I'm just sayin' - A presidential kill list and the hypocrisy of it all

Talk about it

I was a bit stunned recently at the revelation of a “Presidential Kill List,” which is reviewed each week by the president and his military advisors. I’m not stunned by the fact this happens, but that it was leaked to the public and that President Obama takes personal interest in who is on the list and issues the orders as to who is targeted.

It is not surprising that this activity happens in the White House. Every president has been commander in chief and should be aware of who poses any kind of risk to Americans. This activity has typically been a review of what to do by the military commanders, and a consensus of opinion is used to make decisions. Media exposure of President Obama depicts him as the final arbiter in who gets “hit” this week and who does not. The “hits” are executed by drones, which have been become quite popular with the president and to some extent by the public. Drones do not require physical involvement by our troops or put them in harm’s way. However, there is a great deal of collateral damage done by these drones, but none of that is covered by the media. Not only are Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists targeted and killed by these drones, but many civilians have also died by drone attacks in Pakistan and Yemen.

As full disclosure, let me say that I support this activity and these terrorists deserve what they get. Also, I am not criticizing our president for making these tough decisions. What seems a bit strange to me is the complete silence from the liberal left regarding these drone attacks or revealing that civilians have been killed, and exposing the breech of sovereignty by the U.S. upon Pakistan and Yemen. Neither country has been consulted before the attacks happen (nor should they be). If there was a Republican in the White House and this was taking place, the liberal left would be screaming about the “inhumanity of it all” and the “war mongering” of the Republicans. The hypocrisy is stunning.

Also, you may have noticed information “leaks” (supposedly from the White House) regarding several international political and security issues – painting the president as tough on terrorism and a competent military leader. One example would be Stuxnet. This is a computer virus developed by the U.S. to attack the Iranian nuclear development installations and capabilities. This is something we should be doing, but we should not be publishing to the world what we are doing. It will only produce retaliation by Iran and give out our own strategic interests and activities. The White House has also leaked information about Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor who helped us find Bin Laden in Pakistan. Partly because of that leak, Dr. Afridi is now in a Pakistani prison for 35 years, and we are doing nothing to help him.

These are only a few examples of what is believed to be a coordinated effort by the White House to pose Barack Obama as a strong military and defense leader (something he has been criticized for as not being qualified). So, we have a president who by all measure of past presidents could be classified as an “executioner in chief.” Where is the outcry by his supporters? Some have spoken up, but far too few.

Is it all a coordinated effort to get him re-elected and ignore the security interests of the United States? Then again, I’m just sayin’.

• • •

“There are three things in the world that deserve no mercy - hypocrisy, fraud, and tyranny.”

Frederick William Robertson – English philosopher

• • •

DuWayne Paul of Alexandria is a regular contributing columnist for the Echo Press.

Tags: opinion, columns