Black Americans who are still on the fence about the conflict in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas might experience a fierce sense of urgency with the report that three African Americans were killed in a drone attack on Sunday.
True, they were victims of an attack in either northern Jordan or Syria, but are still part of the ongoing concern about the spread of the war into neighboring countries. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the three soldiers were reservists from a Georgia-based engineer unit: Specialist Kennedy Ladon Sanders, Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, and Specialist Breonna Alexsondria Moffett. They were killed in a confusion of drones, one of which was a returning U.S. drone and the other allegedly from an Iran-backed militia.
Whatever the case, it is sure to stir emotions among Black Americans who have become increasingly disturbed by the U.S. role in the war, mainly the carnage and expenditure of resources and manpower.
As we go to press, there are only three casualties, but several others were wounded, although it is not clear if they are in critical condition. What is critical is the need for President Biden to continue to do what he can to lower the temperature of this combat. However, that may not occur until some form of retaliation is launched.
A family member of one of the victims said she hoped that the deaths would not lead to further violence, and we concur.
No further violent outrage is going to remedy the situation, and the Pentagon and the Defense Department ought to consider moving our troops farther from danger or providing them protection from assaults.
We don’t need any more reminders of the conflict there and certainly no more loss of our troops. Even so, how many more missiles, bombs, rockets, and drones are necessary to destroy Hamas? Does their infestation require the destruction of Gaza?