1. Operation cyclone: This was part of the cold war, both countries fought proxy wars across the world. The Soviet Union actively aided anti-american forces in other parts of the world.

2. Sure, everybody detests improper detentions (and killing, but I haven't seen much evidence). If a country is fighting home-grown terrorism with a religious flavor, it is likely that a few people from that particular religion will get illegally arrested. Now as rational people, the important point is whether this is happening at some scale and whether this is a statistically significant number. But it will never be zero.

The problem with the most common breed of terrorism is that it is entirely religiously motivated. Left to themselves, tyranny of the majority will soon ensue in those countries. Sure you could just let them take over and leave the problem to future generations, but the bigger argument for intervention is that democratic countries should stand up for the rights of people living in countries where extremism is an active part of everyday politics.

> The problem with the most common breed of terrorism is that it is entirely religiously motivated.

What's the religion supposed to be? Destruction of the USA? Do you think that terrorists target USA because it's written in their sacred books?

"Left to themselves, tyranny of the majority will soon ensue in those countries. Left to themselves, tyranny of the majority will soon ensue in those countries. Sure you could just let them take over and leave the problem to future generations"

There are many many countries with such regimes, and the majority of them is left to theirselves. Middle east countries are picked because they serve the political agenda.

Seriously, do you think that countries like Syria are the lucky ones which has been chosen to be "saved"?

And do you think that bombing a country will improve the situation? Hint: it won't.

And killed. Taken together, I would be hesitant to call it a few.

>Now as rational people, the important point is whether this is happening at some scale and whether this is a statistically significant number. But it will never be zero.

This is nauseating. It never ceases to amaze me how cavalier people have become about other people's lives. If we are going to be so confident that we are just, then we should start by looking at the root cause. These dim-witted platitudes about pure religious fervor and hating us for our freedom are ridiculous. The fact that a sitting president could conduct a war over such pablum and not be roundly ostercized and impeached is testament to how little we seem to invest in determining what's really happening and whose interests are being served in our name.

Then, when the next generation of drone-terrorized and, hence, militarized individuals takes up arms against us, we will all sit back in shock and discuss how barbaric they are and how they also hate our innoncent, peace-loving populace for our freedom.

Of course, that will justify the next round of rationalized illegal detentions and collateral damage.

When you buy into this thinking, you become complicit. It is no longer being done in your name. It is being done at your behest. And, you don't even know why.

Except that they do realize that (US government and military are not stupid). Everything is right on track on their book.

War on terror correlates directly to political climate for authoritarian policy Side effect of war on terror correlates directly to produce more terror More terror correlates directly to more war on terror

It's a positive feedback. They are aware.

Neither terrorists nor military leaders have anything to lose.

The ones who actually lose are those who have no say in the matter: civilians and cannon fodder.

At first it may be like, "Screw those bastards for killing us! Let's try to get them back!" but then after watching basically everyone I know who is a part of this group I joined get killed without us really accomplishing anything, I'd probably think more along the lines of, "Yeah, I don't want to do this anymore."

What if you felt that you might be killed irrespective of whether you joined the club? Further, what if you believed that joining the club was your only hope (no matter how slim) of preventing yourself and others from being killed?

When did that happen? If anything, it is the opposite.

Is there proof that terrorist organization leaders are operating in those countries unchecked?

The reality is Pakistan or Yemen does not want terrorist on their ground more than me and you. They want them gone too. But the so called drone strikes and random killings make people angry, so there is a grass root support for terrorist organisations (at least in certain part of these countries). We are in a vicious cycle here and drones don't help.

I dont know about Yemen but some of the Pakistani terrorist camps are actively supported by the Pakistan military.