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Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

We’re doing airstrikes in Yemen? This is beginning to feel like a regional war

Why doesn’t anyone ever tell me these things? I knew the United States conducted drone strikes a few years ago, including one that killed an American citizen on purpose, something that I still don’t get in legal terms. But sending in piloted aircraft is a major step. Suddenly I begin to see what several of ...

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AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images
AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP/Getty Images

Why doesn't anyone ever tell me these things? I knew the United States conducted drone strikes a few years ago, including one that killed an American citizen on purpose, something that I still don't get in legal terms.

Why doesn’t anyone ever tell me these things? I knew the United States conducted drone strikes a few years ago, including one that killed an American citizen on purpose, something that I still don’t get in legal terms.

But sending in piloted aircraft is a major step. Suddenly I begin to see what several of you have been worrying about, as the U.S. conducts military operations in, let’s see: Afghanistan. Iraq. Libya. Pakistan. Yemen. Pretty soon we may be able just to refer to it as one big old war. 

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1
Tags: Military, Yemen

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