"It is difficult not to think it doesn't matter to US whether they terrorize (and radicalize) entire populations as they check another name off their 'kill list,'" writes one Yemeni youth activist. (Image: Yemeni tourism)
Apr 21, 2013
A US drone strike in Yemen killed two people described in corporate media as suspected al Qaeda militants on Sunday, the second such attack in the country in less than a week.
The strike hit a house in Wadi Adeeda in the Marib province, east of the capital, which was reportedly storing weapons.
Agence France-Presse adds: "A tribal source said the strike was followed by ground clashes in which two Yemeni soldiers and a militant were killed."
The two strikes in the past several days break a nearly three-month lull in US drone strikes on Yemen.
Following the April 17 drone strike on the Yemeni village of Wessab, Farea Al-Muslimi, a youth activist and writer originally from there, provided via Twitter a counter-narrative to the justifications of drone strikes.
\u201cWessab, my village, is no doubt th most peaceful ppls and one of th poorest areas in Yemen. congrats, u jst made violence attractive to them\u201d— Farea Al-Muslimi (@Farea Al-Muslimi) 1366230197
In an op-ed in Al-Monitor the following day, he questions why a drone strike was necessary at all.
In an area like Wessab, there is nothing easier than capturing a man like al-Radmi. Two police officers would have been more than capable of arresting him. [...]
...was it really necessary to conduct an operation that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, while two soldiers could have captured the target? [...]
If al-Radmi was a target, an arrest would have been simple. He was not some elusive figure, hiding far from the reach of the central authority. He lived a few hours from Sanaa and less than a kilometer away from government headquarters.
Al-Muslimi adds that "The 'collateral damage' of drones cannot just be measured in corpses," as they are counterproductive and are terrorizing and traumatizing a generation.
... it is tempting to conclude that the US has no interest in a measured response to terrorism. It is difficult not to think it doesn't matter to them whether they terrorize (and radicalize) entire populations as they check another name off their "kill list."
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates that as many as 45 civilians have been killed by confirmed US drone strikes on Yemen since 2002.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
A US drone strike in Yemen killed two people described in corporate media as suspected al Qaeda militants on Sunday, the second such attack in the country in less than a week.
The strike hit a house in Wadi Adeeda in the Marib province, east of the capital, which was reportedly storing weapons.
Agence France-Presse adds: "A tribal source said the strike was followed by ground clashes in which two Yemeni soldiers and a militant were killed."
The two strikes in the past several days break a nearly three-month lull in US drone strikes on Yemen.
Following the April 17 drone strike on the Yemeni village of Wessab, Farea Al-Muslimi, a youth activist and writer originally from there, provided via Twitter a counter-narrative to the justifications of drone strikes.
\u201cWessab, my village, is no doubt th most peaceful ppls and one of th poorest areas in Yemen. congrats, u jst made violence attractive to them\u201d— Farea Al-Muslimi (@Farea Al-Muslimi) 1366230197
In an op-ed in Al-Monitor the following day, he questions why a drone strike was necessary at all.
In an area like Wessab, there is nothing easier than capturing a man like al-Radmi. Two police officers would have been more than capable of arresting him. [...]
...was it really necessary to conduct an operation that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, while two soldiers could have captured the target? [...]
If al-Radmi was a target, an arrest would have been simple. He was not some elusive figure, hiding far from the reach of the central authority. He lived a few hours from Sanaa and less than a kilometer away from government headquarters.
Al-Muslimi adds that "The 'collateral damage' of drones cannot just be measured in corpses," as they are counterproductive and are terrorizing and traumatizing a generation.
... it is tempting to conclude that the US has no interest in a measured response to terrorism. It is difficult not to think it doesn't matter to them whether they terrorize (and radicalize) entire populations as they check another name off their "kill list."
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates that as many as 45 civilians have been killed by confirmed US drone strikes on Yemen since 2002.
A US drone strike in Yemen killed two people described in corporate media as suspected al Qaeda militants on Sunday, the second such attack in the country in less than a week.
The strike hit a house in Wadi Adeeda in the Marib province, east of the capital, which was reportedly storing weapons.
Agence France-Presse adds: "A tribal source said the strike was followed by ground clashes in which two Yemeni soldiers and a militant were killed."
The two strikes in the past several days break a nearly three-month lull in US drone strikes on Yemen.
Following the April 17 drone strike on the Yemeni village of Wessab, Farea Al-Muslimi, a youth activist and writer originally from there, provided via Twitter a counter-narrative to the justifications of drone strikes.
\u201cWessab, my village, is no doubt th most peaceful ppls and one of th poorest areas in Yemen. congrats, u jst made violence attractive to them\u201d— Farea Al-Muslimi (@Farea Al-Muslimi) 1366230197
In an op-ed in Al-Monitor the following day, he questions why a drone strike was necessary at all.
In an area like Wessab, there is nothing easier than capturing a man like al-Radmi. Two police officers would have been more than capable of arresting him. [...]
...was it really necessary to conduct an operation that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, while two soldiers could have captured the target? [...]
If al-Radmi was a target, an arrest would have been simple. He was not some elusive figure, hiding far from the reach of the central authority. He lived a few hours from Sanaa and less than a kilometer away from government headquarters.
Al-Muslimi adds that "The 'collateral damage' of drones cannot just be measured in corpses," as they are counterproductive and are terrorizing and traumatizing a generation.
... it is tempting to conclude that the US has no interest in a measured response to terrorism. It is difficult not to think it doesn't matter to them whether they terrorize (and radicalize) entire populations as they check another name off their "kill list."
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates that as many as 45 civilians have been killed by confirmed US drone strikes on Yemen since 2002.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.