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In reply to the discussion: The Efficacy and Ethics of U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy - John Brennan [View all]Bolo Boffin
(23,796 posts)46. We are. And according to Brennan, this administration is.
"The problem with a drone strike is that the person being killed is given no opportunity to surrender, to retreat, no opportunity to negotiate, no opportunity to demonstrate mistaken identity or the rightness of his cause."
Brennan is asked about this.
Tara McKelvy: Hi, my name is Tara McKelvy, Im a scholar here, and Im a correspondent for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, and you talked a little bit about the struggle that you have in this process of the targeted strikes, and General Cartwright talked to me about the question of surrender, thats not really an option when you use a Predator drone, for instance. Im wondering if you can talk about which kinds of issues that you found most troubling when you think about these strikes.
John Brennan: Well, as I said, one of the considerations that we go through is the feasibility of capture. We would prefer to get these individuals so that they can be captured. Working with local governments, what we like to be able to do is provide them the intelligence that they can get the individuals, so it doesnt have to be U.S. forces that are going on the ground in certain areas. But if its not feasible, either because its too risky from the standpoint of forces or the government doesnt have the will or the ability to do it, then we make a determination whether or not the significance of the threat that the person poses requires us to take action, so that were able to mitigate the threat that they pose. I mean, these are individuals that could be involved in a very active plot, and if it is allowed to continue, you know, it could result in attacks either in Yemen against the U.S. embassy, or here in the homeland that could kill, you know, dozens if not hundreds of people. So what we always want to do, though, is look at whether or not there is an option to get this person and bring them to justice somehow for intelligence collection purposes, as well as to try them for their crimes.
John Brennan: Well, as I said, one of the considerations that we go through is the feasibility of capture. We would prefer to get these individuals so that they can be captured. Working with local governments, what we like to be able to do is provide them the intelligence that they can get the individuals, so it doesnt have to be U.S. forces that are going on the ground in certain areas. But if its not feasible, either because its too risky from the standpoint of forces or the government doesnt have the will or the ability to do it, then we make a determination whether or not the significance of the threat that the person poses requires us to take action, so that were able to mitigate the threat that they pose. I mean, these are individuals that could be involved in a very active plot, and if it is allowed to continue, you know, it could result in attacks either in Yemen against the U.S. embassy, or here in the homeland that could kill, you know, dozens if not hundreds of people. So what we always want to do, though, is look at whether or not there is an option to get this person and bring them to justice somehow for intelligence collection purposes, as well as to try them for their crimes.
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The Efficacy and Ethics of U.S. Counterterrorism Strategy - John Brennan [View all]
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
OP
Don't you know the boys were terrorists disguised as children? Hope
coalition_unwilling
May 2012
#34
Nothing you pointed out said innocent victims deserve no consideration, which is what I asked.
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#5
He knew it was false at the time he made it. His little dance was not impressive.
morningfog
May 2012
#20
Obviously, because Brennan expresses exactly the opposite as I quoted in Post 3. n/t
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#15
My point is that you manufactured a hideous position to paint Brennan as worse than he is.
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#17
I am interested in an honest discussion, which neither you nor Brennan seem capable of.
morningfog
May 2012
#29
I do know how to read. Both Tenet and Brennan got their jobs under Clinton, right? n/t
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#44
Saying I have an "affinity with the soulless" is insulting and over the top.
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#55
Perhaps you could start another thread about your belief that Osama bin Laden isn't dead
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#57
Feel free to discuss whether bin Laden is dead or not in another thread. n/t
Bolo Boffin
May 2012
#59