Majority of Americans approve drone strikes

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Published time: October 03, 2012 17:18
Edited time: October 03, 2012 21:21

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Air Force, Arms, CIA, Conflict, Military, Planes, Terrorism, USA, War

A new poll has found that the majority of Americans approve of the US government’s drone campaign, which targets extremist leaders in the Middle East while also killing 49 civilians for each terrorist.

Pew Research found that in 17 out of 20 countries surveyed, more than half disapprove of the strikes, while 62 percent of Americans support the targeted-killing initiative.

In Greece, 90 percent of those surveyed condemn America’s drone strikes, followed closely by Egypt’s 89 percent.

Drone strikes are also condemned in Jordan (85 percent), Turkey (81 percent), Spain (76 percent), Brazil (76 percent) and Japan (75 percent).

The White House has repeatedly claimed that a low number of civilian causalities result from the controversial drone strikes – but a new survey found that the opposite is the case.

A new study released last week by researchers at New York University and Stanford law schools found that terrorists only account for one out of every 50 deaths (2 percent) at the hand of unmanned drones in Pakistan. The survey confirms fear that this method of combat has killed significantly more civilians than suggested.

The study recommends that the US conduct “a fundamental re-evaluation of current targeted killing practices,” which leaves 49 civilians dead with each targeted terrorist.

“Drones hover twenty-four hours a day over communities in northwest Pakistan, striking homes, vehicles and public spaces without warning. Their presence terrorizes men, women and children, giving rise to anxiety and psychological,” the study writes.

Additionally, the study found that the CIA has been “double striking” targets, thereby killing first responders that come to the scene of the attack.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism has found that from June 2004 through mid-September 2012, drone strikes killed between 2,562 and 3,325 people in Pakistan – including children.

But regardless of the harm that drone strikes inflict upon those living in countries including Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, most Americans – including 72 percent of Republicans – support the targeted-killing initiative.

source: pewresearch.org

Comments (87)

Drone Attacks : The Battle Of Amerika (unregistered) 06.12.2012 04:39

If truly Amerikans support drone attacks in other countries, then get ready for a counter attack from the rest of the world against the Amerika. If drones can fly high enough beyond radar detection and surface to air missiles, and if it can carry gps as well as visual guided missiles and bombs, Amerika is finished against tens if not hundreds of thousands of drone attacks from enemies from all over the world. Al Qaeda and other extremists, and terrorists, can easily rain missiles and bombs on Amerikan cities and strategic sites. With Riyadh's cofffers full of petrol money, their radical imperial Caliphatic Wahhabi Sunni political Islam ideological jihad will reduce infidel Amerika to ashes and dust and ruins with all the drones they can finance across the globe. Truly, an eye for an eye, and more. Amerika is kaput.

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They enjoy free TSA sex too. (unregistered) 22.10.2012 00:36

The majority of Americans willing to take 20 minutes to answer poll questions are the same Americans who think that the government is really swell and they have voted for the same Senator for 50 years. They also believe that their medicare is the best thing ever and their kids dont call home enough. They live in a bubble, under a rock, and in the dark and will gladly take the time too talk to anyone on the phone, even a pollster.

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Ninety-Nine Percent (unregistered) 20.10.2012 20:52

Part II-

The sheep in the USA need to wake up. Your government is playing you like a bunch sleeping/drunken fools. I know many Americans and they a sick of the US Govt playing world police and starting wars everywhere in the name of "spreading democracy". Whenever they speak up and protest now, they get arrested, beaten up by police, are labeled dangerous people and then are put on "no fly" watch lists.

Some friends even have been illegally being spied on by the CIA/FBI. One US friend I had actually confronted a unmarked car outside his house because he was worried about his family's security. They men in the car who were there 3 hrs a day all week, turned out to be FBI agents. They threatened him with arrest if he told people/the media that they were using tools planted within the home to spy on him. This is all because he was part of the Occupy San Francisco thing!

The Fall of Rome, part II coming soon in a city in the USA!

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