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Washington’s Greatest Afghan War Danger: Self-Deception
Almost every day, reports come back from the CIA's "secret" battlefield in the Pakistani tribal borderlands. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles -- that is, pilot-less drones -- shoot missiles (18 of them in a single attack on a tiny village last week) or drop bombs and then the news comes in: a certain number of al-Qaeda or Taliban leaders or suspected Arab or Uzbek or Afghan "militants" have died. The numbers are often remarkably precise. Sometimes they are attributed to U.S. sources, sometimes to the Pakistanis; sometimes, it's hard to tell where the information comes from. In the Pakistani press, on the other hand, the numbers that come back are usually of civilian dead. They, too, tend to be precise.
Don't let that precision fool you. Here's the reality: There are no reporters on the ground and none of these figures can be taken as accurate. Let's just consider the CIA side of things. Any information that comes from American sources (i.e. the CIA) has to be looked at with great wariness. As a start, the CIA's history is one of deception. There's no reason to take anything its sources say at face value. They will report just what they think it's in their interest to report -- and the ongoing "success" of their drone strikes is distinctly in their interest.
Then, there's history. In the present drone wars, as in the CIA's bloody Phoenix Program in the Vietnam era, the Agency's operatives, working in distinctly alien terrain, must rely on local sources (or possibly official Pakistani ones) for targeting intelligence. In Vietnam in the 1960s, the Agency's Phoenix Program -- reportedly responsible for the assassination of 20,000 Vietnamese -- became, according to historian Marilyn Young, "an extortionist's paradise, with payoffs as available for denunciation as for protection." Once again, the CIA is reportedly passing out bags of money and anyone on the ground with a grudge, or the desire to eliminate an enemy, or simply the desire to make some of that money can undoubtedly feed information into the system, watch the drones do their damnedest, and then report back that more "terrorists" are dead. Just assume that at least some of those "militants" dying in Pakistan, and possibly many of them, aren't who the CIA hopes they are.
Think of it as a foolproof situation, with an emphasis on the "fool." And then keep in mind that, in December, the CIA's local brain trust, undoubtedly the same people who were leaking precise news of "successes" in Pakistan, mistook a jihadist double agent from Jordan for an agent of theirs, gathered at an Agency base in Khost, Afghanistan, and let him wipe them out with a suicide bomb. Seven CIA operatives died, including the base chief. This should give us a grim clue as to the accuracy of the CIA's insights into what's happening on the ground in Pakistan, or into the real effects of their 24/7 robotic assassination program.
But there's a deeper, more dangerous level of deception in Washington's widening war in the region: self-deception. The CIA drone program, which the Agency's Director Leon Panetta has called "the only game in town" when it comes to dismantling al-Qaeda, is just symptomatic of such self-deception. While the CIA and the U.S. military have been expending enormous effort studying the Afghan and Pakistani situations and consulting experts, and while the White House has conducted an extensive series of seminars-cum-policy-debates on both countries, you can count on one thing: none of them have spent significant time studying or thinking about us.
As a result, the seeming cleanliness and effectiveness of the drone-war solution undoubtedly only reinforces a sense in Washington that the world's last great military power can still control this war -- that it can organize, order, prod, wheedle, and bribe both the Afghans and Pakistanis into doing what's best, and if that doesn't work, simply continue raining down the missiles and bombs. Beware Washington's deep-seated belief that it controls events; that it is, however precariously, in the saddle; that, as Afghan War commander General Stanley McChrystal recently put it, there is a "corner" to "turn" out there, even if we haven't quite turned it yet.
In fact, Washington is not in the saddle and that corner, if there, if turned, will have its own unpleasant surprises. Washington is, in this sense, as oblivious as those CIA operatives were as they waited for "their" Jordanian agent to give them supposedly vital information on the al-Qaeda leadership in the Pakistani tribal areas. Like their drones, the Americans in charge of this war are desperately far from the ground, and they don't even seem to know it. It's time for Washington to examine not what we know about them, but what we don't know about ourselves.
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23 Comments so far
Show AllThey can't see the hive they're stirring for the drones.
Self dececption is something this country, or at least its "leadership," is what we're becoming more and more used to and good at.
