take a look at the candidates not in the Repubocrat duopoly for refreshments.
A society that believes assassination is an acceptable and legal method of war should not feign surprise and outrage when it's used by the growing list of enemies on the "homeland" to show displeasure. It's only a matter of time before US experiences the horror we've been using on other nations.
Exactly. I try to talk to friends about armed drones being weapons of terror. They say they don't care. What happens when the rest of the World gets tired of our act? There is 7.2 Billion of them and 330 million of us. There is no place to hide. Both China and Russia have told the US not to mess with Syria or Iran. I've never known China to bluff. An EMP attack, grid goes down, over 100 reactor melt down and we as a nation cease to exist. No boots on the ground. No shots fired. We die and the rest of the World says Thank You, Now maybe we all can live in peace.
So what was basically said is that the U.S. is breaking international laws, is a lawless country not just in terms of it's own Constitution but internationally as well. Nice.
As far as the killing a fly comment goes, haven't we heard many times that in order to commit genocide you need to DE-HUMANIZE people, ok then, right on time, human beings are flys.
"weakening the international norm against assassinations could result in retaliatory killings of American leaders, who are more vulnerable as a consequence of living in a relatively open society"
Welcome to a lawless world. While I hardly feel the least bit sympathy for most American leaders, how this will actually boomerrang if it happens is: 1) U.S. governement is breaking international law and assisinating 2) other countries follow the example and target an American leader 3) Further police state measures at home are need in order to protect our homeland leaders or some such against terrorism. It's the never ending cycle: terrorism -> more police state -> more terrorism -> yet more police state, on a human face forever.
Mama mia, you sure have crazy Emperors over there!
jrs' comment on thinking of people as flies is spot on but, notice the paragraph that compared drones to a lawnmower, if you don't us it the grass and weeds will take over. Some seem to think of those that oppose the mighty US empire as mere vegetation! To be "mowed". Just when you think the "leadership" of this country can't get any lower they go underground.
May God have mercy on our souls.
This article is very nice, I have found several things in this site. This is quite different and interesting. It becomes popular to the young generation day by day.
Linkspam ahoy
All "ideologies" turn totalitarian.
2. They believed in multiple wives until USA laws shut them down , many still practice polygamy in Utah.
The author of this article really is hyperventilating.
"…..Third, weakening the international norm against assassinations could result in retaliatory killings of American leaders, who are more vulnerable as a consequence of living in a relatively open society. Fourth, the targeted killing of suspected terrorists or political leaders was generally considered an ineffective foreign policy tool. ….."
First of all, global terrorist organizations have never had any qualms about killing US political leaders, so why should we be restrained in killing them? Second, assassination may be ineffective in a war against established countries or states, but we are fighting insurgents here. Third, there is nothing unprecedented in US history about this kind of war. In fact, there is ample and longstanding precedent – the Indian wars that ran from colonial times to about 150 years ago. That was a protracted and seemingly permanent war against a barbarian insurgency. It was fought with the same kind of ruthless methods that today's terror war is, even more so in fact. The main differences between the Indian wars and the Terror War are (1) The Indian Wars were on our own territory, the Terror War is global (2) The Indians had little or no foreign backing. Islamic terrorists are covertly or overtly backed by a number of established states and have the popular support of over a billion people. (3) The technological tools of war are far more potent today.
There is also ample precedent for the US fighting Islamic terrorists. About 100 years ago we fought them over control of the Philippines.
The time is coming where no one (black or white) will be able to depend on the government of the united states. We are all ready in a deep-recession, and we are in a police state all over the country.
The time is coming where no one (black or white) will be able to depend on the government of the united states. We are all ready in a deep-recession, and we are in a police state all over the country.
