“New
Edward Snowden leaks shed light on the details of US drone strikes in
places like Yemen and Pakistan and the tracking technologies that
helped them. They focus on a strike targeting an Al-Qaeda surgeon
that resulted in civilian casualties. The documents reviewed by the
New York Times and the Guardian deal with the March 30, 2012 attack
aimed at killing Dr. Khadim Usamah. The GCHQ newsletter, Comet News,
described Usamah as a member of the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and 'the doctor who pioneered using
surgically planted explosives.'”
“According
to the database of drone strikes maintained by the Bureau of
Investigative Journalism, the attack reportedly killed five AQAP
militants and one civilian – Mohamed Saleh al-Suna, 60 – while
injuring nine civilians, including six children. The documents also
discuss how the strike was a product of the joint program between the
US, British and Australian intelligence agencies. The Guardian
described the program, codenamed 'Overhead,' as operation based on
'satellite, radio and some phone collection of intelligence.'”
“During
2009, President Obama’s first year in office, Pakistan saw more US
more drone strikes than in the preceding four years under President
George W. Bush. The revelations have raised questions in the UK about
the country’s involvement in undeclared US wars in Yemen, Pakistan
and elsewhere.”
“While
officials insist the government broke no laws, the British public is
very much opposed to drone warfare. According to a 2014 Pew Research
Center poll, 59 percent of Britons opposed the drone strikes, while
only 33 percent approved. While polls show over 50 percent of
Americans support drone warfare, 45 US military veterans recently
called on drone operators to stand down and stop the killing
missions.”
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This is both lazy and sloppy; certainly no way for a nation to carry on business.
ReplyDeleteEven the Mafia has more couth.