Cornel West: 'Obama is a War Criminal' for Drone Strikes

[rachel1]

"Appearing on the radio on Thursday with host Tavis Smiley, professor Cornel West argued that President Barack Obama is, like Presidents George W. Bush and Richard Nixon before him, a "war criminal" uniquely responsible for the deaths of "over 200 children."*

Professor Cornel West says President Obama is a war criminal who has killed "over 200 children" in drone warfare. Is "war criminal" the correct term? We know many civilians have been killed in air strikes, but are people unwilling to accept these deaths as war crimes from the president? Cenk Uygur and Ben Mankiewicz discuss.

*Read more from Raw Story (http://s.tt/1zPL8)

[99th_Monkey]

1. Well, it's getting harder and harder to argue with Mr. West on this. ~nt

[RBInMaine]

14. Well, it's getting harder and harder to think Mr. West is a sane person.

[Chakab]

21. So you're fine with them targeting innocent

people including children and the first responders who attempt to help people who've been injured by the initial drone strike?

If it were a Republican President doing this shit, almost everybody here would be up in arms.

The whole thing is disgusting.

[99th_Monkey]

40. Cognitive Dissidence much?

Can't say I blame you. I know it's a bit unsettling to your Obama-right-or-wrong
way of looking at the world, when looking at issues like kill lists, drones, indefinite
detention and such; and it should be.

Mr. West is only the messenger, because apparently you needed one.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

2. Should have given him more inauguration tickets when he asked, Barack...(n/m)

[catbyte]

3. I am sorry, but Cornell West has grown extremely tiresome.

It's like he's blaming Obama for not focusing solely on Civil Rights or something. Obama was elected President, not Civil Rights Leader in Chief. Sheesh. If Obama had focused on that, not only would other urgent issues be neglected, but we'd be stuck with a White president for years. He has unreal expectations, irrespective of legitimate criticisms over drone policies.

[Lions_fan]

7. He's not blaming Obama for not focusing solely on Civil Rights

His compliant is that Obama has ignored Civil Rights in relation to black people.

[iandhr]

10. To quote Barack Obama.

"There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America—there's the United States of America."

He was not elected President of Black America.

He was elected President of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

[catbyte]

24. Exactly. If you are a minority, you are expected to represent "your race"

I've gotten that as a Native american and it's unfair and unrealistic.

[iandhr]

26. I don't think thats what he ment.

He said that at a Senate candidate in 2004. It means that a public official you are the leader of all Americans. No matter what their race, religion etc.

[catbyte]

28. I meant others have the expectations. Like with me, others saw me as the NA Chair

of an area-wide non-profit organization, I saw myself as the Chair.

[iandhr]

29. I see your point

[Lions_fan]

34. Those are pretty words but...

Virtually every constituency in the Democratic party has been the recipient of targeted legislation and policy except us black folk. But to give them credit they not only voted, they organized and demanded something in return for that vote. But when men like Dr. West and Mr. Smiley attempt to organize and demand something in return for our vote they get told to sit down and shut up, President Obama has to be President of all America. Imagine if gay, hispanic, labor, and other key Democratic constituency groups were told the same thing.

[goclark]

18. Don't think so ~ I'm African American

and I can't speak for every AA - however----
I was a big fan of West and his buddy Tavis Smiley but I'm with the poster that said that President Obama has not given Smiley and West enough "face time."

The enormous outpouring of African Americans to vote for OBAMA , some standing in long lines for hours, is a big indication of how much African Americans LOVE President OBAMA.

THE NAACP is a huge supporter of the President!

If they want to beat up on somebody, why don't they give Uncle Thomas a call at the Supreme Court.

[Lions_fan]

33. I don't doubt we (black folk) love President Obama

but the support and love we've shown him hasn't be returned with targeted legislation.

[goclark]

42. And what exactly is he suppose to do " for us' .... ?

Make sure we get more jobs than other races?

Make our Social Security Checks higher than other races?

Make sure that more of us are in the 1 %? That would be nice but I don't think that is his job.

