America's prominent civil liberties union on Thursday urged the Obama Administration to reveal information about its most secretive, predator drone program, which officials' term as a highly successful in targeting Al Qaeda and the Taliban targets in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on Thursday asking the Government to disclose the legal basis for its use of predator drones to conduct "targeted killings" overseas.
In particular, the ACLU seeks to find out when, where and against whom drone strikes can be authorised, and how the US ensures compliance with international laws relating to extrajudicial killings, it said in a statement.
Today's FOIA request was filed with the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice (including the Office of Legal Counsel), the Department of State and the CIA.
"The American public has a right to know whether the drone program is consistent with international law, and that all efforts are made to minimise the loss of innocent lives," said Jonathan Manes, a legal fellow with the ACLU National Security Project.
He alleged that the Obama administration has expanded the drone program, but it has not explained publicly what the legal basis for the program is, what limitations it recognises on the use of drones outside active theatres of war and what the civilian casualty toll has been thus far.
{{/usCountry}}He alleged that the Obama administration has expanded the drone program, but it has not explained publicly what the legal basis for the program is, what limitations it recognises on the use of drones outside active theatres of war and what the civilian casualty toll has been thus far.
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