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user-inactivated  ·  3651 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: 41 men targeted but 1,147 people killed: US drone strikes – the facts on the ground

    Because Pakistan is a friend in name only. At least, that's the probable behind-closed-doors justification.

It's also the truth, yes? Pakistan (or factions thereof) has done everything it could possibly get away with to impede us in the Middle East. Half the reason the war in Afghanistan was so difficult in the beginning; Musharraf by no means spoke for his entire government, particularly the military.

Like you say, this does not excuse killing children. It just changes the narrative a bit. We are "allies" with Pakistan on the same level that we are allies with Saudi Arabia or Turkey (sort of).

We assassinated bin Laden on Pakistani soil with barely a thought for the consequences, and we drop bombs on Pakistani citizens with (hopefully) quite a bit of thought to the morals, but not much to reprisal.