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Pass notes No 3,187: Cameron Munter Pass notes No 3,187: Cameron Munter
(less than a minute earlier)
That is no way to talk about the prime minister. I'm not talking about the prime minister.That is no way to talk about the prime minister. I'm not talking about the prime minister.
But you just called him a munter. No, I was referring to the US ambassador to Pakistan. Whose name is Cameron Munter.But you just called him a munter. No, I was referring to the US ambassador to Pakistan. Whose name is Cameron Munter.
Oh I see. Sorry. Shall we do that age/appearance thing we always do? Go on then.Oh I see. Sorry. Shall we do that age/appearance thing we always do? Go on then.
Age: 58.Age: 58.
Appearance: A white-haired Bill Gates.Appearance: A white-haired Bill Gates.
And what's he up to? He's resigning.And what's he up to? He's resigning.
Why so? A few reasons have been touted. But the latest seems to be that he doesn't like drones.Why so? A few reasons have been touted. But the latest seems to be that he doesn't like drones.
And I bet there are a lot of those in the US state department. No, not that kind of drone.And I bet there are a lot of those in the US state department. No, not that kind of drone.
Which kind then? The killing kind. The unmanned CIA planes that are used increasingly to target terror suspects in rural Pakistan.Which kind then? The killing kind. The unmanned CIA planes that are used increasingly to target terror suspects in rural Pakistan.
What's Munter's exact beef? "He didn't realise his main job was to kill people," a colleague told the New York Times.What's Munter's exact beef? "He didn't realise his main job was to kill people," a colleague told the New York Times.
Gosh. So does he have the final say on who gets hit? Not always. Apparently it's often the president.Gosh. So does he have the final say on who gets hit? Not always. Apparently it's often the president.
Obama? Yep.Obama? Yep.
Nobel-peace-prize-winning Barack Obama? Yep. Every week he draws up the "Kill List" – a register of suspects in Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan who are to be droned in the near future.Nobel-peace-prize-winning Barack Obama? Yep. Every week he draws up the "Kill List" – a register of suspects in Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan who are to be droned in the near future.
Where does he get his intelligence? From informants on the ground, who get paid $5,000 for their troubles. Once a decision is made, the drones are guided to their targets by pilots 8,000 miles away in Utah.Where does he get his intelligence? From informants on the ground, who get paid $5,000 for their troubles. Once a decision is made, the drones are guided to their targets by pilots 8,000 miles away in Utah.
What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot. At least 174 drone victims have been children.What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot. At least 174 drone victims have been children.
Wasn't Obama supposed to stop this kind of thing? Mmm. But according to one US military adviser: "Obama has become George W Bush on steroids."Wasn't Obama supposed to stop this kind of thing? Mmm. But according to one US military adviser: "Obama has become George W Bush on steroids."
And what would be Obama's defence? Well, the CIA at one point claimed that no innocent civilians had been killed in the past year.And what would be Obama's defence? Well, the CIA at one point claimed that no innocent civilians had been killed in the past year.
How did they wangle that? They conveniently count all "military-age males in a strike zone" as combatants.How did they wangle that? They conveniently count all "military-age males in a strike zone" as combatants.
Do say: "Cameron Munter is a man of exceptional moral fibre …"Do say: "Cameron Munter is a man of exceptional moral fibre …"
Don't say: "Who, over the weekend, gave the go-ahead to three separate drone attacks in as many days."Don't say: "Who, over the weekend, gave the go-ahead to three separate drone attacks in as many days."
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