Condemning drones: Petition signed by over 3,000 Americans delivered to US Embassy
The statement said that the letter called upon US authorities to end its campaign of drone strikes in Pakistan and to bring the drone policy in compliance with US and international law. The letter has been signed by leading US authors, film directors, professors, activists and a Nobel Peace laureate.
The letter was organised by Just Foreign Policy and includes signatures of Alice Walker, Danny Glover, Tom Hayden and Patch Adams, among others.
According to the press release, the letter cited 474 to 884 civilian deaths caused by US drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004, including 176 children. It also cited the fear caused among the civilians as stated by a recent report by Standord/NYU released last week.
The US peace activists who delivered the letter are in Pakistan as part of a delegation organised by US peace organisation CodePink. The delegation will also travel to Waziristan for a peace march to meet the drone strike victims, the statement said.
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@Deepwater: "Rom Paul does not count since he couldn’t be elected dog catcher"
Clearly ROn Paul does not have a shot at the Presidency but he has been elected as a COngressman for over 30 years.
@Muhammad: Do you know the .001%? Moreover, does your yesterday's or tomorrow's newspaper report support your claim or mine?
@Cautious: Dear cautious, I must be having a senior moment. I agree with you for a change. Maybe I read your missive incorrectly.
@Deepwater: Really when did you meet these 99.9%?
Pakistan's leadership is more concerned about spending foreign aid for personal use, rather than actually fighting terrorists off. Foreign Aid received by Pakistan is a direct function of whether Americans can use drones in Pakistan. Any literate or illiterate will agree that it is the case. It is sad that this country cannot move forward to due its incompetent leadership, rampant corruption, and external agents who threaten its state. Zardari and his cronies need to enroll in an Economics Course, morons are ruining the country!!
The leaders of Pakistan are concerned about receiving foreign aid from the U.S. In public they condemn the drones, but in private they are aware that their financial assistance is contingent upon the use of such drones. Do you think Zardari really gives a crap if his people starve? Money could be invested in promoting agriculture and other industries, which will facilitate trade and attract foreign direct investment. I hope this country prospers Insha'Allah, because it saddens me to see its current state.
@antsnu g: No Sir. Mirza is not idiot. We, the Pakistani intelligentsia, are taking strong offence to the fact that the Americans who signed the petition have completely ignored that drone are the only tool that are killing the terrorists who are responsible for so much carnage and mayhem in my beloved country. No one is raising any voice in support of the innocent civilians and minorities who are suffering in the hands of these terrorists. Please do not rub salt on our wounds by raising so much hue and cry against the drone strikes. They are not evil, terrorists are. Please do not insult our intelligence.
Some of you guys are misconstruing a petition signed by some left-wing peaceniks for popular opinion. Watch the forthcoming presidential elections closely and you will see how both the candidates fall over each other in support of the drone strategy. (Rom Paul does not count since he couldn't be elected dog catcher). There is not one iota of doubt as to the efficacy of drones versus sending special ops to do the job.
If you guys are realistic, you will also acknowledge that both the Pakistani civilian leadership as well as its military are tacitly supporting the use of drones. They may protest sporadically but that is just meaningless fluff meant for your domestic consumption.
Common Liberals (Pakistan Special), call all of signatories Taliban supporters!
@Indiantroll: "Movements/groups such as occupy/anonymous/RonPaulrevolution (original tea party) *ARE VERY POPULAR, and born out of disenfranchisement with the current state of the country." The last we heard of "Occupy Wall Street" movement was that it had fizzled out. They could not repeat this year what they did just once. The less said about "Ron Paul Revolution", the better. If he had had any substantial following, why did he withdraw from the Republican race? "Tea Party" movement is as good as dead; no one talks about them any more. Come next election, it would be properly buried. In any case, the "Tea party" candidate will, if he has any hope of being elected, probably double the effort now in droning activities. So, how does that help! There are all manner of one-issue, fringe groups in American politics, but they remain so - at the fringes. People "woke up" during the Vietnam war because it was considered an unprovoked, unjust war which did not affect the common man. There is very little to stop the current Afghan war because it was provoked from that country and took 2000+ American casualties and is considered necessary because it threatened the homeland of America. If you are in fact an Indian (as your moniker suggests), I would suggest you don't fall into the same trap as Pakistanis do - mistaking wishful fantasies for reality and uttering a loud "Insha-Allah" in the hopes of making them coalesce!
Drones are the shiny new products of the American war industry.If and when America keeps them up for sale, those countries condemning them will be first in the queue to buy it.
@Deepwater: Even after the recent Stanford university report??..really?? :O
Deepwater, Many of the other 99.999% Americans, are blind, monotnous DRONES. Movements/groups such as occupy/anonymous/RonPaulrevolution (original tea party) *ARE VERY POPULAR, and born out of disenfranchisement with the current state of the country.* PEOPLE are waking up, trust me.
@Deepwater: Just because both political parties in the US are beholden to the military industrial complex does not mean 99.999% of the American public is supportive of illegal drone attacks. In fact the majority of the American public is against them.
Nice gesture -- that's the way a Democracy is suppose to work -- citizens peacefully let their leaders know what they want/don't want.
It is great to see my liberal brothers and sisters in the US are doing the right thing and criticize their own govt. Who is going to sign a letter about the mutilated bodies found in Baluchistan and more than 40,000 innocent Pakistani civilians killed by the unknown and known terrorists? Many times more civilians have been killed in Pakistan compared to the drone victims and yet there is no outrage in Pakistan against these killings by the deep state and its supported and protected terrorists. Should most of the minorities and smaller sect Muslims also join the Bloch and pursue the UN for protection?
The people behind the petition deserve great appreciation.
“Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Elie Wiesel
Aren't gonna happen. The other 99.999% Americans are fully supportive of the drones as are both major political parties.