"To the extent these reports claim that the US has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree," White House spokesperson Jay Carney. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The comments followed the publication of reports on the US drone war by two human rights groups, and came a day before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to bring up concerns about the US tactic in talks with US President Barack Obama at the White House.
"We are reviewing these reports carefully," White House spokesperson Jay Carney said.
"To the extent these reports claim that the US has acted contrary to international law, we would strongly disagree.
"The administration has repeatedly emphasised the extraordinary care that we take to make sure counterterrorism actions are in accordance with all applicable law."
Carney also said that by deciding to use drone aircraft against terror suspects, rather than sending in troops or using other weapons, Washington was "choosing the course of action least likely to result in the loss of innocent life."
Earlier Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch unveiled reports detailing civilian casualties in a number of US operations in Pakistan and Yemen.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are jointly calling on the US Congress to fully investigate the cases the two organisations have documented as well as other potentially unlawful strikes, and to disclose any evidence of human rights violations to the public. Those responsible for unlawful killings should be appropriately disciplined or prosecuted.
The groups called on Obama to provide a full legal rationale for targeted killings in Yemen and elsewhere.
The reports by the rights group came after the UN special investigator released their own report about the US strikes last week.
COMMENTS (35)
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@Rex Minor: "The USA has the right to terrorise and carry out extra judicial killings of innocents old and young, women and children in foreign lands if the local Governments do not act? "
The USA does not have the right to carry out war crimes. Men, women, and children may die in war and whether or not their deaths constitute war crimes and what party is to blame depends on the individual circumstances.
For example, if a combatant is attacked while he holds a woman or child hostage and both are killed the war crime was committed by the combatant, not the party who killed them. On the other hand, if the women and children are some distance away from the combatant and it appears they were specifically targeted as well as the combatant that would appear to be a war crime if the action was deliberate and not a mistake.
Without specific proof, charges of war crimes must be proved by examining whether or not the attacker is systematically targeting innocents. Since statistics show drone strikes have overwhelmingly killed terrorists and not civilians then there is nothing here to back up the charge of "war crime".
That said, in the few instances cited where civilians were killed and no combatant appeared to be targeted, a general inquiry should be made to discover responsibility and circumstances, then proceed with criminal charges. Amnesty and HRC would do better to concentrate on this than throw out wild judgments first.
But do recall that it seems likely, looking at the casualty list, that when large numbers of civilians were killed in single attacks it's unlikely drones were to blame. Drones don't carry 500lb bombs that are capable of killing eighty civilians all at once. Whoever was responsible for that blunder - and we can guess, a few others - probably found blaming "drones" very convenient indeed and would not welcome a detailed investigation. And as far as I know the only attacker who has delivered 500lb bombs against targets in Pakistan since 9/11 has been Pakistan's own air force.
Look, I know Pakistanis are angry. They want to focus their anger on a target. Blaming foreigners is emotionally satisfactory. But it isn't going to solve the problem, is it? Indeed, if the U.S. stopped drone strikes tomorrow, the immediate victims of such a policy change would be Pakistanis themselves. They will either fall victim to terrorists or if they become terror sympathizers their souls will be stained:
Those Who Are Kind To The Cruel, In The End Will Be Cruel To The Kind.
Innocent American lives lost = 0. Innocent Pakistani lives lost = choose a number from 1 onwards. Doe the Americans really have a leg to stand on.......morally or otherwise ?
why don't you do this drone thingy in your country and leave us alone thank you
@suzo: It has sanction from Pak govt and army in exchange for $.
@Asfand Saleem: Drones are the most effective weapon against terrorism with least collateral damage. I hope you are not supporting Taliban for killing thousands.
Weird sense of 'law'!!
I don't think it is legal to bomb areas of any country without declaration of war.
But, I don't think US is wrong in using drones, if its alternative is doing nothing.
However, I find it strange that US never went after the source of problem in the region. It is the militarized Pakistan, that has followed run with the hare hunt with the hounds. US rewards such an army with a lot of lollies.
The true war needs to be fought by denying support this this rogue army, making it an international paraiah, while supporting the civilian govt. through international agencies to provide high level of literacy, opportunity & infrastructure in terror infested areas. This will transform Pakistan over a generation (20yrs). It will perhaps take about $100-200billion (i.e US$10billion per year). But, that's a smaller price to pay.
But, US bombs part of Pakistan and then gives lolipop to Army to keep it quite. It hasn't got anywhere in past 12 years - won't get anywhere in next 20 by this strategy.
Having said all that if USA can't do a chemotherapy, then drones are the bandage that'll give an appearance of treating cancer. Better that appearance than no fight what so ever.
In other words, what US do becomes an International Law....
Asking war criminals opinion on international law is like asking serial killer about remorse.
All those suggesting that Pakistan should take it up with UN or OIC are not aware what consequences would follow.
Issues of systematic victimization and killings of hindus, shias, christians, ahmedis, hazaras, baluch, etc. will be referred to UN also. Many shias, hazaras, ahmedis, christians and hindus have already left pakistan and have sought asylum in other countries. Pakistan's constitution and also conduct of government, political parties and importantly conduct of Chief Justice, courts and law enforcement agencies will be referred to UN by US or its allies or other countries at the urging of USA. Independence of Baluchistan will then be just weeks ahead. Even China will not stand in the way of separation of Baluchistan as it knows that keeping Baluch happy would be more important than siding with Pakistan. If the Baluch are not on its side, China cannot get access to the resources in the region or to Gwadar Port.
