Washington: A federal appeals court said on Friday that the CIA can no longer deny the existence of its drone program overseas, citing the fact that the program is widely acknowledged by the government of United States.
Local Media has been reported that the “Decision means that one of Washington’s worst-kept secrets is out.”
Local Media declared The decision is a reversal of one made by a Washington, D.C. District Court judge that asserted that the CIA was “not required to confirm or deny that it has any [drone records]” in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by the American Civil Liberties Union.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland wrote in his opinion that the fact that President Obama and John Brennan had publicly acknowledged that the “United States uses drone strikes against al Qaeda” made it not logical for the CIA to refrain from confirming that it has an interest in carrying out drone strikes. He also wrote that it is “not plausible that the Agency does not have any documents relating to drones.”
ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer, who argued the case, called the decision an “important victory.”
“It requires the government to retire the absurd claim that the CIA’s involvement in the targeted killing program is a secret, and it will make it more difficult for the government to deflect questions about the program’s scope and legal basis,” he said in a statement. “It also means that the CIA will have to explain what records it is withholding, and on what grounds it is withholding them.”
The CIA’s drone program was one of the United States’ worst-kept secrets and has been widely discussed in Congress and in the media. According to some estimates, there have been more than 350 drone strikes in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Northern Africa since 2004. The strikes have reportedly killed as many as 3,000 people—both suspected terrorists and civilians.
Jaffer said he hopes the decision will “encourage the Obama administration to fundamentally reconsider the secrecy surrounding the targeted killing program.
Many National and International Human Rights Organizations and activists around the world has very strong stance that the CIA’s Drone program is illegal and the violation of sovereignty of targeted countries.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription