The Drone Debate

The Drone Debate

US policy on the use of drones has become a hot topic of debate, but it’s not a new subject at the Atlantic Council. Here’s a roundup of articles and media appearances by Council experts going back more than three years.

On March 26, in a letter to President Barack Obama, a distinguished group of former diplomats, analysts, and journalists call on the president and his national security team to move beyond the current counterterrorism approach and embrace a long-term strategy that prioritizes helping the Yemeni government address the very factors that allow extremist ideology to spread: the absence of basic social services, a worsening food shortage, and chronic unemployment.

Articles:

Drone Policy Hurts US Image in Yemen Danya Greenfield and David Kramer April 2, 2013

Niger Needs More Than Drones J. Peter Pham February 25, 2013

Drones and the Law: Restoring Checks and Balances Pejman Yousefzadeh February 14, 2013

Whole Drone Program Deserves Scrutiny Danya Greenfield February 07, 2013

Presidential Killing Powers Need Checks and Balances James Joyner February 06, 2013

Are drones really working? Danya Greenfield January 18, 2013

Drone Strike on Democracy James Joyner December 06, 2012

What the US Risks by Relying on Drones Kurt Volker October 30, 2012

Drone War AWOL From Presidential Campaign James Joyner September 27, 2012

Oversight or Not, Drones Are Here to Stay James Joyner July 27, 2012

Why the Obama Administration’s Drone War May Soon Reach a Tipping Point James Joyner May 02, 2012

When Can a President Order an American Killed?  James Joyner September 30, 2011

Droning on in AfghanistanShuja Nawaz August 08, 2011

Pakistan: Is It Over, Over There? Harlan Ullman October 06, 2010

Contradictions in Counterinsurgency: U.S. Drone Strikes in the Tribal Areas Brendan Boundy July 01, 2009

Media Appearances:

Danya Greenfield Debates Scope and Future of Drone Use (Voice of America) February 15, 2013

Greenfield on Obama Administration’s Drone Use (NPR Affiliate KPCC) January 30, 2013

Shuja Nawaz in Documentary on US Military Drones (PBS NOVA) January 24, 2013

J. Peter Pham Defends Drones in Africa in BBC’s Focus on Africa September 26, 2012

Shuja Nawaz Discusses US Drone Strikes on NPR May 31, 2012

Shuja Nawaz on NPR to Discuss Drone Strikes in Pakistan April 26, 2012

Shuja Nawaz Writes on Drone Attacks Inside Pakistan August 08, 2011

Shuja Nawaz on PBS NewsHour: U.S. Covert Activity in Pakistan April 12, 2011

Shuja Nawaz on NPR’s Morning Edition May 07, 2010

Shuja Nawaz on NPR’s Diane Rehm Show: Violence in Pakistan April 06, 2010