October 1, 2012
Akahata editorial (excerpts)
U.S. drone missile attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya are arousing growing criticism from the international community as well as American citizens. These strikes have increased under the Obama administration as part of the War on Terror. However, such actions only incite terrorism and create obstacles to world peace.
As drones have repeatedly killed women and children by mistake, antagonism toward the U.S. is increasing. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in the U.S., 74% of Pakistanis regard the U.S. as an enemy.
Drone attacks are one form of warfare which violently infringes on an attacked nation’s sovereignty, and lower the hurdle for waging war because of their supposed inconspicuousness. Last year, the U.S. intervened militarily in Libya using drones without obtaining approval from the U.N. Security Council or support from the American public.
The US forces killed Osama bin Laden, the supposed principal architect of the September 11 attacks, in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan last year, and President Obama presented it as a major foreign policy achievement. His discontinuation of drone attacks cannot be expected as long as he is allowed to brag about the assassination.
It is feared that drones, which are now widely used for reconnaissance purposes by many countries, could be utilized for bombing attacks by other countries, too. Reportedly, some U.S. high officials are afraid that their drone attacks will stimulate other countries to do the same.
As Obama proclaimed that he will end the war in Afghanistan, he should stop the drone attacks in Pakistan which he has promoted along with the Afghan War.
It is necessary to keep an eye on the U.S. which is trying to justify its drone attacks in the name of the war on terror.
U.S. drone missile attacks in Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and Libya are arousing growing criticism from the international community as well as American citizens. These strikes have increased under the Obama administration as part of the War on Terror. However, such actions only incite terrorism and create obstacles to world peace.
As drones have repeatedly killed women and children by mistake, antagonism toward the U.S. is increasing. According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in the U.S., 74% of Pakistanis regard the U.S. as an enemy.
Drone attacks are one form of warfare which violently infringes on an attacked nation’s sovereignty, and lower the hurdle for waging war because of their supposed inconspicuousness. Last year, the U.S. intervened militarily in Libya using drones without obtaining approval from the U.N. Security Council or support from the American public.
The US forces killed Osama bin Laden, the supposed principal architect of the September 11 attacks, in a raid on his hideout in Pakistan last year, and President Obama presented it as a major foreign policy achievement. His discontinuation of drone attacks cannot be expected as long as he is allowed to brag about the assassination.
It is feared that drones, which are now widely used for reconnaissance purposes by many countries, could be utilized for bombing attacks by other countries, too. Reportedly, some U.S. high officials are afraid that their drone attacks will stimulate other countries to do the same.
As Obama proclaimed that he will end the war in Afghanistan, he should stop the drone attacks in Pakistan which he has promoted along with the Afghan War.
It is necessary to keep an eye on the U.S. which is trying to justify its drone attacks in the name of the war on terror.
