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In reply to the discussion: Imagine China sending a drone into the USA airspace to kill someone.... [View all]polly7
(20,582 posts)93. Why the U.S. Is Not Winning “Hearts and Minds” in Pakistan
http://pulitzercenter.org/articles/pakistan-flood-why-us-not-winning-hearts-minds
"As Pakistan struggles to remain afloat, American foreign policy certainly isn't helping. Traveling from the southern tip of Karachi to the northern tip of Kohistan, I recently spoke with countless internally displaced Pakistanis about the epic floods, their government's response to the tragedy, and America's involvement in their country. Pakistanis consistently told me the U.S. cannot win their "hearts and minds" through a schizophrenic policy of distributing food with one hand, and arming drones with the other. Many said they are infuriated that CIA drones carried out 21 strikes in September the highest number since the clandestine operation began six years ago just a month after their country experienced the worst natural disaster in its recent history. "In the U.S., almost ten years ago, you experienced 9/11 but, here in Pakistan, almost every day we are experiencing 9/11," said Hassan Ali Khan who works with a local grassroots nonprofit, Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation (OAKDF). Pakistanis such as Khan told me the drones are not only seen as unjust, but also as an act of American cowardliness (the pilotless planes are maneuvered with a joystick thousands of miles away) and imperial arrogance (nobody provides any justification, recourse, or reparations to the victims of the drone attacks). A recent public opinion poll sponsored by the New America Foundation and conducted in Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun tribal areas in July confirms that U.S. drone strikes are deeply unpopular and likely to become even more unpopular."
"As Pakistan struggles to remain afloat, American foreign policy certainly isn't helping. Traveling from the southern tip of Karachi to the northern tip of Kohistan, I recently spoke with countless internally displaced Pakistanis about the epic floods, their government's response to the tragedy, and America's involvement in their country. Pakistanis consistently told me the U.S. cannot win their "hearts and minds" through a schizophrenic policy of distributing food with one hand, and arming drones with the other. Many said they are infuriated that CIA drones carried out 21 strikes in September the highest number since the clandestine operation began six years ago just a month after their country experienced the worst natural disaster in its recent history. "In the U.S., almost ten years ago, you experienced 9/11 but, here in Pakistan, almost every day we are experiencing 9/11," said Hassan Ali Khan who works with a local grassroots nonprofit, Omar Asghar Khan Development Foundation (OAKDF). Pakistanis such as Khan told me the drones are not only seen as unjust, but also as an act of American cowardliness (the pilotless planes are maneuvered with a joystick thousands of miles away) and imperial arrogance (nobody provides any justification, recourse, or reparations to the victims of the drone attacks). A recent public opinion poll sponsored by the New America Foundation and conducted in Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun tribal areas in July confirms that U.S. drone strikes are deeply unpopular and likely to become even more unpopular."
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Imagine China sending a drone into the USA airspace to kill someone.... [View all]
Logical
Feb 2013
OP
It is not ridiculous at all, your other assertion of fact is wrong, and something like
Warren Stupidity
Feb 2013
#2
What country has not given us permission? I hope you're not thinking of Pakistan.
randome
Feb 2013
#4
Everyone knows senior ambassadors are NOT to be considered as representing the will of the govt.
Bonobo
Feb 2013
#51
I'm not in 'favor' of drone strikes anywhere. I'm not in 'favor' of overseas meddling at all.
randome
Feb 2013
#98
I agree, we don't target based on that criteria. Not that I'm aware of, anyways.
randome
Feb 2013
#40
How would you stop terrorists who blow up bars and school buses in other countries?
randome
Feb 2013
#72
You KNOW that I am right, the guy constantly makes use of the word as interchangeable
Dragonfli
Feb 2013
#104
Yeah, but you stated those actions as reasons for acts of war when the same actions are done
Bluenorthwest
Feb 2013
#33
Some of the terrorist groups we are fighting are determined to install Islamic dictatorships.
randome
Feb 2013
#37
So because of the Bush Regime, we should huddle in our homes and withdraw from the world?
randome
Feb 2013
#118
I truly don't enter into discussions here to prove myself right or wrong. Or to 'save face'.
randome
Feb 2013
#133
Let's say I am a Chinese dissident blogger in the U.S....with my posts I've become a problem
Katashi_itto
Feb 2013
#120
I agree all conjecture...oh we might have a bit of frosty relations for a while...
Katashi_itto
Feb 2013
#129
That's ridiculous. Everyone knows the US, not China, determines International Law....
Junkdrawer
Feb 2013
#9
Eh. The technology for nuclear bombs is everywhere, too, and we still maintain a balance of power.
randome
Feb 2013
#74
when's the last time ANYONE has 'declared' war.....the earth is in a perpetual state of war
spanone
Feb 2013
#41
You are unnecessarily making this complicated. We are the good guys. Nuff said.
rhett o rick
Feb 2013
#65
It was intended as sarcasm, but a lot of DU posters use it for justification. nm
rhett o rick
Feb 2013
#105
As I see it, we all have our individual reality boxes. Some are willing to expand their
rhett o rick
Feb 2013
#137
I think I would welcome the justice strikes! Assuming they say "they picked me with care"
Dragonfli
Feb 2013
#71
Perhpas you could explain why the USA doesn't send drone strikes into China, or North Korea?
Sheepshank
Feb 2013
#88
Imagine Sarah Palin with wings, swooping down to zap all unbelievers with her deadly eye beams!
randome
Feb 2013
#103
The U.S. has been known to accept dissidents from China and other countries...
DreamGypsy
Feb 2013
#102
At a minimum, others who use drones to kill their enemies located on U.S. soil should be as
indepat
Feb 2013
#115
That is an excellent point. I also think it's wrong for the USA to stand alone as the drone senders
Sunlei
Feb 2013
#124
It's much easier to imagine us buying drones from China 'cuz they're cheaper.
Tierra_y_Libertad
Feb 2013
#132