Al Qaeda Leader Al-Zawahiri killed by US Drone Strike

I know there are some folks who are very anti-drone, and I understand it to a degree, but this is a great example of why I don't share that opinion. Glad we wiped him off the face of the Earth.

 

I'm kinda conflicted about drone strikes generally (although this probably wasn't a close case).

I like that they should reduce civilian casualties. On the other hand, I could see their use getting out of hand since they're relatively "easier" to conduct and to justify. Maybe a bit off topic, but I'm reading a book right now on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the legal and ethical lines for targeting areas when there will definitely be high civilian losses has always been complicated to me.

 

Its not so much the drones, its the extradjudicial assassination of people in countries you arent at war with thing (which we've done to US citizens too). The only utilty here was pure revenge, like a gang war. With the president being the capo di tutti capi.

 

Makes the MBS fist bump all more intriguing.

 

Not sure I follow. Al Zawahiri was Egyptian, and not sure how much recent operational control he had. Are you thinking Saudi intelligence gave him up?

 

The later. I have not basis for this, but just thinking it would make MBS look a lot more on the side of America.

 

good riddance

 

Interesting. I had not even considered it. I suppose it's possible

 

If the country harboring the mass murderer would have extradited him he would have had his judicial opportunity

 

And avoided 20 years of war

 

Look! A squirl!

 

anythings possible but in this case, nope.

 

Why would they do that when we don’t recognize their government because we’re butt hurt about losing a war ?

 

There is an episode of Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell where they discuss the development of various types of aerial bombing in WW2. One interesting aspect is as dramatic and horrible as the nuclear bombing was some of the fire bombing (I forget the term they used ) was actually probably worse, and that is what was primarily used in the Korean War. In the context of where we were at the time, I have no issue with us using nuclear bombs in Japan.

As to drone strikes, they are certainly better than the alternative but they do make war much easier and cleaner, from the attackers perspective, which long term has its own drawbacks. It reminds of an episode of the original Star Trek, they went to this planet where two different sides had been at war for ages, and the two sides eventually decided to make the war cleaner and they essentially war gamed via computer, and then each side would effectively execute/vaporize their own casualties. He result is it was out of site and out of mind to most people and there was never incentive enough for it to end.

 

The former president would be patting himself on the back on Twitter, gloating about how he took out this terrorist had this happened under his watch. Glad things are back to normal.

 

Don't speak too soon

 

I’m sure Trump will take credit for it at his next rally, but in the meantime this is great news. President Biden successfully took out Al Quaeda’s leader, Ayman Al Zawahiri. Even Fox News’ Brett Baier just said this was a “huge win.” Thank you, Mr. President!

 

It wasn't Biden that did it anymore than it would've been Trump if they had the intel before. Your statements are just as bad as ET congratulating Trump if he would've been in office