US Congressional briefing on drones set for November 16

US congressman Dennis Kucinich says use of US drones abroad has virtually no Congressional or judicial oversight.


Huma Imtiaz November 13, 2012

WASHINGTON: US Congressman Dennis Kucinich will hold a congressional briefing on the use of US drones abroad on Friday, November 16, 2012.

In a press release issued from his office, the Democratic member of the House of Representatives said that the drone program has "thus far been conducted with virtually no oversight from Congress or any judicial body.  Congress has a responsibility to the American people to ensure that programs being conducted in our name include at least a minimum of transparency and accountability, and are in accordance with the law."

The briefing is part of the congressman’s efforts to bring the use of the CIA operated machines under Congress and judicial oversight.

The participants in the briefing include Professor James Cavallaro, who recently authored a report on the use of US drones in Pakistan, and is the founding director of Stanford Law School’s International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic.

The presenters also include Code Pink's co-founder Medea Benjamin and Just Foreign Policy's Policy Director Bob Naiman who recently visited Pakistan to protest against drones in the march held by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to protest against drone strikes.

 

COMMENTS (3)

Cautious | 11 years ago | Reply

@Antebellum. Kucinich has been complaining about Obama circumventing the powers of Congress long before IK threw his "rock in the water". This is a classic battle between the executive branch and Congress and Kucinich has a valid point - the President should not have unlimited authority to launch attacks without the approval of Congress. It's unfortunate that Kucinich is a lame duck and this hearing won't get much attention in the USA.

Mirza | 11 years ago | Reply I love and respect US Congressman Dennis Kucinich. In fact if I have to choose one US congressman among all others I would choose him. However, Dennis Kucinich has lost his primary election bid to another candidte and is a lame congressman from a minority party in the US House. These hearings may have moral implications but would have no influence on the policy. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, thank you for serving the country and the people of Ohio too bad it had to end this way.
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