As far as shooting down the drones, US has made huge technological advances. Now, drones can be launched from its naval fleet. Also, highly advanced F-16 fighter planes shall be converted to drones. These are supersonic fighter jets and Pakistan's obsolete F-16's are no match for these F-16's. Yes, Pakistan may try its missiles. But any missile that misses the drones shall land in some other country and Pakistan will invite retaliation from those countries also.
The world can survive without a few dead tribals (would be suicide bombers), but the human civilization cannot survive without the great USA.
So what do you expect from him to say, Oh Yeah, we are doing it and nothing you can do about it. He will further say that let me remind you that we are the super power and your country is a subservient to the whims of the US President Obama who is a Nobel Laureate for his peaceful governance. It seems to me that Pakistanis should start from their homes and find out who was in cahoots with the Americans to kill their own citizens, let me give you a hint, start with that commando Mush, Aftab Shepao, ex- prime minister Gilani, Zardari,Kiyani, Rehamn Malik and that good for nothing defense minister. Now figure out the current collaborators, it points to Nawaz Sharif, Kiyani and interior minister Khan. This whole complaining could be settled within minutes if PAF start shooting them down and that is the question one should ask NS, the rest is all rhetoric.
@Solomon2:
Even Soloman 1 must have moved in his grave to read your comments. The USA has the right to terrorise and carry out extra judicial killings of innocents old and young, women and children in foreign lands if the local Governments do not act? War crimes is the title for such actions. America is on the hook and will face the world justice. The most serious blow to UNO set u which is responsible for the security of the world.
Rex Minor
USA is right. Actually, it is pakistan that is in violation of UN for sheltering and supporting the UN/internationally condemned terrorist organizations.
"When you’re carrying the sticks, everything that you want becomes law, and becomes justified."
@Asfand Saleem: that's not what is happening here. Under post-9/11 U.N. Security Council Resolution 1373 Pakistan has the binding sovereign obligation in international law to eliminate terror sanctuaries, terror-training camps, terror financing, etc. Failure to do so - as in North Wazirstan - means the uncontested area becomes an open battleground against terrorists under international law.
That is why America using drones to attack terrorist targets in N. Wazirstan is legal, not because America is "carrying the sticks".
Lest you think UNSCR 1373 was pushed through by the aggression of the "Big Five" the vote passing it was 15-0. While Pakistan wasn't on the Council at the time those voting in favor included China and what used to be East Pakistan and is now Bangladesh.
@Truth before self: how can you support Drones when its not your house that is being bombed?Or are you too armed with a can of beer,doritos and sitting in a comfy pub!
@ModiFied:
It is no longer Pakistan issue but that of Amnesty International report which is based on ground realities and accuses the USA administration of war crimes!!! Let us watch how Mr Obama wiggles himself out of this,? The European Union are already undertaking steps to break away from the current USA practices of human rights violations. .
Rex Minor
@Modified - Take it easy mate, why are you always burning?! Don't quite get your issue..! :0
was this 'Law' applied for 9/11 too ?
What are our next options? Taking up the issue at the UN? Taking it up at OIC?
International law is violated only if Americans are attacked.
I need to read up on the International Law which allows countries to bomb other countries. Any clue which one he's talking about?
Of course. That is what the US does. Choose the action least likely to result in the loss of innocent lives. Wait. What happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
Still pakistanis has little time to rethink how their thing/thoughts just opposite to others. what a shame. when pakistanis get proper knowledge so that they will be same page as world.
@Asfand Saleem: When you’re carrying the sticks (establishment), everything that you want becomes law in Pakistan and becomes justified.
Obviously!
@Asfand Saleem: U should know about that as it relates to Afghanistan or your own innocent civilians for that matter.
Keep everything aside .... lets talk about sharing drone technology ... Pakistan can use it to eliminate TTP.
The reason the TTP is quaking in their shoes at the drone strikes, is because it is effective in eliminating their top leadership. I wonder where these human rights organizations are when suicide bombers are decimating the people in our cities. How come they are only vocal for drone strikes?
@Truth before self:
I second you. Drone strikes is the only way to defeat TTP. Keep it up US. Gob bless America!!
if can't protect an old lady and poor wood cutters and many more innocent lives from the wrath of this stubborn US Army and its cruel officials. .then shame on us as a nation, sorry but shame on our army and civilian leadership as well! We should shoot these drones. . Iran has done so! Or if we can't, we should put up this topic in the UNO. . And ask US with sincerity to stop this, for humanity's sake! P.s we should also bring terrorists to justice and punish them hardly!
Drones do violate international law and sovereignity, and so do the uzbeks, chechans, arabs etc in tribal areas carrying out terrorist activities.
BOTH ARE WRONG AND SHOULD BE ELIMINATED
I fully support the drone attacks being conducted by USA. It has done the right thing by denying outright that it is an illegal policy. More power to the US -:)
Will Pakistan take US to international court now ? White house clarified its position even before NS meets Obama. What will Mr Sharrif say now to Obama? Nothing for sure as this meeting will be nothing more than few sweet words and a photo session.
When you're carrying the sticks, everything that you want becomes law, and becomes justified.
Obviously!