US Secretary of State John Kerry has defended Washington\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s use of assassination drones, which has already led to massive civilian casualties in different countries around the world.\n<\/p>\n
During a trip to the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa on Sunday, Kerry said the drones were needed to hunt down \u00c5\u201cterrorists\u201d and that each attack was carried out after \u00c5\u201ca great deal of vetting.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
He also said the drone program was one of the most “accountable” of programs.\n<\/p>\n
According to Kerry, the unmanned aerial vehicles are used against \u00c5\u201cconfirmed terrorist targets at the highest levels.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Many independent reports, in particular those on drone strikes in Pakistan, show a high level of civilian deaths as a result of US assassination drone strikes.\n<\/p>\n
Islamabad has repeatedly said the drone attacks are counterproductive, undermine the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s sovereignty, and lead to civilian casualties.\n<\/p>\n
During a speech at Washington\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s National Defense University on May 23, US President Barack Obama defended his country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s use of terror drones as legal, effective, and just.\n<\/p>\n
The United States has used assassination drones in several Muslim countries, including Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia. Washington claims that they target \u00c5\u201cterrorists,\u201d but according to witnesses, the attacks have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.\n<\/p>\n
SZH\/PR\/SS<\/p>\n