Barack Obama promises more transparency on drones

[FleetwoodMac]

Source: The Telegraph

Mr Obama, under pressure from the left and right to allow greater scrutiny of the secret decision-making process for killing Americans overseas, vowed to work with Congress to craft a "mechanism" to be more open about how the drone war is conducted.

"What I think is absolutely true is it's not sufficient for citizens to just take my word for it that we're doing the right thing," Mr Obama said in an online video question-and-answer session sponsored by Google. Asked whether the US government could target a citizen on American soil, Mr Obama appeared to rule that out.

"There has never been a drone used on an American citizen on American soil," he said. "We respect and have a whole bunch of safeguards in terms of how we conduct counter-terrorism operations outside of the United States. The rules outside of the United States are going to be different than the rules inside the United States."

...

"That's something that I take very seriously. I'm not somebody who believes that the President has the authority to do whatever he wants or whatever she wants, whenever they want, just under the guise of counter-terrorism," Mr Obama said, insisting on the need for "checks and balances."

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9871954/Barack-Obama-promises-more-transparency-on-drones.html

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In light of the false equivalencies being banded about over the last week, I think the manner which President Obama is addressing the matter is heartening.

Foremost, there appears to be none of the cloak and daggers, misdirections and outright lies we were served with during the reign of Bush Jr.

[OnyxCollie]

1. Obama also promised to filibuster

retroactive immunity for telecoms.

Remind me. How did that turn out again?

[JoePhilly]

5. That's the best totally unrelated outrage widget you could come up with?

[OnyxCollie]

8. Please explain how it is "totally unrelated."

Barack Obama, the President of the United States,

promises

promise definition at Dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/promise?s=t

prom·ise
prom·is·ing.
noun

1. a declaration that something will or will not be done, given, etc., by one: unkept political promises.
2. an express assurance on which expectation is to be based: promises that an enemy will not win.
3. something that has the effect of an express assurance; indication of what may be expected.
4. indication of future excellence or achievement: a writer who shows promise.
5. something that is promised.

to filibuster retroactive immunity/more transparency on drone strikes.

These actions, illegal and unconstitutional on their face, demonstrate the "privileged position of business" (as Charles Lindblom referred to it) and the structural mechanisms that exist between government and business. The mass public does not govern; the mass public only gets to vote for a new executive every for years (and even that action is heteronomously decided by media corporations choosing to provide exposure to the candidates that will offer the best representation to corporate interests.) The mass public receives lip service and normative gains in return for losing constitutional protections which allow corporations to achieve an objective monetary incentive.

So, please explain how it is "totally unrelated," JoePhilly, or are you just being obtuse? (Intentional or otherwise, it would explain your unwavering, unquestioning, servile deference for those in power.)

[JoePhilly]

9. There are SO many other more timely outrages you could have selected.

How about not throwing the bankers in jail?? Far more timely and relevant.

Having to go back to before the guy was even President seems like a weak.

[OnyxCollie]

10. What a lame-ass response.

Your argument sucks; you got nothing, JoePhilly.

You're over your head. Find a different subject to peddle a pro-authoritarian viewpoint.

[JoePhilly]

11. Awe, you're hurting my feelings.

And now I have a " pro-authoritarian viewpoint".

Ouch.

[OnyxCollie]

12. Nah, you've always been a shill.

I'm just pointing it out now.

[JoePhilly]

13. More personal attacks?

How liberal of you.

[OnyxCollie]

14. Yeah, but I don't defend domestic surveillance or assassination

so I'm more liberal than you.

[JoePhilly]

16. The high and mighty, self-righteous, Presbyterian and Baptist Preachers of

my youth ... who believed they had the moral authority and the right to sit in judgement over me ... failed.

As have you.

[OnyxCollie]

17. That's funny!

Propaganda's not your thing. Try this instead:

How to Break Into Stand-up Comedy
http://comedians.about.com/od/breakingin/How_to_Break_In_to_Standup_Comedy.htm

[JoePhilly]

18. But more importantly, its also true.

[OnyxCollie]

19. Normative statements cannot be "true."

Give up the day job; the Laugh Factory wants you!

