President OBomber's drone strikes kill thousands in Pakistan

In an ever-changing global frontier a variety of war time weaponry provides a multitude of options for the U.S. government. The latest and greatest 21st century lethal toy, drones, use GPS coordinates to carry out precision missile strikes in countries far from U.S. soil in undeclared wars and off the traditional battlefield. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) concludes that “the CIA's drone campaign in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to help rescue victims or were attending funerals… at least 50 civilians were killed in follow-up strikes when they had gone to help victims.” In the past, it was the terrorists who used the barbaric tactic of killing first responders; unfortunately TBIJ says the Obama Administration has adopted a similar strategy. And unlike his predecessor, George .W Bush, Obama has amped up his covert drone war. The numbers paint a startling picture of the devastation left behind when missiles hit their human targets. According to TBIJ, the total (numbers reported by the U.S. government) drone attacks from 2004 – 2012: Total US strikes since 2004: 337 Total Obama strikes: 285 Total reported killed: 2,524-3,247 Civilians reported killed: 482-852 Children reported killed: 175 Total reported injured: 1,204-1,330 The number of drone strikes in Pakistan 2004-2012: Total US strikes: 336 Obama strikes: 284 Total reported killed: 2,532-3,251 Civilians reported killed: 475-879 Children reported killed: 175 Total reported injured: 1,204-1,332 The number of drone strikes in Yemen 2002-2012: Total US operations (all): 48-58 Total US drone strikes: 37-47 Suspected additional US operations: 116-131 Suspected additional US drone strikes: 58-67 Total reported killed (all): 339-977 Total civilians killed (all): 58-149 Children killed (all): 24-31 The number of drone strikes in Somalia 2007-2012 Total US strikes: 10-21 Total US drone strikes: 3-9 Total reported killed: 58-169 Civilians reported killed: 11-57 Children reported killed: 1-3 Conversely, former President George W. Bush used the lethal remote control drones 52 times during his eight years in the White House. Democrats and the media pummeled the Bush Administration for war mongering, capturing suspected terrorists and sending them to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation. Intelligence agencies and military brass say the swift trial by drone action is an effective tool used to “kill” targets, but the consequences of remote controlled strikes take out a number of non-combatants. In the end critics argue that this form of attack in sovereign counties outside the traditional war zone lacks Congressional approval, severely limits any intelligence gathering and creates thousands of new terrorists for decades in regions already hard to control. The New America Foundation said 71 percent of the targeted drone strikes inside Pakistan’s borders took place in North Waziristan, a known tribal region that borders Afghanistan and provides harsh terrain to hide and launch attacks on U.S./NATO troops. While Obama’s “Terror Tuesday” (previous story here) continues to add suspected terrorists to the notorious “kill list,” it’s the silence from the complicit media and Congressional members that is deafening. The escalating justice by drone program directed by Obama has other consequences. In the past 27 months, 1,000 American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. It took nine years to reach that same grim milestone under the Bush Administration. So how does the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Barack Obama, explain his “kill list” and the thousands of lives he extinguished with the swipe of his pen? Furthermore, what are the parameters the Nobel committee uses to confer “peace” status? In the end, it may be wise for the Obomber-in-chief (Obama’s nickname in high school) to read executive order 12333 that has been followed by every administration since signed by President Ronald Reagan. The executive order stipulates; “No person employed by or acting on behalf of the United States government shall engage in or conspire to engage in assassination.” Up Next- part two: Is America safe from drone attacks? Previous drone story: http://www.examiner.com/article/we-ve-been-droned-are-kill-lists-lawful-and-prudent-1 To read Nobel Peace prize winner, Obama declares war against Libya: http://www.examiner.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-winner-obama-declares-war-against-libya For more stories; http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/kimberly-dvorak © Copyright 2011 Kimberly Dvorak All Rights Reserved.