CIA drone strikes will get pass in counterterrorism ‘playbook,’ officials say

[farminator3000]

Source: Washington Post

The carve-out would allow the CIA to continue pounding al-Qaeda and Taliban targets for a year or more before the agency is forced to comply with more stringent rules spelled out in a classified document that officials have described as a counterterrorism “playbook.”

The document, which is expected to be submitted to President Obama for final approval within weeks, marks the culmination of a year-long effort by the White House to codify its counterterrorism policies and create a guide for lethal operations through Obama’s second term.

A senior U.S. official involved in drafting the document said that a few issues remain unresolved but described them as minor. The senior U.S. official said the playbook “will be done shortly.”

The adoption of a formal guide to targeted killing marks a significant — and to some uncomfortable — milestone: the institutionalization of a practice that would have seemed anathema to many before the Sept. 11 , 2001, terrorist attacks.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-drone-strikes-will-get-pass-in-counterterrorism-playbook-officials-say/2013/01/19/ca169a20-618d-11e2-9940-6fc488f3fecd_story.html

[Demeter]

1. Imagine, an Official Guide to Becoming a War Criminal

That makes it all better.

[SylviaD]

2. hear! hear! Drone strikes should be illegal and those advocating them fired. nt

[mike_c]

3. +1

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. Drones must be eliminated.

[Solly Mack]

5. "the institutionalization of a practice that would have seemed anathema to many before the Sept. 11"

Yeah, yeah. Because "911 changed everything"

Snort

[Comrade_McKenzie]

6. It is irresponsible to believe they're just launching drone attacks for the hell of it...

If you can't criticize the use of drones from a strategic military perspective, then please withhold judgment. I, for one, trust the judgment of the man I voted for to do what's right when it comes to military action.

The playbook is a significant gesture that we should be celebrating.

[Amonester]

7. As I understand it (I may be wrong), President Obama wants to make sure...

no stupid extremist criminal act should happen during his two terms (for obvious reasons), and he has his plate full with the republicans blocking every proposal to help the economy, so he will not risk making any changes to these actions (hoping no terrorist attack(s) to happen until at least the end of his second term).

Memo to all terrorists wannabe... (US citizens or not...) Don't want drones coming to a place near you? Then, don't plot to commit any criminal attacks.

[Angry Dragon]

8. You used a lot of words but it still spells garbage

killing of 'suspected terrorist' and civilians
playbook for war ....... please

[daleo]

9. People can have moral objections to actions that are effective from a strategic point of view

In fact, they often do, and for excellent reasons.

[Demeter]

12. Okay, You want to talk strategic military perspective

aside from the world's opinion and the war criminal aspect and when used domestically, the complete trashing of the Constitution and all established American law...

how about blowback? These aren't nuclear weapons; MAD won't apply. Other nations are already following the lead of these idiots securing their own drones and militarizing them.

And then fire and devastation can rain down on Americans, too.

Do unto others, and all that.

And why the hell anyone would trust anybody who thought this was a good idea is beyond reason.

[Nihil]

16. It is irresponsible to be a jingoistic supporter of American Exceptionalism ...

... and attempt to hide such behaviour behind a plea to "trust the judgement
of the man I voted for" (never mind having a username including "Comrade&quot .

If you are incapable of seeing that then just consider for one moment the effect
of any other country in the world issuing the same facile "justification" that
you have just done.

[OnyxCollie]

10. John Yoo's number is still on the speed dial. nt

[farminator3000]

13. i thought you meant the director for a second

YOO not WOO. got it.

but i will admit, i was like 'what does chow yun fat have to do with this?'

[OnyxCollie]

14. First base.

Abbottttt!!!!

[OnyxCollie]

11. Whew! What a relief that this is being done under a Democratic administration.

'Cause if this was being done under a Republican administration, it might result in stress and anxiety.

I'll sleep easy tonight.

[stultusporcos]

15. Very confused Pres Obama is still in the Democratic Party right?

This seems just so Republican....... something Cheney would cook up.

Oh wait maybe we are in a backwards parallel universe!

Maybe it will be better when I wake up in the morning.