Trump authorizes CIA to hide civilian casualties from drone strikes
The US president overturned a decision by his predecessor that allowed more transparency on operations conducted by intelligence services.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (March 6th) revoked a decree that forced the CIA to provide information on civilian casualties of its air strikes around the world. He canceled a decision by his predecessor, Barack Obama, who was accused of lacking transparency when he generalized the use of drones for anti-terrorist operations by both the military and US intelligence agencies.
Mr. Trump's decree revokes the July 1, 2016 decree that required the US director of intelligence to report annually on the number of civilian casualties of drone strikes targeting "terrorist targets" outside the territories considered as war zones. Trump's decision does not apply to strikes by agencies dependent on the Ministry of Defense, which will continue to publish an annual report.
"Dangerous recoil"
This decision could give more latitude to the CIA, on which Mr. Trump relies more and more for this kind of operation. Human rights groups immediately protested against the executive's decision, saying it runs counter to transparency efforts on drone strikes, which have become one of the main weapons of state struggle. States against terrorism since the attacks of 11 September 2001.
"The action of the Trump administration is not necessary and it is a dangerous step backwards for transparency and accountability in the use of force, and for the resulting civilian casualties," commented Rita Siemion. , from the Human Rights First group.
The CIA has been at the forefront of counterterrorism operations since 2001, using drones to strike al-Qaida and other extremist groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Reports of civilian casualties have multiplied, and in 2016, Obama finally imposed more severe procedures on the CIA to limit the risk of "collateral casualties", while relying more on the military to conduct this type of campaign. 'surgery.
Departure announced from Syria
When Trump arrived at the White House in January 2017, CIA operations appeared to resume, with drone strikes reported in particular in Yemen or Libya, but not recognized by the Pentagon.
With the announced departure of most of the US military deployed in Syria and the wish expressed by Mr. Trump to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan, the role of the CIA could grow.
For Shannon Green of the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the CIA has never bent Mr. Obama's decree anyway. "This change will make it even harder for us to know if these strikes are taking place and the impact they are having on civilians," she said.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (March 6th) revoked a decree that forced the CIA to provide information on civilian casualties of its air strikes around the world. He canceled a decision by his predecessor, Barack Obama, who was accused of lacking transparency when he generalized the use of drones for anti-terrorist operations by both the military and US intelligence agencies.
Mr. Trump's decree revokes the July 1, 2016 decree that required the US director of intelligence to report annually on the number of civilian casualties of drone strikes targeting "terrorist targets" outside the territories considered as war zones. Trump's decision does not apply to strikes by agencies dependent on the Ministry of Defense, which will continue to publish an annual report.
"Dangerous recoil"
This decision could give more latitude to the CIA, on which Mr. Trump relies more and more for this kind of operation. Human rights groups immediately protested against the executive's decision, saying it runs counter to transparency efforts on drone strikes, which have become one of the main weapons of state struggle. States against terrorism since the attacks of 11 September 2001.
"The action of the Trump administration is not necessary and it is a dangerous step backwards for transparency and accountability in the use of force, and for the resulting civilian casualties," commented Rita Siemion. , from the Human Rights First group.
The CIA has been at the forefront of counterterrorism operations since 2001, using drones to strike al-Qaida and other extremist groups in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. Reports of civilian casualties have multiplied, and in 2016, Obama finally imposed more severe procedures on the CIA to limit the risk of "collateral casualties", while relying more on the military to conduct this type of campaign. 'surgery.
Departure announced from Syria
When Trump arrived at the White House in January 2017, CIA operations appeared to resume, with drone strikes reported in particular in Yemen or Libya, but not recognized by the Pentagon.
With the announced departure of most of the US military deployed in Syria and the wish expressed by Mr. Trump to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan, the role of the CIA could grow.
For Shannon Green of the Center for Civilians in Conflict, the CIA has never bent Mr. Obama's decree anyway. "This change will make it even harder for us to know if these strikes are taking place and the impact they are having on civilians," she said.
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