McClatchyDC’s review of top-secret intelligence reports reveals the CIA has used drones to kill hundreds of people “who only were suspected, associated with, or who probably belonged to militant groups.”
Read the full investigation here.
And read everything we know so far about the drone war doctrine of “signature strikes.”
Very apropos, as we’d just mentioned the dearth of available information on the U.S. drone strike program a couple hours ago — do yourself a favor and read this full story on what is perhaps America’s most controversial modern warfare tactic. Figures and insights on drones are hard to come by, so it’s truly crucial not to miss the information that does trickle out.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism just announced a new project, “Naming the Dead,” which “will seek to identify as many as possible of those killed in US covert drone strikes in Pakistan, whether civilian or militant.”
‘In the face of official secrecy, having the full facts about who is killed is essential for an informed debate about the effectiveness and ethics of the drone campaign,’ said Christopher Hird, managing editor of the Bureau.
They’re going to start with Pakistan and then move on to Yemen and Somalia. This is an important project.
The administration’s use of, and tact on drone strikes is undoubtedly one of the most controversial parts President Obama’s record. But from a journalistic standpoint, so little basic information is known about the people who’ve been killed. This seems like a good start.
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