Eventually, an administration willing to embrace torture to fight terror was going to embrace terror as well: especially an administration populated by moral monsters like John Negroponte, who had embraced terror before, and gotten away with it.
Death squad activity is terrorism. Its purpose is never merely the assassination or kidnapping of a small number of leaders, but always the cowing of entire populations.
This case is no different. Note the language carefully:
One military source involved in the Pentagon debate agrees that this is the crux of the problem, and he suggests that new offensive operations are needed that would create a fear of aiding the insurgency. "The Sunni population is paying no price for the support it is giving to the terrorists," he said. "From their point of view, it is cost-free. We have to change that equation."
The target isn't a few dead-enders or foreign terrorist; the target is "the Sunni population," which needs to be taught a lesson.
Death squad activity is terrorism. Its purpose is never merely the assassination or kidnapping of a small number of leaders, but always the cowing of entire populations.
This case is no different. Note the language carefully:
One military source involved in the Pentagon debate agrees that this is the crux of the problem, and he suggests that new offensive operations are needed that would create a fear of aiding the insurgency. "The Sunni population is paying no price for the support it is giving to the terrorists," he said. "From their point of view, it is cost-free. We have to change that equation."
The target isn't a few dead-enders or foreign terrorist; the target is "the Sunni population," which needs to be taught a lesson.
Didn't we shock and awe them enough already?
Falluja hasn't taught them anything? Well, we have another chance in Mosul.
Zeynep comments:
It's deplorable that such a shameful chapter in our history is lauded as a success but unfortunately it is not surprising. In fact, El Salvador is indeed a model of how to successfully quell an uprising that has widespread popular support: with enough force, terror and lawlessness most populations can be made to give up.
This may well be more a trial baloon rather than an actual plan at the moment but it's still very significant because it indicates the direction of this administration -- crushing the obviously growing insurgency through very bloody means. Unsurprisingly, Ayad Allawi is reportedly among "the most forthright proponents."
This may well be more a trial baloon rather than an actual plan at the moment but it's still very significant because it indicates the direction of this administration -- crushing the obviously growing insurgency through very bloody means. Unsurprisingly, Ayad Allawi is reportedly among "the most forthright proponents."
It's working in Haiti, isn't it?
Anyway, The Rude Pundit has the justification...
Yup, we're "giving consideration" (read: already doing) to setting up hit teams of Iraqi Kurds and Shi'a to capture or kill "insurgents." This'd include operations inside Syria by U.S. Special Ops, and, most chillingly, the murder of "sympathizers" of the insurgents. But, hey, at least Saddam won't be doing the killing and torture, right?
Yes. The world is better off with Saddam Hussein behind bars.
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