From Heroes to Zeroes
link New drone strike in Yemen kills Al Qaeda militants | Fox News.
Rabid and fanatical as they are, you would think that at least some of the Al Qaeda militants might get an epiphany about the future of their chosen profession.
When they consider that if taken prisoner by the Americans, they can be pretty much guaranteed a civil and protected lifestyle even if it is within the confines of a prison. They are given clean clothes, a floor that is not dirt, indoor plumbing, regular feedings which will likely make them fat during their stay and above all, respect and support by the American media. Even the threat of being water-boarded has been removed as a tool in the pursuit of answers to skill testing questions, since, well, that’s inhumane. The worst that can happen is that they pipe Justin Bieber or Beyoncé music into their cells to encourage cooperation.
On the other hand, if they are just standing around in Yemen or some other middle eastern outpost plotting to do unsociable things, they are afforded no such civility. They just hear a faint and increasingly loud whistling sound, then nothing. No pearly gates, no 72 virgins; they become desert vapor. They are not afforded the charade of a civil trial, habeas corpus, interviews by CNN and extended incarceration. Those kinds of niceties are reserved for militants that actually create havoc and murder people and are lucky enough to be taken prisoner for their deeds. If you are just standing around looking guilty, you’re legitimately a pest to be wiped out as if you were a fly at a picnic.
Not being lawyers, we aren’t clear on why terrorists who are caught red handed and admit to their activities are feted and given celebrity status whereas people who are merely hanging around with undesirables get the working end of a missile. We are not seeing the outrage which erupted around the ‘rights’ of Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the resultant turning of his military trial into a civilian show trial. This should be a strong hint to all potential terrorist inductees. The glamour part of their existence is over. The political currency derived from the kabuki of protecting the rights of terrorists has been spent by this administration. That political theater is done. Now they’re all expendable.
In truth and for pragmatic reasons, this is a far more efficient way to rid yourself of enemies than the old fashioned of way of sending in troops, suffering casualties and creating havoc. The previous administration should have thought of that. We can just take out people that may be threats. Hmm, seems civilized. Once they figure out how efficient this really is, we can see them using the same methods domestically and Miranda will just be the name of a country singer. When that happens, people had better choose who they hang out with wisely.