Congressman Calls for More Oversight After Drone Papers Revelations
Congressman Calls for More Oversight After Drone Papers Revelations
Jenna McLaughlin
The Intercept
“The Pentagon documents obtained by The Intercept echo what the Congressional Progressive Caucus has been saying for years. America’s drone program needs transparency and oversight,” said Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., in a statement e-mailed to the Intercept.
“Extrajudicial killings via drones are highly inaccurate and result in significant civilian casualties. The drone program breeds resentment and erodes our credibility with international partners,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Holds Hearing On The State Of Civil Rights In The U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison Photo: Win McNamee/Getty ImagesThe package of stories published by The Intercept showed, for instance, that depite U.S. claims about accuracy, during one five-month period in northeastern Afghanistan, nearly 90 percent of the people killed in airstrikes were not the intended targets.
“Attempts to hide civilian casualties by naming any person within the vicinity of an airstrike an ‘enemy combatant’ is wrong,” Ellison said. “The report makes it clear: the U.S. drone program operates on highly questionable legal ground and offends our principles of justice.”
Ellison has been a vocal critic of targeted killings for years, along with other members of his progressive caucus.
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