Democrats urge Biden to overhaul drone strike policy
Democratic lawmakers called on Biden to bring US counterterrorism policy in line with international law.
Fifty Democrats in the House and Senate penned a letter urging President Joe Biden to overhaul US policy for conducting drone and other counterterrorism strikes to bring it in line with international law.
“Over successive administrations spanning nearly two decades, presidents have claimed virtually unilateral power to use lethal force around the world and with congressional authorization, killing not only armed actors but also innocent civilians — even American citizens,” the letter read, in reference to the killings of Yemeni-American Anwar al-Awlaki and two of his children in strikes.
The letter, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and signed by a handful of leading progressive Democrats, cites “unintended deadly consequences — killing civilians and increasing anger toward the United States” as the main objection.
Sens. Warren, Chris Murphy (D-CT) and nine other senators signed the letter, along with 39 Democrats in the House.
