Drone Warfare Makes its Long-Awaited, Biden Approved Comeback

BRIAN SOCKINGTON: Drone warfare is back in the USA after a recent quiet patch. President Joe Biden confirming the world’s most dangerous man – from 17 years ago – Ayman al-Zawahiri, was quote ‘removed from the battlefield’ by a precision drone strike in Afghanistan, almost one year after US troops removed themselves from Afghanistan. Al-Zawahiri became the leader of Al Qaeda after the killing and classified sea burial of Osama bin Laden in 2011. He was considered dangerous and hostile – 17 years ago – when he was first targeted for assassinaton by the US military, leading to the reported deaths of 105 people, including 76 children. Rupert Holesworthy has more.

RUPERT HOLESWORTHY: The nod has been given for assisination by drone strike once again. President Joe Biden achieving something three other presidents could not VID: BIDEN – eliminating Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zwahirii, just 22 years after the September 11th terrorist attacks, by a secret, deadly and invisible aircraft, 11,132kms from Washington D.C, and 13 years after the official end of the global War on Terrorism. Unfortunately, stealth killing operations are becoming rarer, particularly since the Taliban resumed governance of Afghanistan immediately after the 20-year US occupation of the country, temporarily removing the former terrorist organisation from US government kill lists. 

“… with drone warfare being conducted without the need for a war, it is likely this kind of cyclic barbarism will continue into the future. Great news for the military industrial complex, and for jacked up ruffians who enjoy chanting U.S.A.”

But other theatres of death are quietly being explored around the world, justifying further US military spending on drones and other state of the art military equipment. US/Africa Command confirming American airstrikes in Somalia against al-Qaeda affiliates al-Shabaab, on Feb 22 (Death count: 3), June 3 (Death count: 5), July 17 (Death count: 2), Aug 9 (3 Airstrikes, Death count: 4), and Aug 17 (Death count: 13), barely rating a mention on mainstream news media. The strikes were conducted ‘in support of the Somali military’, as was a decision by President Biden to redeploy US troops to Somalia in May, reversing former President Trump’s obviously stupid decision to finally withdraw them. But it’s not all good news, as armed men stormed a Somalian Hotel on the 19th of August, in a completely unrelated attack no one has been able to figure out, killing at least 21 people and injuring 100’s of others including American and international diplomats.

The US have condemned Al-Shabaab, who claimed responsibility for the attack, pledging “continued support for Somalia to hold [the] murderers accountable”. And with drone warfare being conducted without the need for a war, it is likely this kind of cyclic barbarism will continue into the future. Great news for the military industrial complex, and for jacked up ruffians who enjoy chanting U.S.A.

BRIAN SOCKINGTON: The latest airstrikes are delivering much more efficient justice than previous US-drone led interventions, such as the March 2019 strike in Baghuz, Syria, that killed 80 civilians, or the Biden-approved drone strike from last year that accidentally blew up a family car, 10 innocent people, including 7 children.

Thankfully, the US Military has found a way to forgive itself and move on.