GOP strongly backs drone strikes, despite accident

POLITICO

Congressional Republicans remain staunchly committed to anti-terrorism drone strikes despite a January drone operation that accidentally killed a U.S. civilian and an Italian in Pakistan.

Hawkish Republicans said Thursday that the death of Warren Weinstein was tragic but that it was collateral damage in the global war on terror. Asked in interviews whether the killing of an American citizen should cause the United States to reconsider its use of drones against overseas combatants, GOP lawmakers said unequivocally that it should not.

“Not at all. Collateral damage is part of war,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “We’re at war.”

“There are consequences to war, and we’re in one,” said Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.). “When you look at our experience with collateral damage, it’s minimal.”

While Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wondered why the White House had waited until April to announce killings that took place in January, Burr said he had already reviewed the timeline for the release of the information as well as the particulars of the drone strike in question and said he will continue to do so.

But everything Burr has seen so far points to a “very appropriate” use of drones in this instance. Other top Republicans on national security issues backed Burr’s assertion, along with a war on terror that increasingly involves the use of unmanned drones to kill top terrorist targets.

“It’s not gonna cause us to quit using drones,” said Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.). “I’m so committed that we have to have drones.”

Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said it would be “crazy” to curtail drone usage because of the two deaths, though he urged significant review of this particular incident.

“It does not bring in the question of the use of drones,” McCain said. “No one — no one — believes you can’t use drones anymore. That’d be crazy.”

And Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who gained national notoriety for questioning the Justice Department over its drone policies, suggested the January strikes were different than the kind of operations he had criticized in the past.

“I don’t think there’s a question of whether or not you’re involving yourself in the war if you’re holding hostages. The things I’ve pointed out in the past have been more with regard to people not involved with a war zone or with combat,” Paul said on Thursday afternoon. “If these two people are american citizens and they were sitting in Cairo and we suspected them of a problem, then I would rather … have the police go in.”

But, Paul added: “They were in the mountains on a military base holding hostages, so there’s not a lot of question about whether or not they were engaged in combat against America.”

Still, not everyone on the Hill was eager to immediately endorse the anti-terrorism tactics used by the Obama administration. Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.), who represents Weinstein’s district, said he felt that the government had “failed him in his greatest time of need.” And some of Burr’s committee members expressed alarm about the chain of events.

“It’s very disturbing,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). “I know that our government goes to great lengths to make sure that innocent individuals are not harmed. But this news is really devastating. I also continue to have concerns about the legal authority for the president targeting an American citizen overseas, even one with terrorist” ties.

Burr said this particular incident will get a thorough review by his committee, which had already received significant classified briefings as of Thursday morning. But some senators think a broader discussion is needed as well.

“We need to understand the benefits and the dangers,” said Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).

In a long gaggle with reporters, Graham said there may be some benefit to the fact that two Americans working with Al Qaeda were also killed. He suggested it could serve as a warning about what might happen to U.S. citizens who directly work to support terrorism.

“I’m glad they are dead. Under the law of war, they are subject to be killed or captured because they are providing direct and material support to Al Qaeda,” Graham said. “My message to any American citizen who wishes to join this cause: You are subject to be killed or captured.”