[Peace-discuss] anti-neoconservative notes

[J.B. Nicholson]

Some notes to spur discussion for AWARE on the Air.



War: Killer drones are being challenged in court

https://www.dw.com/en/court-orders-germany-to-question-us-drone-strikes/a-47979480 
-- "Three Yemeni men have scored a partial success after suing Germany for 
its alleged role in drone attacks that killed relatives. The plaintiffs 
want Berlin to stop the US using German territory to relay information."

> A court in Münster on Tuesday ruled partly in favor of three plaintiffs
> from Yemen who alleged that their relatives were killed in a 2012 US
> drone strike that was relayed via an airbase in Germany.
> 
> The Münster Higher Administrative Court ruled that the German government
> must take "appropriate measures" to ascertain whether US operations
> conducted via the Ramstein Air Base are in line with international law.
> 
> The court ruled that Berlin should also, if necessary, press Washington
> to adhere to international law on drone strikes.
> 
> The case was brought by the European Center for Constitutional and Human
> Rights on behalf of a family from the Hadramawt region of eastern Yemen.
> The plaintiffs alleged that Germany was partly responsible for the
> deaths of two family members, with the base in southwestern Germany
> acting as a relay station for drones operated from the US.
> 
> US drone strikes in Yemen have been aimed at members of al-Qaida, but
> doubt has arisen over whether they were targeting individuals with a
> "continuous combat function." Such a function is viewed as a legal
> threshold to prevent civilians associated with, but not fighting for,
> armed groups from being subject to extrajudicial killings.

When you're down with the drone war, you're down with these outcomes. I'm 
looking at you, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Bernie Sanders, both of whom 
have told us that they are down with the drone program:

Sen. Sanders in his "Meet the Press" interview from 2016 -- 
https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/bernie-sanders-would-use-drones-to-fight-terror-542522435844

> Chuck Todd: What does counterterrorism look like in a Sanders 
> administration? Drones? Special forces? Or what does it look like?
> 
> Bernie Sanders: All of that and more.
> 
> Chuck Todd: You're okay with the drone, using drones--
> 
> Bernie Sanders: Look, drone is a weapon. When it works badly, it is 
> terrible and it is counterproductive. When you blow up a facility or a 
> building which kills women and children, you know what? Not only doesn't
> do us any -- it's terrible.
> 
> Chuck Todd: But you're comfortable with the idea of using drones if you 
> think you've isolated an important terrorist?
> 
> Bernie Sanders: Yes.
> 
> Chuck Todd: So that continues?
> 
> Bernie Sanders: Yes.

Rep. Gabbard in her "Intercept" interview from 2018 -- 
https://theintercept.com/2018/01/17/intercepted-podcast-white-mirror/

> Jeremy Scahill: I’m wondering what your position, I know that in the 
> past you have said that you favor a small footprint approach with
> strike forces and limited use of weaponized drones. Is that still your
> position that you think that’s the — to the extent that you believe the
> U.S. military should be used around the world for counterterrorism, is
> that still your position?
> 
> Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Well, when we’re dealing with the unconventional 
> threat of terrorist groups like ISIS, al Qaeda and some of these other 
> groups that are affiliated with them, we should not be using basically 
> what has been and continues to be the current policy of these mass 
> mobilization of troops, these long occupations and trillions of dollars 
> going in, really abusing the Authorization to Use Military Force and 
> taking action that expands far beyond the legal limitations of those 
> current AUMFs.
> 
> So, with these terrorist cells, for example, yes, I do still believe 
> that the right approach to take is these quick strike forces, surgical 
> strikes, in and out, very quickly, no long-term deployment, no
> long-term occupation to be able to get rid of the threat that exists and
> then get out and the very limited use of drones in those situations
> where our military is not able to get in without creating an
> unacceptable level of risk, and where you can make sure that you’re not
> causing, you know, a large amount of civilian casualties.



US/Israel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRMs2K7DSY8 -- Trump signs declaration 
recognizing Israel's sovereignty over Golan Heights.




Troop movements: US, Russia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tXmde8lOz4 -- War with China? US sends a 
destroyer to Chinese shores. US military ships pass through Strait of 
Taiwan as China watches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlQbKKx3BII -- Russia reportedly sent ~100 
soldiers to Venezuela.


-J