[lbo-talk] Obama killing Pakistani civilians at 8 times Bush's rate

[Carrol Cox]

I know of no other way to crush insurgencies that have gained an
traction than steady mass killing. That has been the technique that
worked since the U.S. suppression of the Philippines 100 years ago.And,
remembering Falujah, it seems to have been the tactic that worked (for
now) in Iraq.It would have worked in Vietnam except for two factors: (a)
External support for Vietnam from SU and China and (b) the worldwide
anti-war movement. That second, however, only gained the momentum it did
because of other issues, primarily the Black Liberation Movement in the
U.S., which was an inspiration not only in the U.S. but elsewhere.

I don't know how ruthless the S.U. was in Aghanistan, but there it was
U.S. power operative, and a worldwide focus which probably made full use
of anti-insurgency tactics difficult.

But there is not now and never was any hesitation of U.S. from T.
Roosevelt to the present in killing as many as was necessary and not in
some way restrained by external forces.

Carrol