As Micah Zenko at the Council on Foreign Relations writes today, “Miller’s report underscores the cementing of the mindset and apparent group-think among national security policymakers that the routine and indefinite killing of suspected terrorists and nearby military-age males is ethical, moral, legal, and effective (for now).Australian Blog
uthless methods that today's terror war is, even more so in fact. The main differences between the Indian wars and the Terror War are (1) The Indian Wars were on our own territory, the Terror War is global (2) The Indians had little or no foreign backing. Islamic terrorists are covertly or overtly bahalloween limousine
Good job! Available many articles to study but you do the best thing. That is the boy. Thanks a lot for sharing the delicious post. Expect your following article.
this subject has interested me for quite some time. I have just started researching it on the Internet and found your post to be informative. Thanks .
As Micah Zenko at the Council on Foreign Relations writes today, “Miller’s report underscores the cementing of the mindset and apparent group-think among national security policymakers that the routine and indefinite killing of suspected terrorists and nearby military-age males is ethical, moral, legal, and effective (for now).Australian Blog
Please include a link to this page if you have found this material useful for research or writing a related article. Content on this website is from high-quality, licensed material originally published in print form. You can always be sure you're reading unbiased, factual, and accurate information.
Good job! Available many articles to study but you do the best thing. That is the boy. Thanks a lot for sharing the delicious post. Expect your following article.
parforhold
Every one of us is busy fighting for a better life than they having, and more and more youngsters would prefer to play Car Games example to relax because they are not time restricted and you can play them easily using short breaks between your working hours.
Whatever the reason for the war undertaken by these countries must immediately resolved. War and murder will only make the situation uncomfortable and the economy became worse off.
Like, This is the elephant in the room. Program grade: D- . I would only show this to my students as an example of misinformation and bias by large corporations who put their own interests ahead of people.
the fact that a tonne of carbon dioxide does the same amount of damage over time wherever it is emitted. Uniform pricing would also remove the risk that polluting businesses flee to so-called "pollution havens"'
Criminal Attorney NY
Shikoni realisht se çfarë ju mund të arrijë brenda një jave, të vënë mënjanë disa të holla dhe të marrë parasysh mundësitë tuaja të marketingut. A nuk merrni theksoi shumë do të jetë shuma e parave që është në duart tuaja, të përqëndrohet kohën tuaj dhe energji për të vendosur se çfarë të bëjë me të holla.
Tibetan Yoga
Read china smartphone reviews and compare Smartphones prices. Find the best deals available in Australia. Why pay more if you don't have to. Australia's Favorite …
A president does have the right to be able to do a lot of war if he decides this should be done. You can consider yourself which one is better.labrador retriever puppies for sale
Tai yra kampanijoje ar kitas rinkodaros planas pradžia. Deja, tai taip pat retai atsižvelgiama ir smulkiajame versle. J?s turite paklausti sav?s, kiek verslo pasi?lymai, kad aš iš tikr?j? reikia?
GLock Pearce Grip
http://www.weddingandgems.co.uk/bridal-hair-acces…
Good share, you topic is very great and useful for us…thank you. I just like the approach you took with this subject. It isn’t every day that you discover something so concise and enlightening
I wonder how much we’ll hear about this in the upcoming election debates. The Republicans candidates have been openly
J?s turite paklausti sav?s, kiek verslo pasi?lymai, kad aš iš tikr?j? reikia?
Quite a nice task by the president. eddie morra jacket
Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group?
The post contains really beneficial information that will satisfy readers and can clarify things upon. You have you a nice way of presenting certain issue and seems to be so qualified
That fantabulous post this has been. Within no way seen this kind associated with useful post. I’m grateful to you and anticipate much more associated with posts such as. Thank you very much.
I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Looking forward to another great posts in this blog.
You can't really say what is beautiful about a place, but the image of the place will remain vividly with youI was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Hey, just looking around some blogs, seems a pretty nice platform you are using. I'm currently using WordPress for a few of my sites but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?
Pretty impressive work you've performed here. I truly enjoyed reading most of your posts and I consider your blog great. Please, keep on producing such a quality content. Thank you!