On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder made the Obama administration’s first public acknowledgement of the killing of American citizens by drone strike.
This announcement, via letter, was sent out only a day before the president was set to give a speech on defense, specifically addressing drone use.
In the letter, Holder admits to Congress that four Americans have been killed by U.S. drone strikes since 2009. Three of these citizens were “not specifically targeted.”
One of those killed, Jude Kenan Mohammed, was still on an FBI wanted poster even though he was said to have been killed in 2011. The FBI has since taken the poster down, having received “official confirmation.”
None of the citizens mentioned in the letter received any due process. Though it may be interpreted as unconstitutional, Holder defended such conduct in his letter: “It is clear and logical that United States citizenship alone does not make such individuals immune from being targeted.”
Then, on Thursday, the president gave his speech. He announced that he would be restricting the use of unmanned drone strikes and handing over control of the drones to the military. He also announced in the speech that he would be making steps to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay.
The president, after every speech, can leave one with the feeling that he is genuine in his intentions and that he means well. Yet, we wonder if he knows what his legacy is shaping up to be.
Through his first term, many said the press was on a honeymoon with the president. Since then, the honeymoon is definitely over, and it seems like Obama’s major defense policy tools have been drones. As a matter of history, Obama may very likely be remembered most strongly as the drone president. Despite his Nobel Peace Prize, he will almost certainly not be remembered as a president of peace.
Though this move with Guantanamo might be an indication of good things to come, we wonder if he will actually accomplish anything. As a candidate for president, Obama promised to close the military prison. Earlier this year, though, the president dissolved the office of the envoy for closing the prison. And now he has taken a renewed interest in Guantanamo, perhaps because of the hunger strike. Why is his word on closing the prison so much better the second time?
As for the moral repercussions of all of it, Obama may have a lot more than the lives of four citizens on his conscience if the next president decides to continue with the precedent of killing American citizens.