Act like Herman Cain the 999 man ---- no thank you

Act like Uncle Thomas that was put on the Supreme Court because they knew they could control his every word. Recall that his wife happens to belong to the Tea Party and is White. That is OK with the Rethugs because they know that makes him their Puppet. Thomas lied on the Anita Hill, a Black Woman ( she is a friend of a friend of mine)-- LIED!


Give Donald Trump an Ali punch because he keeps calling him names -- No thank you. I believe President Obama addressed that issue beautifully with a gentle chuckle .


I think you are looking for the NAACP , The brilliant NAACP President Ben Jealous addresses those kinds of " Civil Rights" issues. However, as the initials tell us that is THE ADVANCEMENT of COLORED PEOPLE" -- the NAACP has worked long and hard for issues that affect OUR Community.

It goes without saying that Benjamin Jealous has the ear of President Obama,. It is my view that they are very close.

http://www.naacp.org/pages/benjamin-todd-jealous

The greatest thing that President Obama did for us/ African Americans was to run for President of the United States of America -- and WIN! I never believed that would happen in my Life Time. For that to happen, it says to every African American child
" Dream HIGH. study long and hard -- YOU CAN BE ANYTHING - YOU CAN BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

Ms. goclark Obama

[Lions_fan]

44. Well for one thing

When our elected representatives approach him to address the problems our communities face he can do more than tell them to "stop complaining and fight". Imagine if he told gay groups to stop complaining and fight when they brought their concerns to him. Our concerns are just as valid as other groups in the Democratic caucus. He can also stop attacking black men when he addresses us. If I wanted a "pull yourself up by the bootstraps and stop abandoning your kids" speech I would listen to a Republican. It's especially sad seeing those negative, and untrue, stereotypes re-enforced by Obama.

Secondly he can address the War on Drugs which has destroyed our community. He's smoked marijuana and snorted coke, and if he were caught under the laws he's in favor of now, he would have never had the opportunity to become POTUS. Of course he can't come with specific legislation that only benefits black people, but he can push legislation that benefits black people the most, just like immigration benefits Hispanics the most.

[goclark]

39. Agree!

CW and his sidekick TS are little children needing attention.

The brilliant and dynamic leader of the NAACP is Benjamin Jealous .

Ben Jealous is highly respected and loved by those who seek " Justice
for ALL people."

I am sure that he has the eyes and the ear of the president.

CW/TS need to back off of My President!!!

Ms.goclarkOBAMA

[babylonsister]

4. Wow, another negative Obama post from you. Your

agenda is showing.

[rachel1]

5. Being critical of drone strikes is in no away anti-Obama

[msongs]

8. you're not listening lol - bush did = BAD, obama does it = GOOD nt

[iandhr]

11. I think to think on the drone issues there is some room for nuance.

I don't see the issue completely in black and white terms.

[DeSwiss]

32. Well....

...here's some color for you.

[Buzz Clik]

13. Calling him a war criminal certainly is.

[Buzz Clik]

12. +1

[AnotherMcIntosh]

6. How can he call President Obama a war criminal?

[longship]

9. Cornel West lost me when he was cast in the Matrix.

Nt

[CheapShotArtist]

15. Cornel is nothing but a hater who is still sore from not being invited to the WH.

Not once have I heard his crazy ass say anything positive about Obama. And I remember him calling Rev. Al and Melissa Harris-Perry "sellouts". He's like the Left's equivalent of the Teabaggers.

[goclark]

19. Wow! I will have to write West a note

and express my thoughts to him.

I will put it in writing to West with a CC to Tavis that ....

Ms.goclark gets very upset when someone messes with my Rev. and Ms. H-Perry.

[iandhr]

30. +1

He also doesn't like a new generation of black leaders is making him irrelevant. People like Deval Patrick, Cory Booker, Hakeem Jeffries etc.

[02potato]

16. It's good to feel uncomfortable at times...

Be patient, the blowback is comming...

