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The attack offered a glimpse of the Obama administration’s shadow war against Al Qaeda and its allies. In roughly a dozen countries — from the deserts of North Africa, to the mountains of Pakistan, to former Soviet republics crippled by ethnic and religious strife — the United States has significantly increased military and intelligence operations, pursuing the enemy using robotic drones and commando teams, paying contractors to spy and training local operatives to chase terrorists.
The White House has intensified the Central Intelligence Agency’s drone missile campaign in Pakistan, approved raids against Qaeda operatives in Somalia and launched clandestine operations from Kenya. The administration has worked with European allies to dismantle terrorist groups in North Africa, efforts that include a recent French strike in Algeria. And the Pentagon tapped a network of private contractors to gather intelligence about things like militant hide-outs in Pakistan and the location of an American soldier currently in Taliban hands.
While the stealth war began in the Bush administration, it has expanded under President Obama, who rose to prominence in part for his early opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Virtually none of the newly aggressive steps undertaken by the United States government have been publicly acknowledged. In contrast with the troop buildup in Afghanistan, which came after months of robust debate, for example, the American military campaign in Yemen began without notice in December and has never been officially confirmed.
But I thought liberals were soft on terror?
Shadow War. That's catchy.
The White House has intensified the Central Intelligence Agency’s drone missile campaign in Pakistan, approved raids against Qaeda operatives in Somalia and launched clandestine operations from Kenya. The administration has worked with European allies to dismantle terrorist groups in North Africa, efforts that include a recent French strike in Algeria.
I can't understand by what authority the President has extended our reach into Somalia and Kenya. It is also hard to believe that the French spearheaded a recent strike in Algeria.
And, yes, Harshaw, where is the outrage? Hmmmm.....
I can't understand by what authority the President has extended our reach into Somalia and Kenya. It is also hard to believe that the French spearheaded a recent strike in Algeria.
And, yes, Harshaw, where is the outrage? Hmmmm.....
I know this is hard to understand, but we are there AT THE REQUEST of their governments, and working in tandem with their forces. So, it's not really an invasion now, is it, dear?
I know this is hard to understand, but we are there AT THE REQUEST of their governments, and working in tandem with their forces. So, it's not really an invasion now, is it, dear?
Presumably all of these countries have given the U.S. permission to conduct these operations, or at least I would hope. Yeah, we could go a step further and theorize that the U.S. is strong-arming them into participating, but regardless, the U.S. military can't legally act without permission.
Presumably all of these countries have given the U.S. permission to conduct these operations, or at least I would hope. Yeah, we could go a step further and theorize that the U.S. is strong-arming them into participating, but regardless, the U.S. military can't legally act without permission.
For its part, the Pentagon is becoming more like the C.I.A. Across the Middle East and elsewhere, Special Operations troops under secret “Execute Orders” have conducted spying missions that were once the preserve of civilian intelligence agencies. With code names like Eager Pawn and Indigo Spade, such programs typically operate with even less transparency and Congressional oversight than traditional covert actions by the C.I.A.
Plus:
Oooooh. Scary scary scary scary. At least it used to be.
2) Where are the throngs of protests against these aggressive illegal acts of warmongering and American imperialism?
Why would you "presume" anything of the sort? (And who in Somalia is in any position to give permission, anyway?)
B) The permission that I do care about is that of Congress, I think the AUMF of 2001 is far to broad to be used as justification for any ground troop deployments save of course for in Afghanistan which that specific AUMF was clearly aimed at.
Liberals aren't involved. This is the military carrying out these efforts, not Bush or Obama or anyone in the White House or its administration.
I'm sure on Day One, when the military debriefed Obama on the 157 known terrorist plots to assassinate the sitting U.S. president, he got on board with these efforts immediately.
Why would you "presume" anything of the sort? (And who in Somalia is in any position to give permission, anyway?)
Excerpted from “Secret Assault on Terrorism Widens on Two Continents” By SCOTT SHANE, MARK MAZZETTI and ROBERT F. WORTH, The New York Times, Published: August 14, 2010
… [[SIZE="+2"]S[/SIZE]]uch wars come with many risks: the potential for botched operations that fuel anti-American rage; a blurring of the lines between soldiers and spies that could put troops at risk of being denied Geneva Convention protections; a weakening of the Congressional oversight system put in place to prevent abuses by America’s secret operatives; and a reliance on authoritarian foreign leaders and surrogates with sometimes murky loyalties.
…
The Yemen operation has raised a broader question: who should be running the shadow war? White House officials are debating whether the C.I.A. should take over the Yemen campaign as a “covert action,” which would allow the United States to carry out operations even without the approval of Yemen’s government. By law, covert action programs require presidential authorization and formal notification to the Congressional intelligence committees. No such requirements apply to the military’s so-called Special Access Programs, like the Yemen strikes.
There are exceptions to what I said, mostly because places like Somalia lack any real government. There are also U.S. military bases in most countries. It would only be a step further to request permission to conduct Al Qaeda hunts outside of the bases.
I'm not saying I agree with it... I'm just saying that it's not illegal.
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