"Despite our first preference for detention and prosecution of terrorists -- that's our first preference -- sometimes, lethal action is necessary in order to protect US lives," says Kerry. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
"Despite our first preference for detention and prosecution of terrorists -- that's our first preference -- sometimes, lethal action is necessary in order to protect US lives," the top US diplomat told reporters alongside his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle.
"Our actions are legal. We were attacked on 9/11. Within a week, the United States Congress overwhelmingly authorised the use of force," Kerry said. "Under domestic law and international law, the United States is at war with al Qaeda and the Taliban and their associated forces."
Kerry's comments took up arguments articulated by President Barack Obama, who on May 23 laid out new guidelines for drone strikes while mounting a firm defense of the covert drone war as legal.
The guidelines state that drone strikes can only be used to prevent imminent attacks and when the capture of a suspect is not feasible, and if there is a "near certainty" that civilians will not be killed.
On Wednesday, a US drone strike killed the deputy chief of the Pakistani Taliban in the country's lawless tribal northwest, officials said, dealing a major blow to the militant network.
Waliur Rehman, the number two in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, died along with at least five others when an unmanned US drone fired two missiles on a house in North Waziristan district.
The White House has not confirmed the killing, but on Friday Pakistan's incoming prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, condemned the strike.
COMMENTS (41)
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@numbersnumbers:
are you dumb by nature or pretend to be dumb? read Wikipedia, its contents are base on peoples input and can be corrected if some knowledgable one advises them. You reckon that the knowledgable has the time for this noble task without any monitary compensation?
Rex Minor
@ashar: You say that "Wikipedia is not an authentic source of information"!!!! That's funny, considering the number of people who use and contribute to it every day!!! Give us credible references to support your belief that the "Zionist Protocols" are real!!!
@ashar: My understanding was that on an electronic forum, people post their points of view in a debate. That's what you are doing, too. Why my doing so is not proper? At least I am posting my full name and my location information. You are not even doing that. Of course, al-Qaeda thugs are the bacteria that could destroy civilizations. That's why we took these bacteria seriously and neutralized the head bacterium, Osama bin Laden. Why do I have to leave my home and go to another country to call them what they are: the bacteria? Oh, I see you do specialize in conspiracy theories. You are saying that I am not a Muslim but probably a Hindu, a Jew or a Christian -- of course, I would proudly say so, If that was the case, but it's not the case; I am a Muslim and I proudly say that, too. Are you saying that to be a Muslim one must not call bacteria, bacteria? Is that a new sect that came out of the caves and mountains of Afghanistan? Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@numbersnumbers: Wikipedia is not an authentic source of information. Jews of US and Europe are Khazars not real jews, please see Arthur Koesler's Thirteenth Tribe.
@Siddique Malik:
You are sitting in USA and advocating her actions, is this way to debate or you do it like that always. Calling the Al Qaida a bacteria, can you call them the same sitting in other country. USA uses men from all over the world for her vested interest, wages wars to control oil supplies and curb the development of a system of government that can challenge her authority, nurture people like you to talk with her tongue under a Muslim name.
@k. Salim Jahangir: That's true. America did make the mistake of dealing with the dangerous bacteria. Meanwhile, do remind these jihadis that they once lived on the U.S. handouts. The U.S economy goes through ups and downs. That's how free-market system works. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@ashar: You ask people to the "Zionist Protocols" in your comment, but if you had bothered to look them up on Wikipedia you would have found out that they were a fraudulent creation!!!
@Saddique Malik.......To refresh your memory...OBL was trained by CIA & you may also like to see photographs of US President entertaining Afghan jihadis(now called terrorists by the US) in Washington DC.The only sufferer in this scuffle is Pakistan. @Inssan.........Keep Dollars with you because US economy is in shambles & shortly you would be needing it.Christians & Hindus do not pay Zakat,but,Muslims.OVER & OUT.
@Insaan: You have a very good point But are the Talibans terrorist? Who are they terrorising? Thy are fighting a war within their own means which has been imposed on them!
Peace requires a dialogue, from Afghanistan to Iraq, to Syria to Egypt and the Gulf countries, the absence of a dialogue is unnecessarily causing pain and sufferings for the innocents. No one knows better than the Europeans because of the 30 years war and the Ameericans war on Indian tribes and black slaves and later the yanki versus the southerner.
Rex Minor
@ashar: I don't what you are talking about, my dear "friend," when you mention "Zionist protocols." But why are you afraid of a debate? Normal people reach a solution/resolution/clarity through debates. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@Siddique Malik: A country whose large, well-equipped army cannot eradicate a handful of terrorists loose all claims to sovereignty and becomes the world’s collective problem.
Not only that Pakistan uses "terrorism" as a tool of foreign policy. Pakistan has been terrorizing Kashmiris and Afghans for a long time. Pakistan trained talibans to control Afghanistan in the name of making Afghanistan a pure Islamic country. There are good and bad talibans. Good talibans have to do bad things to confuse people. Pakistan wants to use bad talibans too. Pakistan is not seriously interested in controlling terrorism. Terrorism has brought billions of dollars as free Zakat to Pakistan. This war is about money. Main looser in this war are American taxpayers.
@Siddique Malik: @k. Salim Jahangir:
Friends, please dont debate with each other, read the Zionist protocols.
@k. Salim Jahangir: It is too late for you to wonder whom to trust, because, looks like you have already trusted al-Qaeda, whom you apparently find "honest and correct." The snake's head will get crushed. America is a not a country of quitters. As I said, stay tuned.