[Iwillnevergiveup]

17. The bottom line

for me is that the United States is an unacceptably violent nation and pretty much has always been.

[avebury]

25. And probably always will be. nt

[iandhr]

31. Your kidding me right?

[triplepoint]

23. What War is the Prez a Criminal of?

He's more like a terrorist, mass murderer, or habitual human rights violator. And no, I don't think our ongoing phony war on terrorism qualifies as a "war." The ICC will hopefully get involved in this. The UN is investigating the legality of the drone massacres and hopefully will produce a report. Not sure how they coordinate with the ICC. Hope something good comes out of these efforts.
.
.
Some background material on this nation's drone activity:
.
.
.

[still_one]

27. Hey Cornel you and John McCain are a match made in heaven

[SunSeeker]

35. LOL nt

[rtracey]

36. anyway you want

Phrase it anyway you want... I support the drone usage. Here is my take...it may be correct, it may be totally wrong, but if a country who "claims" they are against terrorism, who claim they will fight to prevent terrorism, does not fight the terrorists, who turn their asses away from the terrorists, who care enough about their own people to assist in stopping terrorism, well I want our children who are in the service protected.... use the drones. Hey Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria,..... you want use to stop using drones, the stop supporting terrorism. Cornel West, you have become an arrogant radical windbag....I am sorry for civilian deaths, but again if these countries who support terrorism care about their people, then stop the support of terrorism....

[davidthegnome]

38. That sort of thinking

is extremely likely to assist with creating the terrorists of tomorrow. "We're sorry we're killing innocent people with our drone strikes. Stop supporting terrorism and we'll knock it off, k?" Sorry, it doesn't work that way. The innocents killed by drone strikes are, well... innocents. They weren't supporting terror to begin with - but their sons, their daughters, their brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and friends might decide to start.

A surgical strike, to me, implies killing an enemy, only the enemy and nothing but the enemy. What we're doing with our drones is inspiring fear and terror in whole villages of people, as they (our drones) buzz overhead for days or weeks. When the killing strike finally comes, it may very well eliminate a potential, or very real threat, but it may very well also eliminate the Doctor next door, the village herbalist, or small children playing in the mud.

There needs to be a human element at play here. We should be held accountable for our actions during times of war. The question is... who is going to hold us accountable? The American public can't make up it's mind about this issue to begin with. The UN? HA. HAHA.

I wouldn't go so far as to call the President a war criminal - the unique situation we're faced with in this war on terror requires new methods. I will say though, that these methods require refinement with an immediate urgency that has so far been neglected. Every innocent we kill and name casualty is creating one or more terrorist sympathizer or terrorist of tomorrow. Eventually, it would then be amazing if everyone in these regions did NOT become terrorist or terrorist sympathizers.

[drynberg]

37. War Criminal? Wait a minute, the other presidents were also war criminals...

Doesn't this sound like a grade school kid who justifies his poor grade on a test by quoting the poor grades of some of his classmates? I am sorry, I love President Obama and this presidency is so much better than McCain or Romney, but the fact remains that killing thousands of civilians and even 3 American citizens with drones is WRONG and unconstitutional (for the Americans who have a right to a trial). It is not only morally wrong, but these killings of thousands of civilians bring us generations of future haters of our government and therefore many future insurgents. In short, it's illegal, wrong and counter-productive. It feels often as if DU is just a Democratic Party promotional site...I love my President but I love this Nation more.

[phleshdef]

41. Cornel West's very existence is a crime against the english language.

I can't say it enough times. Fuck Cornel West.

He tries way too hard to sound smarter than he is. He has a huge chip on his shoulder where Barack Obama is concerned. I believe he is driven by pure envy towards the President and also has a touch of racism towards the President for not being "black enough" for his tastes. I'd love to see Al Sharpton take West to the fucking cleaners again on his bullshit.

[goclark]

43. I'm with you ~ Rev, Al

would take West to the East!

[goclark]

45. Rev. Al could wipe the floor with West.

I would love to see that match up!