WASHINGTON, D.C. May 31 (DPI) — Just days after President Obama announced new restrictions on drone strikes as part of a draw-down on the war on terror, a drone strike killed a high-ranking Taliban commander in Pakistan. And readers – even those on the site of the liberal NYTimes.com — were overwhelmingly hawkish in their views that 1) drones work 2) drone attacks are much preferable to US military casualties, and 3) The Taliban and other terrorists deserve what they get.
While major media report on the implications of pilotless missile attacks on far-off enemies — some even American citizens — a majority of readers displayed no ambivalence, posting continued support for drone strikes.
The drones, by all accounts, remain devastatingly effective against an enemy still shadowy more than a decade after 9/11. Just this week, The Taliban used the drone-killing of one of its leaders as a pretext for refusing to negotiate with Pakistan or the US, a development most readers found ironic and amusing:
From Washingtonpost.com
Seems oddly funny to hear the Taliban whining about drones. So glad we are able to produce that effect, so very glad. But please tell me where Mullah Omar is, and why we haven’t droned him?
He and Bin Laden were great pals. Omar deserves the same ending, drone or no drone.
Moreover, major media, for all their steady coverage on the ethical risks of drone strikes, seemed in agreement that practical considerations in war zones trumped Obama’s pledges to rein in the attacks.
On NYTimes.com
(Most recommended) Another excellent use of the predator type unmanned drones. I see nothing wrong with butchering the blood thirsty butchers. Live by the sword, die by the sword. If The Pakistani’s could run these evildoers out of their country they would be better off.
(Second highest recommended) If from my neighbor courtyard someone is throwing rubbish to my house, and my neighbor says he’s very sorry but he can’t do anything about it, and no one else could do anything about it, I would go for myself and stop that wretch. I wouldn’t care if my neighbor gets mad because I’m getting into his yard, someone in there is messing with me and I have to stop it. I have to protect my house.
Pakistani’s claim of national sovereignty violation is not fair. Their rights finish when our rights start. They have people in their country who constantly are planning attacks on the United States.
If they don’t stop them, someone has to.
(Third most recommended) These terrorists are just getting a taste of the their own medicine. If they decide to make peace, the drones would go away.