UN 'to Seek' End to CIA Drone Raids

Waseem

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A senior United Nations official is planning to call on the US to end aerial drone attacks by the Central Intelligence Agency against alleged al-Qaeda targets in Pakistan, according to the New York Times.

CIA drone operators, who do not wear the uniforms of conventional soldiers, could theoretically be considered war criminals and subject to prosecution in Pakistani courts. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)
The call is expected to come next week, a report in the US newspaper's website said on Friday.
Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said on Thursday that he will deliver a report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, arguing that the "life and death power" of drones should be executed by regular armed forces rather than intelligence agencies.

Alston's recommendations, which are expected to be delivered in a June 3 report, are not legally binding.

'Lawful combatancy'

The government of George Bush, the previous US president, issued a policy manual in 2007 which defined "murder in violation of the laws of war" as killing someone who did not meet "the requirements for lawful combatancy".

These requirements include being part of a regular army or otherwise wearing a uniform.

According to this definition of murder, CIA drone operators, who do not wear the uniforms of conventional soldiers, could theoretically be considered war criminals and subject to prosecution in Pakistani courts.

Paul Weiss, a CIA spokeswoman, said that the "agency's operations take place in a framework of both law and government oversite".

"It would be wrong to suggest the CIA is not accountable, " he said, although she refused to discuss or confirm specific activities.

By some accounts, drone attacks - which reportedly commence at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia - have increased during president Barack Obama's time in office.

The Long War Journal, a blog that uses open-source information to track US operations in the Middle East, tallied five US aerial attacks in Pakistan in 2007 and 36 in 2008.

In 2009, Obama's first year in office, aerial attacks increased 47 per cent to 53, with unmanned drones responsible for most strikes.
He argues that conventional military forces are more accountable than intelligence agencies for investigating civilian casualties.

"With the defence department you've got maybe not perfect but quite abundant accountability as demonstrated by what happens when a bombing goes wrong in Afghanistan, " Alston said.

"The whole process that follows is very open. Whereas if the CIA is doing it, by definition they are not going to answer questions, not provide any information, and not do any follow-up that we know about."

Under international law, soldiers representing conventional militaries are allowed to kill enemy troops in war zones.

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Waseem

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usman6062

MPA (400+ posts)
Well...It is totally bull shit what they are saying now.
I think k as Pakistan has already shown her interest in Drone Technology. However, they don't want to give this technology to Pakistan. That is why they are saying this now. Otherwise, why the f..k they where doing drone attacks since a decade????
Its totally crap.
 

ConcernedPakistani

MPA (400+ posts)
USA should continue drone attacks, the government in Pakistan has been told that the USA will do it and the PAksitani Government knows about it. USA can do whatever it wants in Pakistan because Pakistani ruling class doesnt care about how many Pakistani people have been killed. If Pakistani Government doesnt care why should the USA care? And PAkistani people do not care what Pakistani ruling elite does to them then why should the PAkistani government care?
 

greywolf

Councller (250+ posts)
USA should continue drone attacks, the government in Pakistan has been told that the USA will do it and the PAksitani Government knows about it. USA can do whatever it wants in Pakistan because Pakistani ruling class doesnt care about how many Pakistani people have been killed. If Pakistani Government doesnt care why should the USA care? And PAkistani people do not care what Pakistani ruling elite does to them then why should the PAkistani government care?


I am extremely sorry to inform you that predator attacks in Pakistan are backed by Pak Army and not Pakistani government. Pakistani government only endorses what army is telling zardari to ... I have heard it right from Pak Army spokesman in a video on youtube. Pak Army is only contradicting those things which will put pressure on them to do something themselves ... otherwise, they are painting tribal belt as a real dangerous zone to Americans and asking them to continue with their predators so that army won't be under a lot of pressure.
 

sshahid

Siasat.pk - Blogger
USA should continue drone attacks, the government in Pakistan has been told that the USA will do it and the PAksitani Government knows about it. USA can do whatever it wants in Pakistan because Pakistani ruling class doesnt care about how many Pakistani people have been killed. If Pakistani Government doesnt care why should the USA care? And PAkistani people do not care what Pakistani ruling elite does to them then why should the PAkistani government care?

I agree with your comments, careless awam is the root cause. However, I like to say the drones should continue but this time the targets should be our leaders. I hope some dromes miss target and drop into caravans of zardari or gilani or other crooks in Pakistan. I would not shed a tear and in fact support the US actions :)

khus kum jahan pak
 

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