The Pentagon has dramatically revised its guidelines on the use of drone strikes, removing previous instructions that admonished troops to “ensure” civilians aren’t targeted with drones.
Instead, the instructions now simply encourage troops to “avoid targeting” them as much as possible, and cautions commanders that civilian deaths “must not be excessive” with respect to whatever military goal they have in mind.
The timing of the news is particularly unfortunate, coming just a week after a US drone strike killed three civilians, including a two-year-old child, in Afghanistan.
Officially, the US has never admitted to civilian deaths in drone strikes, and insists that reports by NGOs and other government showing hundreds if not thousands of deaths have been dismissed out of hand, with the US claiming their own highly classified records contradict the claim.
Really we didn't kill all those people. Our secret evidence proves it.
Nuremberg, 1945: "Orders are orders."
Washington, 2013: "Our highly classified records prove our innocence."
Which sounds more convincing?
The decline of American ideals and morals continues.
Coming soon domestically…..
Doubtless President Obama has approved this latest "revision." He seems utterly to be a man without a core. One day he illegally bombs Libya, the next he strikes a deal with Iran over Israel's strong objection, the next he says that it's okay to kill more innocents with drones as long as the "military goal" is achieved. This from the man who says he was elected to end wars, not start them. Talk about schizophrenic policies.
From sea to shining sea. So beautiful.
Where is my barf bag ?