It argues its campaign is conducted "consistent with all
applicable domestic and international law". Unofficial
reports, however, have suggested that hundreds have been
killed in Pakistan alone, with up to 200 children killed.
So how exactly are drone strikes in countries we are not at war with "consistent with all applicable domestic and international law". I imagine that it should at least be considered murder according to Pakistani law (and other countries where these strikes take place) and that it would be within the rights of these countries to demand extradition of the individuals complicit in the crime so that can stand trial in Pakistan (and other countries). The US obviously won't acquiesce to extradition requests for the crime of murder that it considers legitimate, but that doesn't mean that those committing crimes cannot be arrested while traveling abroad to countries that do have extradition treaties with Pakistan and other countries in question.
What international laws allow this to continue?
If I were a citizen of a country where these remote drone attacks were taking place and no war has been declared, I would be campaigning to put every person directly responsible on the list of criminals wanted internationally and have them arrested by my allies if those criminals travel to my allies' country.
I would be far more comfortable with what is going on if there were a requirement that all drone operators had to be citizens of the countries being targeted. They can be supervised and trained by Americans, but the trigger must be pulled by a fellow countryman. If we can't find people to do that, then we need to cease what we are doing or formally declare war via a Congressional vote. Alternatively, we could request or even fund that Pakistan and other countries send in police to arrest those responsible with a drone on standby and only send in the drone if the person refuses to be arrested peacefully. The moment they fire back on the Pakistani police with weapons, the drone would be sent in to resolve the conflict. Either way, fellow citizens of those targeted should be directly involved in these attacks or they should not occur at all. Sentencing people to death without trial is un-American.
What happens when we've killed as many innocents as were killed on September 11th on US soil? Death of innocents from above is simply unjustified.
What international laws allow this to continue?
If I were a citizen of a country where these remote drone attacks were taking place and no war has been declared, I would be campaigning to put every person directly responsible on the list of criminals wanted internationally and have them arrested by my allies if those criminals travel to my allies' country.
I would be far more comfortable with what is going on if there were a requirement that all drone operators had to be citizens of the countries being targeted. They can be supervised and trained by Americans, but the trigger must be pulled by a fellow countryman. If we can't find people to do that, then we need to cease what we are doing or formally declare war via a Congressional vote. Alternatively, we could request or even fund that Pakistan and other countries send in police to arrest those responsible with a drone on standby and only send in the drone if the person refuses to be arrested peacefully. The moment they fire back on the Pakistani police with weapons, the drone would be sent in to resolve the conflict. Either way, fellow citizens of those targeted should be directly involved in these attacks or they should not occur at all. Sentencing people to death without trial is un-American.
What happens when we've killed as many innocents as were killed on September 11th on US soil? Death of innocents from above is simply unjustified.