I’ve been waiting for some media outlet to run a story on a seemingly ignored policy shift concerning the Predator Drone attacks in Pakistan by the CIA. I’m still waiting. So, rather than continue to wait, I decided to put this out there.

We all heard about the CIA deaths in Afghanistan on December 30, 2009, along with the Xe (Blackwater) contractors, after a Jordanian double-agent blew himself up inside a gym at a US installation — because security measures weren’t followed. But what I found most interesting about this story was the comments immediately after the attack. This was widely reported at the time. According to CNN International:

“An American intelligence official vowed Thursday (December 31, 2009) that the United States would avenge a suspected terrorist attack on a U.S. base in Afghanistan that resulted in the deaths of seven CIA officers.”

So, REVENGE is now the purpose of launching Predator Drone strikes in Pakistan? Is that supposed to be the motive of our intelligence agencies in fighting counter-terrorism? WTF?

I find it interesting that, according to my research, there were 44 Predator Drone strikes in Pakistan in 2009. And since the attack on the CIA base in Afghanistan on December 30, 2009, the CIA has launched at least 11 strikes in Pakistan. In less than one month’s time. That means that in 2009, the CIA averaged 3.6 strikes per month. If we continue the uptick in attacks that we’ve seen since December 30, the total for 2010 could well exceed 132 attacks.

All based on REVENGE.

There were well over 700 civilians killed in these Drone attacks in Pakistan in 2009. In fact, for each Al Qaeda or Taliban member killed in these Drone attacks, there were 140 civilians killed. What a high price to pay for “getting” another “high value terrorist” in Pakistan! And the government always says that they managed to kill the “Number Two” or “Number Three” leader, and it has led me to think… how many Number Two or Number Three leaders of Al Qaeda or the Taliban can there possibly be? WTF?

The other disturbing thing that hasn’t been talked about much, other than Jeremy Scahill who does a phenomenal job reporting on Xe (Blackwater) and their nefarious role in the wars of the past decade, is the fact that CNN International also reported on December 30, 2009:

“Two of those killed were contractors with private security firm Xe, formerly known as Blackwater, a former intelligence official told CNN. The CIA considers contractors to be officers.”

So, not only are these growing numbers of civilians dying in Pakistan out of revenge for the deaths of CIA officers, but also for the deaths of the mercenaries Erik Prince sent to work with the CIA. WTF???

I know there are many stories in the news these days, and there are some that need to be discussed. But there are also “news” stories that are as insipid as the marriage and treatment of sexual addiction of Tiger Woods. But this story, which deserved close scrutiny, not to mention some explanation by Leon Panetta, flies under the radar.

But this is just My Three Cents…

Oh, those Dems in Congress! When will they learn?

The botched election in Massachusetts has their aggregate panties in a wad, and they are behaving as if they aren’t still in the majority! If you listened to the MSM, you’d think the Republics had just won the majority. If you listened to the Republics, you’d think the Republics had just won the majority. If you listened to the Dems, you’d think the Republics had just won the majority. But far be it from me to cast some common sense or reality into this collective delusion, but this is simply ridiculous.

Apparently, they are so afraid of the filibuster that it has legislatively neutered them. Big mistake. They have many options that they are currently choosing not to use. Here are some suggestions:

1. Go ahead and let the Republics filibuster! Give them the rope and let them go. Let the American people see them for what they are — The Grand Obstructionist Party. Let them live with that. Force them to read pages from the phone book. Bring out the cots and make them stay in the well of the Senate. And while they are making fools of themselves on CSPAN, hold press conferences telling the American people exactly what they are trying to block. Let them chase their tails until they tire of their silly game, and then… get on with the legislative business at hand.

2. Remind them about the “nuclear option” that the Republic Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist threatened to use in 2005 when the Dems were filibustering Bush’s judicial appointments. It could be done again, and it would put an end to the filibuster for the remainder of THIS legislative session, and it could be done with a simple majority in the Senate. That would put an end to the temper tantrums being thrown daily by those sore losers on the right. But, once done, it could result in a Pandora’s Box situation when the Republics take control of the Senate again. But it’s an option that could work.

3. Focus on the Populist message that would be a welcome change to what we’ve seen so far from the Dems in Washington. There are many issues that need to be addressed immediately, and the Dems would be foolish to relinquish the position to the Republics, who are running on a faux populist agenda right now, hijacking the Tea Baggers and co-opting their recent popularity among independent voters. It’s an opportunity that Obama has seen, and seems to be acting upon. But talk without action is meaningless. And since it’s up to Congress to DO things, they would be wise to follow that path and enact meaningful legislation that will help everyday people in this country in a real way.

I hold out little hope that things will move in this direction, but it would be a start. If they don’t get their collective shit together, they will continue to splinter and lose support and will be eviscerated in the 2010 election in November. And if that happens… Gawd help us all.

I am Quannah, a long-time commenter on the AlterNet Message Boards.

I admit this is my first attempt at real blogging, so I beg for your patience!

Thanks for reading, if you should choose to do so.

Please check out the blogs I write in “Soapbox” under the title, My Three Cents.

Until later…