To: President Donald Trump
President Obama: reject "Signature" drone strikes
Dear President Obama,
We were greatly concerned to hear recently of suggested drone strikes that would be called
"Signature" drone strikes.
We understand these to mean strikes that might be authorized by the president against a position
where there need not be any clearly identified enemy persons present. The only condition
required would be the allegation of what is termed suspicious activity.
We believe instead that what is called for in such cases is more intensive surveillance,
not full-scale lethal attack. To attack without clear cause, without clear justification as
self defense, is simply murder of persons unknown.
Thanks very much.
Why is this important?
The U.S. government has been increasingly carrying out drone strikes in countries with which America is not at war. The Washington Post reported that the CIA had asked for authority to expand its drone strike campaign in Yemen by launching strikes even when it does not know the identities of those who could be killed. Such "signature strikes" allow the CIA to hit targets based solely on intelligence indicating patterns of
"suspicious behavior." These "signature strikes" have allegedly gone on in Pakistan for years now.