Bureau of Investigative Journalism Report on Civilian Casualties in Drone Strikes
The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism has reported before on civilian casualties in drone strikes, but this new report has a twist: It is alleging that "The CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to help rescue victims or were attending funerals."
Here are the report's principal factual claims:
But research by the Bureau has found that sinc
Published by The Lawfare Institute
in Cooperation With
The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism has reported before on civilian casualties in drone strikes, but this new report has a twist: It is alleging that "The CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to help rescue victims or were attending funerals."
Here are the report's principal factual claims:
But research by the Bureau has found that since Obama took office three years ago, between 282 and 535 civilians have been credibly reported as killed including more than 60 children. A three month investigation including eye witness reports has found evidence that at least 50 civilians were killed in follow-up strikes when they had gone to help victims. More than 20 civilians have also been attacked in deliberate strikes on funerals and mourners. The tactics have been condemned by leading legal experts. Although the drone attacks were started under the Bush administration in 2004, they have been stepped up enormously under Obama. There have been 260 attacks by unmanned Predators or Reapers in Pakistan by Obama’s administration – averaging one every four days. Because the attacks are carried out by the CIA, no information is given on the numbers killed.
Benjamin Wittes is editor in chief of Lawfare and a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. He is the author of several books.