@Siddique Malik......Please keep in touch & let us know when head of the snake is smashed?As of today we are receiving mixed signals from the US Administration........never honest & correct ? Wait,they(Al Qaeda) have the same claim.....whom should we believe?
@Khan: "What International law allows US to barge into any country and that means if we feel terrorists are coming from India we can do the same? What a stupid logic that is?" No international law is needed to allow a victim to chase his predator back into his lair and kill him. That is called the Natural Law. As far as India is concerned, you have tried it four times and got the answer. It is not going to be any different the fifth time.
@pakistani: " How can you justify that this is the best form of attack against the terrorists?" Well, if it isn't why doesn't Pakistan demonstrate a better form of attack by taking care of all terrorists without even one collateral damage?
sometimes, lethal action is necessary in order to protect US lives!! What about 'lives' here at Pakistan?
Here they are. Friends not, Masters.
This is a clear message. Either you do it and if not then we will do it. JK has clearly given his version. Now it depends upon us and all our leadership to come out with clear policy so that the nation knows what is going on behind the curtains. Either disown those areas where drones regularly visit or do what is required to defend our Territory. .
I support the drone policy of USA against Talibans. A man who killed thousands of innocent Pakistani citizen deserved anhilation by any means. Well done Drone. There are more that deserve similar end.
It is not that his kids are dying in collateral damage.
@Sexton Blake: "One day I expect to hear a US spokesperson say something intelligent. What the US is doing is not legal"
To deal with Pakistan, US should use non-State actors. You can buy Pakistani human drones (suicide bombers) for lot less money.
@Ali (Texas): He was a press man taking photos in Vietnam, wanted to be the President of the country, now he is happy to serve the afro-american President. He is happy to get away from home. .
Rex Minor
@k. Salim Jahangir: The snake is not dead until its head is crushed. Yes, al-Qaeda's back is broken; but now, we are working on its head. Stay tuned. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Well IK, you heard loud n clear US Secretary of State response, any suggestions? Isn't about time to explain the nation How come Taliban (its leadership) controlled n run by imported nationalities, fed weapons from foreign investors than Why its called Pakistani Taliban (TTP)?
For Godsake, if you kill one innocent, you actually giving birth to thousand against this barbaric act..the only solutions would be a peaceful dialogue and negotations. This brutality will take us no where
Dear Mr. Kerry, One day I expect to hear a US spokesperson say something intelligent. What the US is doing is not legal. To my knowledge no citizen from Pakistan or Afghanistan was involved in 9i/11 so to use it as an excuse to attack and kill people in those countries is unlawful, and to routinely kill children is a hideous crime. What you are doing is a war crime under Nuremberg Trial Precedents, and as a result of US judgements in the 1940s is punishable by legal execution.
We are the victims says Kerry; the talibans, the PTI and the military!. Let us pray for all of them, poor souls.
Rex Minor
@Khan: A country whose large, well-equipped army cannot eradicate a handful of terrorists loose all claims to sovereignty and becomes the world's collective problem. That's why US drones strike at terrorists in Pakistan. That's why we sent our people to take out Osama bin-Laden. It's very simple, dear. India, on the other hand, has a very good record in neutralizing terrorists. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@Ali (Texas): You are completed uninformed. If you multiply Kerry's annual salary with 100, the number you would come up with would a be a fraction of his personal wealth -- which, by the way, he did not collect the way most Pakistani politicians and generals did. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
@Ali (Texas): "John Kerry doesn’t have a choice…pay me the same salary as he gets and i will defend that too !"
Kerry is independently wealthy. His wife is the heiress of Heinz Ketchup. HE is definitely not dependent on the Senate salary for his livelihood.
He is also a war veteran and has served in the Senate with distinction for decades.
John Kerry doesn't have a choice...pay me the same salary as he gets and i will defend that too !
This is with reference to the recent drone strike in which the Taliban gangster Waliur Rehman was taken out by us. Looks like my tax dollars did something good for the people of Pakistan, instead of fattening personal bank accounts of Pakistani politicians and generals under the guise of aid to Pakistan. Keep up the good work, America; but be very careful when innocent civilians are also in the picture. Siddique Malik, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
For 3000 innocent civilians killed in 9/11, you have killed 10s of thousands of innocent civilains in Pakistan and Afghanistan. You have no right to do that. Out of every 10 drone strikes only 1 is successful. How can you justify that this is the best form of attack against the terrorists?
dear Kerry with all respect. We don't want the drone attack whether for good or bad Let us give peace a chance
Simple conclusion. Either you tame your non-state actors yourself, else Americans will have to do it.
We can fully understand that the US is at war with Taliban and their associates. However, we are in love with these people despite losing our 60 thousand people to their terrorist actions. When the US kills any high value terrorist we feel the pain and instead of happiness we are saddened and protest vehemently. How one wishes that we had a small army that would protect us like most other countries. The poor victims of Taliban and the families of those murdered are thankful to the drones who are putting the fear of God in Taliban’s hearts. They only understand the language of drones and that is what we all need. John is a real friend of Paksitani people and we appreciate that.
Killing some other country's people, in their own country, in the name of your war isn't collateral damage! Its called TERRORISM.
The political and army leadership in land of pure should stop issuing hollow statements and take practical steps to defeat the Taliban terrorists. Unless they do there is every justification for the USA to continue with the drone strikes.