Article website: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/yemen-airstrike-targets-al-qaida-training-camps-23399780
Picture website: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/2/8/39307/World/Region/Yemen-air-strike-kills-three-Qaeda-chiefs-Ministry.aspx
On Sunday, a high-level government security committee revealed that multiple people were killed in an airstrike targeting suspected al-Qaida training camps in a mountain region in southern Yemen. The committee did not give an exact number as to how many casualties resulted from this airstrike. According to the Supreme Security Committee, which includes the defense and interior ministries and the country's intelligence chief, the attack targeted the Mahfad mountains, located between the Abyan and Shabwa provinces; however, they did not identify those who carried out the attack. Washington believes that the al-Qaida branch in Yemen is the most active branch in the world, and therefore performs regular drone strikes on Yemen. As of yet, it is not possible to determine an exact number of casualties due to how difficult it is to get to the remote area where the airstrike occurred, but the committee has stated that the suspected al-Qaida members who were killed by the airstrike were planning to target vital military and civilian installations; however, they did not expand on this statement. This is the second strike designed to take out members of al-Qaida since Saturday; in that case, a suspected U.S. drone strike in the al-Bayda province in southern Yemen killed around 9 suspected al-Qaida militants, along with 3 civilians. The Supreme Committee claims that Yemeni authorities carried out the airstrike. Civilian deaths as a result of these strikes have recently sparked anger in Yemen, as well as in human rights groups; the nonpartisan public policy institute New America Foundation has stated that since 2002, the U.S. has launched over 100 drone strikes in Yemen. This was a popular issue on the blog last semester, but now that the issue is presenting itself again, do you believe that drone strikes are the most effective method to take out suspected members of al-Qaida? If not, do you have any ideas on different methods we could use to achieve better results?
3 comments:
You know, this might sound immature, but I'm going to compare this to the newest Captain American movie: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."
There's a great line when Fury says, "We're going to eliminate a lot of threats before they even happen." And Cap replies, "I thought the punishment normally came after the crime."
I understand how useful airstrikes and drone operations are for security, and, realistically, they might be essential.
But I can't stop thinking that it is WRONG to kill people without a trial. If only one innocent person dies, that is still too many.
We can either stop killing people from the air and accept a less safe world, or we can accept this new moral relativism and say it is okay to infringe upon the most basic of human rights in order to guarantee (hypothetical) security.
Man oh man, if I ever run for office I hope no body sees this post.
I agree with you, Jack, it is wrong to kill people without a trial. We stress the importance of providing all American citizens with a proper trial, and we also seem to place a lot of emphasis on the belief of "innocent until proven guilty." Therefore, it seems to me that it is a bit odd that we are so quick to sentence others to death when we are not even certain of whether or not they are actually responsible for the crimes we accuse them of committing. I also believe that this is bad for our public image; if we continue to do this, we will only reinforce the view that we are attempting to police other nations. If we keep this up, it will only encourage other countries to regard us with suspicion.
I think that Jack's reference is great and really connects with what appened. Also I agree. I think that they shouldnt be doing these airstrikes on areas that might have al Qaida suspects. Its different if there was definite proof, but the fact that they were suspected of planning an attack makes it seem unjust. Also, even with proper evidence to prove they are planning an attack, I dont believe airstrikes are the correct way to go about it. Attacks like these are so reckless(and im not sure if this would be the correct word but its closest to what im trying to say)that there is a high chance that there would be multiple undeserved civilian casualties. Even if the area has some suspected members, not all of them are members of al-Qaeda, and this would just result in innocent lives being thrown away.
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