The line to praise the Obama administration’s approval of drone strikes on American civilians overseas forms on the Left. We wouldn’t have pegged MSNBC host Touré as a fan of unmanned drone attacks, particularly as he has often criticized the War on Terror and claimed that treating people with respect was the best way to defeat Al-Qaeda. At least it was, until President Obama seemed to suggest it wasn’t.
On today’s edition of “The Cycle,” Touré argued that he was “comfortable” with Obama’s reliance on drones, declaring flatly, “Al Qaeda attacked this nation. We are attacking Al Qaeda back” and suggesting that the United States “attack them in the best way that we can.” (Mediaite has the video.) Twitter followers on the Left and Right were quick to call out Touré on what looked like a very sudden change of heart.
What on earth @toure? You have just advocated for giving our government carte blanche to kill its citizens as it sees fit.
— Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead) February 5, 2013
Dear @toure do you know how many civilians have been killed by Obama’s drone war? Or are you “comfortable w/that”?mediaite.com/tv/s-e-cupp-st…
— kirsten powers (@kirstenpowers10) February 5, 2013
@kirstenpowers10 I’ve been clear about this: I’m not comfortable with us killing innocent civilians. But Al Qaeda leaders? Very comfortable.
— Touré (@Toure) February 5, 2013
He didn’t always seem so comfortable, at least not publicly before today. Could it have something to do with the current occupant of the White House? Will “He’s the Commander in Chief” become the new “What difference does it make?”
He’s the Commander in Chief. RT @kirstenpowers10: You are fine w the White House deciding who is guilty and who should die?
— Touré (@Toure) February 5, 2013
There is no contradiction in opposing the drone killings of innocent civilians and supporting the drone killings of Al Qaeda leaders.
— Touré (@Toure) February 5, 2013
Obama as Commander in Chief is tasked with leading our war against Al Qaeda. He can & should kill AQ leaders whenever possible.
— Touré (@Toure) February 5, 2013
#Neocon RT @toure Obama as Commander in Chief is tasked w/leading our war against Al Qaeda.He can & should kill AQ leaders whenever possible
— Jon Gabriel (@ExJon) February 5, 2013
Don’t fight it, dammit. There’s a NeoCon hiding in that body of yours, @toure
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) February 6, 2013
Dick Cheney and @toure hanging out at the lodge. Smoking cigars and talking Sentinel drone strikes in the Khyber Pass. #Priceless
— Sean Agnew (@seanagnew) February 6, 2013
@exjon @toure Dr. Strangelib (Or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Drone)
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) February 5, 2013
This happened. RT @toure No. RT @mchastain81: Dear @toure. A US citizen is allowed due process no matter what they have done.
— Stevie J. West (@StevieJWest) February 6, 2013
@toure I’m confused. Do you think the Commander-in-Chief = King? Just checking. Guess u never had to think much about it at Rolling Stone.
— Kira Ayn Davis (@kiradavis422) February 6, 2013
Where was @toure‘s “he’s the commander in chief” stuff when Bush ordered waterboarding? bit.ly/XUiey2 #tcot #p2
— RB (@RBPundit) February 5, 2013
@rbpundit => @toure was calling for Bush to be tried for High Crimes for playing frat pranks on detainees to collect intel only 5 yrs ago.
— Rick(@StrokesofCandor) February 5, 2013
Toure would have made a great spokesman for the Nixon administration.
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) February 5, 2013
I guess @toure‘s belief that the official 9/11 explanation was “really fishy” hasn’t shaken his commitment to merking AQ.
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) February 6, 2013
.@toure has just proven for me that some people will say *anything* to defend Obama. Anything.
— David Freddoso (@freddoso) February 5, 2013
* * *
Update:
We wondered above if “He’s the Commander in Chief” would start making the rounds, and it looks like it’s on its way. It works for just about anything.
Dear @toure: can Obama use drones and blow up Gitmo and all the terrorists?
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) February 6, 2013
He’s the commander in chief. RT @gpollowitz Dear @toure: can Obama use drones and blow up Gitmo and all the terrorists?
— Jim J (@anthropocon) February 6, 2013
