Washington:
The Barack Obama administration is reportedly in high-level discussions on whether to go ahead with a drone strike to kill an American citizen. The story, first carried by Associated Press on Monday, is based on information from several current and former US government officials. The officials have not revealed the identity of the man or the evidence against him but he is reported to be affiliated to the Al Qaeda and allegedly plotting attacks against fellow Americans. Officials were also quoted as saying that the man, who could possibly be targeted, is in Pakistan.
President Obama would have to authorise the lethal strike - or the kill order as it is called - against the American. That decision would depend on whether he is convinced that there is an imminent danger to US citizens from the said American and that there was no reasonable chance of capturing the Qaeda operative.
This is the first time that the US, after the President announced a shift in drone strike policy in May 2013, is considering killing one of its own citizens. President Obama had announced a shift in policy over drone attacks after much criticism over lack of transparency. He announced a gradual shift in drone operations from the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA to the Pentagon. But, the Pentagon cannot openly operate in Pakistan. The secret US Navy SEAL operation to kill Osama bin Laden was an exception, conducted without the Pakistan government being informed.
The Obama administration has to also keep in mind Pakistan's sensitivities on drone strikes on its territory. Strikes have been curbed since December 2013 in an attempt to help the Nawaz Sharif government which has begun talks with the Pakistan Taliban.
The only American citizen killed by an intended drone strike was radical preacher Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen in September 2011. Samir Khan, another US citizen was also killed in that strike, though, officials said he wasn't an intended target. Samir Khan was the head of Qaeda's English language magazine 'Inspire'.
So far, the US has admitted to the death of only four American citizens in drone strikes during the Obama regime. With Anwar-al-Awlaki being the only intended target among the four, this as-yet-unidentified American Al Qaeda member in Pakistan could only be the second US citizen to be put on the 'Kill List' during Obama's rule. What is being weighed is the legal and political ramifications in both Washington and Islamabad as well as the imminent danger to American citizens.
President Obama would have to authorise the lethal strike - or the kill order as it is called - against the American. That decision would depend on whether he is convinced that there is an imminent danger to US citizens from the said American and that there was no reasonable chance of capturing the Qaeda operative.
This is the first time that the US, after the President announced a shift in drone strike policy in May 2013, is considering killing one of its own citizens. President Obama had announced a shift in policy over drone attacks after much criticism over lack of transparency. He announced a gradual shift in drone operations from the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA to the Pentagon. But, the Pentagon cannot openly operate in Pakistan. The secret US Navy SEAL operation to kill Osama bin Laden was an exception, conducted without the Pakistan government being informed.
The Obama administration has to also keep in mind Pakistan's sensitivities on drone strikes on its territory. Strikes have been curbed since December 2013 in an attempt to help the Nawaz Sharif government which has begun talks with the Pakistan Taliban.
The only American citizen killed by an intended drone strike was radical preacher Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen in September 2011. Samir Khan, another US citizen was also killed in that strike, though, officials said he wasn't an intended target. Samir Khan was the head of Qaeda's English language magazine 'Inspire'.
So far, the US has admitted to the death of only four American citizens in drone strikes during the Obama regime. With Anwar-al-Awlaki being the only intended target among the four, this as-yet-unidentified American Al Qaeda member in Pakistan could only be the second US citizen to be put on the 'Kill List' during Obama's rule. What is being weighed is the legal and political ramifications in both Washington and Islamabad as well as the imminent danger to American citizens.
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