Trump gives CIA power to launch drone strikes: report

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Hill

The CIA has reportedly been given the power by President Trump to launch drone strikes against suspected terrorists.

The new authority is a change in drone policy from the Obama administration, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday citing U.S. officials.

Under the Obama administration, the CIA used drones to find suspected terrorists. But the military then launched the strikes.

That policy lent itself to more transparency, because the Pentagon is required to publicly report most airstrikes.

-snip-

Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/323808-trump-gives-cia-power-to-launch-drone-strikes-report

[Zorro]

1. This would be a serious change in US policy if true

Allowing civilians to "execute" a traditionally military activity blurs the distinction between US Code Title 10 and Title 50 roles and responsibilities.

[joshcryer]

2. He's going for a "clean hands" approach.

Should actually appeal to the anti-drone crowd because he can claim he wasn't the one pressing the button (Obama famously signed off on every strike, making him more culpable).

Nevermind this is a potentially illegal and suspect extension of CIA powers, powers extended to an agency the Trump crowd hates.

Why would Trump give the CIA these powers if they were deep state agents against him?

[Sgent]

6. How does this interact

with the idea that someone who orders a strike must be confirmed by congress? (as all military officers are).

[groundloop]

3. SUSPECTED terrorists.

45* is certainly a prime example of 'chicken hawk'.

[tirebiter]

4. He can't brush off accountability

he's the Commander in Chief. What they do is his fault.

[Kolesar]

8. It looks like Fathead is setting up the government for more of his self righteous attacks

Even if the CIA takes responsibility and attacks effectively, the dog shit colored president is going to attack them with some Ron Paul flavored antigovernment message.

[Initech]

5. Wasn't this the plot of Captain America: The Winter Soldier?

[still_one]

7. it would be a real shame if they hit trump

[Kolesar]

9. Mar a lago

[Ilsa]

10. It's supposed to only happen in Syria.

FROM THE ARTICLE:

Snip

“There are a lot of problems with the drone program and the targeted killing program, but the CIA should be out of the business of ordering lethal strikes,” said Christopher Anders, deputy director of the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union.

He said that doesn't mean the CIA can't "have a role in assisting in the use of force in location targets."

"But that decision on whether to strike or not to strike and that order should be coming from through the military chain of command," he said.

“The CIA should be a foreign intelligence gathering and analysis organization—not a paramilitary one," he said. Snip

[lark]

11. Fuck!

What country, or who in this country is he trying to bomb out of existence and keep it quiet?

[Odoreida]

12. How does this comport with that *other* narrative ...

You know.

The one about how the CIA is conspiring against Trump.

[Blue_Tires]

13. Where are Greenwald and Scahill and all the other hardline anti-drone activists?

Oh wait they only had a problem when it was Obama...