According to a press release, Congressman Dennis Kucinich and 25 other members of Congress have said that drone strikes "could significantly increase the risk of killing innocent civilians or those who have no relationship to a potential attack on the US, further enflaming anti-US sentiment abroad."
The letter, signed by 24 Democrats and 2 Republican members of the US House say that they want to know how the CIA operated drone strikes are authorised and executed, and what mechanisms are used by the CIA and JSOC to ensure that such killings are legal.
The letter also calls for "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.”
“The implications of the use of drones for our national security are profound. They are faceless ambassadors that cause civilian deaths, and are frequently the only direct contact with Americans that the targeted communities have. They can generate powerful and enduring anti-American sentiment,” Congressman Kucinich warned.
The press release said that the letter has been signed by John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Charles Rangel (D-NY), Fortney Pete Stark (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Lynn C. Woolsey (D-CA), Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL), Ron Paul (R-TX), James P. McGovern (D-MA), John Lewis (D-GA), George Miller (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Keith Ellison (D-MN) Walter B. Jones (R-NC), and Donna Edwards (D-MD).
Earlier in the day, results of the latest Pew poll showed that the controversial programme was widely opposed internationally, with key US allies including Britian, France, Germany, Italy and Japan opposed to the strikes.
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@KB: your media is usually slave to western opinions.
Ron Paul's name is always on the list of people objecting to unconscionable things.
U.S. has caused much grief and death with their misguided use of drone strikes. Obama considers the death of all military aged males, even if they are civilians, as enemy combatant. This is the height of immorality and he was given a Nobel Peace Prize. Next, give one to Hitler.
Good point KB. The other important thing about PEW research news is headline is:
US drone strikes opposed by women more than men: PEW
Here ET again showed a little bit dis-ingenuity ( intentional or otherwise). The headline sounded so uninteresting that I ignored the news. @ ET why can't the headline be:
US drone strikes opposed by allies: PEW
Don't mean to tell you how to do your job. I am saying so because I like you :-)
I cannot see comments from other side of the borders that clearly shows highly biased anti-Pakistan attitude of these trolls.
That's the other side of the coin. There are some sane views too. Wondering why our media would keep this news somewhere hidden whilst if it were to oppose Pakistan or on the lines of it, we would have seen this as Breaking News!
Clearly not helping, ET.