WASHINGTON: Congressman Dennis Kucinich and ten other members of the US House of Representatives have asked US President Barack Obama to explain the targeting criteria for drone strikes and the legal justification for them, without which, the drones are part of US' undeclared wars.
A letter, circulated by Democrat Kucinich, expresses concern over the use of drone technology against suspected militants by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).
In a press release, Kucinich said that “these drone strikes are conducted in the name of our national security and yet the Congress and the American people have not been provided with the legal justification for such strikes. The use of drones must be subject to the same legal constrains and oversight as any other weapon. These attacks undermine the moral values and the strategic goals of the United States. The fact that they are conducted with complete impunity and with no accountability threatens to set a dangerous precedent that could unravel the very laws and international standards the US helped to create.”
The letter, says that “as members of the Congress, we are deeply concerned about the full impact of drone strikes.” It asks the President to provide the “targeting criteria for “signature” strikes; mechanisms used by the CIA and JSOC to ensure that such killings are legal; the nature of the follow-up that is conducted when civilians are killed or injured; and the mechanisms that ensure civilian casualty numbers are collected, tracked and analysed.”
Earlier, speaking on the floor of the House, Congressman Kucinich, had said that the use of drones had taken them into an undeclared war in Pakistan. "Gore Vidal called it ‘perpetual war for perpetual peace.’ The Administration's unrestricted use of drones has taken us into undeclared wars in Pakistan, Yemen, Somali, Sudan and who knows where else, destroying not only alleged militants but making a direct hit on international law and the US Constitution.”
He also questioned the criteria which determine drone, and or air strikes, all without any retribution or explanation as to why. “Drone strikes are killing militants now identified as males of fighting age. What are the rules? Trust us. What are the legal justifications? Trust us. Haven’t 350 innocent civilians been killed? Trust us, we're told. No transparency, no accountability and until now, no Congress,” he lamented.
“The Constitution requires Congress to weigh in and demand information and legal justification for drone strikes. That is what my letter to the Administration seeks. Drone strikes absent a Constitutional basis sanctions the wholesale slaughter of innocents,” Kucinich asserted.
“One nation's drones over another nation's air space is an act of war.”
With 50 nations exploring the development of drones, a $100 billion business, we cannot permit this nation to further incite ‘perpetual war for perpetual peace."
The letter follows an article published in The New York Times earlier this week that stated that the President not just signed off on drone strikes, but also had a kill list.
The US, including President Obama have conceded conducting drone strikes in a number of countries including Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.
COMMENTS (23)
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@Masti Khan: Laugh all you want. The joke will be on you in few months and your pride will not come to your aid.
Ask your SBP governor, and finance minister who just presented the budget where the money is going to come from.
SBP governor is counting on the money from overseas PAK, and US investors and foreign banks to rescue them, and finance minister is planning to print the money to meet the 2.6 trillion rupee budget.
May Allah punish all those responsible for the bloodshed of innocent people.
@John B: LOL.. Bottomline is that war is lost in Afghanistan. That's what the only reality is and that's what it matters. reality can not be changed by drone attacks , white house briefing or Congressional Hearings. Tribals will settle their accounts themselves and perhaps they are doing it on daily basis as well. NATO must start thinking which way they are going to evacuate? Longer they stay, deeper they sink. They can deny it as Long as they have enough funds but I doubt it that they can afford it anyway and specially on Borrowed Money from China.
Just a Pakistani funded lobbyists group whose proposals is already shredded if you have read washington post. But yes it is a "feel good" news for Pakistanis, so Enjoy!! ..... :)
we should know that Mr. Putin is back in Power and he will change everything 180 degree in that area. good luck USA
Now i understand why Pakistan is approaching the IMF for loans. It has spent most of the money it has on US lobbies.
Kuicinitch and Ron Paul are the only US politicians with an intact conscience.
Drones are just the beginning. There are going to be a lot more newer weapons based on newer technologies that will have humans in the loop but very remote. It is good that the Congress is getting involved as it should and some transparent ground rules for accountability are established before it becomes impossible for anyone to get control of the newer technologies. If we are moaning about drones right now, I do not think we are going to like what is in the pipeline.
I see Senator suggestion regarding cutting down Pakistani aid every where in the world media but this will make hardly news at CNN, Fox, Yahoo, BBC and ofcourse Pakistan obsessed Indian news websites
Really amazing what our lobbyists can do when they have enough money to spend on congressmen!! Well, even minnows like Kucinich can help start a discussion.
@Mirza: @Cautious: Agree in principle. Formal declaration of war as in Iraq and in Afghanistan required Congressional approval. Obama administration will argue that drone campaign in Afg-pak is within that US and UN authorization, and his is continuing the efforts and not embarking on new one, and he may be correct.
However, within the confines of prior authorization, I don't think as a commander of armed forces he has to explain every action to congress and get prior approval of the armed tactics used. I am sure white house briefs senate intelligence committee regularly.
Finally some sanity from congress let's see if mainstream media in US debate on this and some pressure is built on Obama only time will tell
Just another drama by the USA , drones strikes in Pakistan will continue until this corrupt political party goes and the prime minister strictly asks the usa to stop or else our surface to air missile will shoot them down within seconds
Why are Pakistani's getting happy ? The USA doesn't care about what the Parliament says or the Public says or wants. Nobody has the guts to stand up and tell the truth that the TOP in Pakistan has allowed drone strikes, in fact requested them !! These guys are actually concerned about the use of Drones in the USA itself !! Happy Droning America !!
@Cautious: I agree with you 100%. Only the congress has the powers to declare war not the president. Like many other democracies the US congress is supreme. That is why congressmen like Kucinich are talking. I have always liked Kucinich but too bad he is not going to be in the next congress. Thanks and regards, Mirza
It's a legitimate question which deserves an answer. Since use of drones has the capability of starting a war perhaps Congress should pass a resolution authorizing their use in specific countries -- no doubt Congress would have little concern about use of drones in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia - but there should be some constraints placed on the President.
At last some good news for Pakistan from US Congressmen but will Obama listen to them is a million dollar question.
better late than never
@Alam, he may be joke in the eyes of others but at least he has a conscience unlike many others, especially the trolls and toadies on this forum who support drone strikes without any remorse and regard for civilian deaths. So, keep up with your Kool aid and keep dreaming and living in world of fantasy !!!
Kucinich is a joke, nobody cares about what he says.