[JoePhilly]

20. My, how the self righeous like to declare what is and is not "true".

Of course being morally superior to others clearly gives them the authority to do so.

[OnyxCollie]

22. It's not a matter of declaring what is true,

it's a matter of declaring what is normative and what is not.

I see now that you were not being intentionally obtuse.

[patrice]

29. Speaking of corrupt bankers, what about grassroots U.S. support for IMF's corrupt bankers? nt

[patrice]

28. Odd how this "Constitution" bunch seems to think Obama is a KING, isn't it? He's supposed to

summarily do whatever THEY and ONLY THEY WANT him to do and summarily not do whatever they, and ONLY they, don't want him to do.


NO KINGS! and that includes a bunch of "Constitution" absolutists, claiming the PRIVILEGE to protect Disaster Capitalism with PRIVATE assault weapons markets around the world.

[Fuddnik]

2. Oh please.....

They've already used drones for surveillance in the US against US citizens. They just haven't fired any Hellfire Missiles at us....yet.

Just more bullshit.

[EastKYLiberal]

3. If enough people ask, he will deliver...

That's my President.

[840high]

4. I won't hold

my breath.

[hughee99]

6. I here he's going to start using them in the US, so americans can see what they're all about.

Nothing says "transparency" like first hand experience.

[klyon]

7. it is only a matter of time before all major cities in the US are watched

by drones. Just because Pres. Obama won't authorize it does not mean it won't happen. Other nations of the world, including China, are now making drones soon everyone will be watched every where they go. We should set an example and ground them now.

[triplepoint]

15. ...right...and I promise not to C-U-M in your mouth too!

Last edited Fri Feb 15, 2013, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)

It isn't true until it's officially denied or officially promised....Promises are made to be broken....
.
.

.
.
Just waiting for the apology...if it EVER comes. That's usually better than the broken promise....


ATTN DU Jury: Don't Drone Me Bro!
(or "Don't Drone Me Sis!&quot

[JoePhilly]

21. Spellcheck is your friend.

I mean, if you are going to make an offensive comment like that, at least spell the most important word correctly.

[OnyxCollie]

23. Since you're quick to point out errors,

why don't you cite the part of the Constitution that demonstrates the executive branch has the right to assassinate US citizens without trial?

[JoePhilly]

24. Let's ask Lincoln.

After all, he killed thousands of US citizens outside of a declared war with another country.

Or was the Confederacy another country?

[OnyxCollie]

25. Can't do it, I see. nt

[JoePhilly]

30. I considered pointing to the fact that the GOP Congress gave up its ability

to declare war and handed all authority for such decisions to the President shortly after 9/11. A power originally given to them via the Constitution.

They abdicated that authority and gave it to the President.

I mentioned Lincoln because he too was faced with American citizens who were actively plotting to break apart to US government. And he used the military means he had at his disposal to prevent that.

You ask me which part of the Constitution allows Obama do what he is doing. Congress gave that power to the President years before Obama took office, just after 9/11. Congress could take that power back, but I doubt they will.

I ask you, which part of the Constitution should have stopped Lincoln from waging an undeclared war against American citizens? Did they get trials? If not, why not?

[patrice]

26. I sure hope we get to talk about how PRIVATE weapons markets could support DISASTER CAPITALISM.

[MotherPetrie]

27. ROFL. Now pull the other leg, Mr. President.

[Enrique]

31. what drones?

officially our government does not acknowledge that there are any such attacks.

[rachel1]

32. How about prohibiting drones from slaughtering suspects and innocent civilians without trial?

They are all presumed innocent until PROVEN guilty, are they?

[Doctor_J]

33. Tee-hee

"There has never been a drone used on an American citizen on American soil,"

Well, we got that goin' for us...which is nice

[Ash_F]

34. He needs to take control of the executive back from the generals

They are running wild and need to be reigned in.

[woo me with science]

35. Transparency? I suspect this may be what he *really* means:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2008/05/invisible-drone/

http://www.newscientist.com/blog/invention/2006/10/invisible-drone.html