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The Northerner

(5,040 posts)
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 02:45 PM Apr 2012

CIA seeks new authority to expand Yemen drone campaign

The CIA is seeking authority to expand its covert drone campaign in Yemen by launching strikes against terrorism suspects even when it does not know the identities of those who could be killed, U.S. officials said.

Securing permission to use these “signature strikes” would allow the agency to hit targets based solely on intelligence indicating patterns of suspicious behavior, such as imagery showing militants gathering at known al-Qaeda compounds or unloading explosives.

The practice has been a core element of the CIA’s drone program in Pakistan for several years. CIA Director David H. Petraeus has requested permission to use the tactic against the al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, which has emerged as the most pressing terrorism threat to the United States, officials said.

If approved, the change would probably accelerate a campaign of U.S. airstrikes in Yemen that is already on a record pace, with at least eight attacks in the past four months.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-seeks-new-authority-to-expand-yemen-drone-campaign/2012/04/18/gIQAsaumRT_story.html


So, more drone strikes are needed to slaughter more innocent civilians and suspects without trials?

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CIA seeks new authority to expand Yemen drone campaign (Original Post) The Northerner Apr 2012 OP
Are we really supposed to believe the CIA asks permission... KansDem Apr 2012 #1
Will any country ever be safe from our drones? sinkingfeeling Apr 2012 #2
The CIA needs more authority to do what they're already doing? gratuitous Apr 2012 #3

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
1. Are we really supposed to believe the CIA asks permission...
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 02:54 PM
Apr 2012

...to do anything it wants to do?



If you believe that, I've got a palm tree in Wisconsin to sell you!

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
3. The CIA needs more authority to do what they're already doing?
Thu Apr 19, 2012, 04:05 PM
Apr 2012

How does this not work out to a crime against humanity? No evidence necessary to send a missile into an inhabited area, just "intelligence" that "indicates" a "pattern" of "suspicious behavior." The Post helpfully provides two dubious examples: "militants" "gathering" at "known" al-Qaeda "compounds"; or unloading "explosives."

I suppose any of the defintions of words in quotes are highly classified, but really, the proles don't need to worry themselves about it.

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