Iraq Is Angered By U.S. Drones Patrolling Its Skies

Supporters of Pakistani cricketer turned politician Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf hold placards as they shout anti-US slogans during a protest in Islamabad on January 27, 2012, against US drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal region. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images)

The New York Times:

A month after the last American troops left Iraq, the State Department is operating a small fleet of surveillance drones here to help protect the United States Embassy and consulates, as well as American personnel. Some senior Iraqi officials expressed outrage at the program, saying the unarmed aircraft are an affront to Iraqi sovereignty.

Read the whole story at The New York Times

Comments

[wyb]

09:05 PM on 01/30/2012

The drone picture reminds me of the soaring proboscis on the flag of Constantinople. The flying C**k and B***s, is what the US is finally reduced to.

[Mochilero]

06:48 PM on 01/30/2012

Unarmed aircraft that can drop bombs on their own say so are an affront period. More war crimes.

[BacSi]

10:19 AM on 01/31/2012

Actually an unarmed aircraft is going to be dropping bombs on no one.

And even armed drones do not act with independence. People still make the decisions. Via sitting in the plane. Or via sitting behind a computer.

Its not close to being a war crime.

And suggesting so just insults true war crimes.

[Mochilero]

12:11 PM on 01/31/2012

You are not keeping up. There are articles on a website called Tomgram. Some drones are now dropping bombs without human command or programming. Whatever you want to call it, such weapons are beyond the pale.

[BacSi]

12:38 PM on 01/31/2012

"The X-47B is still years from being deployed in the field and there are no plans to send it on bombing runs even then. "

I think you may be trying to read the future as opposed to reporting on the present.

[eddy joe]

06:41 PM on 01/30/2012

Let them be outraged. Let them act like a civilized country, when they become one. True, we caused many of their problems, but it's too late to change that.

[Grichde]

06:29 PM on 01/30/2012

Talk to the Noble Peace Prize winner.

[whythismess]

06:02 PM on 01/30/2012

HUFFPOST SUPER USER
beartrack
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1 hour ago ( 4:43 PM)
I believe that the people of Iraq hate us for what Bush did to their country, their country not ours and we shouldn't have anything there other than a small embassy. The State Dept. is running a secret war for oil there.
--------------------------------------

it was bill clinton that signed a LAW MANDATING REGIME CHANGE and the INSTALLATION of a DEMOCRACY in iraq. you people are so fake. why dont you quit trying to rewrite history? bill clinton told bush and the world it was aFACT that saddam had womds when he left office. you should be blaming HIM. bush didnt invent saddams use of womds on people. i dont hear you griping about obama giving libbya to al quida. he went to war with libya on FAR less reason, in his OWN words then we did iraq. he NEVER accused gadaffy of doing anything anywhere NEAR as bad as he did saddam.

Now let me be clear -- I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He's a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him."

Senator Barack Obama (Democrat, Illinois)
Chicago, Illinois
October

[Geovan]

05:52 PM on 01/30/2012

Ms. Hillary could really take a stand here and stop the continuous encroachment of the Department of State by the Pentagon and CIA.

[beartrack]

06:29 PM on 01/30/2012

What do you mean, take a stand ? She's part of it. She now has her own private army to conduct the secret War for Oil. State creates more trouble around the world than solve it.

[Geovan]

08:22 PM on 01/31/2012

She's the figurehead of the FSA, those poor folk needed a cheer.
But, you're spot on about her true loyalties.

[jsern]

05:47 PM on 01/30/2012

Did any of you actually think that the Oil wars are over?

[MartianManHunter]

05:10 PM on 01/30/2012

US DRONES ARE WAR CRIMES! THEY MAINLY K.ILL CIVILIANS...ABOUT 60-90% K.ILLS ARE CIVILIANS. AMERICANS GET UPSET WHEN OTHER COUNTRIES K.ILL HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE BUT WHEN AMERICA K.ILLS ONE MILLION, IT IS CALLED BRINGING DEMOCRACY.

[RomeoMD25]

04:58 PM on 01/30/2012

US is war-mongering and poking countries trying to provoke a war. How would we like it if China flied drones over here?
USA=Rome 2.0

[CaliforniaCeltic]

04:53 PM on 01/30/2012

This should win our president another Noble Peace Prize....

[CaliforniaCeltic]

04:52 PM on 01/30/2012

How do we claim the War is over, yet still fly drones...? Are we going to start flying drones i other countries if we feel our Embassy may be in threat?

[Stephen Thorpe]

04:49 PM on 01/30/2012

We should be trying to build some goodwill instead of peeing them off further.

[Buellers Ferris]

04:12 PM on 01/30/2012

Obama really likes his drones, doesn't he?

[Alexey Braguine]

04:09 PM on 01/30/2012

So, the victorious American troops proudly marched out of Iraq leaving behind a country in epic shambles and one colossal jewel to crown their glorious efforts-- The American Embassy.

This jewel is the largest embassy on Planet Earth that makes Sadam's Palaces .look like hovels-

It sits on a sprawling compound formerly called The Green Zone that occupies a good chunk of the city.

The American State Department so well known for promoting democracy in all corners of the world, except in places were people are oppressed like in Saudi Arabia, or perhaps inspired by Xenophon's epic tale, The Anabasis also known as The March of The Ten Thousand has staffed this wondrous installation with the largest diplomatic mission in world history.

More . . .
http://alexeybraguine.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/stateherezade-and-the-10000-arab-nights/

[enfant terrible]

04:00 PM on 01/30/2012

Didn't Obama say Mission Accomplished in Iraq?
Obama's Jonesing For Captain Codpiece