Comments on: Persistence

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:09:42 +0000

Sorry. I was thinking more about the “malice aforethought” part of the strict definition, rather than the “unlawful” part. If anyone is offended, my apologies. But when you follow “murder” with “bad guys”, then most people come to the correct conclusion.

Consider this a “Letterman apology”.

By: G-man

G-man — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:42:23 +0000

Scott
I think some of the readers would take umbrage at the term “murder” vis a vis McChrystal since by definition murder is the unlawful killing of a person. Your point tho, is well taken.

By: Kris, in New England

Kris, in New England — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:09:00 +0000

I read this morning that there were some high value targets at that funeral:

These attacks coincided with an important meeting between Baitullah and a senior delegation of Taliban and al Qaeda leaders to discuss the military’s operation in South Waziristan. Among those in attendance were Siraj Haqqani, Abu Yahya al Libi, Abdul Haq, and two senior deputies of Mullah Abdullah Zakir. The US appears to have targeted al Qaeda’s senior leadership as it met with Baitullah.

65 down, a few million to go.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:56:09 +0000

McChrystal didn’t say stop air attacks that kill Taliban — he said stop them if there is a chance of civilian casualties. I think presence at this funeral was prima facie evidence of people that needed killin’.

Remember — this guy headed JSOC. He has no qualms about murdering bad guys. He just is willing to bend over backwards to limit what is euphemistically called “collateral damage”. In an insurgency, there might not be an acceptable level of that.

By: virgil xenophon

virgil xenophon — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:28:09 +0000

ZANE/

LOL. Was thinking EXACTLY the same thing! I think it’s a “water seeks it’s own level” sort of thing. Civilian casualties are now too sensitive in A-stan, so we’ll simply shift the damages to the uncontrolled parts of P-stan. This keeps the A-stan govt happy, as the heat will be off them, and the govt of P-stan doesn’t care about civilian cas in the border areas, as they never controlled those areas in the first place–all the tribes that inhabit those areas hate the central govt anyway–so croc. tears from Karachi and Islamabad Govt officials and business leaders.

By: G-man

G-man — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:02:13 +0000

Good riddance to a pestilence. Me thinks that they ain’t got enough virgins to welcome all these holy – better make that hole-y – warriors into heaven.