#mr. garbo

by Mr. Garbo

Posted on February 17, 2013

MQ-1 Predator Drone

By now, people worldwide are used to seeing drones on the evening news.  Unmanned drones, like the MQ-1 Predator are the new face of warfare.  Drones do not require a pilot to be physically on board and decrease amounts of military personnel casualties.  Despite their ability to diminish allied losses of life, these machines have led to a great many deaths.  Predator drones, manufactured by General Atomics, and used by the U.S. government in operations in the Middle East, have the ability to be equipped with Hellfire missiles.  The combination of Predator drones and Hellfire missiles has been especially deadly to foreign civilians.  In fact, it has been said that drones kill 50 civilians for every one “suspected” terrorist–like American citizen Anwar al-Awlaki.

Predator drone firing Hellfire missile.

A recent poll found that 56% of Americans favor continued drone strikes against enemy combatants on foreign soil.  Those who took part in the poll favored the strikes because drones effectively kill suspected terrorists and minimize American casualties.  However, how will these Americans feel when they find out that Predator drones are headed for U.S. skies?  Well, like it or not, they’re coming.  According to an article from the L.A. Times, federal authorities are increasing their efforts to license the use of drones to local law enforcement agencies and other institutions.  Contrary to popular belief, this licensed drone use is not new; since 2007, the Federal government has issued over 1,400 licenses to police, universities, and public works departments.  Not all of the authorized drones are of the Predator type–some are even as small as model airplanes.

Most Americans are not concerned with drones spying into every aspect of their lives.  They have an “I’m not doing anything wrong, so I don’t have anything to hide” attitude.  As history has taught us, all law-abiding citizens have something to fear in a government that wishes to spy on its citizens.  In the USSR, government and citizens spies victimized many citizens who were not engaging in malfeasance.  Most Americans truly have nothing to hide.  I have nothing to hide.  If the police searched my home at this very moment, they would not discover any illegal items.  No drugs.  No explosives.  No illegal guns. However, the Fourth Amendment states:

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Simply, I will not consent to any search unless the police have a warrant. I also do not consent to being spied upon by a drone.  Why?  It’s my right to privacy.  The government (at any level) has no right to invade my privacy unless it has been duly authorized by a court of law.  This is the American way.

While many law enforcement agencies would only use this new technology to conduct surveillance on known criminals, others will not.  The authorized use of drones on domestic criminals will soon lead to spying on the general public.  According to the L.A. Times article, local agencies spend nearly $600 per hour to fly manned aircraft; they only pay $25 per hour to fly unmanned drones.  This significantly less expensive option will lead to significantly more unwarranted surveillance. 

If local government agencies begin using drones for surveillance purposes, how long will it be before they being using them for offensive purposes?  As already stated, certain drones are capable of firing missiles.  I fully expect that drones, armed with missiles, machine guns, or sniper rifles, will be used by local law enforcement agencies within the next decade.

WARNING: VIEWER DISCRETION IS STRONGLY ADVISED

THE BLOOD OF CHILDREN

by Mr. Garbo

In the past week, 20 innocent children (and seven innocent adults) were brutally murdered in Newtown, CT.  I, along with most other moral, peace-loving human beings worldwide, was disgusted.  How could anyone fathom killing innocent human beings, especially little children?  How could anyone be so sick?We also saw Barack Obama, the Marxist-Leninist who was just elected to his second term as the President of the United States, attempt to captivate the nation by putting on a charade--pretending to weep as he spoke of murdered children.

But, did Barack Obama, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, weep for this child?

...or these children

...or these children?

Has he wept for any of the estimated 200 children his drones have killed? 

Gun Owners of America President, Larry Pratt, went on CNN's Piers Morgan Show last night with the intention of defending the Second Amendment.  Although he fought valiantly in defense of out rights, he had to spend more time defending himself against brutal ad hominem attacks by his host.  Piers Morgan's behavior was absolutely unacceptable.  These type of attacks are what we can expect in the days ahead.  We have a fight on our hands!