Taking stock of drone warfare

http://www.herald.co.zw/taking-stock-of-drone-warfare/



SILENT ASSASSIN . . . A former US Air Force drone operator has endorsed calls for drone strike transparency and accountability

Taking stock of drone warfare
Chris Woods
November 14, 2013

KEY members of the United Nations — including some of Washington’s closest allies – broke with a decade of tradition on October 25 when they endorsed calls for greater transparency over drone civilian deaths. The European Union, the United Kingdom and Switzerland were joined by the Russian Federation and China in calling for greater openness from those carrying out drone strikes. Pakistan was particularly strident, insisting that there was ‘‘no implicit or explicit consent’’ for US drone strikes on its territory, which it insists have a ‘‘disastrous humanitarian impact’’. In previous debates states had refused to support similar calls for greater transparency.

The nations were responding to a pair of reports delivered to a busy session of the General Assembly in New York by special rapporteurs Ben Emmerson QC and Professor Christof Heyns.

The studies, announced a year ago in London, are part of an ongoing UN investigation into the legal and ethical problems posed by the use of armed drones, especially in non-conventional conflicts.

The United States, one of only three nations which presently uses armed drones, also indicated that it will continue to co-operate with the UN’s inquiry. So too did the UK. Only Israel, which has suspended its involvement with the UN’s Human Rights Council, has so far failed to engage.