The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Breaking News => Topic started by: txradioguy on May 23, 2013, 03:12:36 AM
-
(http://www.suasnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Predator-Drone.jpg)
The Obama administration acknowledged Wednesday that it has killed four Americans in overseas counterterrorism operations since 2009, the first time it has publicly taken responsibility for the deaths.
Although the acknowledgment, contained in a letter from Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to Congress, does not say how the four were killed, three are known to have died in CIA drone strikes in Yemen in 2011: Anwar al-Awlaki, his 16-year-old son and Samir Khan.
The fourth — Jude Kennan Mohammad, a Florida native indicted in North Carolina in 2009 — was killed in Pakistan, where the CIA has operated a drone campaign against terrorism suspects for nearly a decade. His death was previously unreported.
Holder’s letter came the day before President Obama is due to deliver a major speech designed to fulfill a promise in his State of the Union address in January to make elements of his controversial counterterrorism policies more transparent and accountable to Congress and the American public.
Obama is also under pressure to explain how he intends to make even modest progress on other priorities that were centerpieces of a pledge he made at the beginning of his first term. At the top of that list is closing the Guantanamo Bay prison, where 103 of the 166 detainees still in custody are on a hunger strike.
The administration is planning to restart the transfer of the detainees, 86 of whom have been cleared to leave. A White House official said without elaboration that Obama “will announce a number of specific steps to advance†his goal of closing the facility.
In addition to disclosure of the four killings, Holder wrote that Obama has approved classified briefings for Congress on an overall policy document, informally called the “playbook.†The document, more than a year in the making, codifies the administration’s standards and processes for its unprecedented program of targeted killing and capture of terrorism suspects outside of war zones.
Nearly 400 drone strikes, in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, have been launched by the CIA and U.S. military forces during Obama’s presidency. Although the administration has acknowledged the existence of the drone program and outlined its justification under international and domestic law, specific operations are considered classified.
The secrecy surrounding the program — including the criteria for choosing targets — has led to widespread opposition from international law and human rights advocates and, increasingly, from Congress and the public. Although the administration has stressed the precision accuracy of drones, independent groups have charged that thousands of civilians have been unintentionally killed.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-acknowledges-killing-of-four-us-citizens-in-counterterrorism-operations/2013/05/22/7a21cf84-c31d-11e2-8c3b-0b5e9247e8ca_print.html
-
So what. These 4 assholes have thrown their lot in with the enemies of America in a time of war. **** em. They wouldn't have any problem seeing me dead because I don't follow their backwards religion so I have no problem with them being turned into chunky salsa by a Hellfire missile.
-
So what. These 4 assholes have thrown their lot in with the enemies of America in a time of war. **** em. They wouldn't have any problem seeing me dead because I don't follow their backwards religion so I have no problem with them being turned into chunky salsa by a Hellfire missile.
Agreed. While the use of drones in this country is something I don't favor at all, especially under the Zero Regime, I have no problem with drones operating elsewhere.
It's called "taking the fight to the enemy."
Now, if Barry could just admit that Islam is comprised of philosophies and directives to kill, enslave, tax, and abuse infidels, we might be okay.
-
Well, that certainly solves that complete non-mystery.
:whatever:
-
I'm not sure I captured the relevant part of the story...but it owuld appear that the 4 Americans killed weren't being surveiled for terrorist activity.
That's what caught my ear this morning when I heard the story on the news.
I agree though...if they were terrorists or training to be terrorists...they got what they deserved.
But if they weren't being watched for terror activities....
-
Yes, there is a difference between targeting US Citizens who might be terrorists in Wisconsin*, and targeting terrorists who might be US Citizens in Waziristan.
Also, it would have been perfectly OK to bomb Berlin in 1944 even if it was known that a US Citizen (traitor) was in Wilhelmstrasse at the time. Sending B-24s over Fredericksburg, Texas on the suspicion that the town of mostly German immigrants might contain Nazis, not so much.
*Not that this has ever happened...that I know of...
-
So what. These 4 assholes have thrown their lot in with the enemies of America in a time of war. **** em. They wouldn't have any problem seeing me dead because I don't follow their backwards religion so I have no problem with them being turned into chunky salsa by a Hellfire missile.
I agree. But I would love to have all the pre-Obama administration liberals (including senator Obama) who spent the Bush years whining about Gitmo, abu ghraib, and Bush's war on "terra" creating more Islamic terrorists explain their 360 degree turnaround on this. Apparently drone strikes don't do any of the things Bush was supposedly guilty of. They shouldn't be able to have this policy without justifying their complete reversal of position. I guess if there were actually a press doing their jobs instead of protecting Obama..... :maddernhell:
-
Drone strikes , truck bombs? Are both the favored means for Muslims to attack?
-
Yes, there is a difference between targeting US Citizens who might be terrorists in Wisconsin*, and targeting terrorists who might be US Citizens in Waziristan.
*Not that this has ever happened...that I know of...
Yet. Pandora's box has been opened.