US confirms American citizens killed by drones

by admin
May 21, 2013

The White House has admitted for the first time that 4 US citizens have been killed by drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen.

Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. wrote to Congressional leaders accepting US responsibility for the deaths of 4 individuals with US citizenship, but claimed 3 of these men "were not specifically targeted by the United States”.

His letter came a day ahead of an expected speech by US President Barack Obama, who according to Reuters, would lay out why the use of drone strikes was "necessary, legal and just".

Holder also noted that he wanted US counter terrorism efforts to "become more transparent to the American people and to the world", and added,

"Based on generations-old legal principles and Supreme Court decisions handed down during World War II, as well as during the current conflict, it is clear and logical that United States citizenship alone does not make such individuals immune from being targeted". 

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