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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsU.S. Election Speeded Move to Codify Policy on Drones
Facing the possibility that President Obama might not win a second term, his administration accelerated work in the weeks before the election to develop explicit rules for the targeted killing of terrorists by unmanned drones, so that a new president would inherit clear standards and procedures, according to two administration officials.
The matter may have lost some urgency after Nov. 6. But with more than 300 drone strikes and some 2,500 people killed by the Central Intelligence Agency and the military since Mr. Obama first took office, the administration is still pushing to make the rules formal and resolve internal uncertainty and disagreement about exactly when lethal action is justified.
Mr. Obama and his advisers are still debating whether remote-control killing should be a measure of last resort against imminent threats to the United States, or a more flexible tool, available to help allied governments attack their enemies or to prevent militants from controlling territory.
Though publicly the administration presents a united front on the use of drones, behind the scenes there is longstanding tension. The Defense Department and the C.I.A. continue to press for greater latitude to carry out strikes; Justice Department and State Department officials, and the presidents counterterrorism adviser, John O. Brennan, have argued for restraint, officials involved in the discussions say.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/25/world/white-house-presses-for-drone-rule-book.html?hp&_r=0
undeterred
(34,658 posts)I get all confused.
loudsue
(14,087 posts)They need to quit doing this shit on the sly.
The willingness to use drones is one of the reasons I had a hard time motivating myself to vote for President Obama.
Ultimately, I had domestic policy reasons to support his re-election - so I found a way to be involved in helping to ensure his re-election that did not require me to actively campaign for him (I spent around 90 hours on voter protection).
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)Hmmm, very curious statement.
How long until that mentality is justifiable in the US?
What constitutes an "enemy of the State" and why should we care who that is in other countries?
Sounds a lot like assasins for hire.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)Better hope you like being under surveillance 24/7/365 because that's what's coming.
msongs
(67,496 posts)reusrename
(1,716 posts)That would be the "double tap" drone strikes. I think this was the real reason for the resignation of Gen. Petraeus.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1179&pid=1558
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Had enough yet, America?