Amerika has to prove its might, its "wisdom," and its good intentions by blanketing Pakistan rebel areas with missiles and bombs. Meanwhile the scurrying vermin of the CIA lie to themselves and to their commander-in-chief about the "great victories" in their remote-control war.
And the Fawning Corporate Media actually takes the figures and reports of militant deaths AT FACE VALUE! And ignores the civilian causalities.
Bizarre is the word. Incredible is another.
Insane is my final word.
Gary
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you”
-- Friedrich Nietzsche
And don't forget the 1000's of Xe mercenaries scattered thru Pakistan - I'm sure they are really objective observers and implementers of our truly criminal actions - NOT!
But I could be wrong !
-"the assassination of 20,000 Vietnamese"
Obama wants you to know that these are not assasinations, these are "targeted killings".
according to the article:
There is an 'Afghan War' (even though there is no Congressional declaration of war against Afghanistan).
US drones in Pakistan are fighting the Afghan War.
The enemies in the Afghan War are the Taliban and al-Qaeda (and 'militants').
The goal in this war is unspecified, beyond trying to "control this war -- that it can organize, order, prod, wheedle, and bribe".
according to locust:
There is a war against future terrorism, because there is a Congressional declaration of war* ('AUMF', Public Law 107-40, the DAFT law).
US drones in Pakistan are fighting the DAFT war, as are US forces in Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, and everywhere else - since this is a global war.
The enemies in the DAFT war are whomever the President announces as responsible for 9/11 or for protecting those responsible. Bush and Obama have announced 'al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda affiliates'.
It's a global insanity, folks. It's a forever war, because the US military can never complete its mission of 'preventing future terrorism'.
It's the perfect stealth war, because even liberals and Progressives refuse to admit that it exists. It doesn't have a jazzy title, Congress didn't even keep track of the voting, it doesn't even name any enemies (but leaves that up to future Presidents, a horrible precedent).
I suggest yet again that our cause will make progress once we see this insanity for what it truly is - a global and forever hunt for future terrorists, and used as justification for inserting US aggression anywhere, anytime, against anyone.
That's DAFT, not an 'Afghan War'. It's an endless Defense against Future Terrorism.
Every country deals with future terrorism but only America declared war against it.
* for anyone who disagrees that this qualifies as a 'declaration of war', I give you --> Public Law 107-243, the 'AUMF against Iraq'. Does anyone argue that there was no Iraq War, because it's only based on an AUMF?
After 9/11, what is the first thing that the Bush/Cheney administration did?
They steamrolled Congress into passing Public Law 107-40.
They wanted it soooo badly. It is urgent that we get rid of it.
America's dear leader is claiming to be fighting future terrorism...
So maybe the declaration of war, will be passed...in the future?
It seems with so many ex post facto laws and the resurgence of "the divine right of presidents" in the US, trying to fight dictatorship in the US of A, without a time machine, is a fool's errand.
WASHINGTON's Selfdeception can be summed up in one Phrase - that has been so american for so long:
it's from a song:
"WE ARE THE WORLD".
even when the reality FROM the rest of the world says and always will say:
"NOPE - you aren't. WE ARE."
"... the seeming cleanliness and effectiveness of the drone-war solution ..."
Really, Mr Engelhardt? To whom does it seem so?
Leaving aside the questionable effectiveness issue about which you speak, the cleanliness would seem most apparent to those "brave American lads" under shelter in remote firing positions. Innocent victims (a.k.a. "collateral damage") and blood-spattered survivors might have a somewhat different perspective -- as might any truly rational observer of the carnage.
” Like their drones, the Americans in charge of this war are desperately far from the ground, and they don’t even seem to know it. It’s time for Washington to examine not what we know about them, but what we don’t know about ourselves. ”
I wanted to comment on the article.
I think it is sad but true that Americans who are at the helm of this big ship called the United States are out of touch with reality. They who are in charge and have the real power to change the direction this ship is going deceive themselves into thinking that everything is a ok and we have clear sailing ahead. Like the Caption on the Titanic instead of slowing down and taking the iceberg warnings to heart; he had the ship speed up and ignored the threat that was facing him. Yet, we all know the tragic ending to his disregarding the iceberg warning and the loss of life as the unsinkable Titanic sank to the bottom of the ocean.
