SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
'Unprecedented' Death Toll as US Drone and Air Strikes Kill 150 in Somalia
Last year, whistleblowers warned that the US drone program 'is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world.'
Mar 07, 2016
Critics were quick to question the official narrative after the Pentagon announced Monday that a combination of U.S. drone and air strikes killed 150 "fighters" in Somalia on Saturday.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism called the death toll "unprecedented"--the highest in a U.S. counter-terrorism strike yet recorded anywhere since the group launched in 2010.
The Department of Defense claimed in a press release that the alleged militants were affiliated with al-Shabaab, "which is a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda." It said the fighters "posed an immediate threat" to U.S. and African Union forces in the country.
But experts cautioned against taking the government at its word.
Also Monday, a senior White House official pledged to release, for the first time, how many terrorism suspects and civilians the U.S. has killed in drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, Somalia, and other nontraditional battlegrounds since 2009.
"Not only is greater transparency the right thing to do, it is the best way to maintain the legitimacy of our counter-terrorism actions and the broad support of our allies," Barack Obama's counter-terrorism and homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.
In November of last year, four former U.S. Air Force drone operators issued a public letter warning that the United States' ongoing targeted killing program has led to civilian casualties and "is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world."
And last year's "Drone Papers" from The Intercept offered a full picture of the U.S. government's use of lethal force in areas outside of active hostilities, such as Yemen and Somalia, where the United States was not engaged in an armed conflict under the laws of war, as well as in Afghanistan.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Critics were quick to question the official narrative after the Pentagon announced Monday that a combination of U.S. drone and air strikes killed 150 "fighters" in Somalia on Saturday.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism called the death toll "unprecedented"--the highest in a U.S. counter-terrorism strike yet recorded anywhere since the group launched in 2010.
The Department of Defense claimed in a press release that the alleged militants were affiliated with al-Shabaab, "which is a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda." It said the fighters "posed an immediate threat" to U.S. and African Union forces in the country.
But experts cautioned against taking the government at its word.
Also Monday, a senior White House official pledged to release, for the first time, how many terrorism suspects and civilians the U.S. has killed in drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, Somalia, and other nontraditional battlegrounds since 2009.
"Not only is greater transparency the right thing to do, it is the best way to maintain the legitimacy of our counter-terrorism actions and the broad support of our allies," Barack Obama's counter-terrorism and homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.
In November of last year, four former U.S. Air Force drone operators issued a public letter warning that the United States' ongoing targeted killing program has led to civilian casualties and "is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world."
And last year's "Drone Papers" from The Intercept offered a full picture of the U.S. government's use of lethal force in areas outside of active hostilities, such as Yemen and Somalia, where the United States was not engaged in an armed conflict under the laws of war, as well as in Afghanistan.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
Critics were quick to question the official narrative after the Pentagon announced Monday that a combination of U.S. drone and air strikes killed 150 "fighters" in Somalia on Saturday.
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism called the death toll "unprecedented"--the highest in a U.S. counter-terrorism strike yet recorded anywhere since the group launched in 2010.
The Department of Defense claimed in a press release that the alleged militants were affiliated with al-Shabaab, "which is a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaeda." It said the fighters "posed an immediate threat" to U.S. and African Union forces in the country.
But experts cautioned against taking the government at its word.
Also Monday, a senior White House official pledged to release, for the first time, how many terrorism suspects and civilians the U.S. has killed in drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, Somalia, and other nontraditional battlegrounds since 2009.
"Not only is greater transparency the right thing to do, it is the best way to maintain the legitimacy of our counter-terrorism actions and the broad support of our allies," Barack Obama's counter-terrorism and homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations.
In November of last year, four former U.S. Air Force drone operators issued a public letter warning that the United States' ongoing targeted killing program has led to civilian casualties and "is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world."
And last year's "Drone Papers" from The Intercept offered a full picture of the U.S. government's use of lethal force in areas outside of active hostilities, such as Yemen and Somalia, where the United States was not engaged in an armed conflict under the laws of war, as well as in Afghanistan.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy