Trump Broadens CIA Powers, Allows Deadly Drone Strikes

If you hated the use of drones under Obama, well Trump will be doubling down on the use of them under his administration:

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump has given the Central Intelligence Agency secret new authority to conduct drone strikes against suspected terrorists, U.S. officials said, changing the Obama administration’s policy of limiting the spy agency’s paramilitary role and reopening a turf war between the agency and the Pentagon.

www.wsj.com...

I didn't like the use of drones under Obama. I didn't appreciate the military using these things at the expense of innocent lives. 117 civilians were killed under the Obama administration due to the use of drones:
www.independent.co.uk... .html

Now that Trump is expanding their use, and the powers of the CIA of all agencies to utilise them, this number is going to go up significantly.

a reply to: Southern Guardian

Drones are the new "Judge, Jury, and Executioner".

No need for a trial when you can just wipe them off the face of the earth! I guess that's the premise anyway...

I read recently that there are more remote-drone pilots in the Air Force than traditional pilots (I know we're talking about the CIA right now, but I thought it was worth mentioning)

ETA: it looks like the Air Force is looking for more drone pilots than traditional pilots... this is still telling.

www.digitaltrends.com...

No difference between a drone and a helicopter chopper or and fighter plane...
All indiscriminate.


Not good though, Trump was meant to be the anti-war candidate.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I expect to see many of his supporters posting that these drone strikes will be upright and justified strikes the new and improved strikes unlike Obama.

originally posted by: Hazardous1408
No difference between a drone and a helicopter chopper or and fighter plane...
All indiscriminate.


Not good though, Trump was meant to be the anti-war candidate.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

I would like to think he learned his lesson from the botched raid he authorized and has changed his mind on drones.

a reply to: Grimpachi

27 civilians killed for every terrorist killed under Obama droning...

It'd be difficult not to improve that ratio.

But this is the CIA we are talking about so who knows.

a reply to: Grimpachi

That would take compassion.

Our leaders have none, so I expect no change in his stance.
Besides, he needs the warhawk congressmen on side, he'll have to play the game.


I'm just sad that people bought it.

originally posted by: Southern Guardian
If you hated the use of drones under Obama, well Trump will be doubling down on the use of them under his administration:

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump has given the Central Intelligence Agency secret new authority to conduct drone strikes against suspected terrorists, U.S. officials said, changing the Obama administration’s policy of limiting the spy agency’s paramilitary role and reopening a turf war between the agency and the Pentagon.

www.wsj.com...

I didn't like the use of drones under Obama. I didn't appreciate the military using these things at the expense of innocent lives. 117 civilians were killed under the Obama administration due to the use of drones:
www.independent.co.uk... .html

Now that Trump is expanding their use, and the powers of the CIA of all agencies to utilise them, this number is going to go up significantly.

Can't read the stories as the first link requires a subscription and the second is broken so I can only assume you're getting responses based on post content?

Based on post content I'd say B'S. The use of "US officials" is a red flag. The fact it cites "secret" means these "US officials" are breaking the law if they exist.

Feel free to update with a working link so those of us that actually want to read it, can read it.

a reply to: Vasa Croe

Independent
This is the second source...


Here is an alternative to WSJ;
Telegraph


Or you could have just googled Trump Drone and all these sources would appear.

meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Why should anyone be surprised?

a reply to: Southern Guardian

Trump doesnt seem like hes intelligent enough to have earned his own money.

This was occurring under the CIA's "limited power":

In Syria, militias armed by the Pentagon fight those armed by the CIA;

Cant wait to see whats next...

originally posted by: gladtobehere
a reply to: Southern Guardian

Trump doesnt seem like hes intelligent enough to have earned his own money.

This was occurring under the CIA's "limited power":

In Syria, militias armed by the Pentagon fight those armed by the CIA;

Cant wait to see whats next...

And all paid for by our tax dollars.

Red Flag Up.

And a senior White House official told The Washington Post

But Trump has said many times the need to defeat ISIS.

originally posted by: Hazardous1408
a reply to: Vasa Croe

Independent
This is the second source...


Here is an alternative to WSJ;
Telegraph


Or you could have just googled Trump Drone and all these sources would appear.

Again...forst source not working...second source is as vague as the OP.

And I did Google it, but I typically expect the OP to out up working links so an actual discussion can be had.

I still have to call B.S. as this would be an illegal act for someone to disclose and something of this nature would have a limited number of eyes and easily vetted...yet the stories claim "officials" as in multiple.

originally posted by: Grimpachi
I expect to see many of his supporters posting that these drone strikes will be upright and justified strikes the new and improved strikes unlike Obama.

Not this one. We have to deal with terrorism but I don't think this is the route. Drones suck. I don't expect him to change our destructive foreign policy overnight but this doesn't look on the surface to be the right direction.

a reply to: xuenchen

Any idea how he is going to do that? So far i suspect he has been great for ISIS recruitment! I don't see this changing in the future.

Everyone seems to like drones... Republicans, Democrats and Trump!

The only HVT I'm aware of was Abu al-Khayr al-Masri on 26 Feb 2017.

Clandestine OPs are not required to, by law to report kills, injuries or even the event.

Buck

This is bad news. They'll probably use them against Americans too I wouldn't be surprised to hear. They will probably be exempt from FOIA so no one can monitor what they do.

a reply to: Southern Guardian

I'm not surprised since Trump is still a stooge for the Military Industrial Complex.

As long as Trump keeps sending the US military to die for the almighty dollar then I see him as no better than the presidents before him.