Democracy Now!

Joseph Abdul

3/1/2014

Democracy Now!: Week 5

Drone Attack on Yemeni Wedding/ U.S. Borader Patrol Regulations Questioned

            A mission led by U.S. Special Forces attacked a wedding convoy in Yemen, wrongfully killing 12 innocent civilians. According to president Obama’s law on drone use, they are not to be used unless there is certainty of no civilian casualties. He also said that we are targeting the terrorists, not those who they hide amongst. Letta Tayler, author of “A Wedding That Became A Funeral”, claims that U.S. needs to come clean on how it is targeting people and what the casualties are. Records of most drone attacks are not revealed. There were no evidence of any terrorists being in the attacked convoy, even if the wanted terrorist was there, the ratio of innocent casualties should not have allowed the attack.

            In other news, the U.S. border patrol regulations are questioned after a man suspected of attempting to cross the border was shot and killed by U.S. officers for throwing a rock. Border patrol agents are allowed to use deadly force against rock-throwers. Dead migrants are not going to be able to speak for themselves; the word of the agents is the only evidence for such cases. Hundreds or rock-throwers have been killed this way while no deaths among agents have occurred due to rocks. Therefore lethal force should not be allowed for such situations according to investigative reporter John Frey. There seems to be a special threat taken from Mexicans when it comes to borders. There have been cases of boarder patrol agents shooting into Mexico at individuals believed to be trying to cross.

Link to videos:

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/20/excessive_force_migrant_shot_dead_by

http://www.democracynow.org/2014/2/21/turning_a_wedding_into_a_funeral