So what is the solution to the problem of those who hold the political power in this country ignoring the will of the American people and doing what is in the best interest of the United States who they claim they love? Every election time the candidates of both corporate parties wrap themselves in the American flag and apple pie. Even American White Nationalists wrap themselves in the American flag and claim they are fighting to perserve America’s heritage. We have Progressive Democrats who promise real change and yet when elected by an overwhelming majority do the same ole same ole and continue to steer this great ship called the United States full speed ahead toward the iceberg. They are in denial that the iceberg is there so they don’t see what is really going on or the danger ahead.
So again we are faced with the reality that once again the American people were lied too when they were promise real change, ending the war that is only making things worst, and bring this defict spending under control. On all fronts, those in power have failed the American people. So on and on the ship continues toward the iceberg that is going to bring this country down. What will they say about this ship called the United States? Will they say she destroyed herself because she refused to face the truth and wanted to continue to live in the delusion that everything is a ok? Will they say at one time the United States was a great nation who all in the name of fighting against terriorists ripped the Consitution to shreds?
It doesn’t matter who is at the helm at this point, because both Democrats and Republicans serve the large corporations and Wall street over the American people. Now with the Supreme court rulling it will make it easier to tell the President and those in Congress what to do; even if it means doing things their way leads to disaster and the end result is hiting that iceberg and then sinking to the bottom of the ocean; because those in power at the helm refused to stand up to the corporations and for the people on this ship. What will people say about the Congress who went along full speed ahead with what is best for corporate America? Will they say that we had the best government money could buy but the worst government for the American people? Will they say they failed to act in the best interests of the people?
Will the next generation of Americans curse this generation who is at the helm for failing to act in what was best for future generations? Will they respect this generation of Americans who refuse to fight those who by their actions and vision are destroying this very country? We have a choice. We join the fight and do what we have to win the victory or we can continue to delude ourselves that America is on the right course and can continue to go full speed ahead while we have the iceberg warnings setting in our hands. I hope that this generation will answer the call as previous generations did. I hope that the children today will have the chance to become the best they can be. I hope that we will fight for the children and because of love of country. I know I am fighting because of love.
What you and other Americans often seem to overlook is that those who actually "steer this great ship called the United States" have no allegiance whatever to the conceptual entity that you designate by that grandiose title.
I won't quibble about the greatness part, but the ship is steered solely on the basis of the capitalist credo that "greed is good." Its consequences other than the accumulation of wealth simply don't matter to those who effectively command the ship's captain and deck officers, just as they didn't matter to the owners of the White Star Line. In fact, most of them can foresee those consequences quite clearly and are already making plans for boarding what they perceive as lifeboats under alternative captaincy. (See numerous articles regarding the BRIC nations surpassing the G7 within the next 15 to 20 years, if not sooner.)
"Money has no heart, no soul, no conscience, no homeland." Happy sailing!
But Brazil, Russia, India And China all face very serious internal problems of their own, from the destruction of the rainforests and displacing indigent peoples to the folly of adopting a free market capitalist system when a democratic socialist one is needed. So investment there may backfire. Plus they find by losing their best market base they may not have the money to invest when the cash-cow of America goes dry.
Gary
“What the president is effectively saying is that the economy will this year grow by over 35%, from a negative of 35% in the past seven years, which is not possible. You cannot achieve growth where there is no investment.”
-- John Robertson
I didn't say that all the "masters of the universe" were extraordinarily smart and farsighted. Just greedy and unprincipled in terms of allegiance as we ordinary plebians might understand the concept. What "they perceive as lifeboats" may very well be erroneous as you suggest. If that results in their jumping ship from the Titanic to the Lusitania it certainly won't hurt my feelings. ;)
>>What will people say about the Congress who went along full speed ahead with what is best for corporate America? Will they say that we had the best government money could buy but the worst government for the American people? Will they say they failed to act in the best interests of the people?<<
Alas, probably nothing until the wolf (or Xe merc) is at their very doors, as they numb themselves with contact sports, soap operas and "reality" TV, celebrity foibles, fast food, bad music, cigarettes and booze (and yes pot), and railing at the government for all the wrong reasons (or mostly so).
Complacy has become the American norm. Inertness its very creed. Apathy its mindset. Willlessness its nectar. And we are too few to raise the concern among the sluggish public, I am afraid.
