Three months have passed since I moved into the Des Moines Catholic Worker,
and I was feeling rather antsy having not yet shut down the Drone Command Center
in Des Moines. Even though I know the impossibility of shutting it down myself,
I still have hope.
I carried that hope with me to an initial one-man protest at a local musical festival in
downtown Des Moines, unsurprisingly called 80/35 (a reference to the meeting of
Interstate 80 and Interstate 35). I carried a small sign with painted words relaying
this important message, “Drones Fly, Children Die”.
The sun began careening toward the horizon as I walked by fellow festival goers.
The sign garnered a few glances and an occasional mumble.
A young guy even asked about it, so I explained to him about the use of military
armed drones. I even spotted him a copy of the Via Pacis.
The festival grounds were only a couple city blocks; soon I had covered all of the stages.
I took a seat on the curb in front of one of the smaller stages with my sign displayed,
two other Catholic Worker interns eventually joined my place on the curb.
The sun’s light had fallen behind the horizon, and a middle-aged man
and woman approached our little group after noticing the sign.
Unbeknownst to us, our following conversation would last nearly ninety minutes.
At first, the couple was only talking to me, as the other interns were
involved in a conversation with some acquaintances, but by the end
of the conversation, we were all taking turns chiming in.
The gentlemen spoke the most. He asked about the purpose of the sign,
and I told him it was to reveal the truth about the tactics of drone warfare.
The tactics include the targeting of an individual/group, killing the individual/group, and
then assessing the exploded target. This fact is taken directly from the mission statement of
the 132nd Wing, located near the Des Moines International Airport.
The gentlemen did not negate this statement, but he did negate the severity
at which drones are blamed for civilian deaths. His stance was that drones
should be used to kill the “bad guys,” even if the person killing
and I was feeling rather antsy having not yet shut down the Drone Command Center
in Des Moines. Even though I know the impossibility of shutting it down myself,
I still have hope.
I carried that hope with me to an initial one-man protest at a local musical festival in
downtown Des Moines, unsurprisingly called 80/35 (a reference to the meeting of
Interstate 80 and Interstate 35). I carried a small sign with painted words relaying
this important message, “Drones Fly, Children Die”.
The sun began careening toward the horizon as I walked by fellow festival goers.
The sign garnered a few glances and an occasional mumble.
A young guy even asked about it, so I explained to him about the use of military
armed drones. I even spotted him a copy of the Via Pacis.
The festival grounds were only a couple city blocks; soon I had covered all of the stages.
I took a seat on the curb in front of one of the smaller stages with my sign displayed,
two other Catholic Worker interns eventually joined my place on the curb.
The sun’s light had fallen behind the horizon, and a middle-aged man
and woman approached our little group after noticing the sign.
Unbeknownst to us, our following conversation would last nearly ninety minutes.
At first, the couple was only talking to me, as the other interns were
involved in a conversation with some acquaintances, but by the end
of the conversation, we were all taking turns chiming in.
The gentlemen spoke the most. He asked about the purpose of the sign,
and I told him it was to reveal the truth about the tactics of drone warfare.
The tactics include the targeting of an individual/group, killing the individual/group, and
then assessing the exploded target. This fact is taken directly from the mission statement of
the 132nd Wing, located near the Des Moines International Airport.
The gentlemen did not negate this statement, but he did negate the severity
at which drones are blamed for civilian deaths. His stance was that drones
should be used to kill the “bad guys,” even if the person killing
them is the judge, jury, and executioner. This idea seemed to stem from
American exceptionalism, i.e., the belief that the United States is above
international law and is a unique case compared to all other sovereign nations.
Be it noted, the United States is a unique nation, we do have free speech laws,
yet the only true free speech comes from those who have money.
American exceptionalism, i.e., the belief that the United States is above
international law and is a unique case compared to all other sovereign nations.
Be it noted, the United States is a unique nation, we do have free speech laws,
yet the only true free speech comes from those who have money.
I explained that drone hellfire missiles in other countries create unrest
and hatred towards the United States, creating a greater supply of people wanting
to combat the country in some manner, for example, by joining ISIS.
This creates a cycle of violence in which the United States government has complete
dominance through the use of more powerful weapons; this was the narrative
I tried to draw throughout the conversation. His response was an “us vs. them” statement:
he would rather support bombing perceived “enemies” and civilians than seek peace.
and hatred towards the United States, creating a greater supply of people wanting
to combat the country in some manner, for example, by joining ISIS.
This creates a cycle of violence in which the United States government has complete
dominance through the use of more powerful weapons; this was the narrative
I tried to draw throughout the conversation. His response was an “us vs. them” statement:
he would rather support bombing perceived “enemies” and civilians than seek peace.
Thirty minutes or so went by, and the whole truth was finally out.
The man admitted that he is a drone pilot at the Des Moines Drone Command Center.
I was astonished! We had been talking to a man who
is possibly a murderer of civilians by an eye in the sky! He later admitted to
watching a man commit suspected “terrorist activity.”
After months of watching, more like spying, he was ordered to push the
button and end the man’s life.
The man admitted that he is a drone pilot at the Des Moines Drone Command Center.
I was astonished! We had been talking to a man who
is possibly a murderer of civilians by an eye in the sky! He later admitted to
watching a man commit suspected “terrorist activity.”
After months of watching, more like spying, he was ordered to push the
button and end the man’s life.
We pleaded with him about the inaccuracy of drone missiles and the
possible miscalculations that could lead to civilian deaths, such as the infamous
bombings of numerous wedding parties. For the drone pilot
(who was also an Iraq War veteran), the violence produced by the United States
is a perfectly logical course of action to promote the United States government’s
form of peace. This logic is similar to the idea that nuclear weapons bring about
peace and balance in our small suffocating planet.
possible miscalculations that could lead to civilian deaths, such as the infamous
bombings of numerous wedding parties. For the drone pilot
(who was also an Iraq War veteran), the violence produced by the United States
is a perfectly logical course of action to promote the United States government’s
form of peace. This logic is similar to the idea that nuclear weapons bring about
peace and balance in our small suffocating planet.
There were many more points made in the hour and half conversation,
such as fellow drone pilots experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
We concluded with offering our support for him
and his partner if they ever begin to question their role in the
United States’ drone warfare. Neither of our views changed about the subject,
but hopefully we planted a seed of peace that may one day lead
to peacemaking.
such as fellow drone pilots experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
We concluded with offering our support for him
and his partner if they ever begin to question their role in the
United States’ drone warfare. Neither of our views changed about the subject,
but hopefully we planted a seed of peace that may one day lead
to peacemaking.
No comments:
Post a Comment