CIA to be given "free hand" in Pakistan

[Cain]

Who would have thought, a way of waging war that has little in the way of political constraints and repurcussions, leads to an escalation of conflict?

Historically speaking, there's never been any real problem with letting the CIA run wild or anything.

They're professionals.

True.  Deniable operations are another way to reduce political repurcussions of wars, after all.

But usually, the drug-dealing, arms shipments and get out of jail free cards caused problems down the line.  Now...now they can just send in the killer robots.  So it's an even lower threshold than before.

[LMNO]

Sadly, the 2012 elections proved that the AMERICAN™ people don't care about drone strikes.  Obama probably feels he can get away with it without any repercussions.

Was there an Anti-Drone candidate?

Even better, IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED AT ALL, BY ANYONE.

[Cain]

No, the White House did discuss it actually.

In the final days, it was leaked that the administration would draw up rules for drone use...to prevent Romney from "abusing" it.

[Pergamos]

No, the White House did discuss it actually.

In the final days, it was leaked that the administration would draw up rules for drone use...to prevent Romney from "abusing" it.

I'm kind of curious what they had planned to rule out.

Shooting children that are American citizens seems like about as extreme as you are going to get.

Maybe no using them to round up domestic protestors on US soil?

[Cain]

I don't believe that the White House actually seriously planned anything.

I believe the leak was intentional, and meant to be used as a not too subtle reminder that Romney would be even worse than Obama (as if that excuses the latter's excesses).

[LMNO]

Considering Obama's killed more people than Bush, is that even possible?

[Cain]

Theoretically, sure.

Most obvious scenario: Israel, emboldened by a Romney victory, engages in military provocation against Iran.  Russia, seeking to protect it's pipeline monopoly on Europe, backs the Iranian regime with easy credit, arms sales, mercenaries and military advisors.  President Romney declares our "number one geopolitical foe" is seeking the destruction of the Israeli state.  Things escalate and a flustered Romney, surrounded by incompetents, orders the use of drones against Iranian and Russian targets.