Gary
“A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows public opinion”
-- Chinese Proverb
I've said it before, Roger Waters was ahead of the curve on this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybHhq48b33Q
Chalmers Johnson's Blowback is fermenting and I can't blame them.
From above the clouds, the bombs kill without knowing whom, as beneath the shroud of smoke, the dead die without knowing what for.
Eduardo Galeano
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on social uplift is approaching spiritual death.
Martin Luther King, Jr., from "Beyond Vietnam" speech
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.
Dwight Eisenhower
We are on a damned stupid course. Is 90% of the Congress so obtuse as not to see it?
Obtuse stupidity is one possible explanation. But desperation seems at least equally likely. The death throes of a doomed behemoth often produce a lot of random violence. Unfortunately, this one seems to have the inclination, and unquestionably has the capability, for taking the entire world with it -- with a little help, perhaps, from the 'Samson Option' of its Middle Eastern ally.
Of course they see it; they're a lot of things, and plenty of them are obviously not that bright. But then again, who is? Read the comments on this forum for a while and see how much silliness is bleated out, lots of it by people with graduate degrees.
But stupidity is not the issue here. The military machine makes humongous piles of loot for a tiny minority. They need to sell this crap, and keep us continuously at war to keep the loot flowing. The puppets in Congress likely see it better than you and I--and I see it very clearly.
But... they also see the $$$ that the war businesspeople dangle in front of them for their campaigns and that blurs their vision somewhat... to the reality behind the $$$.
And, every state in the union gets jobs and the accompanying economic benefits from from the military. So Congresspeople would have to turn their backs on campaign $$$ and attack something that brings economic benefits.
No real progress possible until 2 things are accomplished: 1) reduce severely the role of private $$$ in elections; 2) wean this country from it's nasty economic addiction to the military (which in the long run, bleads us dry).
The greatest self-deception at work in America's brave new world of now-you-see-it, now-you-don't drone warfare is the belief that the people on the receiving end will react to aggressive militarism in this form in the same way that other, less technologically developed populations, related to foreign invasions of the past.
Historically, the militarily strong could invade, conquer, and occupy the less militarily proficient so long as the strong were bloody minded enough to do so. What the professionals of warrior cult academe today call assymetrical warfare was the standard response of indigenous societies under assault. Retreat, regroup strategically, hold out. Wait for the time to become ripe for counterattack, even if it takes generations. And hope you don't get annihilated or assimilated by the invaders first.
Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I don't recall the locals of subjugated provinces of the Roman empire sending forth cadres of assassins to go after Caesar, or wreak carnage on spectators crowded into the Coliseum. Displaced native Americans and Indians from the subcontinent did not mount conspiracies to kill the English monarch, or to blow up Parliament. The Vietnamese never plotted to blow up or hijack commercial US airliners and crash them into tall buildings.
What drones and clandestine death squads wrapped up in now-so-plausible deniability foist upon Uncle Sam's designated 21st Century enemies is a blurring to the point of obliteration of the distinction between soldier and civilian, soldier and spy. If that is the face of the new American militarism, we should not be surprised if such tactics do not multiply the threat of domestic blowback immensely in the long run.
If plain clothes special-ops hit squads and pilotless drones nicknamed Predator are "the only game in town" in Af/Pak as CIA Director Panetta puts it, then we are writing new rules for a new game that ultimately will be as self-defeating as it is immoral.
Bill from Saginaw
Oh, yes, the drones are in charge.
Just to repeat what GARY says below.
"Alas, probably nothing until the wolf (or Xe merc) is at their very doors, as they numb themselves with contact sports, soap operas and "reality" TV, celebrity foibles, fast food, bad music, cigarettes and booze (and yes pot), and railing at the government for all the wrong reasons (or mostly so).
Complacy has become the American norm. Inertness its very creed. Apathy its mindset. Willlessness its nectar. And we are too few to raise the concern among the sluggish public, I am afraid."
I think Complacy is the rank smell of History repeating itself.
Time after Time: Wake up for Heavens sake, the kingdom of Heaven is within.
But the King is lost in a mean dream and his creed is Greed.
But even Kings wake up and smell the Roses!
I often hear on the talking head shows about the honor and character of our leaders and of our intelligence personnel. I think it is time that we as a country had a serious discussion about the honor and character of our elected leaders and the intelligence people who serve them and us.