Snippets

Earlier this year, Tara McKelvey, a correspondent for Newsweek and The Daily Beast, published an article titled "Inside the Killing Machine." She blatantly exposed some of the CIA's and U.S Military's most controversial operations in the War on Terror, drone strikes. Through information obtained from the CIA's acting general counsel and one of the most influential career lawyers in CIA history, John A. Rizzo, she was able to assess direct and internal information.

Predator Drone

Essentially, there has been increasing concern regarding the dramatic increase in lethal operations conducted under the Obama Administration. (From 2004 to 2008, the Bush Administration authorized 42 Predator drone strikes. But under President Obama, those numbers have more than quadrupled to over 180 lethal drone strikes.) The reason behind the controversy does not lie solely in the numbers, but more so in the process in which these drone strikes are authorized. Many of the targets eliminated in these operations were tagged as "suspected terrorists." Rizzo described it as a "hit list." The overall process is generally straightforward yet largely unknown. The president technically does not even review the individual names on the "kill list." Once signed off, the predator drone strikes are authorized and "quickly and efficiently," the "targets are neutralized." The question is: "is this legal?" Many experts argue that it is not. Many including Tara McKelvey state the questionable nature of the legality and morality of such operations.

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Professor Nelson, an Associate Professor in the Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland, stands opposed to the drone strike operations. She asks the pressing questions, "Is the 'War On Terror' really a war?" "Is Al Qaeda more of a criminal enterprise opposed to a state?" As an expert on the International Laws of War as well as on International Treaties and Protocol, she states that she believes the "drone strikes are not legal under either theory."

Watch the interview below as she responds to the question, "Based on your expert judgement, how do you feel about the recent drone strikes authorized and carried out under the Obama Administration?"




David Forkkio, a Junior International Politics Major at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, also states his thoughts on the drone strikes. He discusses the recent drone strike killing of Al Qaeda cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki as well as the overarching morality of such operations. He emphasizes the point that the United States cannot afford to be tainted with accusations of controversial and potentially illegal lethal operations.

Listen below as he responds to the question, "As a student studying international politics, what is your stance on recent U.S drone strikes?"




All in all, the recent drone strikes under the Obama Administration have been under much scrutiny and heated debate. Many argue that the War on Terror gives the U.S every legal right to engage "high priority" and "dangerous" terrorist suspects. Others such as Professor Nelson and David Forkkio argue that such operations are wrong under any theory and that the Obama Administration needs to more carefully think through its actions. One thing we know for sure is that the War on Terror is not yet over and perhaps, nowhere near over. There are still many decisions needed to be made and who and how those decisions are made seem to be critical more than ever for the better good of the United States of America.