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Robb (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-26-10 12:31 PMOriginal messageAdministration Says Drone Strikes Are Legal and Necessary Source: The Atlantic (blog)Last night, the State Department's legal adviser, Harold Koh, delivered a keynote address to the American Society of International Law's annual meeting in Washington. He spoke in part about the administration's use of lethal force against terrorists, specifically drone attacks, and whether this was legal under international law and the laws of armed conflict. Koh's remarks were the most consequential on this subject to date, and the ripple effects will be felt throughout the Obama administration's foreign policy for months and possibly years to come. (snip)Said Koh:"...It is the considered view of this administration...that targeting practices, including lethal operations conducted with the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), comply with all applicable law, including the laws of war....As recent events have shown, al Qaeda has not abandoned its intent to attack the United States, and indeed continues to attack us. Thus, in this ongoing armed conflict, the United States has the authority under international law, and the responsibility to its citizens, to use force, including lethal force, to defend itself, including by targeting persons such as high-level al Qaeda leaders who are planning attacks....This administration has carefully reviewed the rules governing targeting operations to ensure that these operations are conducted consistently with law of war principles..."Koh had said recently that the administration had formed a legal basis for the controversial drone program, and that soon it would be revealed. His speech last night certainly leaves a number of questions unanswered, but this is basically the unveiling of the legal policy. ...Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/03/adm... /Interesting discussion of distinction and proportionality, which are critical issues here.
OnyxCollie (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-26-10 12:48 PMResponse to Original message1. Killing people for imperialism can always be justified. Helping people, however, is a non-starter.
provis99 (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-26-10 01:09 PMResponse to Original message3. it is literally committing murder. No different than the Israeli assassination squad that took out Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. If those guys are murderers, then so are the CIA people who murder people with drones.
Robb (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-26-10 01:17 PMResponse to Reply #34. If the same missile was launched from an F-16, what then? This is the issue I'm grappling with. It's all killing. But where does murder begin?
walldude (1000+ posts) Fri Mar-26-10 03:34 PMResponse to Original message15. But it's ok.. we passed HCR. "al Qaeda has not abandoned its intent to attack the United States, and indeed continues to attack us." THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU!! THEY HAVE HALF ASSED SUICIDE BOMBERS WITH HALF BUILT BOMBS IN THEIR UNDERWEAR!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!!!!****ing pathetic.
