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In Next Debate, Let's Get a Question on Drones

During the last two presidential debates, the foreign policy discussion—what little there has been—has largely centered around the murder of four members of the US embassy staff in Benghazi. But while these four deaths were certainly grievous, the killing of hundreds of civilians in Pakistan from US drone strikes has so far been ignored—and that's outrageous.

But we may be able to change that. Next Monday, October 22, President Obama and Mitt Romney will face off in the final debate before election day—and the entire debate will be dedicated to foreign policy issues. Drones deserve a place in the discussion.

Tell moderator Bob Schieffer to ask a question on drones during Monday's presidential debate on foreign policy.

Subject:

Your Letter:

I'm writing to urge you to ask a question on drones—and to press the candidates on concerns that have been raised about drones—during the foreign policy presidential debate scheduled for Monday, October 22.

In the last four years, the use of unmanned drones to engage in so-called “targeted killing” has escalated dramatically. In Pakistan alone, US drone strikes have increased five fold during the Obama administration, according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which tracks US drone strikes. [1] Drone campaigns have also expanded in other countries, such as Yemen and Somalia, and recent reports suggest that the administration is considering further expanding the CIA drone fleet and using drones to hunt down the terrorists involved in last month's Benghazi attack. [2] [3]

Civilian casualties continues to be a serious concern for US drone policy. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported that the Obama administration is counting every “military-aged male” killed by a U.S. drone strike as a “militant.” [4] And last month, a report by Stanford and NYU researchers uncovered disturbing evidence that the US has been targeting civilian rescuers in "follow-up" or "secondary" drone strikes. [5]

Yet, the Obama administration has failed to engage substantively on the morality, efficacy, and accuracy of US drone strikes. Nor has Romney been asked a substantive question on how drones would be used in his administration in any of the numerous debates he's participated in.

The Commission on Presidential Debates reports that the topics you have chosen for Monday's debate include “America's Role in the World”, “The Changing Middle East and the New Face of Terrorism”, and “Our Longest War—Afghanistan and Pakistan”. Considering the fact that drones have become a serious source of tension between the US and Pakistani governments, and that drone strikes have become a cornerstone of US policy in the Middle East over the last four years, the candidates ought to be pressed on the issue of drones.

Please ask the candidates about their respective drone policies and press them on concerns about drones during Monday's debate.

References:

[1] "Covert Drone War," Data on US drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/07/27/covert-drone-war/

[2] “White House considers Libya drone attack,” Kimberly Dozier and Rukmini Callimachi, Associated Press, October 16, 2012, http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2012/10/16/news/white-house-considers-libya-drone-attack/

[3] "CIA seeks to expand drone fleet, officials say," Greg Miller, Washington Post, October 18, 2012, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cia-seeks-to-expand-drone-fleet-officials-say/2012/10/18/01149a8c-1949-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html

[4] "Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test of Obama’s Principles and Will", Joe Becker and Scott Shane, New York Times, May 29, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html

[5] "Living Under Drones," Stanford International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic (IHRCRC) and Global Justice Clinic (GJC) at NYU School of Law, http://livingunderdrones.org/

Bob Schieffer

Face the Nation

CPD

Commission on Presidential Debates

Just Foreign Policy

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Cut Social Security & Veterans' Benefits? Cut the Pentagon Instead!

In Next Debate, Let's Get a Question on Drones

Bob Schieffer

CPD