Rattling sabers, crinkling lists
I think there have always been a few lists like this – the kill list. Today, we’re learning that our President has a list and it’s very secret. One would hope. What must one do or believe or have done to make the list? As citizens, right now it’s none of our darn-mandate business. We do not have a vote in this other than to elect another list-manager, apparently.
This subject will vaporize from the media in a short time because the majority of Americans do not care. Most Americans want a strong arm of defense and a stronger one of offense. The world appears a dangerous place. People are not done killing one another. Stakes are high. Risk is lowered when we exercise our deterrent capabilities and demonstrate that thing called resolve. And this is an election year when constituencies measure resolve and cast ballots. Tough is cool. Tough is American.
Government employees will manage this list. Contractors will too. Contractors will help carry-out the contracts, rest-assured. There will be book deals and movie scripts, optioned narratives.
One day after Memorial Day, the memorial designers and makers still have a lot of designing and making to do. Plenty of Vermont marble in those mountains for planting in Arlington and other cemeteries.
I suppose that telling bad people that we have a secret kill list has an effect of making bad people think twice or more before doing something bad again. I do not have a “need to know”. How much do we need to know? And if you feel like you need to know, to whom do you direct your need?
We should be concerned that lists get leaked and rest assured those who make their daily wages soliciting leaks and selling them in the information marketplace are enthused about the prospects of a killing. I hope competent people are trying to obtain the lists the bad people are making. I know our Director of Central Intelligence, David Patraeus, is working hard on all this. His boss is busy on a re-election journey while juggling quite a few crystal balls.
Throughout history we’ve been jolted and changed by lists: lists on cathedral doors, lists held up in chambers of government, blacklists, lists at reception stations, lists kept by Schindlers, lists carved on tablets, creeds that read like lists of beliefs, as well as mundane “honey-do” lists on refrigerators.
This latest secret list whose list contents will hopefully remain close-hold will generate many “warrior-do” mission plans and operations and with executive approval, deeds. The ultimate “America’s most wanted” list has probably been around since the Revolutionary War. Today, we’re hearing a President crinkling the list in his pocket, letting everyone know it’s there. We’ve always rattled sabers, drawn them, used them. Now we have a list to crinkle.
Protect it well, Mr. President, very very well.
Tom Ryan
Crossroads, Kansas City
11 months, 3 weeks agoMore marble in Danby
Seems there’s enough for a while
Deep below Danby Vermont
Countertops for kitchens, family gatherings
Appointed gleaming floors, lobbies
Hallowed halls for whom we serve
But the best pure white
Sliced precise forty two by 13
Four inches thick, markers, names
Rows, dress right, dress
Ready, front!
Some cry, how long?
How many more?
How much more marble in Danby?
You may not wish to know…
tr nov / 2011
Phil Cardarella
11 months, 3 weeks agoIt is sad that we must have such lists. But,lest we lose track, these guys are nominating themselves for the list. Yes, there is always the possibility of error — and the innocent get killed in wars, both in error and because enemies tend to live/hide among them.
What is the alternative? Grant sanctuary to those who plot attacks on us and our troops while hiding behind women and children as human shields? Invade more and more nations? Lose more and more of our troops? And, will that actually cost fewer innocent lives?
Look, I am an ACLU/Due Process kind of guy. I think Gitmo and Military Tribunals are an affront to our Constitution. But, “the Constitution is NOT a suicide pact.” Any time the Al Qaida guys want to give themselves up — or even just stop and let us and our friends be — I am ready to call off the Hellfire missiles. Or if Pakistan does its civilized duty and stops harboring terrorists, I am willing to divert the drones.
Simple way to avoid collateral damage: Don’t harbor terrorists in your country or in your house.
What I am not willing to do — and what no Commander in Chief should be willing to do — is sacrifice the blood of American troopa or citizens by failing to protect against known enemies who are attempting to harm us.
Invading Iraq was stupid. Using targeted power to kill our enemies is a terrible but necessary duty.