Sunday Roundup
This week, the White House revealed it really does care about civilians being killed by drones -- at least when they're Americans or Westerners. On Thursday, President Obama expressed "profound regrets," and described as "uniquely tragic," a January drone strike in Pakistan that killed two al Qaeda-held hostages -- one American, one Italian. But while certainly tragic, it's far from unique. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism estimates that, under Obama, drones in Pakistan alone have killed between 256 and 630 civilians, with at least 66 of them children. In fact, the first drone strike of his presidency reportedly killed at least nine civilians. In the wake of this week's announcement, the president ordered a review of what lessons can be learned from these latest deaths. One we already know: Some innocent lives are apparently more valuable than others.
sunday roundup week white house reveal care civilian kill drone americans westerners th USA ay president obama express profound regret describe uniquely tragic january drone strike pakistan kill al qaeda hold hostage american italian certainly tragic far unique bureau investigative journalism estimate obama drone pakistan kill civilian child fact drone strike presidency reportedly kill civilian wake week announcement president order review lesson learn late death know innocent life apparently valuable