In September, on national TV, I said that "I am very disturbed by this idea that whenever we see something bad in the world, we should bomb it." Last week I felt even more disturbed, when I met some of the victims of that brutal idea.
Last week, we made history, a very sad sort of history. I hosted the first Congressional briefing that featured the testimony of drone warfare victims.
A year ago, a grandmother in her sixties was picking okra from her garden in a small village in South Waziristan. Her nine-year-old granddaughter was with her. Neither one was an enemy of the United States. Neither one was a threat to any American. Neither one was any kind of militant. In fact, neither really had ever given much thought to the United States.
A U.S. military drone flew overhead. It bombed them. The grandmother screamed and died. Her body was so butchered that the villagers would not allow her own children to see it. Her granddaughter was permanently injured.
The grandmother joined the 1,000 innocent victims of American drone warfare in Pakistan. A list that includes almost 200 children. By most accounts, between 10 percent and 30 percent of drone victims are guilty of nothing but being in the wrong place, at the wrong time.
Last week, I hosted the first Congressional briefing with Pakistani drone victims. One broken family got to tell its sad story to Congress, to the world, and now to you.
The son of the victim, Rafiq ur Rehman, spoke first. He and his mother lived in a village with no public services, far from any road. He is a teacher. His mother was the village storyteller. In the eyes of the villagers, he said in elegy and in eulogy, she was the string that held the pearls on a necklace. And now she is gone.
His two children also testified. His daughter, who was with her grandmother that fateful day, spoke about her injuries. One of the children said that they used to pray for blue skies, because they were so beautiful. Now they pray for gray skies, because the drones are absent -- temporarily.
They wanted to know why the United States had killed Grandma. I didn't have an answer. But at least I could listen, and learn.
Here is where we are at: A person sits in front of a computer screen somewhere in the United States. He has never been to the target area, has never seen it from the ground, doesn't know anyone there, doesn't speak their language, isn't even familiar with the clothes that they wear. Based on what he sees on that computer screen, and whatever else he's got, he launches bombs from a drone aircraft flying in the sky 8,000 miles away. The bombs then kill people.
Does that seem like an effective means to prevent attacks on the United States? Seriously? Is it any wonder that so many innocent people die? And should it even be so easy to kill?
The CIA doesn't even admit that it is running a drone warfare program, much less accept responsibility for its innocent victims. The State Department refused to issue a visa to the lawyer for this family of victims coming to the United States, even though he had visited the United States many times before without incident. The engineers of this machinery of death report from time to time that they claim to have killed the #3 in this sinister organization, or the #7 in that other sinister organization. But they never report on the death of a grandmother in her sixties. Nor do they consider the fundamental truth that such an execution leads to more terrorism, not less.
Momina Bibi is dead. She will not be telling any more grand, poetic and lyrical stories to her fellow villagers. There is no way to bring her back to life, or even to reassemble what's left of the parts of her body. But we can stop it from happening again.
And that's what we're trying to do.
So if you have the time, please watch.
"Blessed be the peacemakers,
For they shall be called the children of God."
- Matthew 5:9
P.S. You can learn more about this topic and my other work in Congress at CongressmanWithGuts.com.
P.P.S. Please share this with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.