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  • Killing of Nek Muhammad in 2004 marked change to kill not capture by America under Bush

    • use of drones, no conventional military casualties

  • Most drone use took place Obama term

    • armed drones, UCAV

  • attacks did effect wearing down Al Queda fighters in FATA

    • but also hit large number of civilians

  • high impact on civilians’ low impact on high profile figures

  • from 3,300 deaths only 2% we’re high-profile targets.

    • over 98% of death toll people not even took up arms against US global war on terror

      • largely incidental to US

  • Pakistani FATA counterargument, drones less destructive than military going on

    • drones more effective with attacks, otherwise top echelon guys escape

    • civilians not totally innocent (family member or close associates of person drone trying to hit), even if not actively threatening should know risk from proximity

Arguments for Expanding cne Use of Drones (UCAVs)

in Pakistan's FATA

1. Less destructive of human life when compared to offensive

ground operations.

2. More effective at killing significant organizational figures

("high-value targets").

3. Toll upon civilians is concentrated on voluntary affiliates of

the targeted individuals.

  • Intelligence break through prompted Obama to American troops on ground.

  • CIA thought Osama bin laden in large house compound shielded from view in town of Abbottabad

    • could not verify person was Osama Bin Laden

    • if it wasn’t him then blow up innocent person (not pivotal reason)

    • so not drone strike, decided to go in person

  • US Special forces went without knowledge or permission from Pakistan gov.

    • Night raids happened regularly in Afghan and Iraq but had permission of the governments

    • Already suspicious bin laden was living in Pakistan and the leaders turned blind eye, therefore did not let them know to not risk it

    • Risks rivaled reward, US troop killed, taken hostage, Obamas presidency was cooked if went bad

  • US still not formally taking military actions in Pakistan for legal reasons, all was classified (CIA and drone strikes)

  • Arrive at site, secure area, take out target or targets, return to base.

  • SEAL team 6 to Abbottabad, other SEAL teams were conducting a dozen raids inside Afghanistan.

  • US ready, had backup and even Afghan counterparts back up.

  • On Sunday morning May 1st flew members from Jalalabad, Afghanistan to Abbottabad compound to kill Bin Laden.

    • One helicopter crashed, did not kill anyone

    • SEALs penetrated main house, killed guards other suspects include one of bin ladens sons.

    • went to upper story and killed person later confirmed to be bin laden

    • hurried grabbed hard drives and other intel then left

    • the raid took 38 minutes, flights to and from 90 minutes

    • SEALs incurred no causalities

    • later Obama announced Bin Laden death to America and the world

  • Neptune Spear or Bin Laden Raid was pinnacle of Obama, crowds cheered.

  • Judging eliminating Bin Laden was worth risking US personnel and was and exception to usual drone strikes

  • Pakistani thought Pakistani officials were in on it or terrible at job.

  • Pakistanis’ credibility suffered serious blow

  • Pakistani Leaders upset as well; US engaged on Pakistani soil without permission.

  • US troops in Afghanistan went into Pakistan which began firing at them and Americans shot back and called for air support. Pakistani officers were telling American counter parts that soldiers were coming under fire

    • due to miscommunication 24 Pakistani soldiers died

  • Prime minister described attack as great breach of Pakistan sovereignty

  • Neither US nor state department apologized for killing of soldier.

    • Pakistan put terrible cots: kicked US out airfield had been using, boycotted major diplomatic summit in Germany, most importantly shut down ground supply lines (known as ground lines of communication or GLOC) that supported US military going from Pakistan to Afghanistan

      • actions after Salala incidents stopped US in tracks and compelled pentagon to find diff route

      • Pakistan US relations at all time low

        • Hillary Clinton offered apology: willing to offer help and not let this happen again

        • mistrust still lingered

        • back to transaction and guarded relationship they had before 9/11