Allies or Victims?

I was just reading this article in Newsweek about a little town in Pakistan that is reportedly a place of refuge for terrorists given that is so close to the Afghanistan border. American troops are already in the region taking out as many terrorists they can find.

I may be just a damned Civvie, as Colonel Tigh would say, but I think there are some inefficient methods going on. Approximately 100 people have been killed by American soldiers since 2006, and the inhabitants say that many of them were innocent bystanders including children. The soldiers claim they examine their targets very carefully.

"But in practice their definition of a legitimate target includes those who make it possible for militants to thrive. "If people in those communities are truly concerned about their welfare, they should not harbor terrorists, and they should oppose those who do," says one U.S. official."

I'm not saying that our men and women conducting these operations don't care about taking innocent lives, but I do think there is significantly less value attached to the lives of the locals. When it comes to fighting terror and bringing justice to the still living victims of terrorists (that includes the followers they lie to), the targets should be the ones who are committed to violent action. I don't think its fair to include those who feed and clothe them. By all means, subject them to the necessary legal punishments if a case can be proven against, but don't save any bullets for them.

The term "terrorist" over there is not so black and white in the way we think of it over here. We think of people who deliberately want to kill civilians for political gain. We debate over what organizations actually want to do that, but we have a clear understanding of the defining goal. Over in Pakistan, and many other developing democracies, "terrorist" is used very loosely to include opposition of the sitting regimes. Unfortunately, many western governments don't even try to understand such groups and are happy to go along with the terrorist label. Its always nice to tell the public that you've detained and/or killed a bunch of Islamic terrorists, so why spoil it?

The article goes on, and I love it.

"But Pakistan's new civilian leadership complains that the U.S. strikes—and the collateral damage they've caused—are making the job of pacifying the area harder. At ground level, in mountain hamlets like Damadola, things aren't always as clear as they may seem through the viewfinder of a deadly, high-flying drone.

Villagers in Damadola say it's hard to say no to men with guns, especially when many of those men are your neighbors and relatives. It's even tougher in Pakistan's tribal areas, where the Pashtuns' ancient ethical code requires that every visitor be treated hospitably. "Even if a bloodthirsty enemy comes to your door you have to welcome him," says a gray-bearded villager named Bakhti Gul. He can't help adding: "Especially those who are chased by the U.S." His nephew was among the victims of the most recent Predator attack, early on the morning of May 14. The young man had joined the militants, Bakhti Gul admits, but only after an earlier Predator strike on a nearby madrassa had killed more than 80 of his schoolmates.

"Could the villagers of Damadola save themselves by simply not "harboring terrorists," as the Americans say? Mohammed Abdul Mateen, a retired science teacher who left Damadola several years ago but visits frequently, agrees the militants are destroying the place, but says the Hellfire attacks only increase their strength. "Soon the last educated villagers will be gone, leaving an illiterate people in the hands of narrow-minded mullahs," he says. Kids in once quiet Damadola are now terrified by loud noises, which could signal an incoming U.S. spy plane. "The land under our feet is on fire," says shopkeeper Haji Omar Shah. "Where can we run?" Since mid-May, villagers say U.S. choppers and drones have been flying over Damadola regularly, swooping low to the ground. They're sure more trouble is coming."

Oh Newsweek, this almost makes up for your earlier article on Islam. =-)